Thomas the Tank Engine Wikia
Don't have an account?
Register
Register
Thomas the Tank Engine Wikia
Thomas the Tank Engine Wiki
15,285
pages
in: Books, Railway Series Books, Australian Books,
and 5 more
English

Changes: Percy the Small Engine (Book)

Back to page
View source
No edit summary
(33 intermediate revisions by 17 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
 
{{Tab|tab1=Main Page|tab2=Gallery}}
  
{{Tab|tab1=Main Page|tab2=Gallery}}
  +
{{Otheruses4|Percy}}
−
{{Youmay|''the Railway Series book''|''[[Percy|the tank engine]]'', ''[[Percy the Green Engine|the Random House book]]'', ''[[Percy (magazine story)|the 1997 magazine story]]'', ''[[Percy (2002 magazine story)|the 2002 magazine story]]'', ''[[Percy (Story Library Book)|the Story Library book]]'', ''[[Percy (Engine Adventures)|the Engine Adventures book]]'', ''[[Percy (Great Big Board Book)|the board book]]'' or ''[[Percy the Cheeky Little Engine|the My First Railway Library book]]''}}
  
 
{{Infobox Book
  
{{Infobox Book
 
|title1=Percy the Small Engine
  
|title1=Percy the Small Engine
−
|image1=PercytheSmallEngine2015Cover.jpg
 +
|image1=File:PercytheSmallEngine2015Cover.jpg
 
|author=[[Wilbert Awdry|The Rev. W. Awdry]]
  
|author=[[Wilbert Awdry|The Rev. W. Awdry]]
 
|illustrator=[[C. Reginald Dalby]]
  
|illustrator=[[C. Reginald Dalby]]
  +
|publisher=
−
|publisher=[[Edmund Ward]] {{Note|1956-1968}}<br>[[Kaye & Ward]] {{Note|1968-1998}}<br>[[Egmont Publishing]] {{Note|1998-present}}
  
  +
* [[Edmund Ward]] {{Note|1956-1968}}
  +
* [[Kaye & Ward]] {{Note|1968-1998}}
  +
* [[Egmont Publishing]] {{Note|1998-present}}
 
|published=1956 - present
  
|published=1956 - present
 
|series=[[The Railway Series]]
  
|series=[[The Railway Series]]
 
|previous=[[Four Little Engines]]
  
|previous=[[Four Little Engines]]
 
|next=[[The Eight Famous Engines]]
  
|next=[[The Eight Famous Engines]]
  +
}}
−
}}{{Quote|Percy is a little green tank engine who works in the Yard at the Big Station. He is a funny little engine, and loves playing jokes. These jokes sometimes get him into trouble.|The introduction to Percy}}
 +
{{Quote|Percy is a little green tank engine who works in the Yard at the Big Station. He is a funny little engine, and loves playing jokes. These jokes sometimes get him into trouble.|The introduction to Percy}}
−
'''Percy the Small Engine''' is the eleventh book of [[the Railway Series]].
 +
'''''Percy the Small Engine''''' is the eleventh book of [[The Railway Series|the ''Railway Series'']].
   
 
==Foreword==
  
==Foreword==
−
Dear Christopher, and Giles, and Peter, and Clive,<br/>
 +
Dear Christopher, and Giles, and Peter, and Clive,<br />
 
Thank you for writing to ask for a book about Percy. He is still cheeky, and we were afraid (the Fat Controller and I) that if he had a book to himself, it might make him cheekier than ever, and that would never do!
  
Thank you for writing to ask for a book about Percy. He is still cheeky, and we were afraid (the Fat Controller and I) that if he had a book to himself, it might make him cheekier than ever, and that would never do!
   
