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Analysis:
The first episode for many months, and this time filmed on an entirely
new set, covered in snow! The episode was intended to introduce Arthur, reintroduce the series and continue from where things
left off in Episode 11.
Suffice to say, this episode was much more enjoyable to film than
the previous snow episode, Christmas, 1952, on the grounds that here, the engines worked properly! The set was built
from scratch and especially for the three episodes (12, 13 and 14). Props, buildings and track work will be re-used, but on
a new and specially prepared baseboard for the next instalments of the series.
This episode, and the two immediately following it, were filmed back
to back in the weeks leading up to December 10th, and were released within a few days of each other to a larger,
and wonderfully receptive audience. These episodes were the last episodes to be filmed using DC technology – from Episode
Fifteen onwards, and to the end of the series, the episodes will be made using DCC.
This means that every locomotive would be specially chipped for use
on the new set – and some other modifications would be made in a complete series revamp that will last to the very end
of the final episode of the series.
Several eagle eyed (or perhaps more appropriately, Hawk eyed!!!)
viewers will notice several characters in the series reappear, or make a first cameo appearance. There are also a few engines
as yet unnamed that appear, from other regions.
One engine that has a very famous name makes an impossible cameo appearance:
it was built in 2008, and the episode is set in 1953!!!
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