Ivor The Engine
...Not very long ago, in the top left-hand corner of Wales, there was a railway. It wasn't a very long railway or a very important railway, but it was called The Merioneth and Llantisilly Rail Traction Company Limited, and it was all there was. And in a shed, in a siding at the end of the railway, lives the Locomotive of the Merioneth and Llantisilly Rail Traction Company Limited, which was a long name for a little engine so his friends just called him Ivor..." ...And that was how it began, back in 1959: one of Oliver Postgate's most loved creations, Ivor the Engine. It was a series about the Welsh adventures of a little green railway engine and his many friends. But Ivor wasn't an ordinary steam engine. He pretty much wished he was a person and ended up doing things like singing in a choir and swimming in the sea! One season of six, 10 minute, Black and White films was made for and screened by Associated-Red.
Seasons
1. Episode 1
Air Date: 1959-12-28
Ivor the Engine hears the sound of a Welsh choir for the first time, and wants to join in, though he knows this is impossible.
2. Episode 2
Air Date: 1960-01-04
Jones the Steam is concerned that Ivor is not himself. Along with Dai Station, they visit the Chief Engineer, who tells them that Ivor is physically in excellent condition, but that obviously something is bothering him, but what?
3. Episode 3
Air Date: 1960-01-11
Dai the Station has the idea of taking Ivor back to where he first became sad. On the hill above the choir practice, Jones the Steam discovers what is bothering Ivor.
4. Episode 4
Air Date: 1960-01-18
Evans the Song agrees to listen to Ivor's whistle, but it is too weak and rough for the choir. Jones the Steam determines to change Ivor's whistle for proper pipes, capable of making a more pleasant sound.
5. Episode 5
Air Date: 1960-01-25
With the help of all of Ivor's friends, Jones is able to replace Ivor's whistle with three organ pipes donated from the local roundabout. Now all they need is the choir committee and the railway management to agree to Ivor joining the choir.
6. Episode 6
Air Date: 1960-02-01
Evans the Song convinces both the choir committee and the railway bosses, and Ivor joins the choir.
1. The Choral Society
Air Date:
It is a special day for Ivor the Engine. Ever since he got his new whistle, he has been chosen to take the Grumbly District Choral Society to take part in the Eisteddfod in Llanmad.
2. The Festival
Air Date:
After the festival, it's off the seaside, but Ivor is feeling left out, so he makes a plan...
3. The Search
Air Date:
Ivor has run away and nobody knows why. The search is on!
4. The Outing
Air Date:
After going off without a driver the other day, Ivor takes the Grumbly District Choral Society to Tewyn Beach once again for Bank Holiday, but Jones the Steam has a surprise for the little tank engine to cheer him up.
5. Mrs Porty's Donkey
Air Date:
Ivor the Engine and Bluebell the Donkey are best friends, but their friendship causes trouble for Jones and Mrs. Porty.
6. Dai and the Donkey
Air Date:
Dai Station isn't too pleased about Ivor's new friend, Bluebell, however when Ivor comes off the rails at the points, he soon learns just how useful she can be.
7. The Birds
Air Date:
While puffing through the forest, Ivor and Jones come across a bird's nest on the railway line, so they have to find a new home for the mother bird and her chicks.
8. Mrs Porty's Foxes
Air Date:
Mrs Porty shows Jones and Ivor the fox cubs in the wood near her house. As Ivor and Jones go to deliver Mrs Porty's Hat for the Institute Prize Giving, they save the fox from the fox hunt, by hiding her in the hat box.
9. Ivor's Friends
Air Date:
On a cold winter's day, Jones falls into the frozen water whilst trying to re-rail the truck leaving Ivor stuck on Tewyn Lake bridge, so it's up to his friends, the birds, to save the day.
10. The Fire Engine
Air Date:
Some time after the lake fiasco, Ivor spots the fire engine while clearing snow, but then what do you think happens next?
11. Old Nell
Air Date:
One winter's day while taking corn bags to Mr. Pugh's Farm, Ivor spots a sheep trapped on the cliffside of the old quarry line.
12. Mr Dinwiddy's Gold
Air Date:
There's trouble on the railway. The Merioneth and Llantisilly Rail Traction Company Limited is to be sold to the Welsh National Railway Commission as a branch line and Ivor might have to become shunter at Pontypool Roads. So it's up to Mr. Dinwiddy the goldminer and Mrs. Porty to save the railway from closure.
13. Ivor's Present
Air Date:
It's Christmas in the top left hand corner of Wales and Mrs. Porty has a parcel for Ivor which he then gives to the birds, but what could it be?
