Ivor the Engine
  
This was made originally in the late 1950s, but some new, colour episodes were made in the 1970s. It has been repeated a lot, especially during the 1980s and also on Channel Four, Sunday mornings, 2000.
Each programme lasted just 5 minutes, and concerned the activities of a lone welsh locomotive ' Ivor ' which ran on the fictional Merioneth and Llantisilly railway, which was meant to be somewhere in the top right-hand corner of Wales
and its driver, Edwin Jones, a plump bespectacled man. Ivor the engine was powered by Idris the dragon, who originally lived in a volcanic mountain. Also featured were Dai the stationmaster who was always a bit glum and residents who lived nearby the station they set off from - Llaniog station, including the wealthy Mrs Port, who drank plenty of port, the local policeman and Evans the song, who headed the local choir, which Ivor the engine itself also sung in.
This cartoon was a result of the duo who also gave us the Clangers and Pogle's wood - Oliver Postgate and Peter Firmin, with Peter Firmin doing the illustrations. This cartoon was almost a still one , but indeed Ivor was seen to chug along the line.
Although action and excitement were not exactly the programme's strong points, it was peaceful and pleasing to watch, and is fondly remembered by many.
KIDS' PROGRAMMES OF THE 1980S PAGE |