RS Reviews: Edward The Blue Engine (TheMaster)

Edward Sets The Pace

Edward The Blue Engine

Reviewed by Ceri Jenkins

When volunteers were asked to promote a single book of Wilbert Awdry's fine Railway series, a book immediately came into my head to represent. That book was 'Edward the Blue Engine'. Why you may ask? Well, in my personal opinion - it's better than 'Enterprising Engines', not at least the petty point of it actually having four separate stories. In the next few chapters, I shall attempt to explain why it is worthy of being 'The Best Railway Series Book' ever:

Environment

For myself personally - I don't believe the railway series ,until this book, was actually a railway. They are the engine stories with special guests. They don't feel like day to day running of a railway until this book.

The supporting cast shoots up, from about six in all the books to date. Sidney, Charlie, Jem & the vicar are introduced. They actually do day to day business – talking, repairs, running a steam locomotive. Things a boy of this age could see everyday & relate to.

'Cows!' particularly emphasises this in terms of environment. It gives a good sense of atmosphere in terms of the railways in respect to farming. The inconvenience the railway building & operation would have on grazing animals & the inconvenience loose animals can be to the railway are well hidden into the story whilst the reader's mind is drawn to the main plot.

Reminiscence

With one story exception, this book is like no other but is the founding of many. Gordon & Henry's scene in 'Cows!' is touched upon again in The Twin Engines . Edward's finding of Trevor will spookily mirror the eerie atmosphere of 'Escape'. Issues of Scrap, Heritage & Obsolescence will wind their through the rest of the series like roots.

'Enterprising Engines' is not only like 'Edward the Blue Engine', it practically is. A ridiculed steam engine saving it's younger counterpart & replacement, a steam driven machine awaiting being cut up being save by the actions a small blue tender engine & a guest cameo. The biggest difference between these books is when 'Edward the Blue Engine' was published when no – one cared about withdrawal of steam engines whereas when 'Enterprising Engines' was published everyone did.

'Bertie's Chase' , however, is firmly a light hearted homage to 'Tank Engine Thomas again'. At the end of Thomas & Bertie's 'great' race, it is mentioned that they both wanted another race. A hidden message to careful what you wish for to those who remember this, as Bertie finds himself lagging seriously in a race to get Thomas's passengers onto Edward's train. The focus on Bertie here leads to some stunning visuals not really taken advantage of in the original story.

Heritage

Possibly this book's strength all in all, is that it represents the heritage movement for the first time, though probably building up to 'Four Little Engines' in the next volume. This would later be the foundations on which the series later opposition to the Modernisation plan.

Now the idea of putting something to better use got a mention in 'Toby the Tram Engine' but that's not really the same as the use in 'Saved from Scrap' or 'Escape'. We don't know Toby's fate in that book (But we do know Henrietta's fate as a hen house.) It is never implicitly stated Toby would be sent to scrap whereas we know Trevor, Donald, Douglas & Oliver, possibly every other engine, would.

This book also the first mention of scrapping. The punishments for the engines to this book & after have been relatively minor – Grounding, Loss of paintwork, Chores. Soon the series would take a turn to the darker side by threatening the very existence of the railway they work on.

In a more light hearted styling, 'Saved from Scrap' does this theme superbly. One of things I find brilliant about this story, it's very much a wild western theme in the pictures. Little green until the final picture. The vicar & Trevor standing opposed. It's very much about meeting your fate. Then the ride off away in the setting sun.

Speaking of sunset, notice the shadows. This story only appears to have western shadows, artistically speaking meaning the beginning of the end, the fall to darkness & the end of Trevor's existence.

This story is actually so iconic, BBC Top Gear's Captain Slow himself, James May actually refers to it. Not as a mention to Thomas or Wilbert Awdry but to the heritage movement itself.

Obsolescence

Now Obsolescence gets an early mention in this book here too. Previously an engine would be withdrawn for bad behaviour or lack of work or failing to perform their duties. Edward, on the other hand, is lined up for scrap by James for being a bit slow. Something almost forgotten about when reading but think about it again. This in the fifties is a reflection of the attitude of many people. This is the attitude that led to the Modernisation plan. “Get rid, we don't have patience for you.”

'Old Iron' quite rightly proves this attitude to be the self centred nonsense logic it is by having the antagonist having their well-being to depend on the very notion they were originally ridiculing! It reaffirms belief in the old ways. I also love the intrinsic use of humans in the story making it feel very railwaymanlike.

Conclusion

Ok, I'm not a very essay writer, that's the first thing we can draw from this. The point I would like to to hammer home is: I think 'Edward the Blue Engine' is the 'The Best Railway Series Book' is because it to me represents all of what Wilbert was trying to accomplish in his book series.

If you also agree with me, then I ask you to do one simple thing: Vote Blue!