Ivor the Engine

A dark winter evening, Mum cooking the dinner and me curled up on the couch watching 'Ivor the Engine'. I am writing this and actually have a lump in my throat because childhood then was so sweet and uncomplicated.

Oliver Postgate's programmes are like a background to my childhood and there will never be anything in the future to compare with them.

My generation had the best kid's TV. You only have to look around at the revival of popularity for 'Rainbow', 'Bagpuss', 'Clangers' etc. to know that these shows were special.

I don't imagine that in 20 years there will be a resurgence in popularity for 'Pokemon'!!

I loved Ivor the Engine when I was young and yes I'll admit it I still do more than ever. I have purchased the whole series on VHS as a reminder of my childhood and actually watch it a lot. Nothing can compare, yes there is Thomas the Tank Engine but Ivor the Engine is pure magic! The music, the people and even the dragons. The episodes are very good too especialy my all time fave 'Snowdrifts' and there are many others! Thank you Oliver Postgate and Peter Firmin for making my childhood great and memorable!

In the seventies the creative talents of Oliver Postgate and Peter Firmin gave us a multitude of childrens classics , my favorites change from day to day but Ivor the Engine is one of the best.

These are the coloured versions (originally made in black and white Postgate and Firmin went back to their original prints and colourised them after the widespread introduction of colour t.v's in the 70's) and are just as valid as the original, if not more so as more people saw them the second time round.

Ivor the little welsh train, no speaking, but communicating through his funnel with various tones. His train driver and friend Mr Jones and the assorted charectors from the village including the tiny fire breathing dragon that lived in Ivors engine. These are timeless and should be watched again and again.

Warm, cozy, full of values and knowledge, plus cute drawings and lots of nice little stories - that's probably the description that best describes this great British cartoon series. A treasure that would certainly no longer be produced in this way today, because over-the-top, egoism and smartphone nonsense have no place here. A series that reminds us that the modern times are not necessarily the best.

One of the best children's animations of all time. As with so many of Postgate and Firmin's work an example of how these things ought to be done.

The plots are trivial and very little happens in any episode. But isn't that just what childhood is like - or should be?