# Thomas & Friends series 7

Thomas & Friends is a children's television series about the engines and other characters working on the railways of the Island of Sodor, and is based on The Railway Series books written by the Reverend W. Awdry.
This article lists and details episodes from the seventh series of this series, which was first broadcast between 6 October and 10 November 2003. This season was narrated by Michael Angelis for UK audiences, while Michael Brandon narrated the episodes for American audiences.
In the United States, this series first aired in 2004 and 2005 on PBS Kids alongside series 8 and 9. Michael Angelis later re-narrated four episodes for United States audiences.
This was the first series produced by HIT Entertainment and the final series produced by Gullane Entertainment.

## Episodes

| No. overall | No. in series | UK title (top)Main title (middle)US title (bottom) | Directed by | Written by | Original release date |
| 157 | 1 | "Emily's New Coaches" | David Mitton | Jan Page | 6 October 2003 (2003-10-06) |
| When a new engine named Emily arrives on Sodor, she takes Annie and Clarabel by mistake and causes the other engines, especially Thomas, to make her feel unwelcome. ||||||
| 158 | 2 | "Percy Gets It Right" | David Mitton | Paul Larson | 7 October 2003 (2003-10-07) |
| Percy comes across some unsafe tracks on Toby's branch line and warns the other engines that a landslide might occur, but everyone refuses to listen to him. When The Fat Controller asks Thomas to take the respective route on the way to collect a prize bull, he deems the tracks to be safe; despite Percy telling him. ||||||
| 159 | 3 | "Bill, Ben and Fergus" | David Mitton | Brian Trueman | 8 October 2003 (2003-10-08) |
| A small railway traction engine called Fergus tries to help Bill and Ben at the quarry, but they find him bossy. ||||||
| 160 | 4 | "The Old Bridge" | David Mitton | Paul Larson | 9 October 2003 (2003-10-09) |
| 160 | 4 | "The Old Iron Bridge" | David Mitton | Paul Larson | 9 October 2003 (2003-10-09) |
| Skarloey nearly falls off a wooden bridge, scaring him from passing it again. ||||||
| 161 | 5 | "Edward's Brass Band" | David Mitton | Robyn Charteris | 10 October 2003 (2003-10-10) |
| Bertie is sent to collect a brass band after Edward has an accident with a crane. ||||||
| 162 | 6 | "What's the Matter with Henry?" | David Mitton | George Tarry | 13 October 2003 (2003-10-13) |
| Thomas and Percy do not believe that Henry is feeling ill and give him a whole line of coal trucks to take. Luckily, Emily cares for her friend and helps solve what is hurting him. ||||||
| 163 | 7 | "James and the Queen of Sodor" | David Mitton | Paul Larson | 14 October 2003 (2003-10-14) |
| Gordon gets fed up with James boasting about his paintwork and tricks him into taking the opportunity to be grand by taking a smelly old barge called the "Queen of Sodor" to the smelters for repairs. ||||||
| 164 | 8 | "The Refreshment Lady's Tea Shop" | David Mitton | James Mason | 15 October 2003 (2003-10-15) |
| 164 | 8 | "The Refreshment Lady's Stand" | David Mitton | James Mason | 15 October 2003 (2003-10-15) |
| Peter Sam is given the assignment of helping the Refreshment Lady choose a new location for a stand of the tea shop of the room. But she only wishes to have a stand in each place. ||||||
| 165 | 9 | "The Spotless Record" | David Mitton | Paul Larson | 16 October 2003 (2003-10-16) |
| 165 | 9 | "Spotless Record" | David Mitton | Paul Larson | 16 October 2003 (2003-10-16) |
| Thomas plays a trick on Arthur, a big red tank engine with a "spotless record". This soon backfires when Arthur ends up in an accident. ||||||
| 166 | 10 | "Toby's Windmill" | David Mitton | Jan Page (written) David Mitton (story) | 17 October 2003 (2003-10-17) |
| 166 | 10 | "Toby and the Windmill" | David Mitton | Jan Page (written) David Mitton (story) | 17 October 2003 (2003-10-17) |
| Toby accidentally causes trouble at his favourite windmill with some flour trucks. To make matters worse, a storm destroys it. Toby wants to make up for his mistake by fixing it. ||||||
| 167 | 11 | "Bad Day at Castle Loch" | David Mitton | Jenny McDade | 20 October 2003 (2003-10-20) |
| While Donald and Douglas are pleased about Lord Callan's castle reopening, they are not too excited when they encounter something spooky that night during a trip. ||||||
| 168 | 12 | "Rheneas and the Roller Coaster" | David Mitton | James Mason | 21 October 2003 (2003-10-21) |
| Rheneas wants to show the children a special sight but does not think anything around is good enough. Meanwhile, he stumbles onto a twisty and unsafe track. ||||||
