The Little Old Engine



"The Little Old Engine" was first published in 1959. It was written by the Reverend W. Awdry and illustrated by John T. Kenney.

=Stories=

Trucks!
Gordon sees Sir Handel shunting and advises him to get out of work by pretending to be sick. Sir Handel does so next morning, and Peter Sam and Rusty take his trucks for him. Peter Sam later goes to the slate mines to collect more trucks. Some mistake him for Sir Handel, and decide to play a trick on him. They snap their chain and run into him. Peter Sam is rescued by Rusty and goes to the Shed. Sir Handel apologises, and the Thin Controller tells him to do Peter Sam's work as well as his own and thought that will teach himto pretend he is sick.

Home at Last
Peter Sam, still recovering, is delighted when Skarloey returns. They talk about the going-ons of the railway while Skarloey was away, but are interrupted when Skarloey's crew arrive to tell him that Duncan has stuck in a tunnel. Skarloey takes some workmen to pull Duncan out and take his train home. The Thin Controller rebukes Duncan, who behaves for the rest of the evening.

Rock 'n' Roll
Skarloey meets Rusty and compliments him on his work on the line. Rusty confides that the line before Cros-ny-Cuirn is dangerous and he is afraid Duncan will derail. Duncan overhears and insults Rusty. The next day, Rusty, who is still cross at Duncan, leaves him to get his own coaches. Duncan is late, and James tells him about the time he "supposedly" made Diesel leave single-handedly. Duncan is impressed, and is so focused on sending Rusty packing that he comes off at the dangerous line. When Rusty hears, he grudgingly assists and Duncan apologises.

Little Old Twins
Some men are coming to look at the line, and Peter Sam and Sir Handel remember that people did that on their old line and that it was later sold. The engines are miserable, until Peter Sam's driver tells them the men are television producers who will be filming the engines. Everyone is happy again, except Sir Handel, who tries to weasel out by playing sick again. The Thin Controller simply asks his crew to take him apart to show the producers how an engine works. Peter Sam is given the honour of pulling the television equipment, and, after a circuit around the line, stops to film Skarloey making a speech. To everyone's surprise, Skarloey reveals that he has a twin, Talyllyn, and that he met him while being repaired.

=Featured Characters= =Trivia=
 * Skarloey
 * Rusty
 * Duncan
 * Peter Sam
 * Sir Handel
 * Gordon
 * James
 * Talyllyn (does not speak)
 * Ada, Jane and Mabel (do not speak)
 * Gertrude and Millicent (do not speak)
 * Cora (does not speak)
 * Beatrice (does not speak)
 * Henry (cameo)
 * Diesel (mentioned)
 * The Thin Controller
 * Mr. Hugh
 * The Owner
 * To date, "Little Old Twins" is the longest story in the Railway Series, at 790 words.
 * First appearances of Rusty, Duncan, Mr. Hugh, Ada, Jane, Mabel,  Gertrude, Millicent, Cora, Narrow Gauge trucks, The Incline, Glennock Tunnel, the Narrow Gauge viaduct and Talyllyn. Another track has also been added to the shed at Crovan's Gate.

=Goofs=
 * Duncan is not coupled to his coaches in the sixth illustration of "Home at Last".
 * James has his old cab roof with a red top again. However, he has still his new cab roof with a black top.