Ivor the Engine is a British cutout animation television series created by Oliver Postgate and Peter Firmin's Smallfilms company.

It follows the adventures of a small green steam locomotive who lives in the "top left-hand corner of Wales" and works for The Merioneth and Llantisilly Rail Traction Company Limited.

In 2024, to coincide with a reprint of the original book based on the series, Ivor and The Merioneth & Llantisilly Rail Traction Company Limited were inducted as the 13th (and only fictional) member of the Great Little Trains of Wales.

[3] Ivor the Engine was Smallfilms' first production, and drew inspiration from Postgate's World War II encounter with Welshman Denzyl Ellis, a former railway locomotive fireman with the Royal Scot train,[3] who described how steam engines came to life when you spent time steaming them up in the morning.

Postgate decided to locate the story to North Wales, as it was more inspirational than the flat terrain of the English Midlands.

[3] The story lines drew heavily on, and were influenced by, the works of South Wales poet Dylan Thomas.

The series was originally made for black and white television by Smallfilms for Associated Rediffusion in 1958, but was later revived in 1975 when new episodes in colour were produced for the BBC.

The music was composed by Vernon Elliott and predominantly featured a solo bassoon, to reflect the three notes of Ivor's whistle.

[7][8] When the colour series was subsequently released on DVD, some of the episodes whose content linked, were edited together, with the relevant closing and opening titles and credits removed.

As well as singing in the choir, he likes visiting the seaside, making tea from his boiler and spending time with his friends.

As stated in series 2 episode 14 "Smoke hill" it is quoted that Ivor is "Just an ordinary small Box tank, 3 Cylinder Straight linked, 0-4-0 engine By Huntington & pottage of Crew."

[10] A rich and eccentric aristocratic lady who enjoys the occasional glass of port and has new hats sent from London every week.

The eponymous and larger-than-life owner of Charlie Banger's Circus, who arranges a free show for the town in order to thank Jones, Evans and Mr Hughes for their help in looking after Alice the Elephant following her injury.

Having been hatched from an egg in Ivor's fire, he lives with his wife Olwen and any of their twins, Daian and Blodwen, in the extinct volcano Smoke Hill.

The gasboard provide a temporary furnace, but when that became too expensive (and decimalisation renders the slot-machine inoperable), the only other option for the dragons is a heated cage.

As the Merioneth and Llantisilly Rail Traction Company Limited has only one locomotive (apart from the short service of Juggernaut), Bluebell is sometimes called upon to provide motive power.

It was he who directed Jones and Dai to Mr Jenkins the Builder when they were searching for organ pipes to replace Ivor's whistle.

He is asked to provide shelter for Alice the Elephant when she has an injured foot, and, despite his initial reluctance, he more than rises to the occasion.

He was famously known for ordering a telescope cover; however, as it was one of Ivor's deliveries, Mrs Porty believes it is her newest hat, and wears it to a meeting later in the episode.

He was also notable for telling Jones, Idris, and Dai, that the closest active volcano to the now extinct "Smoke Hill" is in southern Italy.

As this episode takes place when decimalisation occurs, Jones must inform Idris and Co. that there are no more half-crowns in Wales and that "you have had the lot".

"Smoke-Hill" is gas fired for the final time until the dragons go to Mr Dinwiddy and his geothermal heated cave.

After seeing Idris and his brethren, and Ivor's self-whistling, Mrs Griffiths apologises to Jones for thinking him mad and agrees to help the dragons.

On a few occasions, the gas meter runs out and Jones and Ivor have to search high and low for more half crowns.

The Juggernaut is a diesel rail lorry made out of bits, bobs and flanged wheels, which appears towards the end of the series.

Due to its inadequate brakes, it runs down a hill and falls into the lake soon after starting service, nearly killing Idris, whom it was carrying on a chestnut barrow.