| Gallant Old Engine | |
| Author | Wilbert Awdry |
| Illustrator | John T. Kenney |
| Publication date | 1962-Present |
| Published by | Edmund Ward Egmont Publishing |
| Publication Order | |
| Preceded by Branch Line Engines |
Followed by Stepney the "Bluebell" Engine |
Gallant Old Engine is the seventeenth book in the Railway Series.
Foreword[]
Dear Friends,
On the second page of Four Little Engines Rheneas was taken away to be mended. He was away for a long time, but now has come home.
All the Little Engines are together at last. They are delighted Rheneas is their hero. He had saved the Railway...
There is a real engine like Rheneas. His name is Dolgoch and his home is at Towyn in Wales.
Some years ago he saved the Talyllyn Railway. We are very proud of our gallant old engine.
Stories[]
Special Funnel[]
Peter Sam's funnel has never been the same since his accident in The Little Old Engine when some slate trucks smashed into him. Winter arrives and a torrent has swept away the trackbed near the tunnel. Mr. Hugh and Rusty help to build a new bridge over it, and Peter Sam takes the market train through the tunnel. Noticing it too late, a hanging icicle breaks his funnel after his driver sees it dangling from the tunnel roof. They find an old drain pipe to use and the engines laugh over it with Sir Handel making up a rhyme. A Giesl ejector is eventually delivered and despite Peter Sam's doubts, it is fitted. Both Duncan and Sir Handel claim they are not pleased with it because how could the fourth narrow-gauge engine have sat on his new funnel, whereupon they laugh until Peter Sam proves once again that looks are deceiving.
Steamroller[]
Sir Handel is given new wheels with broad tyres because of his slips. The engines try to tease him, but to no eviction until Skarloey suggests he should tackle George, a steamroller who has recently come to help widen the road running beside the railway. Sir Handel attempts to put George in tactful place, but it just riles him up, so when Sir Handel finds himself in conflict with him while running a special load, there is a nasty crash due to the barrier between road and railway having been pulled down. George and Sir Handel's drivers are about to throw punches at each other until a policeman stops them. Rusty and Mr. Hugh clear the mess up and a fence is put up before the workmen leave. At the sheds, some boys arrive and one of them comments about Sir Handel's exploit in a way that makes him decide the subject is not particularly topic-worthy.
Passengers and Polish[]
Nancy, a daughter of the railway's staff, is cleaning a snoozing Skarloey one day with her yellow rag. She tells the old engine that Rheneas is coming home tomorrow after finally receiving a heavy overhaul, and Skarloey wakes up with a start as the ceremonial preparations is news to him. Duncan requests a polish but Nancy can't because she needs to help the Refreshment Lady get prepared for Skarloey's train. The Scottish engine sulks as he is sent with the Maintenance Train to help with a derailment of Skarloey's coaches, only to return and pull his own train straight afterwards.
He makes a standoff on the Viaduct after his driver tells him to have a drink at the next station. Skarloey takes him to the station and every passenger onboard Duncan's train burst out and protest against it. The Thin Controller isn't happy either and scolds Duncan, who behind his back remains justified in his ideas.
Gallant Old Engine[]
Duncan's frustration kept continuing next day, causing Skarloey to snap at him for disrespecting passengers. Duncan still can't see the point, so Skarloey tells the story about Rheneas when he saved the Skarloey Railway from being closed forever. It was one year before Peter Sam and Sir Handel came that Rheneas tried to take a train full of passengers, and when his valve gear jammed, he stopped in the wrong place. The Thin Controller who was a Train conductor at the time made an effort by sanding the rails as Mr. Hugh the Driver coaxed the train forward.
Rheneas said to himself if he bursts now, the Skarloey Railway will close down. He managed on one valve gear to reach Crovans Gate and was praised and called a "gallant engine" for his efforts. The next day, Edward shunts the flatbed carrying Rheneas into place, and Skarloey fittingly hauls him back onto his home rails. The railway is happy that Rheneas has finally returned after seven years being away, while Duncan is in no doubt about what it means to make a good impression on passengers.
Characters[]
- Rheneas
- Skarloey
- Sir Handel
- Peter Sam
- George
- Rusty
- Duncan
- The Thin Controller
- Mr. Hugh
- Nancy
- Edward (does not speak)
- Agnes, Ruth, Jemima, Lucy and Beatrice (do not speak)
- Cora (cameo)
- Gertrude and Millicent (cameo)
- Ada, Jane and Mabel (cameo)
- Dolgoch (mentioned)
Trivia[]
- This was the final Railway Series book illustrated by John T. Kenney.
- In the sixth illustration of "Steamroller", John T. Kenney's name is referenced on the numberplate of his car. It also has the number 62 based on this book's publishing date of 1962.
- The Reverend acknowledged the help given by members of the Talyllyn Railway Preservation Society in preparation of this book.
- The Reverend also acknowledged the help for two stories to be illustrated in the book. They were from a Mr. P.B. Whitehouse and a Mr. L.T.C. Rolt.
Goofs[]
- Throughout the book, the lampirons on each engine keep disappearing and reappearing.
- In "Passengers and Polish", Skarloey is missing his brass dome.