1. Smoke Hill
Air Date:
Smoke Hill has been dormant for years, but one day when Ivor sees smoke rising from the top, what do you happens next?
2. Idris
Air Date:
Idris is a small Welsh dragon and has made friends with Ivor and Jones.
3. The Firey Breath
Air Date:
There have been reports of sudden burn marks around Llaniog. Could Idris be responsible?
4. Olwen
Air Date:
Idris and his friend, Olwen, help Mr. Thomas at his fish and chip shop.
5. The Retreat
Air Date:
The dragons have disappeared and the Antiquarian Society have arrived. What will Ivor and Jones do?
6. Mr Brangwyn's Box
Air Date:
Ivor, Jones and Evans are in a spot of pigeon trouble.
7. The Invalid
Air Date:
One day, Ivor the Engine spots an elephant on the tracks after retrieving some naughty pigeons.
8. Alice
Air Date:
Alice the elephant is poorly and has proven to be a quite difficult patient indeed.
9. The Circus
Air Date:
Roll up! Roll up! The circus has come to town with free tickets for all!
10. Snowdrifts
Air Date:
Winter has arrived once again. Ivor is having a lovely time in the snow. With a winch attached to his front, he is pulling the children on sledges up the hill. He pulls too many at a time and ends up wheel-deep in the snow. Various rescue attempts prove futile.
11. The Cold Hill
Air Date:
Smoke Hill has gone cold. A disaster for the dragons!
12. The Antiquarian Society
Air Date:
Jones goes over to the Society for help.
13. The Endowment
Air Date:
The problem with Smoke Hill is solved in a quite responsible way, but what?
1. The Railway
Air Date: 1976-01-26
It is a typical day in the life of Ivor the Engine. Ivor delivers Coal to Grumbly Gasworks, tomatoes to Mr Davy and Fish to Mrs Thomas. Ivor also goes to choir practice.
2. The Hat
Air Date: 1976-01-27
Jones and Ivor bring back a package, which is supposedly a hat for Mrs Porty, but Jones and Dai discover it's a new telescope cover for Professor Longfellow and go home for the night. In the morning, the package has gone...
3. Old Nell
Air Date: 1976-01-29
A silly sheep has got itself stuck on a ledge in the hills. Jones tries to rescue it but ends up stuck himself. He ends up sending Ivor and Old Nell, the sheepdog, to get help.
4. Mr Brangwyn's Pigeons
Air Date: 1976-01-30
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.
5. The Egg
Air Date: 1976-02-02
Going past Smoke Hill, an extinct volcano, Jones and Ivor spot smoke coming from the top. Jones discovers a fire inside the hill and a strange egg. He puts it in Ivor's firebox to keep it warm. Mr Dinwiddy doesn't have any idea what it is so they go off to choir practice. During the practice there seems to be a voice coming from inside Ivor.
6. The Proper Container
Air Date: 1976-02-03
Dai Station isn't too pleased about Ivor's new friend, Idris, travelling in his firebox. He orders him into a box, which catches fire and then scares him off trying to extinguish it.
7. The Alarm
Air Date: 1976-02-05
After choir practice Idris helps out Mrs Thomas, whose fish fryer is on the blink. While everyone is enjoying a fish supper, Evans the Song spots a worrying article in his bit of newspaper.
8. The Retreat
Air Date: 1976-02-06
Idris is still missing when the representative of the antiquarian society arrives to interview Jones about him. After a few embarrassments, Jones and Ivor find Idris in the most obvious place.
9. The Visitor
Air Date: 1976-02-09
A rock on the line turns out to be a wounded elephant. Jones and Ivor take the elephant, named Alice, and her keeper to Mr Hugh's gasworks to recuperate.
10. The Invalid
Air Date: 1976-02-10
Jones and Evans the Song have great difficulty bathing Alice and giving her medicine.
11. The Boot
Air Date: 1976-02-12
Mr Brangwyn provides a boot for Alice to wear until her foot heals.
12. Banger's Circus
Air Date: 1976-02-13
Alice's circus, run by Mr Charlie Banger, is coming to Grumbly town. Bani and Alice are very excited.
13. Unidentified Objects
Air Date: 1976-02-16
Jones and Dai are relaxing when they spot some strange objects in the sky. The source appears to be Mr Dinwiddy's goldmine.
14. Mrs Porty's Foxes
Air Date: 1976-02-17
Mrs Porty shows Jones and Ivor the fox cubs in the wood near her house. As Ivor and Jones go to deliver Mrs Porty's Hat for the Institute Prize Giving, they save the fox from the fox hunt, by hiding her in the hat box.
