Escape

[@TobyandMavisforever]

Unlike the TV episode, we don't know if Douglas knows Edward's story of Trevor. But, we do know Donald was involved in helping Douglas get to Sodor. And now Douglas has saved Oliver. That brings his character arc full circle, and that's kinda sweet.

[@tomyoldiron6715]

Then, in the fan made story 'A Fright for Edward', Oliver gets Cross with Edward and proceeds to Scare him and Derail him. Oliver ruined the Arc here haha

[@TheAutisticCapricorn811]

Which in entails to why I like Douglas better than Donald.

[@lonelysignalbox]

@@tomyoldiron6715a fan story doesn’t detour someone’s arc. Both of their arcs ended in the books. Not a fan made story. That’s ridiculous

[@tomyoldiron6715]

I was joking

[@devinbarlow2021]

I feel like the scene with Douglas, Edward, & Trevor was put there to help futher strengthen the plot, especially since they gave the axe to The Missing Coach. Not saying its a bad thing by any means.

[@micawber0190]

The way he says "the other railway" gives you an idea how they treated their engines.

[@hulksterish]

British Rail

[@mssskearg8299]

The engines on the other railway aren't safe, now. Their controllers are cruel. They don't like engines anymore. They put on cold damned sidings and then, they cut them up.

[@davidcrook4166]

@@mssskearg8299 a quote from "Stepney the Bluebell Engine" the words of Percy don't remember him saying "damned" though...

[@Cascade2808]

@@davidcrook4166 yeah it should be damp sidings

[@davidcrook4166]

@@Cascade2808 Thanks Jesse for reminding me! That book about Stepney is delightful and so good-humoured the only engine to get into trouble is that obnoxious "Baby Deltic"...

[@TobyandMavisforever]

I wish we saw a bit more of a bond between these two in the series. I mean, both Douglas and Oliver narrowly missed the cutter's torch.

[@LukeOfSodor22]

I imagine that Douglas would be like an overprotective father figure to Oliver

[@siobhanwain6791]

Oliver will remember Douglas back in history

[@justin2308]

This is why I loved and still love a lot of the older episodes of the show, as well as the Alec Baldwin series. It’s so heavily implied that at least some of the other railways treat their engines like garbage, not to mention that even Sodor had a dark history of scrapping engines at one point (either for injury or for no reason). In fact, it almost seemed like Sodor was a SANCTUARY of sorts. Those episodes really showed a connection between engines with each other and with the human race, and added a lot more depth to what on the surface seemed like just another children’s TV show. Nowadays, it just isn’t the same. There’s themes about learning of other cultures and being connected globally, but now every railway and all humans seem to treat their engines well. To me, it takes away from episodes like Escape because- if there’s no signs of cruelty or scrappings- what the heck was Oliver even saved from anymore? I think Journey Beyond Sodor brought this theme back pretty well, though, but I don’t remember seeing it since.

[@stardustkevin7322]

Well idk if it counts but in hero of the rails thomas and the other did try to fix Hiro themselves cuz Hiro thought he'd be scraped since he was in his siding for so long

[@Nic_2751]

@@stardustkevin7322Spencer was ironically a steamie trying to get Hiro scrapped, so it showed even they could stoop low, or the mainland influence was starting to get to him

[@Nic_2751]

Journey beyond more so showed outcasts who were literally lab rats and basically good for scrap, but ultimately given a second chance, plus it was more so a slave hostage situation, rather than the mercy of death.

[@themistakeisintentional-dn5df]

I guess for a children's show that has gone on for as long as Thomas has, being passed down to various different production teams and writing staff, this stuff is just bound to happen at some point, the show gradually getting lost in translation over time. AEG was certainly _not_ what Awdry had in mind, lol.

[@danielrowe2174]

I always wondered how Oliver ended up on the other railway. I watched the show as a kid and now seeing the story from the book, it makes me think He was captured rather then hid on the other railway.

[@Ray_D_Tutto]

This is when i realized the series wasn't just for children or expected it to be realistic but it's own thing. As a kid i just accepted the story at face value not understanding the underground railroad, WW2 parallel and when i got older i thought it unrealistic that a human would risk his life for a piece of machinery. How did they eat, earn money and what was their plan on where to go or how to sustain in the long term then it occurred to me that Oliver is a coworker and friend to them. The only difference between the Railway series universe and ours is that the trains talk. It seems small but it has huge ramifications. Rev W Awdry probably has the best depiction of our relationship with AI and how we treat it's sentience.

