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{{Tab|tab1=Main Page|tab2=Gallery}}
  
{{Tab|tab1=Main Page|tab2=Gallery}}
 
{{Infobox Book
  
{{Infobox Book
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|title1=Main Line Engines
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|title1 = Main Line Engines
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|image1=File:MainLineEngines2015Cover.jpg
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|image1 = File:MainLineEngines2015Cover.jpg
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|author=[[Wilbert Awdry|The Rev. W. Awdry]]
 +
|author = [[Wilbert Awdry|The Rev. W. Awdry]]
−
|illustrator=[[Gunvor and Peter Edwards]]
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|illustrator = [[Gunvor and Peter Edwards]]
−
|publisher=
 +
|publisher = * [[Edmund Ward]] {{Note|1966-1968}}
−
* [[Edmund Ward]] {{Note|1966-1968}}
  
 
* [[Kaye & Ward]] {{Note|1968-1998}}
  
* [[Kaye & Ward]] {{Note|1968-1998}}
 
* [[Egmont Publishing]] {{Note|1998-present}}
  
* [[Egmont Publishing]] {{Note|1998-present}}
  ⚫
|series = [[The Railway Series]]
−
|published=1966 - present
 +
|published = 15th August 1966 - present
⚫
|series=[[The Railway Series]]
  
−
|previous=[[Very Old Engines]]
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|previous = [[Very Old Engines]]
−
|next=[[Small Railway Engines]]}}
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|next = [[Small Railway Engines]]
  +
}}
 
{{Quote|"It's not fair!"<br>"What isn't fair?"<br>"Letting Branch Line diesels pull Main Line trains."<br>"Never mind, Gordon. I'm sure BoCo will let you pull his trucks sometimes. That would make it quite fair."<br>"I won't pull BoCo's dirty trucks! I won't run on Branch Lines!"<br>"Why not? It would be a nice change."<br>"The Fat Controller would never approve! Branch Lines are vulgar!"|Gordon and Edward arguing about BoCo and branch lines}}
  
{{Quote|"It's not fair!"<br>"What isn't fair?"<br>"Letting Branch Line diesels pull Main Line trains."<br>"Never mind, Gordon. I'm sure BoCo will let you pull his trucks sometimes. That would make it quite fair."<br>"I won't pull BoCo's dirty trucks! I won't run on Branch Lines!"<br>"Why not? It would be a nice change."<br>"The Fat Controller would never approve! Branch Lines are vulgar!"|Gordon and Edward arguing about BoCo and branch lines}}
 
'''''Main Line Engines''''' is the twenty-first book of [[The Railway Series|the ''Railway Series'']].
  
'''''Main Line Engines''''' is the twenty-first book of [[The Railway Series|the ''Railway Series'']].
Line 27: Line 27:
 
==Stories==
  
==Stories==
 
===''[[The Diseasel]]''===
  
===''[[The Diseasel]]''===
−
Bill and Ben are tank engine twins that work at the China Clay Workings on [[Brendam Branch Line|Edward's Branch Line]]. One day they leave some trucks in a siding and leave for more, but return to find them all gone. Their drivers determine it was a "diseasel" that took them, and when Bill recalls a sign saying "coughs and sneezles spread diseasels", in his words, Ben blames him. Their drivers quieten them and formulate a plan. They find the diseasel on a siding, and manage to confuse him so as to make him giddy, but when Edward comes along he reprimands them and tells them to apologise to the diseasel, who calls himself BoCo. Edward sends them away, and he and BoCo joke about the twins.
 +
Bill and Ben are tank engine twins that work at the China Clay Workings on [[Brendam Branch Line|Edward's Branch Line]]. One day they leave some trucks in a siding and leave for more, but return to find them all gone. Their drivers determine it was a "diseasel" that took them, and when Bill recalls a sign saying "coughs and sneezles spread diseasels", in his words, Ben blames him. Their drivers quiet them and formulate a plan. They find the diseasel on a siding, and manage to confuse him so as to make him giddy, but when Edward comes along he reprimands them and tells them to apologise to the diseasel, who calls himself BoCo. Edward sends them away, and he and BoCo joke about the twins.
   