−
But Percy has been such a Really Useful Engine that we both think he deserves a book. Here it is.<br/>
 +
But Percy has been such a Really Useful Engine that we both think he deserves a book. Here it is.<br />
 
[[Wilbert Awdry|The Author]]
  
[[Wilbert Awdry|The Author]]
   
 
==Stories==
  
==Stories==
−
===[[Percy and the Signal]]===
 +
===''[[Percy and the Signal]]''===
−
After playing jokes on Gordon and James, Percy decides to stay out of their way for a while, but when he is asked to take a train to [[Knapford]] he gets careless and goes over to tell them. Seizing their chance, they warn him about "backing signals", and as he stops for the [[Signals|signal]] outside Knapford, he is convinced that he is waiting for a "backing signal." He ends up making a fool of himself, and Gordon sees the whole episode.
 +
After playing jokes on Gordon and James, Percy decides to stay out of their way for a while, but when he is asked to take a train to Knapford he gets careless and goes over to tell them. Seizing their chance, they tell him about "backing signals", and as he stops for the [[Signals|signal]] outside Knapford, he is convinced that he is waiting for a "backing signal". He ends up making a fool of himself, and Gordon sees the whole episode.
   
−
===[[Duck Takes Charge]]===
 +
===''[[Duck Takes Charge]]''===
−
The Fat Controller is getting a new engine to help Percy, but Gordon and James tell Percy that if he worked harder they would not need one. Percy, cross, works all day and is exhausted, but is happy when the new engine, Montague, known as Duck for his "waddle, arrives. They have a happy day together, but then Henry, Gordon and James order them about. Percy and Duck, in retaliation, block the entrance to [[Tidmouth Sheds|the sheds]]. The Fat Controller comes and tells all five engines off. Percy is sent to work at Knapford, and Duck manages the workload alone.
 +
The Fat Controller is getting a new engine to help Percy, but Gordon and James tell Percy that if he worked harder they would not need one. Percy, cross, works all day and is exhausted, but is happy when the new engine, Montague, known as Duck for his "waddle", arrives. They have a happy day together, but then Henry, Gordon and James order them about. Percy and Duck, in retaliation, block the entrance to the sheds. The Fat Controller comes and tells all five engines off. Percy is sent to work at Knapford, and Duck manages the workload alone.
   
−
===[[Percy and Harold]]===
 +
===''[[Percy and Harold]]''===
−
One day at [[Dryaw|the airfield]], Percy meets a noisy helicopter, Harold, who says railways are slow and out-of-date. Percy, furious, is later taking some trucks to [[Knapford Harbour]] when he sees Harold in the air and decides to race him. At the harbour, Percy thinks he has lost, but his [[Firemen|fireman]] sees Harold looking for a place to land. In congratulation, his crew and the [[workmen]] sing a song about the race.
 +
One day at [[Dryaw|the airfield]], Percy meets a noisy helicopter, Harold, who says railways are slow and out-of-date. Percy, furious, is later taking some trucks to Knapford Harbour when he sees Harold in the air and decides to race him. At the harbour, Percy thinks he has lost, but his [[Firemen|fireman]] sees Harold looking for a place to land. In congratulation, his crew and the [[workmen]] sing a song about the race.
   
−
===[[Percy's Promise]]===
 +
===''[[Percy's Promise]]''===
−
Thomas is busy and asks Percy to take the Sunday School children home. Percy agrees, but it starts to rain heavily as it is time to leave. Percy stops in front of a flooded paddock, but cannot go back, as a bridge has collapsed. As he crosses the paddock, water sloshes into his fire and he stops. Percy struggles on, fuelled by floorboards from the guard's van. After Harold drops some supplies for them, unfortunately landing on Percy's boiler, they make it to safety, and the Fat Controller congratulates the two.
 +
Thomas is busy and asks Percy to take the Vicar and his Sunday School's children home from the Beach. Percy agrees, but it starts to rain heavily as it is time to leave. Percy stops in front of a flooded paddock, but cannot go back, as a bridge has collapsed. As he crosses the paddock, water sloshes into his fire and he stops. Percy struggles on, fuelled by floorboards from Clarabel. After Harold drops some supplies for them, unfortunately landing on Percy's boiler, they make it to safety, and the Fat Controller congratulates the two.
   