[@CaseyJonesNumber1]

As Oliver is a Western engine hailing from Swindon, why on earth did dear old Willie Rushton give him a northern-ish (sort of) accent instead of a Wiltshire burr? (Enterprising Engines was a favourite of mine when I was little in the 60s - and the realistic looking engines in the pictures were superb!)

[@FerdinandProductions2021]

This is my favorite RWS story.

[@jupitersinthebeans]

im probably not the first one to point this out, but don't you find a striking resemblence between oliver's escape story and the underground railroad? how the signalmen would hide them in sidings to try and help them not get caught.

[@medalless]

Omg you are so true

[@harold5337]

I always thought Oliver was essentially a refugee. He is escaping a place where he is threatened and is due to be scrapped, to go to a better life on Sodor.

[@thecpmr6276]

I suspect that this story was written specifically to parallel that, considering the name of the underground RAILROAD.

[@Shunteration]

Considering that Oliver was on the run from being scrapped, i.e. _killed,_ it can serve as a parallel to many-a refugee stories. For me, the U-Bahn under Berlin (then split into East and West like Germany itself) comes to mind, where, as the split between the two Germanies solidified, many people made their escape from the East to the West.

[@TankEngine75]

This was written in the 1960s, where the Cold War was still going on, and many people made their escape from East Germany to West Germany, North Korea to South Korea, etc I remember reading a theory on Twitter that in the RWS Bulgy story, Duck represents Capitalism while Bulgy represents Communism

[@mr.quinnsextras1753]

3:36 Drat. I wanted to hear about Toad! XP

[@newseriesfan]

Me too

[@Nic_2751]

At least unlike Isabel, he actually did get the blessing of making it to the screen

[@TomKeresey10]

When I was a kid, the first picture always worried me a bit. I can't explain why, but my mum drew a happy face and stuck it over so I didn't worry any more.

[@Thebreakingbadthomasfan23]

Lol

[@TomKeresey10]

@@Thebreakingbadthomasfan23 that's right, be sympathetic (!)

[@Ninja11125]

Lol

[@RingoandCarlin]

Douglas: "Come on Edward. Stop gossling in the sun, when there's work to be done."

[@loanedengineproductions]

*gossiping not gossling

[@RingoandCarlin]

Been a while since I watched it. Plus there were times I couldn't quite hear what they said from the thick Scottish accent.

[@ElBuenLauti]

The Great Escape of the little western

[@chilldude3903]

I love Oliver

[@Thomasboi01]

I agree

[@chilldude3903]

Woah! Looking back on what I Said 4 Years later, wow that sounded so wrong.

[@canalabandonador.i.p4415]

x2

[@EngineerRailMan]

Two things. 1. I wonder what this story would be like if it was a Season 5 episode? 2. I wish there was stories about Isabel, Dulcie, Alice and Mirabel. They weren't given much character development, and I feel like they were forgotten by some of the fans.

[@Sam_Brunt]

Yeah, Isabel, Dulcie, Alice and Mirabel should’ve all been in the TV Series. I think Toad was probably kind of pointless, in a way.

[@wakanomura212]

My favorite RWS episode

[@loonytunescrazy]

One of my fave Thomas stories and I like the tv verison too

[@loanedengineproductions]

2:36 if you look close by the signal box you can see the murdering diesel at the end of the page

[@Ninja11125]

Yes

[@Ninja11125]

And an unknown diesel in the distance

[@jayvonnoelsmith8445]

Thomas and Friends is so awesome

[@josephmarrison4606]

I wonder if Awdry based this on The Great Escape.

[@agimackenzie2361]

A bit yes

[@agimackenzie2361]

The passing diesel is probably one of daisy's siblings with the yo ho also Oliver has a br crest

[@FerdinandProductions2021]

Agi Mackenzie nah, I think he is a Class 20.