 
===''[[Buzz, Buzz]]''===
  
===''[[Buzz, Buzz]]''===
Line 39: Line 39:
   
 
==Characters==
  
==Characters==
  +
===The Diseasel===
 
* [[Edward]]
  
* [[Edward]]
  ⚫
* [[Bill and Ben]]
  ⚫
* [[BoCo]]
  +
  +
===Buzz, Buzz===
 
* [[Henry]]
  
* [[Henry]]
 
* [[Gordon]]
  
* [[Gordon]]
 
* [[James]]
  
* [[James]]
 
* [[Duck]]
  
* [[Duck]]
⚫
* [[Donald and Douglas]]
  
⚫
* [[Bill and Ben]]
  
 
* [[BoCo]]
  
* [[BoCo]]
⚫
* [[Sir Topham Hatt|The Fat Controller]]
  
 
* [[Minor Human Characters in the Railway Series#Fred and Bert|Fred and Bert]]
  
* [[Minor Human Characters in the Railway Series#Fred and Bert|Fred and Bert]]
  +
* [[Edward]] {{Mentioned}}
⚫
* [[Minor Human Characters in the Railway Series#The Enthusiasts|The Enthusiasts]]
  
  +
* [[Bill and Ben]] {{Mentioned}}
  +
  +
===Wrong Road===
  +
* [[Edward]]
  +
* [[Gordon]]
  +
* [[Bill and Ben]]
  +
* [[BoCo]]
  ⚫
* [[Sir Topham Hatt|Sir Charles Topham Hatt II]]
 
* [[Thomas]] {{Does not speak}}
  
* [[Thomas]] {{Does not speak}}
−
* [[Minor Human Characters in the Railway Series#The Lady with the Floppy Green Hat|The Lady with the Floppy Green Hat]] {{Does not speak}}
 +
* [[Minor Human Characters in the Railway Series#The Lady with the Floppy Green Hat|The Lady with the Floppy Green Hat]] {{Does not speak}}
 
* [[Annie and Clarabel|Annie]] {{Cameo}}
  
* [[Annie and Clarabel|Annie]] {{Cameo}}
  +
* [[Henry]] {{Mentioned}}
  +
  +
===Edward's Exploit===
  +
* [[Edward]]
  +
* [[Henry]]
  +
* [[Gordon]]
  +
* [[James]]
  +
* [[Duck]]
  ⚫
* [[Donald and Douglas]]
  +
* [[BoCo]]
  ⚫
* [[Minor Human Characters in the Railway Series#The Enthusiasts|The Enthusiasts]]
  +
* [[Bill and Ben]] {{Do not speak}}
  +
* [[Sir Topham Hatt|Sir Charles Topham Hatt II]] {{Does not speak}}
   
 
==Locations==
  
==Locations==
  +
===The Diseasel===
⚫
* [[Brendam]]
  
−
* [[Tidmouth Sheds]]
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* [[Sodor China Clay Company]]
  +
* [[Brendam Docks]]
  +
  +
===Buzz, Buzz===
 
* [[Tidmouth]]
  
* [[Tidmouth]]
−
* [[River Els]]
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** [[Tidmouth Sheds]]
  +
  +
===Wrong Road===
 
* [[Elsbridge Viaduct]]
  
* [[Elsbridge Viaduct]]
  +
** [[River Els]]
  +
* [[Tidmouth]]
  +
** [[Tidmouth Sheds]]
  +
* [[Brendam Docks]]
  +
* [[Suddery Junction]] {{Mentioned}}
  +
  +
===Edward's Exploit===
  +
* [[Tidmouth]]
  +
** [[Tidmouth Sheds]]
  +
* [[Sodor China Clay Company]]
   
 
==Trivia==
  
==Trivia==
 
* Despite its name, a majority of this book takes place on Edward's Branch Line.
  
* Despite its name, a majority of this book takes place on Edward's Branch Line.
−
* This marks the first appearances of Bill and Ben and BoCo.
 +
* This book marks the first appearances of Bill, Ben and BoCo.
  +
* This book marks the last appearance of Edward in the Railway Series until [[James and the Diesel Engines]]. 
 
* The events of this book take place in the latter half of 1965.
  
* The events of this book take place in the latter half of 1965.
 
* This book marks the first time James is shown with his blue lining instead of his standard black lining.
  
* This book marks the first time James is shown with his blue lining instead of his standard black lining.
Line 75: Line 114:
 
** In the second illustration, Ben's face is discoloured.
  
** In the second illustration, Ben's face is discoloured.
 
** In the fourth and sixth illustrations, BoCo has the 'Express meat and fish' headcode, when he is supposed to have China clay trucks.
  
** In the fourth and sixth illustrations, BoCo has the 'Express meat and fish' headcode, when he is supposed to have China clay trucks.
  +
* In "Buzz, Buzz":
  ⚫
** In the fouth illustration, James' builder's plate reads "1943" despite the fact that he was built in 1912/13.
 