 
==Characters==
  
==Characters==
  +
===Percy and the Signal===
⚫
* [[Thomas]]
  
  +
* [[Gordon]]
  +
* [[James]]
  +
* [[Percy]]
  +
* [[Troublesome Trucks]]
  +
* [[Henry]] {{Cameo}}
  +
* [[Sir Topham Hatt|The Fat Controller]] {{Mentioned}}
  +
  +
===Duck Takes Charge===
 
* [[Henry]]
  
* [[Henry]]
 
* [[Gordon]]
  
* [[Gordon]]
Line 41: Line 53:
 
* [[Percy]]
  
* [[Percy]]
 
* [[Duck]]
  
* [[Duck]]
  +
* [[Sir Topham Hatt|The Fat Controller]]
  +
* [[Thomas]] {{Mentioned}}
  +
* [[Toby]] {{Mentioned}}
  +
  +
===Percy and Harold===
  +
* [[Percy]]
 
* [[Harold]]
  
* [[Harold]]
  +
* [[Troublesome Trucks]]
  +
* [[Toby]] {{Does not speak}}
  +
  +
===Percy's Promise===
  ⚫
* [[Thomas]]
  +
* [[Percy]]
 
* [[Sir Topham Hatt|The Fat Controller]]
  
* [[Sir Topham Hatt|The Fat Controller]]
 
* [[Minor Human Characters in the Annual Stories#The Vicar of Knapford|The Vicar of Knapford]]
  
* [[Minor Human Characters in the Annual Stories#The Vicar of Knapford|The Vicar of Knapford]]
−
* [[Toby]] {{Does not speak}}
 +
* [[Annie and Clarabel]] {{Do not speak}}
−
* [[Annie and Clarabel]] {{Note|do not speak}}
 +
* [[Harold]] {{Does not speak}}
   
 
==Locations==
  
==Locations==
  +
===Percy and the Signal===
 
* [[Tidmouth Sheds]]
  
* [[Tidmouth Sheds]]
 
* [[Knapford]]
  
* [[Knapford]]
  +
⚫
* [[Tidmouth Harbour]]
  
  +
===Duck Takes Charge===
 
* [[Tidmouth]]
  
* [[Tidmouth]]
  +
** [[Tidmouth Sheds]]
  ⚫
** [[Tidmouth Harbour]]
  +
* [[Knapford Harbour]] {{Mentioned}}
  +
  +
===Percy and Harold===
 
* [[Knapford Harbour]]
  
* [[Knapford Harbour]]
  +
** [[Knapford Harbour Bridges]]
  +
* [[Crosby Tunnel]]
  +
* [[Knapford Airfield]]
 
* [[Ffarquhar]]
  
* [[Ffarquhar]]
  +
  +
===Percy's Promise===
  +
* [[Knapford Harbour]]
  +
** [[Knapford Harbour Bridges]]
  +
* [[The Flooded Track]]
  +
* [[Elsbridge]]
   
 
==Trivia==
  
==Trivia==
  ⚫
* This was the final book of a few things:
−
* This was the final book to be illustrated by C. Reginald Dalby, as the Rev. W. Awdry remarked that Percy looked like "a green caterpillar with red stripes" in the illustrations. Offended, Dalby refused to illustrate any further entries in the series. The comment on Percy's appearance would be later referenced in [[Tramway Engines]].
 +
** The final book to be illustrated by C. Reginald Dalby, as the Rev. W. Awdry remarked that Percy looked like "a green caterpillar with red stripes" in the illustrations. Offended, Dalby refused to illustrate any further entries in the series. The comment on Percy's appearance would be later referenced in [[Tramway Engines]].
⚫
* Percy's Promise is based on a real event where a train was stranded in five feet of water near Hunstanton, Norfolk, and the crew got the train into Hunstanton by using the floorboards of the guard's van.
  
  +
** The final book narrated by [[Johnny Morris]]. 
⚫
* Throughout the book, Duck is depicted as a GWR 64xx class rather than a GWR 57xx class as his basis.
  
  ⚫
* ''Percy's Promise'' is based on a real event where a train was stranded in five feet of water near Hunstanton, Norfolk, and the crew got the train into Hunstanton by using the floorboards of the guard's van.
⚫
* This was the final book to be narrated by [[Johnny Morris]].
  
−
* Illustrations from Percy and Harold and Percy's Promise was recreated for 1986 single cover of [[wikipedia:Oh L'amour|Oh L'amour]], a song by English synthpop duo [[wikipedia:Erasure|Erasure]].
 +
* Illustrations from ''Percy and Harold ''and ''Percy's Promise'' were recreated for 1986 single cover of [[wikipedia:Oh L'amour|Oh L'amour]], a song by English synthpop duo [[wikipedia:Erasure|Erasure]].
−
* [[Eric Marriott]]'s (the editor of the Railway Series) name appears on a building at [[Tidmouth Harbour]] in the second illustration of Duck Takes Charge.
 +
* [[Eric Marriott]]'s (the editor of the Railway Series) name appears on a building at Tidmouth Harbour in the second illustration of ''Duck Takes Charge''.
 