[@alexradu2750]

@@FerdinandProductions2021 no it's arry or bert watch the railway stories

[@bernarda1247]

​@@alexradu2750arry and Bert where not in the rws ☠️

[@davidcrook4166]

Did anyone notice BoCo's brother in BR Blue with yellow ends the other side of the cutting where Oliver and co. were hiding? Sorry didn't recognise the recordings used on this clip but enjoyed them nonetheless!

[@FerdinandProductions2021]

David Crook his number is “D5701”.

[@johnsplayworld2402]

I cant believe boco has a secret that he has a brother called d5701 nick named cobo

[@USER-LlewisTLDB]

One of mavis's brothers or sisters is outside the Old Quarry Branch Lane to

[@Ninja11125]

Yes

[@Ninja11125]

@@USER-LlewisTLDB no that’s just diesels brother or sister

[@Davy_Jones_98]

I know its no place for social commentary and the like, but this story alone reminds me of how some German, French, Polish, and other European citizens and resistances hid Jews, gypsies, and other unwanted minorities during Nazi-occupied Europe.

[@dimasgirl2749]

Makes sense.

[@TheBrickGuy7939]

Oliver survives The Great Steam Purge.

[@Charmaster04]

@TheBrickGuy7939 "Your new British Railways? Beeching, my loyalty is to the Great Western, to the GROUPING RAILWAYS!"

[@planetaryiam954]

What a good story this is! Here's a question I have: Did the Fat Controller ever find out that Douglas wasn't initially meant to come to his railway with Donald or has that fact been kept secret by the engines themselves?

[@caboose.20]

planetaryiam954 I think so in The Deputation.

[@tencents6]

It doesn't matter now. The Fat Controller decided to keep both when he learned sending them back meant they'd be scrapped.

[@papershadow]

I don't think he ever finds out which one was the intended engine of the two, but at this point I don't think it matters to him.

[@juantafolla8683]

He actually does and he has a whole lot of engines he took in despite the events like Thomas.

[@agimackenzie2361]

One was ment to come and the other scrapped so then they both came and painted over there br numbers

[@SodorTrain1225]

3:14 Isabel has a tail lamp on her nose. I wonder if it is uncomfortable for her.

[@Ninja11125]

Lol

[@trainman5552]

is there a reason why Isabel didn't make it into the show I wish they could put her into the show (I even emailed Bachmann if they could make a model of her for the range I don't know if that was a good idea but I just thought of it and I thought it would go great with oliver and toad)

[@SolmonGTrauth]

Because they didn't have the money so yeah

[@RingoandCarlin]

They must have thought that some kids would have gotten her confused with Henrietta and Annie and Clarabelle

[@MaxxD86]

very nice, alot more than than the tv series.

[@TracksideStudios06]

2:03 if you look at Douglas' nameplate, the "G" is in lower case. This shouldn't be, because the other letters are in capital. "DOUgLAS"

[@MrNoUsername]

Nope, it's still in all capital. The other half of the G is just cut off by the video's border which makes it took like a lowercase g . I'm also sure that the Rev W Awdry would never allow such a mistake as that would be a continuity error and would be unrealistic

[@Ninja11125]

No blind

[@mssskearg8299]

2:15 D5701, BoCo's Brother

[@maltwr2001]

Early Reel from 1981. I don't think this was used.

[@micawber0190]

1:20 and thus, the word "steamie" was introduced. or is it "steamer"?

[@rallyarmond9733]

I believe it says "a steamer is escaping".

[@newseriesfan]

Rally 07 no it was ''stemie,,

[@tencents6]

He says" A steamer's escaping"

[@matthewross810]

You should fix the description as there are 2 other stories about Oliver in the RWS.

[@MrDannysuzy]

2 people are diesel lovers

[@thedjho23]

D5701 Is Based On A Br Class 28 Kobo Diesel Electric Engine Aswell As Boco Who Is Also A Member of The Class

[@FerdinandProductions2021]

1:17 In my headcanon, the Passing Diesel is based on a BR Class 47 and is named Shaun. Edit: He is a Class 47, and I decided to keep him like that. Edit: I actually can’t decide what diesel class he should be, so I decided to make him a Class 47 until I decided what diesel he should be. Edit: I decided that he should be a BR Class 20. Edit: I decided that he should be a Class 47 again.