15. Bluebell
Air Date: 1976-02-19
Jones is cleaning Ivor when they are called off on an emergency - Mr Dinwiddy needs his new boots. Jones leaves Bluebell the Donkey holding the bucket. She follows them all the way to the goldmine, so Jones and Mr Dinwiddy arrange for a mode of transport.
16. Dai and the Donkey
Air Date: 1976-02-20
Dai Station isn't too keen on Bluebell riding around with Ivor, but she soon proves her worth when the engine is derailed.
17. Gold
Air Date: 1976-02-23
Mr Williams of head office breaks the terrible news to Jones and Dai that the railway is to be sold and Ivor might have to do shunting at Pontypool. Then Mr Dinwiddy has a brainwave.
18. Mrs Porty
Air Date: 1976-02-24
After Mr Dinwiddy's idea falling through, Mrs Porty comes up with a solution to the railway being sold.
19. Cold
Air Date: 1976-02-26
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.
20. The Endowment
Air Date: 1976-02-27
Jones and Dai are not getting anywhere trying to find a home for Idris and the other dragons. Jones decides he must go to Lanmad and ask for the help of Mrs Griffiths.
1. Snowdrifts
Air Date: 1977-11-22
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.
2. Cold Sheep
Air Date: 1977-11-23
Thanks to a new snowplough, Jones and Ivor have collected supplies from Grumbly. On the way back they come up against an unusual snowdrift.
3. Sledging
Air Date: 1977-11-24
Ivor is having a lovely time in the snow. With a winch attached to his front, he is pulling the children on sledges up the hill. He pulls too many at a time and ends up wheel-deep in the snow. Various rescue attempts prove futile.
4. The Rescue
Air Date: 1977-11-25
Some old fashioned pushers and pullers come to Ivor's rescue.
5. The Fire Engine
Air Date: 1977-11-29
There's a fire at Mr Pugh's barn but the new fire engine has got stuck in the snow. Ivor comes to the rescue, taking along the firemen and a hand-pump.
6. The Water Tower
Air Date: 1977-11-30
Something's very fishy when Ivor won't go under the water tower.
7. Mrs Bird
Air Date: 1977-12-01
Jones and Ivor decide to help a family of birds that have built a nest on the line.
8. The Cuckoo Clock
Air Date: 1977-12-02
Jones and Ivor desperately need to find the birds a home, but Mrs Porty has an answer to this problem.
9. The Trumpet
Air Date: 1977-12-06
Ivor receives a mysterious package in the post. It turns out to be a trumpet from some old friends and comes in handy for rounding up Old Idwoll's sheep.
10. The Seaside
Air Date: 1977-12-07
The Grumbly Choir decide to spend some time having fun at Tewyn Beach after taking part in the Eisteddfod. Of course, Ivor is left alone and feels very sad. Back at Grumbly, standing sad and alone again, he decides to go off on his own.
11. The Lost Engine
Air Date: 1977-12-08
Jones discovers Ivor has gone and Mrs Porty suspects bandits. It isn't bandits, of course, and they find the engine at Tewyn beach.
12. The Outing
Air Date: 1977-12-09
The choir are going on their now annual outing to Tewyn beach. They are planning a very special surprise for Ivor.
13. The Sheepdog
Air Date: 1977-12-13
Jones and Dai are watching the sheep dog trials and a very large contestant turns up to enter.
14. Juggernaut
Air Date: 1977-12-14
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.
15. The Bird House
Air Date: 1977-12-15
Ivor returns along with a small fortune and knows just what he wants to buy.
16. Time Off
Air Date: 1977-12-16
It's a lovely summers day and Ivor has finished all his work. Jones and Dai decide to go and relax by the river. Ivor feels a little left out standing by the station platform so he goes off on his own.
17. Half-Crowns
Air Date: 1977-12-20
The Dragons have nearly run out of Half-Crowns for their gas meter at Smoke Hill. Jones and Ivor find some in one of the most unlikely places.
18. Chickens
Air Date: 1977-12-21
Ivor has gone off on his own again. Dai gets quite cross about it, while Jones finds Ivor at Mr Pugh's farm along with some guests.
19. St. George
Air Date: 1977-12-22
There are some problems with Smoke Hill again. So, Jones, Ivor and the dragons go to Llanmad to see Mrs Griffiths. While there, Gaian and Blodwen encounter an old enemy.
20. Retirement
Air Date: 1977-12-23
The Dragons are in danger of being caged. Luckily, Mr Dinwiddy knows just the place for them to live.
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Rating
9.0/10
Release Date
1959-12-28
Episodes
72 (5 seasons)
Status
Ended
Cast
Videos
Production Companies
Smallfilms