SERIES 3
Released on YouTube from Monday 3 January to Friday 18 March 2022, Series 3 of Sodor Railway Tales contains 44 episodes, all of which are adapted from each individual story in Books 16-26 of The Railway Series (1961 – 1972), all of which were the final books written by Wilbert Awdry himself, before his son took over writing in 1983.
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Episodes 1-4 of Series 3 are taken from the sixteenth Railway Series book, Branch Line Engines (1961), written by his reverence Wilbert Awdry, illustrated by John T. Kenney and read by George Brind.
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"Dear Friends,
We never have a dull moment on our Branch Line. Thomas was silly and got into trouble, so a Diesel Rail-car called Daisy came. She caused trouble, but has now promised to be good, so the Fat Controller has kindly given her another chance.
Meanwhile Toby chased a bull, Percy got into a predicament and...
But you must read the stories for yourselves.
The Author"
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EPISODE 1: THOMAS COMES TO BREAKFAST
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EPISODE 2: DAISY
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EPISODE 3: BULLS EYES
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EPISODE 4: PERCY'S PREDICAMENT
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Episodes 5-8 of Series 3 are taken from the seventeenth Railway Series book, Gallant Old Engine (1962), written by his reverence Wilbert Awdry, illustrated by John T. Kenney and read by Claire Brind and Edward Brind, with Jerry De La Rue guest starring in Episodes 5 and 6.
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"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"
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EPISODE 5: SPECIAL FUNNEL
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EPISODE 6: STEAMROLLER
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EPISODE 7: PASSENGERS AND POLISH
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EPISODE 8: GALLANT OLD ENGINE
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Episodes 9-12 of Series 3 are taken from the eighteenth Railway Series book, Stepney the "Bluebell" Engine (1963), written by his reverence Wilbert Awdry, illustrated by Gunvor Edwards and Peter Edwards and read by Thomas Puttock.
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"Dear Friends,
Percy is a kind-hearted little engine. He feels sad because many fine steam engines are cut up on the Other Railway (B.R.).
Percy's ideas, however, though natural for an engine, are a little muddled. British Railways Officials are not cruel. They are sad to lose faithful steam friends and glad to help engines to go to places like the Bluebell Railway at Sheffield Park in Sussex, where they can be cared for and useful and safe.
The Author"
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EPISODE 9: BLUEBELLS OF ENGLAND
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EPISODE 10: STEPNEY'S SPECIAL
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EPISODE 11: TRAIN STOPS PLAY
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EPISODE 12: BOWLED OUT
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Episodes 13-16 of Series 3 are taken from the nineteenth Railway Series book, Mountain Engines (1964), written by his reverence Wilbert Awdry, illustrated by Gunvor Edwards and Peter Edwards and read by Cheryl Graham.
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"Dear Friends,
A Rack Railway climbs the mountain called Culdee Fell. Lord Harry Barrane is Chairman of the railway company. Lots of people travel on it in the summer.
Mr Walter Richards, the Manager, does not have an easy time. There are seven engines, one of whom, No. 5, is still away being mended. Another, No. 6, was named Lord Harry. This was a mistake. It made him conceited and... But you must read the stories for yourselves.
I hope you will enjoy this book about a different kind of railway.
The Author"
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EPISODE 13: MOUNTAIN ENGINE
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EPISODE 14: BAD LOOK-OUT
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EPISODE 15: DANGER POINTS
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EPISODE 16: "DEVIL'S BACK"
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Episodes 17-20 of Series 3 are taken from the twentieth Railway Series book, Very Old Engines (1965), written by his reverence Wilbert Awdry, illustrated by Gunvor Edwards and Peter Edwards and read by Tracy Brooker.
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"Dear Friends,
One hundred years ago, when Skarloey and Rheneas first arrived on their Railway, they were young and silly. Skarloey was sulky and bouncy. He and Rheneas quarrelled… But they learned sense, and the Owner has just given them a lovely 100th birthday.
Talyllyn and Dolgoch, at Towyn, are 100 too. How about going to wish them "Many Happy Returns"?
The Author"
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EPISODE 17: CROSSPATCH
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EPISODE 18: BUCKING BRONCO
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EPISODE 19: STICK-IN-THE-MUD
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EPISODE 20: DUCK AND DUKES
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Episodes 21-24 of Series 3 are taken from the twenty-first Railway Series book, Main Line Engines (1966), written by his reverence Wilbert Awdry, illustrated by Gunvor Edwards and Peter Edwards and read by Jerry De La Rue.
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"Dear Friends,
Bill and Ben are a shameless pair. I meant to write about Main Line Engines, and give the twins a treat by letting them into the first story. But I couldn't keep them in order! Before I knew it they had crept into the others. They even wanted me to change the book and make it about them!
But I have been very firm. I am still calling it Main Line Engines. That will serve Bill and Ben right for ragging poor Gordon so disgracefully.