[@medalless]

It makes me sad when oliver and the others had the words scrap on them

[@CodenameBolts]

Oliver’s Coach Isabel never appears in the TV series. :(

[@FerdinandProductions2021]

SuperflameGP such a shame.

[@myles8427]

Is that rust on toad?

[@NewController01]

+Myles Davis Not really, some of the 'Toad' Brakes were painted Brown in BR days

[@allanegleston4931]

in the tv series there is no mention of olivers autocoach at all. just toad.

[@TitanicTARDIS]

great story but the scottish accent for douglas sounds like frazer from dads army.

[@USER-LlewisTLDB]

At 3:55

[@chompette_]

Ironic the blue class 28 is featured in the hunting for scrap artwork as D5701 itself was cut up a couple of years after it was repainted

[@bsg549]

One trucks says Barrow in the first illu.

[@hywelroberts1653]

How come Oliver didn't have a coach for the show then

[@beback10]

Who's those deisel there and who is those western coach and a goods brake?

[@mcbenman1793]

The western coach is Isabelle and the goods brake is toad

[@TheJtbrooks]

early reel form a year that i dont know

[@TheJtbrooks]

this is used in a thomas creepypasta

[@thedjho23]

The Murdering Diesel Is Based On A Br Rail Class 08 Diesel Electric Shunter Aswell As Diesel Arry Bert Splatter Dodge Paxton Sidney The Mainland Diesels And Fernando Who Are Also Members of The Class

[@mcflluff]

Who is that diesel with a stripy face, why is D199 in this story.

[@FerdinandProductions2021]

Claire Philo that’s BoCo’s brother, D5701.

[@johnsplayworld2402]

Yes that is boco's brother becayse d199 doesnt look boxy he looks kind of chubby looking

[@Ninja11125]

It’s a class 8

[@frogmouth2]

The tv show never really emphasized how Donald and douglas would have been scrapped so it doesn’t quite hold the same precedent.

[@RexfromIslaNublar]

2:14 Do I see Mavis?

[@arenjtumastens]

Probably would have been better if Trevor was referenced in this version of this episode.

[@davidantoniocamposbarros7528]

That's a bit of a nitpick,but without the mention of Trevor's story and knowing that Donald helped Douglas i think it brings Douglas' character to a full arc when he saves Oliver

[@masterfarr8265]

I don't even think Trevor knows Douglas

[@savagetv6460]

2:43 boco's twin

[@Cnw8701]

Sucks they never bothered bringing Isabel into the TV series!

[@Ninja11125]

Yeah lol

[@cedricrennard1273]

Isn’t this technically theft? Oliver was still British Railways property

[@alexradu2750]

But it's justified

[@Nic_2751]

Not if they were planning on killing him anyway

[@maltwr2001]

I don't think it's the same train.

[@agimackenzie2361]

What are you talking about

[@tencents6]

Really? What is the Creepypasta called?

[@EerierFish17]

What are you on about

[@tencents6]

@@EerierFish17 I don't know. I don't even remember making this comment. LOL.

[@beback10]

And why is donald and douglas is blue?

[@pukenmg284]

They're blue in the books after the introduction book but the show keep them black I think because we can separate them better with Edward the same case is with Skarloey railway engines.

[@MayoHosko]

1:58 this did not age well

[@DLR1997]

Why so

[@MayoHosko]

@@DLR1997because the meaning and connotation of queer in 1968 isn’t the same as 2024

[@DLR1997]

@@MayoHosko yeah that's right; you were a few seconds early though

[@Nic_2751]

Why

[@DLR1997]

​@Nic_2751 Old definition of queer = strange or weird New definition = Gay

[@USER-LlewisTLDB]

Mavis at 4:33

[@Ninja11125]

Where

[@tobythesuperfasttram]

y didn't they have issabela come in the tv series

[@FerdinandProductions2021]

sam I don’t know why.

[@nzardoin]

no he does not.

[@maltwr2001]

This isn't him.

[@Oliver-productions162]

Oliver organ

[@TheeVue]

If BR Have Not Been form Steam Engines May Sill Been Here.

[@Serial__DesginationN]

No they wouldn’t, British railway was formed after the grouping act. Even if British railway wasn’t formed diesels would’ve still been invented.

[@austinlight3613]

Scrap!