Books is the sixth episode of the third season of the Stories of Sodor and the forty-first episode overall.
Plot[]
The episode begins with a boy meeting up with Thomas while he was waiting for a faulty set of points to be fixed. The boy's mother tells Thomas that her son has been reading the new book about him. Thomas is confused after learning about when Gordon dragging him along behind his express when the boy's mother and her son go off. Thomas asks his driver about the book Wilbert wrote about him and wants to know what it is about when presently, the points have been fixed and Thomas can continue on.
On the way to the mine, Thomas' driver told him about the recently released book that chronicled a number of his supposed adventures: being dragged behind Gordon, his trouble with trucks and rescuing James after his accident. Thomas had mixed feelings on the matter, as did the rest of the engines. Edward says he is talking about the Railway Series of children's books published by the Reverend Wilbert Awdry. They knew them what the day they were released; The Three Railway Engines was first published on May 12, 1945, a few days after the war in Europe ended and Thomas the Tank Engine was published in September 1946. After they began growing in popularity, the engines were excited to be gaining celebrity status. As time went on and more books were released, visitors began asking the engines about events that were either inaccurate or completely fictional. Some even insulted them for poor behaviour they never displayed.
One day, Gordon is complaining to Edward about how the book portrayed them. Edward points out that an author often writes fiction based on real events and people, and sometimes needs to make changes to appeal to their target audience. Edward also reminds Gordon that Henry has been getting off worse in terms of character degradation.
Meanwhile, at Knapford, a boy sings a rhyme to Henry and goes off. Henry goes off too, fuming, and meets up with Reginald and Samantha. Sam asks Henry if he really did in a tunnel because of rain. Henry answers no, though Reginald goes over the true version: "Once an engine attached to a train heard the whir of the Nazi planes. With a squeak of his funnel, he hid in the tunnel and waited till it was safe again." Henry says that was the night the Blitz came to Sodor. At the time, Henry was taking a passenger train and heard the planes flying above. Luckily, he was near Ballahoo Tunnel and stayed in there while Knapford was being bombed. Reginald also tells Sam about how the former Midi's Number One, Colin, was killed during that time. Reginald says that this could be the reason why the Reverend wrote his story about Henry that way. Just then, Eric passes by with a passenger train, singing the rhyme and Henry hisses steam at him.
At Brendam, Adam meets up with Drollan, Douglas and Diesel. Adam is very cross because that morning, he was taking a passenger train had to endure passengers asking if they knew Edward, Gordon, Henry and Thomas and they didn't care knowing about him. Adam isn't surprised, but is surprised none of them asked about Colin or Lily. Diesel points out Wilbert hasn't written about them yet and probably won't, to Douglas' anger. Drollan remembers a conversation he had with James before the reshuffle. James was upset about Mr. Star being replaced by Sir Topham Hatt. Douglas thinks Wilbert wrote it like Sir Topham Hatt was always their boss is because he was more well known than either Mr. Star or Mr. Zorro. Adam also points out that Sir Topham Hatt himself hasn't been exempt from deformation. Diesel also points out that none of the Midis have been shown in the books, which suits him fine. Since last month, he had changed his mind and has decided to let only the Nor'Easters get humiliated. Just then, the stationmaster tells Diesel to shunt five extra coaches for the next train for the numerous tourists.
All these tourists had come to Sodor to ask the Engines about their exploits and because of the Railway Series. The rise in tourism was warmly welcomed and led to an increase in revenue for the Council which they would use to invest in a number of projects. However, it was annoying to have to explain to them about what had and hadn't happened. Obviously, only Edward, Gordon, Henry, Thomas and James (to an extent), engines of the Nor'Easters, were featured in the series up to this point, which created jealousy and resentment between the the former rivals.
At Wellsworth, Adam wants Percy to move his tankers to another track because they're blocking access to a train he needs to prepare for Peter. Percy protests that if he does so, he won't be able to use the turntable and he needs to return to Elsbridge in half an hour. Percy decides Adam should move his tankers and the former moves off, only to derail at a set of points, trapping Adam in the siding. Soon, Mickey arrives to re-rail Percy. Adam and Percy then get into an argument.
The next morning at Vicarstown, the stationmaster goes to see Sir Topham Hatt, who had seen the issue of the Sudrian Tribune, remarking how misleading the headline is. The stationmaster thinks the reporter gave it that title to make it sell better and that Percy and Adam began arguing about the Railway Series in the aftermath of the incident. Sir Topham Hatt decides he needs to do something about this before it gets worse and decides to address the engines, but not alone.
That night, Gordon, Reginald, Henry, Peter, James and Donald are in a heated argument. Suddenly, Sir Topham Hatt arrives along with the Reverend Wilbert Awdry himself, much to the engines' surprise. Sir Topham Hatt them that he invited Wilbert to Sodor because he can better explain the reasons why he wrote his books the way he did. He reprimands the engines for their behaviour. Henry points out the books didn't paint the engines in a positive light and their controller as well in some instances. Sir Topham Hatt isn't upset by his portrayal because it is all fictional. Wilbert then speaks up, telling the engines that he used some of them as inspiration for his books, having written them to entertain children because his son enjoyed them. He told them his son was ill with measles during the war and he told him stories using characters such as Edward, Gordon and Henry. His son enjoyed them so much that he decided to write them down, in hopes that the stories could brighten the lives of other children. Wilbert has chosen to not use engines who died in the war in his stories, as it would be disrespectful and inappropriate to use a children's book to describe such loses. Reginald also points out that the children reading the books wouldn't want to be reminded of the war. Both Gordon and Henry then realise the humourous side of way Awdry had written them as. Donald then asks Wilbert if the rest of the engines will be in his stories, though he hasn't made the decision yet.
To the engines working on the Branch Lines, Wilbert outlined his reasons for writing his stories the way he did and Sir Topham Hatt also spoke severely to them. The temporary rift that formed between the engines quickly closed and they moved on as if the whole thing didn't happen. Throughout the years that followed, people still asked the engines about the events described in the Reverend's books, and while it sometimes gets annoying, they always enjoy talking to them. In addition, not all of Wilbert's future stories would be fictional - some would be rooted entirely in fact.
Characters[]
- Thomas
- Edward
- Henry
- Gordon
- James
- Percy
- Eric
- Donald and Douglas
- Diesel
- Adam
- Reginald
- Peter
- Samantha
- Mickey
- Drollan
- The Fat Controller
- Wilbert Awdry
- Annie and Clarabel (do not speak)
- Toby (cameo)
- Duck (cameo)
- Duncan (cameo)
- Colin (mentioned)
- Lily (mentioned)
- Mr. Star (mentioned)
- Mr. Zorro (mentioned)
- Bertie (indirectly mentioned)
- Christopher Awdry (indirecty mentioned)
Trivia[]
- Events from Passengers, Shunted, Atrocity and Blitz are referenced.
- Stock footage from the latter episode is used.
- The events of this episode take place in the former half of 1947.