He hasn't got over it yet!
The Author"
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EPISODE 21: THE DISEASEL
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EPISODE 22: BUZZ, BUZZ
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EPISODE 23: WRONG ROAD
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EPISODE 24: EDWARD'S EXPLOIT
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Episodes 25-28 of Series 3 are taken from the twenty-second Railway Series book, Small Railway Engines (1967), written by his reverence Wilbert Awdry (aka "The Thin Clergyman"), illustrated by Gunvor Edwards and Peter Edwards and read by Katherine Gell.
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"Dear Friends,
Some lead mines up in the hills have long been closed, but their waste-heaps still spoil a lovely valley.
The Fat Controller has now found that this waste is good weed-killing railway ballast. He talked to the Owner and Mr. Peter Sam of the Skarloey Railway, and other important people. They "went shares" and built a Small Railway to fetch it away.
The Small Engines are managed by a Controller. They call him the Small Controller, but that is only in fun. He is bigger than either of the others!
The Author"
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EPISODE 25: BALLAST
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EPISODE 26: TIT FOR TAT
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EPISODE 27: MIKE'S WHISTLE
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EPISODE 28: USEFUL RAILWAY
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Episodes 29-32 of Series 3 are taken from the twenty-third Railway Series book, Enterprising Engines (1968), written by his reverence Wilbert Awdry, illustrated by Gunvor Edwards and Peter Edwards and read by Jerry De La Rue.
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"Dear Richard,
Do you remember the photographs you took of what happened to your train on the way to Waterloo in April 1967?
Your Mother, very kindly, gave me a set and they helped our artist to draw at least two of the pictures for "Super Rescue".
Anyway, "Super Rescue" is the story which your pictures told me. I hope you will enjoy it and the other three stories as well.
The Author"
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EPISODE 29: TENDERS FOR HENRY
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EPISODE 30: SUPER RESCUE
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EPISODE 31: ESCAPE
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EPISODE 32: LITTLE WESTERN
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Episodes 33-36 of Series 3 are taken from the twenty-fourth Railway Series book, Oliver the Western Engine (1969), written by his reverence Wilbert Awdry, illustrated by Gunvor Edwards and Peter Edwards and read by George Brind.
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"Dear M.,
We both wanted to call this book Little Western Engines, but Publishers are stern men. They did not approve.
They, of course, don't know the trouble we've had with Oliver. We hope he has learnt sense, but goodness knows what will happen when he finds he has a book all to himself...
I know! If Oliver gets uppish, we'll set Messrs. Kaye & Ward on to him. That'll teach him!
W.
Readers may like to know that "Olivers" and "Ducks" still work on the Dart Valley Railway in Devonshire; and "Small Railway Engines" are at Ravenglass in Cumberland."
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NOTE: “M.” was in fact his reverence Wilbert Awdry (W.)’s wife Margaret.
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EPISODE 33: DONALD'S DUCK
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EPISODE 34: RESOURCE AND SAGACITY
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EPISODE 35: TOAD STANDS BY
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EPISODE 36: BULGY
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Episodes 37-40 of Series 3 are taken from the twenty-fifth Railway Series book, Duke the Lost Engine (1970), written by his reverence Wilbert Awdry (aka "The Thin Clergyman"), illustrated by Gunvor Edwards and Peter Edwards and read by Thomas Puttock, with Jerry De La Rue guest starring in Episode 37.
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"Dear Friends,
An engine lost in the South American jungle was found after 30 years. A tree had grown through its chimney and hornets nested in its firebox. When mended it gave good service for 30 more years.
"The Duke" was lost too; not in the jungle, but in his own shed which a landslide had buried. Not long ago he was dug out and mended. His own railway had been pulled up, so he is now at the Thin Controller's.
The Author"
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EPISODE 37: GRANPUFF
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EPISODE 38: BULLDOG
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EPISODE 39: YOU CAN'T WIN!
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EPISODE 40: SLEEPING BEAUTY
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Episodes 41-44 of Series 3, read by George Brind, are taken from the twenty-sixth Railway Series book, Tramway Engines (1972); the last one written by his reverence Wilbert Awdry. The illustrations are by Gunvor Edwards and Peter Edwards.
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"Dear Friends,
Thomas has been pestering me to write about his Branch Line. “After all,” he said, “we are the importantest part of the whole railway.”
“What can I write about?” I asked.
“Oh, lots of things - Percy's Woolly Bear, Toby's Tightrope and...”
“...your Ghost,” I added.
“Don't put that silly story in,” said Thomas crossly.
I will, all the same. Thomas has been much too cocky lately. It will serve him right!
The Author"
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EPISODE 41: GHOST TRAIN
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EPISODE 42: WOOLLY BEAR
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EPISODE 43: MAVIS
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EPISODE 44: TOBY'S TIGHTROPE
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