* The events of this book took place in 1955.
  
* The events of this book took place in 1955.
   
 
==Goofs==
  
==Goofs==
−
* The electric pole by the single track shed in "Percy and the Signal" disappears.
 +
* The electric pole by the single track shed in ''Percy and the Signal'' disappears.
 
* The workmen in the first illustration are dramatically out of perspective.
  
* The workmen in the first illustration are dramatically out of perspective.
 
* In ''Duck Takes Charge'':
  
* In ''Duck Takes Charge'':
 
** In the sixth illustration, Duck appears to be taller than Henry.
  
** In the sixth illustration, Duck appears to be taller than Henry.
 
** In the seventh illustration, Duck is a much lighter shade of green.
  
** In the seventh illustration, Duck is a much lighter shade of green.
  ⚫
**Duck is depicted as a GWR 64xx class rather than a GWR 57xx class as his basis.
⚫
* In the final illustration of "Percy and Harold", Percy's fireman is dramatically out of perspective.
  
  +
* In ''Percy and Harold'':
⚫
* Thomas and Percy's headcodes are incorrect in all of the illustrations, except the second, in "Percy's Promise."
  
−
* In the third illustration of "Percy and Harold," Toby is missing his front coupling and is painted in his old livery.
 +
** In the third illustration, Toby is missing his front coupling and is painted in his old livery.
  ⚫
** In the final illustration, Percy's fireman is dramatically out of perspective.
  ⚫
* Thomas and Percy's headcodes are incorrect in all of the illustrations, except the second, in ''Percy's Promise''.
   
 
==In Other Languages==
  
==In Other Languages==
 
{{Other Languages
  
{{Other Languages
 
|CHI=小火车培西
  
|CHI=小火车培西
−
|JPN=ちびっこ機関車パーシィ {{Note|Temporary Title}}<br>ちびっこ機関車パーシー {{Note|1974-}}
 +
|JPN=ちびっこ機関車パーシィ {{Note|Temporary Title}}<br/>ちびっこ機関車パーシー {{Note|1974 - present}}
 
|KOR=작은 기관차 퍼시
  
|KOR=작은 기관차 퍼시
 
|NOR=Thomas og Lille Percy
  
|NOR=Thomas og Lille Percy
Line 84: Line 126:
 
{{The Railway Series}}
  
{{The Railway Series}}
   
  +
[[es:Percy la Pequeña Locomotora]]
⚫
[[pl:Piotruś, Mała Lokomotywa]]
  
 
[[he:פרסי הקטר הקטן]]
  
[[he:פרסי הקטר הקטן]]
  +
[[ja:ちびっこ機関車パーシー]]
⚫
[[Category:Railway Series Books]]
  
  ⚫
[[pl:Piotruś, Mała Lokomotywa]]
 
[[Category:Books]]
  
[[Category:Books]]
−
[[Category:Welsh Books]]
 +
[[Category:Railway Series Books]]
 
[[Category:Australian Books]]
  
[[Category:Australian Books]]
⚫
[[Category:Japanese Books]]
  
 
[[Category:Chinese Books]]
  
[[Category:Chinese Books]]
  ⚫
[[Category:Japanese Books]]
 
[[Category:Korean Books]]
  
[[Category:Korean Books]]
 
[[Category:Norwegian Books]]
  
[[Category:Norwegian Books]]
  ⚫
[[Category:Welsh Books]]

Revision as of 14:42, 13 April 2020

Main Page
Gallery

For other uses, see Percy (disambiguation).


“Percy is a little green tank engine who works in the Yard at the Big Station. He is a funny little engine, and loves playing jokes. These jokes sometimes get him into trouble.”
― The introduction to Percy

Percy the Small Engine is the eleventh book of the Railway Series.

Foreword

Dear Christopher, and Giles, and Peter, and Clive,
Thank you for writing to ask for a book about Percy. He is still cheeky, and we were afraid (the Fat Controller and I) that if he had a book to himself, it might make him cheekier than ever, and that would never do!

