More About Thomas the Tank Engine

"You're the drip."

- Thomas to Percy

More About Thomas the Tank Engine is the thirtieth book of The Railway Series.

Foreword
Dear Friends,

Sometimes Thomas and Percy both think they are the most important engines on the branch line. We know better, of course, and so does the Fat Controller, which is why he did not intervene when Thomas and Percy had a quarrel. Like most quarrels, it wasn't serious to start with. It began when Percy... But why not turn the page and read about it for yourself?

The Author

Thomas, Percy and the Coal
Thomas brags that blue is the only proper colour for a Really Useful Engine. Next day, Percy is shunting when the door on a coal truck opens and coal dust covers Thomas. Thomas and Percy are furious at one another, and the argument gets worse and worse. Several days later, Percy goes to get a drink but collides with a coal bunker, much to Thomas' delight.

The Runaway
One day, Thomas wakes up feeling ill, so Duck looks after his branch line while he is being mended. When Thomas returns from the Works, his brakes are left stiff. One day, a "relief" fireman forgets to put Thomas' brakes on and Thomas starts off. Although an inspector tries to stop Thomas at Dryaw, Thomas is going too fast and Harold takes the inspector to Toryreck. Annie and Clarabel hold back so the inspector can leap aboard and stop Thomas.

Better Late Than Never
The arches on the Viaduct need strengthening and the big engines are late at Knapford to meet up with Thomas. One day, Bertie teases Thomas that he could beat him in a race - something Thomas vehemently denies. James later holds Thomas up, but just outside the tunnel, Thomas sees Bertie broken down. Thomas offers to help Bertie's passengers home, and the next day Bertie comes to Ffarquhar to thank Thomas.

Drip Tank
Percy wants to make amends with Thomas, but when he gets scratched by a branch, Thomas is rude and gave no sympathy to the green engine and Percy decides against it. Later, Percy asks Toby what a drip is, having heard a boy call his friend one at the platform, but Thomas interrupts and insults Percy by calling him a drip. Thomas soon gets his comeuppance when his side rod snaps and punctures his water tank on his way home. When Percy goes to help him, Thomas feels ashamed and apologizes to Percy, thus mending their friendship.

Thomas, Percy and the Coal

 * Thomas
 * Percy
 * Toby
 * Clarabel
 * Annie
 * Henrietta
 * Sir Stephen Topham Hatt III

The Runaway

 * Thomas
 * Annie and Clarabel
 * Harold
 * Sir Stephen Topham Hatt III
 * Edward
 * Percy
 * Duck
 * Henry
 * Toby
 * Donald and Douglas
 * Terence
 * Bertie

Better Late Than Never

 * Thomas
 * Henry
 * James
 * Bertie
 * Annie and Clarabel
 * Gordon
 * Sir Stephen Topham Hatt III

Drip Tank

 * Thomas
 * Percy
 * Toby
 * Clarabel
 * Henry
 * Annie

Thomas, Percy and the Coal

 * Ffarquhar
 * Ffarquhar Yard
 * Ffarquhar Sheds
 * The Carriage Shed
 * Knapford

The Runaway

 * Ffarquhar
 * Knapford
 * Toryreck
 * Tidmouth
 * The Works
 * Dryaw Airfield

Better Late Than Never

 * The Viaduct
 * Knapford
 * Ffarquhar
 * Ffarquhar Yard
 * Ffarquhar Sheds
 * The Carriage Shed
 * Hackenbeck
 * Cronk

Drip Tank

 * Ffarquhar Yard
 * Ffarquhar Sheds
 * Hackenbeck
 * Hackenbeck Tunnel
 * Hackenbeck Streak
 * Knapford
 * Knapford Harbour

Trivia

 * This book is unique in the fact that it was written specially for the television series. As it was contractually obliged that all stories that were televised had to appear in print form first, Christopher Awdry was pressed by the series' producers to write new stories centered on Thomas, Harold and Bertie for them to adapt.
 * Despite this, Drip Tank was never adapted into an episode, likely due to Thomas and Percy forgiving each other at the end of Thomas, Percy and the Coal.
 * Since its release, Christopher Awdry has expressed dissatisfaction with this book, mainly due to the fact that he had written it in a hurry to meet a deadline for Britt Allcroft Productions. He has also regretted using the term "drip" in the book, as it has largely fallen out of use.
 * The book was published two days before the second series premiered on Children's ITV in the UK.
 * In The Runaway, a reference to Thomas and the Guard is made.
 * This book marks the last of a few things:
 * Annie, Clarabel and Harold's final speaking roles in The Railway Series.
 * Bertie's final appearance in The Railway Series, excluding mentions in Thomas and the Fat Controller's Engines, Thomas and Victoria and Thomas and his Friends.
 * The last book to have stories taken from it for the Thomas the Tank Engine Book Club series.
 * The Runaway is based on a real event involving one of the "Jazz" trains out of Liverpool Street.
 * The events of this book take place in 1985.

Goofs

 * In the fifth illustration of "Thomas, Percy and the Coal", it states "Thomas was grumpy in the Shed that night", but on the top left it appears to be daytime.
 * Some illustrations in "The Runaway" show Annie or Clarabel without their faces.
 * In the fourth illustration of "Better Late Than Never", James has no headlamps/headcode when he brings his passenger train to the junction.

In Other Languages
Más Sobre Thomas la Locomotora de Tanque עוד על אודות תומס הקטר Więcej o Tomku Tendrzaku