Gallant Old Engine

"You're a gallant little engine! When you're rested, we'll mend you ready for tomorrow."

- The Thin Controller talking to Rheneas

Gallant Old Engine is the seventeenth book of The Railway Series.

Foreword
Dear Friends, On the second page of Four Little Engines, Rheneas was taken away to be mended. He was away for a long time, but has now come home.

All the Little Engines are together at last. They are delighted. Rheneas is their hero. He had saved the Railway...

There is a real engine like Rheneas. His name is Dolgoch and his home is at Towyn in Wales.

Some years ago, he saved the Talyllyn Railway. We are very proud of our gallant old engine. The Author

Special Funnel
Peter Sam's funnel is still loose after his accident with the slate trucks, and he longs for his new one. When winter is approaching, a washout sweeps a bridge away. Rusty and the workmen manage to repair it by the next market day, during which time the weather becomes frosty. Peter Sam, who is taking the passenger train, has his funnel knocked off by an icicle in the tunnel. His crew replace it with a drainpipe, until his new funnel, a "Giesl ejector", arrives. Although the engines tease him about its design at first (Sir Handel and Duncan continually ask him why he sat on it), the engines soon become jealous of it, as it allows Peter Sam to work more easily than ever.

Steam-Roller
Sir Handel is always slipping between the rails, so he is given new wheels with broad tyres. The engines nickname him "a steamroller", until Skarloey tells him about George, the anti-railway steamroller working near the line. The next day, Sir Handel is taking a special train when he sees George rolling home. Sir Handel tries to pass, but George refuses and eventually they crash. Rusty and Mr. Hugh arrive to clear the mess, and next day, after a fence is put up to separate the road and rail, George leaves. Sir Handel thinks he made George go away, and is more conceited than ever - at least until some boys start talking about the "race".

Passengers and Polish
Nancy, a guard's daughter, is polishing Skarloey, when Duncan asks if he can get polished too. Nancy does not have the time, however, and Duncan starts to sulk. Later that day, one of Skarloey's coaches derails and Duncan is sent to take the passengers home. He arrives in time for his own train, but is so annoyed that he doesn't even try to build up steam, and he eventually stops right on the viaduct. Skarloey comes to take him to the top station, but the passengers are furious at the delay and say it is a bad railway. Duncan, however, does not care.

Gallant Old Engine
Duncan is still complaining, so Skarloey tells him and Peter Sam the story of Rheneas.

The year before Peter Sam and Sir Handel came, the Skarloey Railway was facing hard times and was at a possibility of closing. Skarloey was tired, so Rheneas offered to do some of his work too. Then, one day, he was pulling a full train home when his valve gear jammed. The Thin Controller and Mr. Hugh managed to fix him so he could struggle to the next station. It was hard work, but he managed to get there. The passengers were so grateful that they promised to come back with all their friends. Duncan realises he has been silly and thanks and apologises to Skarloey.

The next day, Edward brings Rheneas back to the Skarloey Railway, and a huge celebration ensues. But Rheneas feels the happiest when he is with Skarloey.

Special Funnel

 * Sir Handel
 * Peter Sam
 * Mr. Peter Sam
 * Mr. Hugh
 * Rusty

Steam-Roller

 * Skarloey
 * Sir Handel
 * George
 * Rusty
 * Peter Sam
 * Mr. Hugh
 * Duncan

Passengers and Polish

 * Skarloey
 * Duncan
 * Nancy
 * Mr. Peter Sam
 * Rheneas
 * Sir Handel
 * Peter Sam

Gallant Old Engine

 * Skarloey
 * Rheneas
 * Peter Sam
 * Duncan
 * Mr. Peter Sam
 * Mr. Hugh
 * Edward
 * Agnes, Ruth, Lucy, Jemima and Beatrice

Locations

 * Skarloey Engine Sheds
 * Ben Glas
 * Glennock
 * Rheneas
 * Rheneas Viaduct
 * Rheneas Tunnel
 * Rheneas Bridge
 * Hawin Dooiey
 * Crovan's Gate
 * Skarloey

Trivia

 * This was the final book of The Railway Series to be illustrated by John T. Kenney, who had to resign due to failing eyesight.
 * In the foreword, Awdry acknowledges assistance by members of the Talyllyn Railway Preservation Society in preparation for this book. He also acknowledges permission given by P. B. Whitehouse and L. T. C. Rolt to allow two incidents mentioned in their own books to be adapted into the stories Steam-Roller and Gallant Old Engine.
 * The collision between George and Sir Handel in Steam-Roller was based on an event that took place in Muskerry, County Cork, Ireland in 1927.
 * The events of Gallant Old Engine were inspired by events that occurred on the Talyllyn Railway in 1951.
 * This and Thomas Comes Home are the only books of The Railway Series to have a titular story. Coincidentally, George appears in both.
 * In the sixth illustration of Steam-Roller, a blue car with the number plate "JTK 62" can be seen. This references the initials of the illustrator (John T. Kenney) and the year of publication (1962).
 * The fourth illustration of Gallant Old Engine was recreated for the 1986 single cover of "Oh L'amour," a song by English synth-pop duo Erasure.
 * The events of this book take place in 1961. Skarloey's story in Gallant Old Engine takes place in 1952, prior to Four Little Engines.

Goofs

 * Throughout the book, the engines' lamp-irons repeatedly disappear and reappear.
 * In Passengers and Polish, Skarloey is missing his brass dome.

In Other Languages
Vieja Locomotora Galante הקטר הישן והאבירי ゆうかんな機関車 Stara, Dzielna Lokomotywa