Edward the Blue Engine

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Edward the Blue Engine is the ninth book of the Railway Series.

Foreword

Dear Friends,
I think most of you are fond of Edward. His Driver and Fireman, Charlie Sand and Sidney Hever, are fond of him, too. They were very pleased when they knew I was giving Edward a book all to himself.

Edward is old, and some of the other engines were rude about the clanking noise he made as he did his work.

They aren't rude now! These stories tell you why.
The Author

Stories

Cows

Edward is pulling some trucks when some disgruntled cows run into the train and break a coupling. Edward doesn't realise until he gets home, causing Gordon and Henry to laugh at him. Gordon is pulling a passenger train several days later when he is stopped by a cow on the viaduct. Henry, both crews and the passengers try to move her, but to no avail. Henry's guard goes for help and a porter leads the cow's calf to the bridge to lure her away. Edward soon finds out and makes fun of the big engines.

Bertie's Chase

Thomas is late but Edward starts anyway. Bertie arrives with Thomas' passengers just as he leaves - Thomas' driver was ill - and, seeing he has left, chases him to Crosby, but misses him there too. Bertie's driver and the stationmaster make a plan, and they finally catch up with him at Wellsworth, where Bertie explains the whole story to Edward. Edward apologises and leaves.

Saved from Scrap

Edward meets a traction engine named Trevor who is due to be scrapped next week. Edward decides to find a home for Trevor, and when he sees the Vicar, he persuades him to buy Trevor. The Vicar goes to the scrapyard, and, after seeing Trevor prove his worthfulness, buys him, and Trevor goes to live in the Vicarage Orchard.

Old Iron

Edward is late. James gets cross and calls him "old iron". The next day, James' driver is ill, and while his fireman gets a "relief", two boys wander into the cab and start James. Edward chases after him and after a long chase, an inspector manages to hook James with a length of rope, and James' fireman checks his speed. The Fat Controller sends Edward to the Works, the boys are caught and disciplined, and James' driver recovers in hospital.

Characters

Worldwide Date

November 23, 1954 (UK)
December 24, 1954 (USA)
June 22, 1958 (Australia)
October 9, 1958 (Russia)
Janaury 5, 1959 (France)
March 9, 1959 (Germany)
May 1, 1974 (Japan)
June 19, 1986 (Canada)

Trivia

Bertie's Number plate is "CRD 54". This is a reference to the artist and the year of publication.
In the third illustration of "Saved from Scrap", there is a shop with the sign above the canopy reading "C.R.DA..", referring to the artist.

Goofs

In the third and fourth illustrations of "Cows!", Gordon is missing his steampipes.
The text says that the last seven cattle trucks were left behind while the illustration shows six cattle trucks and the brakevan.