Troublesome Engines

Railway Series #5

by W. Awdry

This book tells how Henry meets an elephant and James spins round like a top, how the Fat Controller deals with the bigger engines who are Getting Above Themselves and being troublesome, and how a new engine called Percy comes to the rescue by running away.

Genres: Childrens, Fiction, Picture Books, Adventure, Trains

72 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1950

About the author

Wilbert Vere Awdry, OBE, better known as the Rev. W. Awdry, was an English clergyman, railway enthusiast and children's author, and creator of Thomas the Tank Engine, who starred in Awdry's acclaimed Railway Series.

The characters that would make Awdry famous, and the first stories featuring them, were invented in 1943 to amuse his son Christopher during a bout of measles. The first book (The Three Railway Engines) was published in 1945, and by the time Awdry stopped writing in 1972, The Railway Series numbered 26 books. Christopher subsequently added further books to the series.

Reviews

[Shirley Revill]

Oh you troublesome engines what did you do
When my children fell in love with you
All those hours spent watching trains
Jotting down numbers
Remembering names
Days spent on stations
Notebooks in hand
Thought I was living
In an alternative land
Then some days to Ripley we would race
Just to gaze at Thomas's face
Videos,TV and many books too
Thomas my kids really love you.

[Sophie Crane]

A Good Collection of Stories and Serves as an Introduction to Percy the Small Engine!

[DiscoSpacePanther]

I don’t really agree with the Fat Controller’s method of discipline - three days in the naughty shed seems a little excessive for some of his key workers demanding better working conditions. These locomotives need some unionisation.

Not sure my four-month-old understood the between-the-lines moral about collective bargaining, but then again I might be reading too much into this children’s story about talking steam locomotives.

[Julie Scott]

One of the first truly good books in this series, I think, as the first three just were build-up in comparison. In this book, three of the big engines get stuck-up and decide not to do their work after several embarrassing incidents. Because of this, Percy, who is confident, bubbly, and cheeky is introduced to the railway, and makes for a very interesting play-out of events and astrong character.

[Bree]

Notes:
we read these books so many times
the classic series is the only way to enjoy Thomas

[Michael]

Good for two year olds.
Bit long, but the stories can be paced out for entertainment value.

[Natasha]

The only reason I picked up this book was because it was going for R10 at a charity shop sale. The pickings were slim and this looked like a decent enough story. Well, the kids and I loved it. The writing is exceptional and the stories are just amazing. I can’t really explain it but it was comforting, educational, and most of all re-readable. I have now bought the full boxset and we are steadily making our way through the series. It’s been magical.

Surprisingly, Thomas is second story in the series… looking forwarding the continuing this journey with the engines and their trains.

[Lynn Maitlen]

I feel like this one was written for kids who don’t listen to the parents😂Not a bad thing though. I enjoyed the storytelling. I do wonder if the troublesome engines ever got proper care and respect in a later book? I guess I’ll have to find out!

Percy is the real mvp. I love the cheeky little guy.

Great.

[Mark Bejar]

El más flojo de los 5 que he leído hasta el momento pero del que más rescato una moraleja en concreta: Nadie es indispensable y si no cumplimos con nuestras responsabilidades no tardarán en reemplazarlos

[Meowcats TV]

I love the trio of Gordon, Henry, and James in this book. Percy is also a fun new character.