Daniel Kotlar

I really love the forward of this book where Wilbert says the meanings of "Skarloey" and "Rheneas", "Skarloey" means "Lake in the Woods" and "Rheneas" means "Divided Waterfall", I think these are lovely names for two old narrow gauge engines. I like how the first story took place after Edward chased James in "Old Iron" and before Edward came back at the end of the previous story. It's nice that Wilbert mentioned that Edward was Skarloey's old friend who brought the passengers to the little line. I like the first story where Skarloey talks with Edward about how much he missed his brother Rheneas, the coaches he pulled and about his little railway, I really loved how the little engine mentioned that one of the coaches smells of fish and cheese, to me that sounds like fish and chips. I like the third story where Peter Sam pulls his train up to the lake and almost leaves the Refreshment Lady behind (I like how this happened to Wilbert as he worked as a guard on the real Talyllyn Railway), I love how kind Peter Sam treated the coaches, sings his little songs and how he grumbles on how Henry teased him. I think I liked, most of all in this book is Old Faithful, where Skarloey's spring started to get damaged, he promised that he'll bring his passengers to the station instead of letting them take the bus. Because if Skarloey let his passengers take the bus instead of train, then the whole railway would sadly close, just like how Toby's branch line was closed in the 7th book. What I don't like about it is how rudely Sir Handel misbehaved, he didn't like how small the shed was, he treated the coaches very rudely and even made him go off the rails, he was punished for it. But I'm glad that he learned his lesson and he changed to a good engine, but in later books would pretend to be ill in order to not come out and do something that he didn't like doing, like pulling trucks. This book, however, mostly focused on Skarloey, Sir Handel and Peter Sam and not much on Rheneas despite the book is called "Four" Little Engines, but this book is fine for very little children, I loved reading it.

What I don't like about this book is the sound of Edward clanking due to his bearing being worn out, I don't think it's nice for an engine to clank because they might be rudely criticised. And Henry and Gordon boasted that the cows wouldn't break their trains in half, just like what they did to Edward's cattle goods-train. I like the story "Bertie's Chase" where Bertie tries to chase Edward's train for he had Thomas's passengers. I also like what Edward did right, he rescued a traction engine Trevor to escape from a scrap-yard and work for a kind vicar and give rides to young children, just like Trevor did before he was scrapped. My most favourite story that I loved when I was a kid is "Old Iron" where James was running away without a driver and Edward had to chase him with the Inspector to catch him with a lasso of wire-rope. James started moving after two naughty boys turned his throttle and they jumped off and ran away when the engine moved, that's very rude of them and so it's not a good idea to make an engine move without their driver or fireman's permission, that's why the boys were beaten by their fathers and weren't allowed to watch anymore trains until they could be trusted. While the inspector was trying to slip the noose of rope over James' buffer, I liked how Edward's handrail was connected with rope so the inspector can safely stand on Edward's front by holding the rope on the handrail with his right hand and hold the shunter's pole and rope with his left. I think this is one of my most favourite book in this series because Edward was my favourite engine when I was a kid, I loved his blue paint and his number 2 which has a meaning of peace, love and friendship. I think Wilbert Awdry gave this engine the right name and the right number.

I didn't like how silly Gordon was behaving because he was doing nothing but sleeping in a siding and refusing to pull a special train of trucks. But the engines learn their lessons like children when they misbehave. What I do like about this book though, are the lessons Gordon learnt and how helpful he was when pushing James' passenger train up the slippery hill with leaves and pulling Thomas out of the mine. It is said in Off The Rails that Gordon moved slowly forward to jam the turntable, I think it must have been like this in my opinion: Gordon was still low on steam when his driver turned the lever on and after lighting his fire. As he turned halfway round, the movement made his fire burn nicely and he now full of steam, then he happened to move very slowly forward with his lever still left on and his crew were still outside to turn the table, then they gasped and tried to get into the cab but were too late when Gordon went off the table and slid down front first into a ditch. I liked the ending of the story where Gordon (as a sad and wiser engine) crawled home. I was glad that he was washed and cleaned in the next story Leaves, but he didn't like it and was told off by The Fat Controller and was told that until he is a really useful engine, he would pull trucks as a punishment. I liked the story Down The Mine with Thomas teasing Gordon, puffing away with his coaches complaining to not be rude or make them ashamed, Thomas saying that was funny, passing the Danger board after bumping his driver off the footplate and falling into the mine with a cry of "Fire and Smoke! I'm sunk!" then saying how silly and sorry he was and promising that he won't do that again. I like that Thomas apologised to Gordon for being cheeky and they formed an alliance, I loved the last sentence: "Buffer to buffer, the allies puffed home." I liked in the final story Paint Pots And Queens, where Gordon, James, Henry and Edward discuss on who will pull the Royal Train, I like when Henry's smoke caused a painter to loose his balance and spill white paint on Henry which made him look like an iced-cake, I mostly liked after that when Thomas and Gordon asked The Fat Controller these permissions: For Thomas to run his branch-line again and for Gordon to pull his Express coaches again with their controller's permission and I liked his kind words: "You both have been very good lately and you deserve a treat. Thomas will sort out the coaches and Gordon...will pull the Royal Train". And I like when Gordon brought the Queen to meet everyone and the engines. It's has very clever writing by Wilbert, so children of young age can understand the stories more!

I think children of all ages from young to old will enjoy this book more because Thomas is the best engine of all time. Wilbert built a model of a blue, number 1 tank engine for his son Christopher who named him Thomas and the author was asked to write these stories, he also wrote a letter to Christopher. What I like most about it is the lessons that Thomas learnt: after he scared Gordon as he was sleeping and he was pulled behind Gordon's express, he got tired and didn't tease him again until the 8th book; Thomas left the whole train behind and he regret doing that, he learned how to teach the troublesome trucks a lesson. I think the most important lesson he learnt is to help another engine himself, he pulled the breakdown train to rescue James after his wooden brakes were on fire and as a reward for his courage, bravery and unselfishness, Thomas was given his own branch line to run. I also like how Thomas was described in the first story: 6 small wheels, short stumpy funnel, boiler and dome. That's good because young children could understand the description of their favourite steam engines. There isn't anything that I disliked about it, so in my opinion, this is the best book with short stories of Railway Series.