Some Call Me "Tim": Ivor is only called such because his official name is "The Locomotive of the Merioneth and Llantisilly Rail Traction Limited." Quite a mouthful to say in one go! When Idris' home Smoke Hill lost its heat, Jones and Ivor took Idris to see Mrs Griffiths in her shop in Llanmadd. After seeing Idris and his brethren, and Ivor's self-whistling, Mrs Griffiths apologises to Jones for thinking him mad and agrees to help the dragons. Mrs Griffiths and her fellows at the Antiquarian Society hire Mr Hughes the Gasworks to fit out Smoke Hill with gas heating and in the series one finale Smoke Hill, now a gas-fired volcano, is reignited and all the characters sing in gladness. However, the gas-heating includes a gas meter that only takes half-crowns, which are no longer "legal tender". On a few occasions, the gas meter runs out and Jones and Ivor have to search high and low for more half crowns. In June 2014, Smallfilms collaborated with board game company Surprised Stare Games to launch an Ivor the Engine boardgame. [19] Just Train Wrong: Generally, Ivor does operate in a true-to-life manner, requiring a driver to maintain his fire, refill his coal and water, follow scheduled work, pull trains and so on. Of course, real locomotives don't drive themselves or sing in choirs, but Ivor is held accountable for violating railway regulations, so he can't just run about wherever he pleases.

In 1984, a single 57-minute compiled video called Ivor the Engine and the Dragons with 13 stories joined up together as an omnibus. It's winter in the top left-hand corner of Wales and Ivor's railway is not running because of deep snow. Llaniog needs supplies soon, though, as Eli the Baker is nearly out of flour. What Ivor needs is a snowplough. The local bank manager. He only appears in a few episodes; his most notable appearance is his and Jones's adventure to find more half-crowns for the gas meter powering "Smoke-Hill". A small, red Welsh dragon who also sings in the choir for a time. Having been hatched from an egg in Ivor's fire, he lives with his wife Olwen and any of their twins, Daian and Blodwen, in the extinct volcano Smoke Hill. As well as singing, he proves useful by cooking fish and chips for the choir using his fiery breath.

See also

The locomotive of The Merioneth and Llantisilly Rail Traction Company Limited. Unlike real steam locomotives, Ivor has a mind of his own. He can drive himself and, using his whistle, can speak. His fondest dream is to sing with The Grumbley and District Choral Society, a dream that is realised when his whistle is replaced with three pipes from an old Fairground Organ. He becomes first bass of the choir, as well as providing them with a means of getting from place to place. Juggernaut is a diesel railway engine made out of bits and bobs, resembling a road lorry on flanged wheels. Juggernaut falls into the lake soon after starting service, nearly killing Idris.

Some of the artwork from production is on display at the Rupert the Bear Museum, along with several other items from Smallfilm's history. [17] The Rupert Bear Museum is now part of the Canterbury Heritage Museum in Stour Street, Canterbury. Bagpuss creator Oliver Postgate in his own words". The Guardian. 9 December 2008 . Retrieved 9 December 2008. In 2000, a video called The Complete Ivor The Engine containing all 26 colour episodes was released by Universal.

In this section

Postgate and Firmin created a map of their fictional railway which was adhered to rigidly during filming. One morning Jones and Ivor spot some smoke beside the railway line. It turns out to be Idris the Dragon. They rescue him and he explains that Smoke Hill is now extinct. Evan Evans is the portly choirmaster of the Grumbly and District Choral Society. [8] He is also Jones the Steam's wife's uncle. [9] Mrs Porty [ edit ] Ivor enjoys doing all sorts of things that people do. As well as singing in the choir, he likes visiting the seaside, making tea from his boiler and spending time with his friends. He is fond of animals, and has several of them among his friends. He can be wilful and disobedient at times, and it is not unknown for him to go and do his own thing when he should be working. He dislikes shunting and timetables. Jones the Steam Switch to English: Not that we actually hear any Welsh spoken, but after the President of the Antiquarian Society makes "a fine speech, in Welsh of course" the crowd sings "Land of My Fathers" in English. This may actually be Translation Convention for the benefit of the viewers: most Welsh people would know their anthem in Welsh, but rather fewer would be fluent enough to understand the President's speech!

Re-Cut: Small episodes released on home video are edited together as one large episode, as they're connected to each other.. His driver was Edwin Jones, known as Jones the Steam, who enjoyed fishing and daydreaming. Ivor's other friends included stationmaster Dai Station, portly choirmaster Evans the Song, fellow chorister Idris the Dragon, and fairground owner Morgan the Roundabout. Mr Morgan gave Ivor some pipes from his steam calliope to allow him to sing in the choir. Behind the scenes Ivor has to deliver some pigeons to Mr Brangwyn. Thanks to Evans the Song, they end up escaping and on Miss Pryce's roof. There follow some amusing attempts to get them down. Ivor goes off with Banger's Circus as "The Singing Engine". His replacement is a Juggernaut built by Bynon Smith. It turns out to be a lot less reliable than Ivor.

After Mr Dinwiddy's idea falling through, Mrs Porty comes up with a solution to the railway being sold.