Duck and the Diesel Engine

"Duck and the Diesel Engine" was first published in 1958. It was written by the Reverend W. Awdry and illustrated by John T. Kenney.

=Stories=

Domeless Engines
The Railway Society visits, bringing "City of Truro", the first engine to go more than 100 miles per hour, with them. Duck has a lengthy conversation with him till late at night. Gordon is jealous of "City of Truro's" record, saying that he is a domeless engine, who should not be trusted, and resolving to beat it. Later, as Duck is taking some trucks to Edward's ststion, Gordon rushes through at a high speed. Gordon soon feels something loose on his boiler and slows down, but unfortunately has his dome blown off at the viaduct. That night in the Sheds, someone makes a snide comment about the event (Gordon believes it was Duck).

Pop goes the Diesel
The engines are getting tired of Duck's talk about his Great Western heritage, and are happy when a visitor comes. The visitor, a diesel named Diesel, claims he is "revolutionary", to which Duck replies by telling him to shunt some trucks for him. Diesel does, and attempts to take some rusty old vans away. However, their brakes are "on", and all Diesel does is derail them. As he cleans them up, the trucks start singing a rude parody of "Pop goes the Weasel", called "Pop goes the Diesel".

Dirty Work
Diesel is furious that Duck made him look silly and tells the trucks rude jokes about Gordon, Henry and James, saying that Duck told them to him. The trucks laugh at the engines, and when they find out, they refuse Duck entry into the shed. The Fat Controller comes to stop the noise, and, after hearing Duck, Diesel and the big engines' sides of the story, kindly asks Duck to go to Edward's station.

A Close Shave
Edward feels sorry for Duck, and cheers him up. Duck helps Edward and some visiting engines with their trains by pushing them up Gordon's Hill. However, one day, a goods train breaks away and chases Duck down the line. Duck manages to slow down gradually, slowing the trucks down too in the process, but they are diverted onto a siding stopping outside a barber's shop. Duck breaks the wall, and the furious barber lathers his face over. When the workmen come to pull Duck away, Sir Topham Hatt points out that if Duck hadn't done anything, someone could have been badly hurt, and the barber rinses Duck's face. To add to his joy, Sir Topham Hatt tells him Diesel has been sent away for telling lies and he is welcomed back after being repaired.

=Featured Characters=
 * Edward
 * Henry
 * Gordon
 * James
 * Duck
 * Diesel
 * Thomas (cameo only)
 * Toby (cameo only)