* In "Wrong Road":
  
* In "Wrong Road":
 
** In the first illustration, Thomas' valence is curved and Annie is missing her face. 
  
** In the first illustration, Thomas' valence is curved and Annie is missing her face. 
 
** In the sixth illustration, Bill and Ben are taller and thinner than they should be. Their faces are also shaped like ovals instead of circles.
  
** In the sixth illustration, Bill and Ben are taller and thinner than they should be. Their faces are also shaped like ovals instead of circles.
 
* In "Edward's Exploit":
  
* In "Edward's Exploit":
−
** In the illustration, James' dome is red and his roof is black.
 +
** In the first illustration, James' dome is red and his roof is black.
  +
** In the third illustration, the passengers are purple.  
 
** In the last illustration, BoCo's number is missing.
  
** In the last illustration, BoCo's number is missing.
⚫
*In the fourth illustration of "Buzz Buzz" James' builder's plate reads "1943" despite the fact that he was built in 1912/13.
  
   
 
==In Other Languages==
  
==In Other Languages==
 
{{Other Languages
  
{{Other Languages
−
|JPN=大きな機関車たち
 +
|JPN = 大きな機関車たち
  +
|KOR = 본선의 기관차들
 
}}
  
}}
 
{{The Railway Series}}
  
{{The Railway Series}}

Revision as of 17:29, 14 June 2020

Main Page
Gallery


“"It's not fair!"
"What isn't fair?"
"Letting Branch Line diesels pull Main Line trains."
"Never mind, Gordon. I'm sure BoCo will let you pull his trucks sometimes. That would make it quite fair."
"I won't pull BoCo's dirty trucks! I won't run on Branch Lines!"
"Why not? It would be a nice change."
"The Fat Controller would never approve! Branch Lines are vulgar!"”
― Gordon and Edward arguing about BoCo and branch lines

Main Line Engines is the twenty-first book of the Railway Series.

Foreword

Dear Friends,
Bill and Ben are a shameless pair. I meant to write about Main Line Engines, and give the twins a treat by letting them into the first story. But I couldn't keep them in order! Before I knew it they had crept into the others. They even wanted me to change the book and make it about them!

But I have been very firm. I am still calling it Main Line Engines. That will serve Bill and Ben right for ragging poor Gordon so disgracefully.

He hasn't got over it yet!
The Author

Stories

The Diseasel

Bill and Ben are tank engine twins that work at the China Clay Workings on Edward's Branch Line. One day they leave some trucks in a siding and leave for more, but return to find them all gone. Their drivers determine it was a "diseasel" that took them, and when Bill recalls a sign saying "coughs and sneezles spread diseasels", in his words, Ben blames him. Their drivers quiet them and formulate a plan. They find the diseasel on a siding, and manage to confuse him so as to make him giddy, but when Edward comes along he reprimands them and tells them to apologise to the diseasel, who calls himself BoCo. Edward sends them away, and he and BoCo joke about the twins.

Buzz, Buzz

Duck and BoCo are talking about Bill and Ben. Duck tells BoCo he has nicknamed them "The Bees", when James, who just arrived, claims he would simply blow smoke at bees to shoo them away. The next day, two porters are pulling a trolley with a beehive on top when it falls off and bees swarm out. They decide to rest on James' boiler, but when one burns its feet, it stings James on the nose, and James runs away. In the end, BoCo takes the Express, and that night the others talk about a red beehive on wheels.

Wrong Road

Although the big engines are forbidden to go on the branchlines because of their weight, Gordon claims he is forbidden because they are "vulgar", and leaves to take his late train. He misses his "path" after a lady with a large floppy green hat confounds the fireman into thinking the guard had waved his flag, and in the end Edward's train leaves ahead of Gordon. However, this creates a huge disruption as the Wellsworth signalman is not informed, and Gordon is left on a siding at Brendam. The next day, Bill and Ben come into the yard, and tease him by "mistaking" him for scrap and arguing about how to dispose of Gordon. Gordon thinks they are serious, and when BoCo arrives, he asks for help. BoCo sends the twins away with his trucks, and Gordon has had great respect for diesels ever since.

Edward's Exploit

Edward reprimands Bill and Ben for what they did to Gordon, but told Gordon that he deserved it. He is later set to take some enthusiasts home, but finds it hard to move the train. After meeting up with Bill and Ben, Edward takes the enthusiasts away, but stops when a crank-pin breaks, battering his splashers and frame. His crew take both crank-pins off, and Edward manages to struggle home. Edward is sent to Crovan's Gate, and BoCo does his work so well that he single-handedly changes Donald and Douglas' opinion about diesels.

