I also love the real life story. They wanted to send a helicopter, but the winds were too high, so they sent a victorian era steam engine instead. It really makes you realize just how amazing trains are
Fun fact: Devil's Back as a location was planned to appear in _All Engines Go_ albeit with standard gauge track. The location was ultimately rejected due to the use of the word "devil" being seen as undesirable for younger viewers, and would lead the creation of another location: Cannonball Curve.
Man I really wish the people making me shows can just admit to themselves kids are more intelligent than they're giving them credit for. There's not a child in the world who doesn't like the word "devil." The only people who have ever put in complaints about it are religious zealots who think saying the name conjures up their fairy tale boogeyman. Then again, I suppose the creators denying a child's maturity is the reason All Engines Go is the way that it all is.
Going back to the parallels between Godred and Lord Harry, guess which part of the line Godred met his end on? Yep, Devil's Back. I feel it's fitting that Devil's Back, the site of Godred's fate, is the same place where Lord Harry redeems himself and breaks the cycle of arrogance that was Godred's downfall. Also the name "Devil's Back" just goes really hard. I never really thought about the religious significance of the names in "Mountain Engines" but now that I realize that, it just makes the name "Devil's Back" go even harder. I mean, this is the mount where the patron saint of Sodor once resided, it's literally called "Mountain of the Companion of God", and a name like "Devil's Back" almost seems to say: "You're in Hell. Not St. Machan, not even God himself can save you now. You're on your own." And personally, I'm quite content with the fact that the Culdee Fell engines only ever appeared in a single book. I feel that the CFR engines being one-offs just serves to reinforce the almost mystical qualities of Culdee Fell. I'd imagine very few of the NWR's engines have ever even met the CFR engines, considering the only standard gauge rail access to it is on the electrified Peel Godred line. James, Gordon, Henry, hell, probably even Thomas have likely never met these engines before as they'd have very little reason to go to that part of the island. It's a part of the island that again, is almost mystical in quality, and the audience only ever being able to get a small glimpse of it just serves to reinforce its almost sacred status. "Holy ground", if you will.
Here's my favorite thing about this story: Usually in this franchise, when someone is grumbling about a job they find boring, and then get a lecture on the importance of said job, more often than not they blow it off, and then circumstances force them to realize that importance themselves, usually the hard way. Not here. It was likely because of how it was his own attitude that landed him on goods duty, but No. 6 takes Culdee's warnings about Devil's Back to heart. So when an emergency happens, No. 6 knows what he'll be in for, and has the time to steel himself and summon the courage to battle the winds and rescue the climbers.
Top-notch video! I’m a huge fan of the Mountain Engines, and always perk up when I see them getting some love. You’ve totally nailed why this story is so phenomenal. Looking forward to more from you!
A very interesting video and some very good points. I'd never really thought about Devil's Back being the pinnacle of this type of story but looking back it really is in the RWS. It's such a shame it gets of overlooked and indeed the Mountain Engines as a whole because they only appear for one book and never again because we just simply aren't as invested in them as Edward or Reheneas hence why their triumph stories are better remembered than Patrick's.
If this story was adapted i could see it/the stretch of line being renamed to Demon's Back, as Demon is easier to get passed the censors than Devil. Case in point Wrong Road, where Bill and Ben are referred to as little demons.
this is why i ever subscribed to you in the first place, videos like this who are creative, original and not the same 100th video idea repainted under a diferent paint and so, good video👍
Absolutely a top tier story! As clever Awdry is, I can't help but wonder whether the name Patrick was intentionally chosen for it's meaning of lordship
Yes, I don't think it was necessarily intentional. As you'll know if you've watched my video on Boulder though, I'm a big fan of unintentional beauty. I wouldn't put it past Awdry though, there are certainly moments and jokes throughout the RWS that go right over the heads of kids, and so I wouldn't count out the possibility of there being some intentionally-hidden gems out there for adults too. Either way, it's fun to speculate :)
I think just some random choice to parallel with Padarn’s name, starting with P and also having a after but who knows if the choice for a name starting with P (Patrick) could’ve been intentional for that?
