Four Little Engines is the tenth book of The Railway Series published in 1955. The four stories focus on the engines from the Skarloey Railway working together to keep the line running.
- Skarloey Remembers: Edward meets his old friend Skarloey, a narrow gauge engine. Skarloey talks to him about his friend, Rheneas, who is being repaired on the mainland, the two new engines, Sir Handel and Peter Sam, his coaches and his work, and when Edward goes to the workshops Skarloey dozes off in the sunshine.
- Sir Handel: The two new engines have arrived. Peter Sam is good-natured, but Sir Handel is in a bad temper. The next morning he insults the furious coaches by calling them "cattle trucks", and they get vengeance by holding back on a hill. The Thin Controller scolds Sir Handel, and he behaves until he is sent to work at the quarry one day. He purposely derails himself, and is sent to the shed in disgrace.
- Peter Sam and the Refreshment Lady: Peter Sam has to do all the work himself. One day he has so much fun getting ready that he is late, and Henry threatens that he will leave without Peter Sam's passengers if it happens again. Peter Sam is so worried that at the lake he starts off without the Refreshment Lady. She is rather miffed, but bursts out laughing when she hears Peter Sam's story, and explains that Henry was joking. Peter Sam is furious, but Henry has wisely left!
- Old Faithful: Peter Sam is away for maintenance, so Sir Handel has to take the coaches. They still don't trust him and when he has to stop suddenly they are bumped, so to pay him out they derail him at the points. Skarloey offers to take the train home, but a spring breaks and Skarloey tilts as his chassis is now lopsidedly loaded. Despite this, he braves the journey home, and the Owner sends him to be mended.
The book contains examples of:
- Angry Fist-Shake: The Refreshment Lady does this to Peter Sam for leaving her behind.
- Berserk Button: For the coaches, they don't like being called "cattle trucks" by Sir Handel.
- Chronic Villainy: A non-villainous example. After receiving a severe reprimand from the Thin Controller for his rude behavior, Sir Handel behaved well for a few days until he derails himself deliberately to avoid pulling trucks.
- Determinator: Despite his suspension spring breaking, Skarloey continued to take the passengers home.
- Disproportionate Retribution: The coaches, who are dismissive of Sir Handel's tries at being nice to them, decide to bump him off the rails when he unintentionally bumps them at a stop.
- The Dog Bites Back: The coaches hold Sir Handel back to get back at him for his rudeness.
- Establishing Character Moment: When Sir Handel and Peter Sam first arrive, Sir Handel complains about the shed compared to Peter Sam liking it, and the former insults Skarloey with Peter Sam apologizing on his behalf. This establishes Sir Handel as rude and constantly annoyed compared to the friendly and optimistic Peter Sam.
- Go to Your Room!: Sir Handel is put in the sheds in disgrace for deliberately derailing himself to avoid pulling trucks.
- Heel–Face Door-Slam: Sir Handel tries to be nicer to the coaches in "Old Faithful" but they don't buy it and bump him off the rails the instant he mishandles them. They are sorry when Skarloey calls them out on this, and are stated to behave around Sir Handel from that point.
- Jerkass: Sir Handel. As the Thin Controller puts it, he’s rude, conceited and too big for his wheels.
- Jerk with a Heart of Gold:
- Sir Handel at the end of the last story becomes this as he grows respectful towards Skarloey.
- The coaches have a vindictive streak and endanger their passengers just to pay out Sir Handel (over an accident no less). When Skarloey scolds them however, they are remorseful. They’re noted not to play tricks anymore due to Sir Handel's more gentle attitude.
- Laser-Guided Karma: For being rude to Skarloey and the coaches, and then derailing himself to avoid pulling trucks, Sir Handel is sent to the shed until he can be trusted to behave.
- Meaningful Name: The author's note at the beginning reveals that Skarloey and Rheneas are named after landmarks on the route, while Sir Handel and Peter Sam were renamed after the railway's Owner and Controller, respectively.
- Never Trust a Title: The book's title is "Four Little Engines", but only three of them are actually present. The fourth, Rheneas, has just been sent away to be mended.
- Not Bad: Henry says this to Peter Sam as he arrives at the station the second time.
- "The Reason You Suck" Speech: The Thin Controller gives one to Sir Handel after his mishap with the coaches in "Sir Handel".
The Thin Controller: You are a Troublesome Engine. You are rude, conceited and much too big for your wheels. Next time I shall punish you severely.
- Synchronous Episodes: "Skarloey Remembers" takes place at the same time as "Old Iron" during Edward's trip to the works before being welcomed back in said episode.
- Very Loosely Based on a True Story:
- "Skarloey Remembers" was based on the event that Talyllyn was left in the shed, only to be let out to pull passenger trains again.
- "Peter Sam and the Refreshment Lady" was inspired by an incident that occurred on the Talyllyn Railway. However, it was not the engine's fault but the fault of the guard - who happened to be the Rev. W. Awdry - and the woman left behind was in fact the driver's mother-in-law.
- Sir Handel's derailments inspired by a frequent occurrence with his basis, Sir Haydn, who kept falling between the rails of the Talyllyn Railway due to the trackwork being half an inch wider than 2'3" to accommodate Talyllyn and Dolgoch's long wheelbases.
- What the Hell, Hero?:
- The Refreshment Lady scolds Peter Sam for starting off without her until he explains to her what Henry told him, upon which she bursts out laughing.
- Skarloey severely scolds the coaches for derailing Sir Handel, telling them they might have hurt the passengers.
- Whole Episode Flashback: The events of the book take place in 1952.
- Workaholic: Peter Sam.