| 169 | 13 | "Salty's Stormy Tale" | David Mitton | Polly Churchill | 22 October 2003 (2003-10-22) |
| Salty is hurt when he hears Thomas and Percy copying the way he speaks. But during a storm that night, he and Fergus fix a lighthouse and stop what could have been a terrible shipwreck. ||||||
| 170 | 14 | "Snow Engine" | David Mitton | Jenny McDade | 23 October 2003 (2003-10-23) |
| 170 | 14 | "Oliver the Snow Engine" | David Mitton | Jenny McDade | 23 October 2003 (2003-10-23) |
| Oliver doesn't like the snow, but Toad thinks its "magical". It's not when he ends up becoming part of a giant snowman that their views change. ||||||
| 171 | 15 | "Something Fishy" | David Mitton | Paul Larson | 24 October 2003 (2003-10-24) |
| Arthur is disappointed when the new line at the Fishing Village is given to Thomas – who hates fish. Thomas' grumpy attitude soon leads him into a rather fishy situation. ||||||
| 172 | 16 | "The Runaway Elephant" | David Mitton | George Tarry | 27 October 2003 (2003-10-27) |
| The Fat Controller assigns Duncan to collect an elephant statue and deliver it to a new park, and instructs him to go slowly with the statue. However, he leaves the break van behind - sending him on a fast chase when the statue pulls him along. ||||||
| 173 | 17 | "Peace and Quiet" | David Mitton | Paul Larson | 28 October 2003 (2003-10-28) |
| A new mighty tender engine called Murdoch only wants some peace and quiet, which is hard to find on a railway. It's not until a flock of noisy sheep prove to him otherwise. ||||||
| 174 | 18 | "Fergus Breaks the Rules" | David Mitton | Jan Page | 29 October 2003 (2003-10-29) |
| 174 | 18 | "Thomas and the Search for Fergus" | David Mitton | Jan Page | 29 October 2003 (2003-10-29) |
| Diesel scares Fergus out of the cement works by telling him that the Fat Controller wants him to work at the smelter's yard. ||||||
| 175 | 19 | "Bulgy Rides Again" | David Mitton | Brian Trueman | 30 October 2003 (2003-10-30) |
| Bulgy is given a second chance at being a bus, but the hens still want him as their henhouse. The situation turns into chaos. ||||||
| 176 | 20 | "Harold and the Flying Horse" | David Mitton | Robin Kingsland | 31 October 2003 (2003-10-31) |
| Harold is sad that he cannot attend the Vicar's party, but soon discovers that he will end up going after all when he has to rescue Pegasus the Pony from a ditch. ||||||
| 177 | 21 | "The Grand Opening" | David Mitton | James Mason | 3 November 2003 (2003-11-03) |
| SKarloey is scolded for being late by The Fat Controller, but soon proves his lateness might come in handy during the opening of a new line when the hot air balloon runs out of air, stranding The Fat Controller and Lady Hatt. ||||||
| 178 | 22 | "Best Dressed Engine" | David Mitton | Polly Churchill | 4 November 2003 (2003-11-04) |
| For May Day, the engines decorate themselves - but Gordon deems it as being an insult to express engines and refuses to participate. ||||||
| 179 | 23 | "Gordon and Spencer" | David Mitton | Lee Pressman | 5 November 2003 (2003-11-05) |
| Gordon is jealous of Spencer, the world's fastest silver streamlined tender engine. But Spencer runs out of water on Gordon's Hill, making him the one in disgrace. ||||||
| 180 | 24 | "Not So Hasty Puddings" | David Mitton | Robyn Charteris | 6 November 2003 (2003-11-06) |
| 180 | 24 | "Not So Hasty Cakes" | David Mitton | Robyn Charteris | 6 November 2003 (2003-11-06) |
| 180 | 24 | "Thomas and the Avalanche" | David Mitton | Robyn Charteris | 6 November 2003 (2003-11-06) |
| Thomas is jealous when Elizabeth is given the task of shipping Christmas puddings. But she slips on the icy roads, so Thomas has to help after all. ||||||
| 181 | 25 | "Trusty Rusty" | David Mitton | James Mason | 7 November 2003 (2003-11-07) |
| Rusty notices cracks in the supports of the old wooden bridge and warns the Fat Controller and the other engines that it might fall. However, Duncan refuses to listen and crosses the bridge anyway when he goes to get some coal - but this soon leads to trouble when he runs out of coal and the bridge is about to make way. ||||||
| 182 | 26 | "Three Cheers for Thomas" | David Mitton | Jan Page | 10 November 2003 (2003-11-10) |
| 182 | 26 | "Hooray for Thomas" | David Mitton | Jan Page | 10 November 2003 (2003-11-10) |
| To feel important, Thomas agrees to race Bertie. Thomas soon finds himself in an emergency when he has to deliver the children's medals and decides to put the job first. ||||||