I don’t get why people don’t like mountain engines. I feel like it’s either because of the spiritual stuff which can be overlooked or the fact that they never appear again which just says to me that they really do like the stories and wish there were more. Regarding the spiritual undertones, there’s probably more not mentioned. This is kind of Awdry’s magnum opus. It blends the excellent storytelling, worldbuilding, and his position as a reverend. It honestly might be my favorite book.
An excellent video. A shame Mountain Engine's was never adapted officially but maybe it was for the best in the end. Plus it gives fans their own stories to adapt. Excellent work.
Yes it is the greatest story of the rws and serve as a redemption for number 6 or Patrick after he was once arrogant and reckless then he found himself redemption at the final story and I go back to it every single time.
Mount Washington,in New Hampshire[US]was the original mountain cog railway,upon all others are based! It is one of the WORLDS COLDEST,WINDIEST,AND TREACHEROUS MOUNTAINS IN THE US! The other is Pikes Peak,in Colorado,also a site for a cog railroad! Anyway,an addendum to your excellent coverage of an obscure topic! Mountain tops,have always been points of meditation,and reflection! Thank you 😇 😊!
I always felt like the entire culdee fell book was slightly underrated and was overshadowed by other books like Thomas the tank engine, enterprising engines, and others.
I also love the real life story. They wanted to send a helicopter, but the winds were too high, so they sent a victorian era steam engine instead. It really makes you realize just how amazing trains are
Helicopter pilot: The winds are too high! We need another way!
Engine driver: **pops open a beer and puts in his sunglasses** Choo choo motherfuckers
Fun fact: Devil's Back as a location was planned to appear in _All Engines Go_ albeit with standard gauge track. The location was ultimately rejected due to the use of the word "devil" being seen as undesirable for younger viewers, and would lead the creation of another location: Cannonball Curve.
Even if it’s an understandable decision, I’d still say… FUCK AEG!!!!!!!
Man I really wish the people making me shows can just admit to themselves kids are more intelligent than they're giving them credit for. There's not a child in the world who doesn't like the word "devil." The only people who have ever put in complaints about it are religious zealots who think saying the name conjures up their fairy tale boogeyman.
Then again, I suppose the creators denying a child's maturity is the reason All Engines Go is the way that it all is.
Interesting
Going back to the parallels between Godred and Lord Harry, guess which part of the line Godred met his end on? Yep, Devil's Back. I feel it's fitting that Devil's Back, the site of Godred's fate, is the same place where Lord Harry redeems himself and breaks the cycle of arrogance that was Godred's downfall.
Also the name "Devil's Back" just goes really hard. I never really thought about the religious significance of the names in "Mountain Engines" but now that I realize that, it just makes the name "Devil's Back" go even harder. I mean, this is the mount where the patron saint of Sodor once resided, it's literally called "Mountain of the Companion of God", and a name like "Devil's Back" almost seems to say: "You're in Hell. Not St. Machan, not even God himself can save you now. You're on your own."
And personally, I'm quite content with the fact that the Culdee Fell engines only ever appeared in a single book. I feel that the CFR engines being one-offs just serves to reinforce the almost mystical qualities of Culdee Fell. I'd imagine very few of the NWR's engines have ever even met the CFR engines, considering the only standard gauge rail access to it is on the electrified Peel Godred line. James, Gordon, Henry, hell, probably even Thomas have likely never met these engines before as they'd have very little reason to go to that part of the island. It's a part of the island that again, is almost mystical in quality, and the audience only ever being able to get a small glimpse of it just serves to reinforce its almost sacred status. "Holy ground", if you will.
Here's my favorite thing about this story: Usually in this franchise, when someone is grumbling about a job they find boring, and then get a lecture on the importance of said job, more often than not they blow it off, and then circumstances force them to realize that importance themselves, usually the hard way.