But Percy has been such a Really Useful Engine that we both think he deserves a book. Here it is.
The Author

Stories

Percy and the Signal

After playing jokes on Gordon and James, Percy decides to stay out of their way for a while, but when he is asked to take a train to Knapford he gets careless and goes over to tell them. Seizing their chance, they tell him about "backing signals", and as he stops for the signal outside Knapford, he is convinced that he is waiting for a "backing signal". He ends up making a fool of himself, and Gordon sees the whole episode.

Duck Takes Charge

The Fat Controller is getting a new engine to help Percy, but Gordon and James tell Percy that if he worked harder they would not need one. Percy, cross, works all day and is exhausted, but is happy when the new engine, Montague, known as Duck for his "waddle", arrives. They have a happy day together, but then Henry, Gordon and James order them about. Percy and Duck, in retaliation, block the entrance to the sheds. The Fat Controller comes and tells all five engines off. Percy is sent to work at Knapford, and Duck manages the workload alone.

Percy and Harold

One day at the airfield, Percy meets a noisy helicopter, Harold, who says railways are slow and out-of-date. Percy, furious, is later taking some trucks to Knapford Harbour when he sees Harold in the air and decides to race him. At the harbour, Percy thinks he has lost, but his fireman sees Harold looking for a place to land. In congratulation, his crew and the workmen sing a song about the race.

Percy's Promise

Thomas is busy and asks Percy to take the Vicar and his Sunday School's children home from the Beach. Percy agrees, but it starts to rain heavily as it is time to leave. Percy stops in front of a flooded paddock, but cannot go back, as a bridge has collapsed. As he crosses the paddock, water sloshes into his fire and he stops. Percy struggles on, fuelled by floorboards from Clarabel. After Harold drops some supplies for them, unfortunately landing on Percy's boiler, they make it to safety, and the Fat Controller congratulates the two.

Characters

Percy and the Signal

Duck Takes Charge

Percy and Harold

Percy's Promise

Locations

Percy and the Signal

Duck Takes Charge

Percy and Harold

Percy's Promise

Trivia

  • This was the final book of a few things:
    • The final book to be illustrated by C. Reginald Dalby, as the Rev. W. Awdry remarked that Percy looked like "a green caterpillar with red stripes" in the illustrations. Offended, Dalby refused to illustrate any further entries in the series. The comment on Percy's appearance would be later referenced in Tramway Engines.
    • The final book narrated by Johnny Morris. 
  • Percy's Promise is based on a real event where a train was stranded in five feet of water near Hunstanton, Norfolk, and the crew got the train into Hunstanton by using the floorboards of the guard's van.
  • Illustrations from Percy and Harold and Percy's Promise were recreated for 1986 single cover of Oh L'amour, a song by English synthpop duo Erasure.
  • Eric Marriott's (the editor of the Railway Series) name appears on a building at Tidmouth Harbour in the second illustration of Duck Takes Charge.
  • The events of this book took place in 1955.

Goofs

  • The electric pole by the single track shed in Percy and the Signal disappears.
  • The workmen in the first illustration are dramatically out of perspective.
  • In Duck Takes Charge:
    • In the sixth illustration, Duck appears to be taller than Henry.
    • In the seventh illustration, Duck is a much lighter shade of green.
    • Duck is depicted as a GWR 64xx class rather than a GWR 57xx class as his basis.
  • In Percy and Harold:
    • In the third illustration, Toby is missing his front coupling and is painted in his old livery.
    • In the final illustration, Percy's fireman is dramatically out of perspective.
  • Thomas and Percy's headcodes are incorrect in all of the illustrations, except the second, in Percy's Promise.

In Other Languages

Language Title
Chinese 小火车培西
Japanese ちびっこ機関車パーシィ (Temporary Title)
ちびっこ機関車パーシー (1974 - present)
Korean 작은 기관차 퍼시
Norwegian Thomas og Lille Percy
Welsh Pyrsi'r Injan Fach
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
Español עברית 日本語 Polski
*Disclosure: Some of the links above are affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, Fandom will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase. Community content is available under CC-BY-SA unless otherwise noted.
More Fandoms