Derek the Diesel has teething troubles, but can be a great engine on your railway!
Written: Mar 27 '02
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Pros: A kind diesel engine your child can pretend to repair
Cons: None
The Bottom Line: Derek the Diesel is a fine diesel for you rail way, and will had more imagination and pretend time to playtime!
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| ariel10575's Full Review: Learning Curve Engines Derek The Diesel |
Last summer, as our monthly field trip for the children was planned at the MOMS Club chapter I belong to, we decided to take the kids to Griffith Park's Travel Town Museum. It is basically a petting zoo for trains. Many old steam engines and other railroad artifacts are brought here, and given new life as a teaching tool, and for birthday parties, and general fun. There is even a little train that goes around the entire park that you can pay a small fee on to ride on. Lots of fun!
The one danger is that there is a gift shop. (http://www.cityofla.org/RAP/grifmet/tt/information.htm#gift) Said gift shop sells *EVERYTHING* related to Thomas the Tank Engine. Uh Oh. At least the proceeds go to the museum, as it is a non-profit organization for the preservation of these engines. Well, I felt like I had to buy something. Especially as that would be the ONLY way to get the children out of there!!
Well, what to buy when there is so much! I offered some of the big names that Alex had been asking for, Mavis, Annie, Clarabel, Diesel. Nope. He looked around, and settled on the new one, Derek the Diesel. I had been hoping to get away with only $10, but $15 wasn't so bad, I guess. It got me to go home with out a screaming crying child, as well as baby. I made the purchase, and then we skedaddled on home!
Now, I was not too familiar with Derek the Diesel at this point. I looked around, and found that he appeared on one of our videos. The video he is in is titled, "Cranky Bugs," and he is in the 3rd story, "Double Teething Troubles." Here is what happens! Derek the Diesel comes to help out the twins, Bill and Ben. The twins overhear that Derek has teething troubles, so they start telling everyone, including Duck, that he has a tooth ache. We find out later on that teething troubles means that there is problems inside him with the engine and maybe other parts, and so as he tries to work and do his job, he tends to overheat most of the time. In the end, Derek the Diesel has to be helped out as he can not complete his run, and he leaves to be worked on more. I do hope that Derek will show up more at some point. He certainly was nice for a diesel engine!
Now, to confirm what I had seen in the one story, I checked out the official site for all things Thomas, http://www.thomasthetankengine.com/home/homepage.html, and found this entry, "Derek the Diesel looks the part, but he sadly suffers a lot from overheating and various other teething troubles. The twins, Bill and Ben, who work the quarries and clay mines near Brendam Docks discover that as much as they dislike diesels, Derek the Diesel is a kindly soul; and they feel sorry for him after he tries his best to help them."
This was pretty much repeated at a site that sells this particular product, http://www.toyforest.com/derek.html, "Derek the Diesel looks the part, but suffers with overheating and other teething problems. The back of Derek slides in and out to fix his "overheated" engine. Although Ben and Bill do not like diesels, they discover that Derek is a kindly soul and feel sorry for him."
Specs on Derek the Diesel LC99158
Derek the Diesel, is made by Learning Curve, and like all diesels on the Island, he has a rectangular, box like shape. Unlike many diesels though, he has a smile on his face! He is 4 1/2" long from magnet to magnet, and his body is 4 1/4" long. He stands 2" tall, and has 8 black wheels, which are in 2 sections just like the big engines Gordon, Henry, and Diesel 10. This allows for turning curves without falling off the track!
Derek the Diesel has a green paint on his body, with yellow on the front and on the sides and roof for 1/8". This is to offset the face from green paint I believe. His face is on his front, and is square shaped, like all diesels. He has black paint on his roof in the middle section only, and black paint for details including doors and windows. On his back, you can pull out a plastic section, which allows your child to try to fix Derek when he overheats. This section pulls out 1/2" and on ours it is all black heavy plastic, but I've seen many pictures of it being light gray. His name is also paint on his underside, so you can remember his name!
My Thoughts
Yeah, it is another vehicle...another $10-15 bucks out of your wallet. But, it is something that will last a lifetime, and bring joy longer than an ice cream cone, or sucker. My son has had Derek the Diesel since last June, and he to this day calls him Derek the NEW Diesel - emphasis on new. He just loves him, but he loves anything and everything to do with Thomas the Tank Engine. We've found Derek the Diesel to be a great addition, and a good diesel to add to your rail line!
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For more information on Learning Curve, and their products, go to:
http://www.learningcurve.com/ourProducts/thomas.asp
Their list of vehicles has not been updated since 2001, and Derek is not on it. Nor is anything released since he was released. There are lots of online stores, including my favorite, "www.totallythomas.com" that carry him, and have information on him too, as well as the other newer Thomas products.
For more information on Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends, go to:
http://www.thomasthetankengine.com/home/homepage.html
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 15.00
Type of Toy: Trains
Age Range of Child: 3 to 5 Years
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Epinions.com ID:
ariel10575
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Member: Rebecca Murphy
Location: Granada Hills, Ca, USA
Reviews written: 117
Trusted by: 62 members
About Me:
I'm back, and getting ready to write again. :)
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