Ivor the Engine

...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-Redefusion. These were told entirely by Postgate, showing how Ivor got his famous pipes and got to sing with the Grumbly and District Choral Society.

There followed another two 13-episode seasons for Associated-Redefusion (also in black and white) in 1962 and 1963. These told the further adventures of Ivor, introducing the Dragons and Alice the Elephant. In 1975, Smallfilms got the rights to stories back and remade the previous two seasons, along with some new stories, in colour. These were screened by the BBC in two 20-episode seasons, between 1976 and 1982.

Repeats of Ivor have recently been screened on Channel 4 and Nick Jr. Unfortunately the first six episodes are never shown, but were released on a video some years ago - this has now been deleted. The good news is a video containing all 40 colour episodes is available from Universal.

This guide lists the first six black and white episodes and the two colour BBC seasons.

Episodes:

Season 1:
1. Episode 1
2. Episode 2
3. Episode 3
4. Episode 4
5. Episode 5
6. Episode 6

Season 2:
1. 07
2. 08
3. 09
4. 10
5. 11
6. 12
7. 13
8. 14
9. 15
10. 16
11. 17
12. 18
13. 19

Season 3:
1. 20
2. 21
3. 22
4. 23
5. 24
6. 25
7. 26
8. 27
9. 28
10. 29
11. 30
12. 31
13. 32

Season 4:
1. The Railway
2. The Egg (1)
3. The Proper Container (2)
4. The Alarm (3)
5. The Retreat (4)
6. The Hat
7. Old Nell
8. Mr. Brangwyn's Pigeons (1)
9. The Visitor (2)
10. The Invalid (3)
11. The Boot (4)
12. Banger's Circus (5)
13. Unidentified Objects
14. Mrs. Porty's Foxes
15. Bluebell (1)
16. Dai and the Donkey (2)
17. Gold (1)
18. Mrs. Porty (2)
19. Cold (1)
20. The Endowment (2)

Season 5:
1. Snowdrifts (1)
2. Cold Sheep (2)
3. The Fire Engine
4. Sledging (1)
5. The Rescue (2)
6. The Water Tower
7. Mrs. Bird (1)
8. The Cuckoo-clock (2)
9. The Trumpet
10. Time Off
11. The Seaside (1)
12. The Lost Engine (2)
13. The Outing (3)
14. Half-Crowns
15. Sheep Herding (1)
16. Juggernaut (2)
17. The Bird House (3)
18. Chickens
19. St. George (1)
20. Retirement (2)