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Thomas and the Fat Controller's Engines

From Thomas the Tank Engine Wikia

Cover

"Thomas and the Fat Controller's Engines" was first published in 1995. It was written by Christopher Awdry and illustrated by Clive Spong.

Contents

Stories

Birdstrike

The Fat Controller tells the delighted engines that they will be celebrating the Golden Jubilee of the Railway Series this year. Gordon wants to pull the special train for the occasion, but the Fat Controller has borrowed Pip and Emma to pull the train. Gordon has no time to be upset though, because he has to leave to pull the Express. Near Henry's Tunnel, some crows are flying close to the railway. When Gordon startles them with his whistle, the birds fly too close to him, and with a bump the brakes suddenly come on. The crew eventually find a bird knocked the seal off Gordon's front brakepipe, and the train sets off again, but no one forgets the incident, and tease Gordon about it.

Edward and the Cabbages

James is late one day and Edward hurries to make up time. Edward notes his front feels wobbly, and as they pass a cabbage patch one of Edward's bogie wheels snaps off and disappears. Nothing is said of the accident, but a surprised farmer later discovers Edward's wheel in his cabbage patch.

Rabbits

Rabbits have been burrowing under the stretch before Dryaw, and the Fat Controller imposes a ten mp/h limit on the stretch until something is sorted out. The day before the decision is put into effect, Thomas is puffing across the stretch when a rail tilts and he comes off. Percy takes Annie and Clarabel home, and after the workmen put lift him up with jacks to put rails underneath Percy pulls him back to Knapford.

Golden Jubilee

Henry is depressed and claims the Golden Jubilee will be a disaster. However, by the time the big day comes Thomas' branchline and Edward's wheels are both repaired and Edward is chosen to clear the line for Pip and Emma. Unluckily, Edward and the branchline engines are about to leave Knapford when a cobweb short-cicuits the signalbox. They are flagged through, and the ceremony goes without a hitch, with the guest of honour, the Royal Personage, declaring the engines to be a credit to the Fat Controller.

Featured characters

Trivia

  • Christopher Awdry's working title for this book was "The Fat Controller's Engines", but the publishers insisted on a "Thomas" link in the title.
  • The Royal Personage is not named, but it is likely to be Prince Charles.
  • This book was intended as a marketing tool; yet, ironically, while Christopher Awdry's books were out of print, this was the hardest one to obtain.
  • Two real life engines are mentioned: "Bahamas" and "The Silver Jubilee".

Goofs

  • The final two illustrations of "Golden Jubilee" don't match the text. Gordon, James and Henry apparently got to the station first, but Thomas and Mavis manage to get in front of them. What's more, Edward should have been there, but he doesn't appear!

Quotes

  • Percy: Isn't a Jubilee a sort of party? Thomas and I took some Scouts to one once.
  • Thomas: That was a jamboree.
  • Percy: Was it? Sorry.
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