Not here. It was likely because of how it was his own attitude that landed him on goods duty, but No. 6 takes Culdee's warnings about Devil's Back to heart. So when an emergency happens, No. 6 knows what he'll be in for, and has the time to steel himself and summon the courage to battle the winds and rescue the climbers.
Top-notch video! I’m a huge fan of the Mountain Engines, and always perk up when I see them getting some love. You’ve totally nailed why this story is so phenomenal. Looking forward to more from you!
even though I might argue for super rescue or tenders for Henry you make a convincing case for devils back
A very interesting video and some very good points. I'd never really thought about Devil's Back being the pinnacle of this type of story but looking back it really is in the RWS. It's such a shame it gets of overlooked and indeed the Mountain Engines as a whole because they only appear for one book and never again because we just simply aren't as invested in them as Edward or Reheneas hence why their triumph stories are better remembered than Patrick's.
If this story was adapted i could see it/the stretch of line being renamed to Demon's Back, as Demon is easier to get passed the censors than Devil. Case in point Wrong Road, where Bill and Ben are referred to as little demons.
this is why i ever subscribed to you in the first place, videos like this who are creative, original and not the same 100th video idea repainted under a diferent paint and so, good video👍
Devil's Back is top tier, and I love it to bits, as well as this video! Culdee Fell would go so hard in model form
Absolutely a top tier story! As clever Awdry is, I can't help but wonder whether the name Patrick was intentionally chosen for it's meaning of lordship
Yes, I don't think it was necessarily intentional. As you'll know if you've watched my video on Boulder though, I'm a big fan of unintentional beauty. I wouldn't put it past Awdry though, there are certainly moments and jokes throughout the RWS that go right over the heads of kids, and so I wouldn't count out the possibility of there being some intentionally-hidden gems out there for adults too. Either way, it's fun to speculate :)
I think just some random choice to parallel with Padarn’s name, starting with P and also having a after but who knows if the choice for a name starting with P (Patrick) could’ve been intentional for that?
I got a minecraft ad for this video
I know i'm in for something cool
I don’t get why people don’t like mountain engines. I feel like it’s either because of the spiritual stuff which can be overlooked or the fact that they never appear again which just says to me that they really do like the stories and wish there were more.
Regarding the spiritual undertones, there’s probably more not mentioned. This is kind of Awdry’s magnum opus. It blends the excellent storytelling, worldbuilding, and his position as a reverend. It honestly might be my favorite book.
An excellent video. A shame Mountain Engine's was never adapted officially but maybe it was for the best in the end. Plus it gives fans their own stories to adapt. Excellent work.
Yes it is the greatest story of the rws and serve as a redemption for number 6 or Patrick after he was once arrogant and reckless then he found himself redemption at the final story and I go back to it every single time.
WAIT EXCUSE ME I DIDNT EVEN REALISE YOU CAME BACK. YOU WERE MY FAVOURITE TTYE RUclipsR!
Mount Washington,in New Hampshire[US]was the original mountain cog railway,upon all others are based! It is one of the WORLDS COLDEST,WINDIEST,AND TREACHEROUS MOUNTAINS IN THE US! The other is Pikes Peak,in Colorado,also a site for a cog railroad! Anyway,an addendum to your excellent coverage of an obscure topic! Mountain tops,have always been points of meditation,and reflection! Thank you 😇 😊!
I think gallant old engine is the closest story to matching this
Great choice for the best! Its a pretty good story although my favourite is definitely Super Rescue
A real character arc
If Godred’s story was true then it was very tragic
Hes back!!!
Well, that was good!
Imagine if this was adapted in TATMR 😳
Well im totally not rereading mountain engines today
I always felt like the entire culdee fell book was slightly underrated and was overshadowed by other books like Thomas the tank engine, enterprising engines, and others.
Hey Thomas Cynic welcome back great you could join the bandwagon.