## Characters
### Introduced

* Emily
* Fergus
* Arthur
* Murdoch
* Spencer
* Sodor Brass Band
* Lord Callan
* The Duke and Duchess of Boxford (do not speak)
* The Mayor of Sodor (mentioned)

### Recurring cast

* Thomas
* Edward
* Henry
* Gordon
* James
* Percy
* Toby
* Duck
* Donald and Douglas
* Oliver
* Bill and Ben
* Harvey
* Diesel
* Mavis
* Salty
* Skarloey
* Rheneas
* Peter Sam
* Duncan
* Rusty
* Annie and Clarabel
* Toad
* Bertie
* Bulgy
* Elizabeth
* Harold
* Cranky
* The Fat Controller
* Lady Hatt
* Stephen Hatt
* Bridget Hatt
* The Refreshment Lady
* 'Arry and Bert (not named)
* Troublesome Trucks (do not speak)
* Terence (does not speak)
* Trevor (does not speak)
* Jem Cole (does not speak)
* The Vicar of Wellsworth (does not speak)
* Farmer Trotter (not named; does not speak)
* Stepney (stock footage appearance, does not speak)
* Henrietta (cameo)
* George (cameo)
* Butch (cameo)
* Tiger Moth (cameo)
* Mrs. Kyndley (cameo)
* Farmer Finney (cameo)
* Nancy (cameo)
* Tom Tipper (cameo)
* Cyril the Fogman (cameo)
* Jenny Packard (cameo)
* Farmer McColl (cameo)
* Duke (stock footage cameo)

## Home Video Releases

Series 7 was released on VHS and DVD in the UK by Video Collection International in three volumes.
| DVD Title | Release Date | Included Episodes |
| Happy Little Helpers | 6 October 2003 | "Three Cheers for Thomas" "Percy Gets it Right" "Edward's Brass Band" "James and the Queen of Sodor" "Toby's Windmill" "Bad Day at Castle Loch" "Snow Engine" "Emily's New Coaches" |
| Engines to the Rescue | 1 March 2004 | "Gordon and Spencer" "Harold and the Flying Horse" "The Grand Opening" "It's Only Snow" "The Refreshment Lady's Tea Shop" "Trusty Rusty" "Salty's Stormy Tale" "Something Fishy" |
| Pulling Together! | 2 August 2004 | "The Old Bridge" "Bulgy Rides Again" "Bill, Ben and Fergus" "The Spotless Record" "Best Dressed Engine" "Fergus Breaks the Rules" "Peace and Quiet" "The Runaway Elephant" |
The three episodes not included in the separate volumes are "What's the Matter with Henry?", "Rheneas and the Roller Coaster", and "Not So Hasty Puddings".
2 Entertain released a complete series DVD volume in January 2008.
Episodes from the series have also made it to various compilation releases with other series.