{"product_id":"rapido-trains-980001-ivor-the-engine-train-pack","title":"Rapido Trains 980001 - Ivor the Engine Train Pack","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"page-header\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"woostify-container content-align-center\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"page-header\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"woostify-container content-align-center\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"page-header\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"woostify-container content-align-center\"\u003e\n\u003ch1 class=\"entry-title\"\u003eIvor The Engine\u003c\/h1\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv id=\"content\" class=\"site-content\" tabindex=\"-1\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"woostify-container\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv id=\"primary\" class=\"content-area\"\u003e\u003cmain id=\"main\" class=\"site-main\"\u003e\n\u003carticle id=\"post-52917\" class=\"post-52917 page type-page status-publish hentry\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"wp-block-image\"\u003e\n\u003cfigure class=\"aligncenter size-full is-resized\"\u003e\u003cimg decoding=\"async\" width=\"1235\" height=\"586\" src=\"https:\/\/rapidotrains.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/2024-9-ivor-text-5b.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-52963\"\u003e\u003c\/figure\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"\u003e\u003cimg decoding=\"async\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1078\" src=\"https:\/\/rapidotrains.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/980-Ivor-Painted-samples-009-sml.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-65723\"\u003e\u003c\/figure\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"has-woostify-heading-6-font-size\"\u003eIn 1959 Oliver Postgate and Peter Firmin, working under their Smallfilms name, brought \u003cem\u003eIvor the Engine\u003c\/em\u003e to life in a series of six 10-minute black and white films. The animations were created using cut-out painted cardboard items held together with pins and Blutack.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"has-woostify-heading-6-font-size\"\u003eA single frame camera controlled by a small electric motor with some Meccano, a rubber band drive and a manual clicker allowed frames to be made in quick succession – a good thing as five minutes of animation required 8000 frames to be recorded. On a good day two minutes of animation could be recorded; 12 times faster than most stop-frame animation studios of their time. All of this was created in the pair’s workshop (a converted cow shed) at Firmin’s home in Blean near Canterbury, Kent. Postgate wrote the stories, narrated and voiced many of the characters which were brought to life by Firmin’s illustrations.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-resized\"\u003e\u003cimg decoding=\"async\" width=\"990\" height=\"635\" src=\"https:\/\/rapidotrains.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/ivor-2.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-52968\"\u003e\u003c\/figure\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"has-woostify-heading-6-font-size\"\u003eThe original series was regularly shown by Associated-Rediffusion Ltd. on ITV (who had acquired the original rights) until their demise in 1968. In 1975 the creators re-acquired the rights and started producing the original episodes, alongside new ones as a series of forty 5-minute episodes, this time aired over the following two years on the BBC. \u003cem\u003eIvor the Engine\u003c\/em\u003e would see regular screenings for the next decade.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"\u003e\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1082\" src=\"https:\/\/rapidotrains.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/980-Ivor-Painted-samples-006-sml.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-65724\"\u003e\u003c\/figure\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"has-woostify-heading-6-font-size\"\u003eNumerous books and VHS cassettes were also produced alongside other merchandise such as board games and playing cards. In 2023 a remastered version was released on Blu-ray DVD. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-resized\"\u003e\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"897\" height=\"615\" src=\"https:\/\/rapidotrains.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Ivor-map-small.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-52962\"\u003e\u003c\/figure\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"has-woostify-heading-6-font-size\"\u003eWorking alongside Daniel Postgate under an exclusive worldwide license, Rapido Trains UK will produce two\u003cem\u003e Ivor the Engine\u003c\/em\u003e packs in OO gauge. Each pack will come in a special presentation box and will include a number of 2D characters (with bases) alongside cardboard fold up buildings all faithfully reproduced from the original artworks and animations. DCC SOUND packs will feature a full range of sounds, music and quotes taken from the original productions. For full details check out the descriptions of each product below.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"has-woostify-heading-6-font-size\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/article\u003e\n\u003c\/main\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003ch1 class=\"entry-title\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 0.875rem;\"\u003eThis train pack has the following features:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h1\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv id=\"content\" class=\"site-content\" tabindex=\"-1\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"woostify-container\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv id=\"primary\" class=\"content-area\"\u003e\u003cmain id=\"main\" class=\"site-main\"\u003e\n\u003carticle id=\"post-56972\" class=\"post-56972 page type-page status-publish hentry\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIvor the Engine Train Pack\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIvor the Engine, with working headlamps and glowing dragon egg in the firebox\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTwo open\/sheep wagons\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFull range of sounds and dialogue from the original colour animations on DCC SOUND versions\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e2D cardboard figures with bases for Jones the Steam, Dai Station, Idris the Dragon and three sheep, all produced from the original animation artwork\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFold-up cardboard engine shed and water tower.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA brand-new Ivor the Engine story written and illustrated by Daniel Postgate\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSpecial presentation box\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCompatible with other OO gauge products\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDie-cast metal and injection moulded plastic construction.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHigh quality motor and mechanism.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eE24 decoder socket\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFactory-fitted speaker in all locomotives\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/article\u003e\n\u003c\/main\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Rapido Trains UK","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":56497678745985,"sku":"980001","price":170.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0645\/5292\/7467\/files\/IvorTrainPack-Product-1a_0f850670-54c1-47f5-82b3-5eb892e9f029.png?v=1794422272","url":"https:\/\/www.grandadstrainshop.co.uk\/products\/rapido-trains-980001-ivor-the-engine-train-pack","provider":"Grandad's Train Shop","version":"1.0","type":"link"}