New Little Engine is the 40th book in The Railway Series, written by Christopher Awdry. It was published on August 8th, 1996. The book focuses on Skarloey Railway engines waiting for a new engine to be built while Peter Sam goes to visit the Talyllyn Railway.
- Speedkiller: Rusty is given the tedious job of spraying weedkiller on the rails. Meanwhile, Rheneas has to fetch another coach after a huge influx of visitors, making him late. He has to slow down at a steep hill for some hedge cutters too, spoiling his chances of a good run at it. Because of the weedkiller, Rheneas eventually grinds to a halt and slips down the hill. His crew put sand on the rails and Rheneas makes his way up. Though the passengers have little time to enjoy the scenery at the lake, they are pleased with Rheneas' brave efforts.
- Sir Handel's Plan: Sir Handel is jealous when Peter Sam is brought back from Wales especially to help with the engine shortage, and when he is convinced he sees Peter Sam grinning at him from the shed he is furious and deliberately knocks his firebars loose, resulting in his being sent to the shed. However, as the days pass and no one comes, Sir Handel worries he will stay there forever. When the Thin Controller finally comes in one day, Sir Handel confesses and the Thin Controller, thinking quickly, thanks Sir Handel for admitting his mistake and arranges for him to receive some new firebars on the condition that he behaves himself, which, he neglects to tell him, had only been delivered that morning.
- Dirty Water: Peter Sam tells Kathy and Lizzie, two young holidaymakers, a story about the water on the Talyllyn Railway. He remembers that something was put to the water to enhance its flavour, but one day he found it awful. His crew were unconcerned, but when he started from a station, a spray of filthy white sludge was blasted out of his funnel. Talyllyn took his train, but unfortunately for him, he had to stay on a siding for the visitors. It was later discovered too much of the special powder was put in the water, and he later got a good washout. Kathy and Lizzie find the story hilarious, and leave the shed in a fit of giggles.
- I Name This Engine...: All the gossip on the Skarloey Railway is about the identity of the new engine, but even the details of the naming ceremony are being kept under covers. At last, the day comes and Skarloey is chosen to pull a special train to collect the guests and pull them back to Crovan's Gate. However, on the way back a sow and her piglets stray onto the line, and the guests have to capture them and put them in their field. The train is late, but at last, they arrive at the ceremony, and when Mr Hugh does the naming he is amazed and honoured to discover the engine has been named in his honour.
This book contains examples of:
- Advertised Extra: Despite being the book’s namesake, Ivo Hugh doesn’t actually show up until the last story nor does he speak.
- Determinator: Rheneas puts his guts into climbing the hill after it is made slippery by the weedkiller sprayed on the lines.
- Didn't Think This Through: Sir Handel deliberately damaged his firebars so that he could get out of working, but didn't count on being left in the shed for days at a time until the replacement parts could be delivered, ignored by the cleaners and other workers.
- The Ghost: Fred the Diesel is only ever mentioned in "Speedkiller", he doesn’t even show up when the all the engines are gathered at Ivo Hugh’s unveiling.
- Never Trust a Title: Although the new engine is mentioned in "Sir Handel's Plan", he only appears in the last story.
- Still Wearing the Old Colors: Duke stands out among the other Skarloey Railway engines in that he's still wearing his brown from the Mid-Sodor Railway days.
- What Happened to the Mouse?: Although the Skarloey Railway was one of the investors in the Arlesdale Railway, the SR is shown spraying weedkiller on its lines as if the weed-killing ballast the AR was built to extract never existed.
- Whole Episode Flashback: Peter Sam's story about the water on the Talyllyn Railway.
