Jock the New Engine is the thirty-fourth book of The Railway Series published in 1990. It contains four stories.
- We Need Another Engine: Small Railway Engines has just been published, but the Thin Clergyman, unaware of Frank the diesel's presence on the Arlesdale Railway, did not include him, much to Frank's fury. Frank refuses to start the next morning, and when he does, he jerks into the back of the shed. Frank feels ashamed, but redeems himself later when Rex's steampipe leaks and he has to rescue Rex's train. The Small Controller is pleased, but does not want Frank to have to do all the rescue work and starts thinking.
- Sticking Power: Bert is feeling unwell; Rex and Mike are very unsympathetic. The problem is attributed to his tubes, but Bert cheers up when the fitter tells him that a new engine is being built. Bert makes good time, but when he starts again his coupling breaks. His driver has an idea and glues Bert to the coaches with glue. In the shed, Bert tells the others of his adventure and goes to sleep after teasing the others about not having "sticking-power".
- Jock: Bert lets the others in on his secret. A few weeks later, the unnamed engine, who is ochre in colour, comes out for testing. When Douglas sees the engine, he recalls some engines in the Highlands with that colour who were called "Jocks". The engine is delighted, and the happy Small Controller christens the engine "Jock".
- Teamwork: By the time the holiday months come again, Jock has proven his worth and becomes cocky, more so when he single-handedly moves a lorry's trailer into the yard. Next day, Mike is surprised to find Jock is double-heading with him due to popular demand. Mike has an idea, and his driver gradually shuts off steam, leaving Jock to do the work. At the Green, Mike's injector fails, giving Jock another reason to pull Mike. In the end, little time is lost, and Jock and Mike apologise for their antics.
This book contains examples of:
- Acquired Situational Narcissism: Jock became cocky after receiving attention from others.
- Dude, Where's My Respect?: Frank is put out by not being included in Small Railway Engines.
- Jerk with a Heart of Gold: Frank. Despite refusing to work out of frustration of not appearing in the Small Railway Engines book and hitting the back of the shed, nearly damaging it, he redeemed himself by helping Rex's train.
- No Sympathy: Rex and Mike showed none to Bert who is feeling unwell. In the ending, Bert turns the tables on them when they're feeling tired.
- The Power of Friendship: The lesson of "Teamwork" as Jock had learned.
- Remember the New Guy?: Frank has apparently been on the Arlesdale the whole time, but was simply never mentioned in Small Railway Engines, which he's quite cross about. Deconstructed, since him not appearing in the first Small Railway Book is what kickstarted the plot of the first story.
- Timeskip: "We Need Another Engine" is set shortly after the publication of Small Railway Engines in 1967. "Sticking Power" takes place 1975. "Jock" and "Teamwork" take place in 1976.
- Very Loosely Based on a True Story:
- "We Need Another Engine" is based on a real event witnessed by Christopher Awdry's family in 1988, on the Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway, when River Esk's steam pipe failed and they were rescued by Perkins.
- "Sticking Power" is based on a real event performed by an adhesive company as a publicity stunt for their product, on the Romney, Hythe and Dymchurch Railway.
- "Teamwork" is based on a real event on the Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway.
