|
Post by stuart7 on Oct 29, 2006 12:21:41 GMT
I once saw the last episode on a video I used to have, ChrisTE, and I can agree with both you and Ryan on the ending. In his opinion (and mine too) the series was left very "open-ended" very much like the Railway Series if you think about it.
Stuart
|
|
|
Post by FlyingScotsman on Oct 30, 2006 9:33:27 GMT
I found the ending very sad when I first saw it. I think it's a combination of the music, the simplistic but well-written narration and the dialogue-free animation. Modern children's programmes could learn a lot from Postgate and Firmin. Those guys had a tiny budget and minimal facilities, yet they produced cartoons that are regarded as classics to this day. Not just Ivor, but the Clangers, Bagpuss, Noggin the Nog and several others.
|
|
SRapi
Main Line Engine
Pronounced: Ess-Are-Ay-Pie.
Posts: 1,543
|
Post by SRapi on Dec 26, 2006 4:55:55 GMT
You can watch a few episodes of Ivor on YouTube. Very cute cartoon, IMO. But , why are people called Jones The Steam, Evans The Song, and Owen The Signal?
|
|
|
Post by Dockside Salty on Dec 26, 2006 5:10:26 GMT
They're named those names, after their professions. Jones the Steam is an engine driver, Evans the song leads the town's choir and Owen is a signalman.
|
|
|
Post by FlyingScotsman on Dec 29, 2006 11:44:57 GMT
It's a traditionally Welsh thing to do. You can also see it in the Dylan Thomas play Under Milk Wood with the character Dai Bread. For the sake of completeness, Jones' real name is Edwin Jones and Evans' is Evan Evans.
|
|
Davey
Goods Engine
V
Posts: 488
|
Post by Davey on Dec 29, 2006 13:09:27 GMT
I always loved Ivor the Engine when I was younger. It had such a nice, gentle feeling to it and it was really easy to get into. The narration and character voices were perfect, and the simplistic animation was just very nice to watch. I think I've seen all the episodes but its hard to remember since it was such a long time ago. Although I always have fond memories of the Black and White episodes where Ivor gets his new organ whistles and finally gets to sing in the Grumbly District Choral Society. Ahh the memories....
|
|
Rhodri
Goods Engine
You spin me right round
Posts: 407
|
Post by Rhodri on Jan 30, 2007 18:19:55 GMT
Nothing like it. So charming. I used to have some of the orginal black and white sersis on tape somewhere. But one thing I never got: Its set in the top left hand corners of Wales (Angelsea?), yet most of the charcters had Welsh Valley accents
|
|
|
Post by Culdee Fell on Mar 29, 2007 15:22:37 GMT
I found the ending very sad when I first saw it. I think it's a combination of the music, the simplistic but well-written narration and the dialogue-free animation. Modern children's programmes could learn a lot from Postgate and Firmin. Those guys had a tiny budget and minimal facilities, yet they produced cartoons that are regarded as classics to this day. Not just Ivor, but the Clangers, Bagpuss, Noggin the Nog and several others. When I first saw the ending I started crying. The saddest line has to be "And Smoke hill, without any more half crowns to go in the gas meter, stood cold and empty". The whole of the episode "Half Crowns" dates it to the 70s, where the metric system, and a new system of money has been introduced but everyone is still getting used to it. Aside from that this show is timeless! LONG LIVE IVOR THE ENGINE. And in the words of Charlie Banger "Good Luck Ivor!"
|
|
|
Post by FlyingScotsman on Mar 30, 2007 23:24:12 GMT
I suspect the Welsh Valley accent thing was because Ivor was set in a sort of timeless fairytale version of Wales, with coal mines and dragons and choirs and the Prince of Wales feathers on everything. Just as Sodor is a timeless fairytale vision of England. The top-left-hand corner was probably chosen because, in relation to London, it's as far into Wales as you can get without running into the sea, rather than because Postgate and Firmin had any specific location in mind. How about this as an alternative to Days Out With Thomas? www.smallfilms.co.uk/ivor/aboard.htmLet's hope this gets a new generation of kids interested in the other classic kids' train...
|
|
|
Post by exveefan on Mar 30, 2007 23:40:33 GMT
Hmmm, wonder what loco(s) they plan to use to replicate Ivor.
|
|
|
Post by Chris on Mar 30, 2007 23:45:02 GMT
Yeah, the The Cholsey and Wallingford site mentions a full size replica "with his memorable signature whistles". I wonder how they'll achieve that?
Still sounds cool. Might try and get along to one of these if I can.
|
|
|
Post by Little Engine on Mar 31, 2007 12:26:04 GMT
intresting find
|
|
|
Post by FlyingScotsman on Mar 31, 2007 12:54:02 GMT
I remember there used to be an 0-6-0 outside the Dapol factory painted to look like Ivor. Maybe that's it. Or maybe it's a completely new engine, perhaps diesel powered, or a conversion. Either way, ME ME ME I WANT A GO!
|
|
|
Post by Chris on Mar 31, 2007 14:27:34 GMT
I've just found this, again on The Cholsey and Wallingford site...
|
|
|
Post by Christopher on Mar 31, 2007 14:37:31 GMT
I've heard of this some weeks ago, and I for one would be intrested at how other Railways will try and replicate Ivor, espicially with the whistles. That pic, Chris, does slightly look a bit like our Musical Engine, although I can't tell for sure whether it's a Great Western Engine or a LMS Tank Engine. (Forgive me, BTW. I'm still trying to learn the different types of engines )
|
|
|
Post by Vortexior on Mar 31, 2007 17:42:06 GMT
I've just found this, again on The Cholsey and Wallingford site... Looks like a Pannier tank engine with 2 wheels missing to me.
|
|
|
Post by Dockside Salty on Mar 31, 2007 18:44:57 GMT
I remember reading somewhere that it's a Peckett 0-4-0; it looks a bit like an Andrew Barclay one to me though....
|
|
Davey
Goods Engine
V
Posts: 488
|
Post by Davey on Apr 9, 2007 11:13:49 GMT
That should be good, being pulled by a replica Ivor! I live about 10 minutes away from Wallingford, so hopefully I can go to the event on one of those days. EDIT: Well, I went to the CWR line yesterday, and I'm really disappointed. Ivor was there, and looked immaculate (the way they had re-painted the 0-4-0ST was really convincing), but he WASN'T RUNNING! He was just there for static display! And the only trains were being pulled by their Diesel Shunters. Now I think that is a complete waste of time hiring that engine if they're not even going to use it. What's even more hard to take is the fact that it was blatant false advertising. They said on their Website Ivor would be "Steaming". Really annoying. Ah well, I still got a couple of decent pics though. Here's one of them:
|
|
|
Post by Christopher on Apr 9, 2007 11:47:04 GMT
Wow, that is a dead-on model for Ivor. Thanks for posting, Davey. A real shame that he didn't do much, though. Perhaps there was something wrong with "Ivor" that day and he couldn't be able to run? They should have been an explination as to why he wasn't running.
|
|
Davey
Goods Engine
V
Posts: 488
|
Post by Davey on Apr 9, 2007 12:41:32 GMT
Yeah, it was really irritating. There was a notice on a blackboard outside of the station area by the road (where I took the picture from) saying "Ivor will be on static display today. Another Engine will be pulling the trains". I asked at the ticket office if Ivor would be steaming and they said he won't be at all this weekend. And I take that to mean the entire "Easter weekend", so I doubt he is today either
|
|