Passengers and Polish - A Gscalesodor Adaptation

This is the eleventh installment of our Skarloey Railway adaptation series. A series that, we hope, respects and represents the original works of the Rev. Wilbert Awdry more accurately and affectionately than the TV programme "Thomas and Friends". This series was made using G Scale and 16mm Scale garden railway models. Models that were made using both handcrafted techniques and 3D printed components. "Passengers and Polish" is a story that focuses heavily on Duncan's volatile temperament and his deep-seated resentment toward the mundane, everyday work of running a narrow-gauge railway. In this chapter of the SR Saga, the Rev. Awdry presents us with an engine who refuses to appreciate his fortunate position in life. An engine who resents the work that other engines live for. An engine that feels deeply offended by non-issues, treating them as personal slights, and then punishing the railway, his fellow engines, and, worst of all, the passengers accordingly. Ever since "Skarloey Remembers", Rheneas, Skarloey's brother and fellow original SR engine, has been away being mended. One day, while being harassed by a Guard's daughter named Nancy, who is trying to clean him, Skarloey learns that Rheneas will be returning home soon. Skarloey of course is extremely happy to hear this, and changes his mind immediately about being cleaned. While this exchange is going on, Duncan turns up and asks if he is to be polished too. Nancy politely says no, apologising with a list of perfectly reasonable and cheerful explanations, concluding that she will indeed do so tomorrow. Unfortunately, all Duncan hears is "no". He becomes immediately resentful. His mood only gets worse when he has to help out Skarloey, then pull his own train on time. The audacity of it all. His bad attitude culminates while pulling a train of passengers. Duncan commits an ultimately self-sabotaging act. He decides to punish his passengers, his crew, the railway, and his fellow engines by causing such a big, unprofessional, and unfriendly problem that it could have resulted in the barely prospering Skarloey Railway losing its wonderful reputation and gaining an awful one. Duncan, because of his pettiness, risks the very survival of the Skarloey Railway, his friends, and himself. Our adaptation series is crafted with a deep respect for traditional storytelling, blending the atmosphere of the original book illustrations with cinematic, large-scale model railway production. Skarloey and Sir Handel are made from almost entirely 3D-printed and laser cut components. Rusty is made from mostly laser cut and 3D printed components. Peter Sam and Duncan each have a heavily altered 3D printed chassis, but are otherwise entirely scratch built. All Gscalesodor engines feature a custom, hand-sculpted face. The expression for each was chosen to most fundamentally convey their usual character. Currently, we are in the process of making interchangeable faces with different expressions. However, this film was made prior to that project. We are extremely proud of this installment. One of my favourite aspects was absolutely fixing the logistics compared with Duncan's nonsensical journey in "Thomas and Friends". My Skarloey Railway is mappable (and was during production). The T&F TV series Skarloey Railway is a spaghetti mess. I'm also proud of the shunting sequence. I believe that the realistic tedium of the shunt fuels Duncan's frustration. I personally also enjoy it when these engines do engine things. We hope that you enjoy this adaptation and stick around for "Gallant Old Engine" and beyond. Enormous, appreciative thanks to these phenomenal artists for providing the incredible, atmospheric scores that bring this short film to life: SA MUSIC:    / @sudrianafro   Mavis M:    / @mavism