New Little Engine

"New Little Engine" was published in 1996. It was written by Christopher Awdry and illustrated by Clive Spong.

=Stories=

Speedkiller
Rusty is given the tedious job of spraying weedkiller on the rails. Meanwhile, Rheneas has to fetch another coach after a huge influx of visitors, making him late. He has to slow down at a steep hill for some hedgecutters too, spoiling his chances of a good run at it. Because of the weedkiller, Rheneas eventually grinds to a halt and slips down the hill. His crew put sand on the rails and Rheneas makes his way up. Though the passengers have little time to enjoy the scenery at the lake, they are pleased with Rheneas' brave efforts.

Sir Handel's Plan
Sir Handel is jealous when Peter Sam is brought back from Wales especially to help with the engine shortage, and when he is convinced he sees Peter Sam grinning at him from the shed he is furious and deliberately knocks his firebars loose, resulting in his being sent to the shed. However, as the days pass and no one comes, Sir Handel worries he will stay there forever. When the Thin Controller finally comes in one day, Sir Handel confesses and the Thin Controller, thinking quickly, thanks Sir Handel for admitting his mistake and arranges for him to receive some new firebars, which, he neglects to tell him, had only been delivered that morning.

Dirty Water
Peter Sam tells Kathy and Lizzie, two young holidaymakers, a story about the water on the Talyllyn Railway. He remembered that something was put to the water to enhance its flavour, but one day he found it awful. His crew were unconcerned, but when he started from a station, lo and behold, a spray of filthy white sludge was blasted out of his funnel. Talyllyn took his train, but unfortunately for him, he had to stay on a siding for the visitors. It was later discovered too much of the special powder was put in the water, and he later got a good washout. Kathy and Lizzie find the story hilarious, and leave the shed in a fit of giggles.

I Name this Engine . ..
All the gossip on the Skarloey Railway is about the identity of the new engine, but even the details of the naming ceremony are being kept under covers. At last, the day comes and Skarloey is chosen to pull a special train to collect the guests and pull them back to Crovan's Gate. However, on the way back a sow and her piglets stray onto the line, and the guests have to capture them and put them in their field. The train is late, but at last they arrive at the ceremony, and when Mr. Hugh does the naming he is amazed and honoured to discover the engine has been named in his honour.

=Featured Characters=
 * Skarloey
 * Rheneas
 * Sir Handel
 * Peter Sam
 * Rusty
 * Duncan
 * Duke (does not speak)
 * Ivo Hugh (does not speak)
 * Agnes, Ruth, Lucy and Jemima (cameo)
 * Beatrice (cameo)
 * Fred (mentioned)

=Trivia=
 * This is the only Railway Series book that has not featured any standard gauge engines.

=Goofs=
 * In the fourth illustration of "Dirty Water" the Talyllyn Railway's coaches are blue instead of their customary red, green or brown.
 * In the third illustration of "I Name this Engine . . . " Ivo Hugh appears between Duke and Duncan, but his tanks are not covered.
 * The curtain on Ivo Hugh's side is white in the penultimate illustration of "I Name this Engine . . . ", but in the final illustration it's purple. What's more, in the third and sixth illustrations Ivo Hugh is missing the blue stripes on the front of his tanks.
 * Rusty and Fred are missing from the naming ceremony.
 * Throughout "Speedkiller" Rheneas is depicted as a 0-4-2.
 * Throughout "I Name This Engine", Duke's tender is missing.