Four Little Engines (episode)

Four Little Engines is the fifth episode of the fourth series. It is based on the stories Skarloey Remembers and Old Faithful from The Railway Series book of the same name.

Plot

Edward is on his way to the Works to be mended. He later meets a narrow gauge engine called Skarloey, who is resting in a shed and is lonely, because his friend Rheneas is going to be mended. The two talk for a while until some workmen come to take Edward. Edward says goodbye and that Skarloey's railway is lovely before leaving.

Meanwhile, Sir Handel is having issues with some coaches. His punishment has ended and tries to be kind to the coaches but they refuse to trust him and become awkward and rude. When he has to stop due to a flock of sheep straying onto the line, the coaches angrily think that he deliberately bumped them, so they lurch into Sir Handel and bump him off the rails. Not even a disaster strikes and no one is hurt, but Sir Handel limps home. With no engine to take the passengers home, Skarloey volunteers and goes to fetch the coaches.

When Skarloey arrives, he scolds the coaches for their behaviour and how they could have hurt their passengers. The coaches apologize and as soon as the guard blows his whistle, Skarloey's journey begins. Skarloey stops at every station making good time until they get to a hill. Skarloey thinks it would be easy when they go down, but it is not, as his springs become weak from age and the rail joints jar his wheels. But as soon they come down the hill one of his springs becomes completely broken, tilting him on one side. His driver says they now need a bus to take the passengers. Skarloey refuses the idea as he is determined to get them back to the last station.

Later, James waits impatiently at the station but Skarloey makes it on time. James collects the passengers and takes them home. Everyone is pleased, but Skarloey reflects afterwards that he is in no state to pull trains, but is delighted when his driver tells him he will be mended and that he deserves it.

Characters

• Edward
• Skarloey
• James (does not speak)
• Rheneas (does not speak)
• Sir Handel (does not speak)
• Peter Sam (does not speak)
• Sir Topham Hatt (does not speak)
• Thomas (cameo)
• Percy (cameo)
• Duck (cameo)
• Douglas (cameo)
• Oliver (cameo)
• Annie and Clarabel (cameo)
• Terence (cameo)
• Mrs. Kyndley (cameo)
• Farmer Finney (cameo)
• One Little Boy (cameo)

Locations

• Valley View
• Rheneas
  • Rheneas Viaduct
• Callan
  • Callan Yard
• Crovan's Gate
  • Crovan's Gate Yards
  • Skarloey Engine Sheds
• Glennock
• The Works (mentioned)

Trivia

• Despite being the fifth episode of the fourth series, this episode actually takes place after the events of A Bad Day for Sir Handel and Peter Sam and the Refreshment Lady.
• This marks the last time that Sir Handel and Peter Sam are referred to as Falcon and Stuart.
• This is the only episode in the entire series named after a Railway Series book, as opposed to one of its individual stories. It is also one of a handful of episodes adapted from two Railway Series stories.
• James has a higher-pitched version of Duck's whistle sound for the rest of the series and part of the next.
• This is the first episode in which:
  • An engine has problems with springs, the second being Springtime for Diesel.
  • An engine is pushed by a coach, the second being Hasty Hannah.
• This episode was not released on DVD in the US.

Goofs

• When Edward passes Skarloey, some of his wheels are not moving.
• When Thomas passes by during Skarloey's and Edward's conversation, Thomas' whistle is cut when he blows it.
• In the Crovan's Gate scene, either Thomas or Duck has James' whistle sound and Annie is facing the wrong way.
• After Skarloey leaves Crovan's Gate, the coaches lose their faces.
• When Skarloey says, "It'll be better downhill," the stripe on his tank is crooked.
• Skarloey becomes crooked before the spring breaks.
• In a rare still, there are four coaches behind Sir Handel instead of three when he is bumped off the rails.
• In a rare still, red and black wires are seen underneath Sir Handel's cab.
• The front coach on Skarloey's train is swapped with another, as the bufferbeam is lower when being coupled.
• When the narrator says "The coaches stood at the platform," Duck and his train are not in the background.

Quotes

Edward: It's Skarloey. What's he doing here?

Skarloey: I've been sent here for a rest. I was put in this shed so that I could see everything and not be lonely, but I do miss Rheneas. He's going to be mended. I wish I could be mended too, and pull coaches again.

Workmen: We're going to take you to the works now, Edward. Come along.

Edward: Goodbye, Skarloey! Your railway is a lovely line!

Skarloey: Oh, it is! It is! You've cheered me up, Edward! Goodbye!

[after Sir Handel stops due to sheep on the tracks]

Coaches: US: He's bumped us! Let's get back at him! / UK: He's bumped us! Let's pay him out!

[they lurch into Sir Handel and push him off the rails, but nothing else happens; cut to the sheds later, Sir Handel sadly limps back to the sheds for a rest]

Sir Handel's Driver: No more work for you, today. How are we going to pull the visitors' train without an engine?

Skarloey: What about me, sir?

Sir Handel's Driver: Skarloey, can you do it?

Skarloey: I'll try.

Skarloey: I'm ashamed of you. You might have hurt your passengers.

Coaches: We're sorry, Skarloey.

[Skarloey and his train approach a hill, but the journey gets tricky]

Skarloey's Driver: Take your time.

Skarloey: It'll be better down hill.

[a spring breaks and gives way, tilting him crooked on one side]

Skarloey: I feel all crooked!

Skarloey's Driver: [sighs] We'll need a bus now for our passengers.

Skarloey: [determined] No! I'll get them to the station or burst!

Skarloey: [after reaching the station] Old engines can't pull trains like the young ones can.

Driver: They can if they're mended, old faithful, and that's what's going to happen to you. You deserve it!

Merchandise

• Buzz Books - Four Little Engines

In Other Languages

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