Characters

The Diseasel

Buzz, Buzz

Wrong Road

Edward's Exploit

Locations

The Diseasel

Buzz, Buzz

Wrong Road

Edward's Exploit

Trivia

  • Despite its name, a majority of this book takes place on Edward's Branch Line.
  • This book marks the first appearances of Bill, Ben and BoCo.
  • This book marks the last appearance of Edward in the Railway Series until James and the Diesel Engines. 
  • The events of this book take place in the latter half of 1965.
  • This book marks the first time James is shown with his blue lining instead of his standard black lining.
  • The word "diseasel" is a portmanteau of "disease" and "diesel".
  • Buzz, Buzz is based on a real event in which six bees escaped from a hive at London Bridge Station. 
  • Wrong Road is based on a real event that occurred at Sittingbourne, Kent in 1911.
  • Edward's Exploit is based on a real event of what happened to the crosshead assembly of an express train near Settle, North Yorkshire in 1960.

Goofs

  • In "The Diseasel":
    • In the second illustration, Ben's face is discoloured.
    • In the fourth and sixth illustrations, BoCo has the 'Express meat and fish' headcode, when he is supposed to have China clay trucks.
  • In "Buzz, Buzz":
    • In the fouth illustration, James' builder's plate reads "1943" despite the fact that he was built in 1912/13.
  • In "Wrong Road":
    • In the first illustration, Thomas' valence is curved and Annie is missing her face. 
    • In the sixth illustration, Bill and Ben are taller and thinner than they should be. Their faces are also shaped like ovals instead of circles.
  • In "Edward's Exploit":
    • In the first illustration, James' dome is red and his roof is black.
    • In the third illustration, the passengers are purple.  
    • In the last illustration, BoCo's number is missing.

In Other Languages

Language Title
Japanese 大きな機関車たち
Korean 본선의 기관차들
Writers Wilbert Awdry | Christopher Awdry | George Awdry | Brian Sibley
Illustrators William Middleton | Reginald Payne | C. Reginald Dalby | John T. Kenney | Gunvor and Peter Edwards | Clive Spong | Stephen Lings
Publishers Edmund Ward | Kaye & Ward | William Heinemann | Egmont Publishing | Random House Books
Narrators Wilbert Awdry | Johnny Morris | Willie Rushton | Ted Robbins | John Gielgud | Andrew Sachs | Michael Angelis
Characters Railway Series characters | Railway Series-exclusive characters | Awdry-created characters
Other The Sad Story of Henry (1953) | The Railway Stories | Eric Marriott
Books W.A. The Three Railway Engines | Thomas the Tank Engine | James the Red Engine | Tank Engine Thomas Again | Troublesome Engines | Henry the Green Engine | Toby the Tram Engine | Gordon the Big Engine | Edward the Blue Engine | Four Little Engines | Percy the Small Engine | The Eight Famous Engines | Duck and the Diesel Engine | The Little Old Engine | The Twin Engines | Branch Line Engines | Gallant Old Engine | Stepney the "Bluebell" Engine | Mountain Engines | Very Old Engines | Main Line Engines | Small Railway Engines | Enterprising Engines | Oliver the Western Engine | Duke the Lost Engine | Tramway Engines
C.A. Really Useful Engines | James and the Diesel Engines | Great Little Engines | More About Thomas the Tank Engine | Gordon the High-Speed Engine | Toby, Trucks and Trouble | Thomas and the Twins | Jock the New Engine | Thomas and the Great Railway Show | Thomas Comes Home | Henry and the Express | Wilbert the Forest Engine | Thomas and the Fat Controller's Engines | New Little Engine | Thomas and Victoria | Thomas and his Friends | Barry the Rescue Engine
Other Thomas's Christmas Party | Thomas Comes to Breakfast | Thomas and the Missing Christmas Tree | Thomas and the Evil Diesel | Thomas and Gordon Off the Rails | Thomas and the Hurricane | Thomas the Tank Engine: The Complete Collection | Thomas the Tank Engine: The New Collection | Annuals | Mini Books | Pop-up Books
Companion Twelve Happy Engines | The Railway Series: Surprise Packet | Railway Map of the Island of Sodor | The Island of Sodor: Its People, History and Railways | The Thomas the Tank Engine Man | Sodor: Reading Between the Lines
Lectures Narrow Gauge Rails in Sodor | Railways of Sodor
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