# Thomas & Friends series 6

Thomas the Tank Engine & 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 sixth series of the show, which was first broadcast in 2002.
This series was narrated by Michael Angelis for the UK audiences, who also re-dubbed two episodes for US audiences, while Alec Baldwin narrated all of the episodes for the US audiences, in what was also his last series. Six episodes were later re-dubbed for PBS Kids by Michael Brandon.
In the United States, this was the second season of the series that was not aired on PBS Kids, instead being released straight-to-video. Most episodes in this series have one title; the American titles are shown underneath the United Kingdom titles.
This was the first series produced by Gullane Entertainment following its rename in 2000.

## Production

Phil Fehrle had taken over as producer from David Mitton and Britt Allcroft, while Angus Wright had been replaced by Allcroft and Peter Urie as executive producers.
This was the first series to oversee an introduction of a writing staff, since the stories from The Railway Series had already been adapted. Staff-written stories had been introduced in Series 5, and this practice remained unchanged. The series was filmed between January and August 2002, and premiered on September 16, 2002.
Abi Grant served as script editor for the series.
Steve Asquith, who would later become the all-out director of Thomas & Friends, directed two series 6 episodes in place of David Mitton. However, David still directed the other 24 episodes and went on until series 7. After that, Steve Asquith took over for good.

## Episodes

| No. overall | No. in series | UK title (top)Main title (middle)US title (bottom) | Directed by | Written by | Original release date |
| 131 | 1 | "Salty's Secret" | David Mitton | Robin Kingsland | 16 September 2002 (2002-9-16) |
| A new sea-loving diesel shunter called Salty gets sad when he is made to work at the Quarry.Note: The episode's events were recreated in "Away from the Sea". ||||||
| 132 | 2 | "Harvey to the Rescue" | David Mitton | Jonathan Trueman | 17 September 2002 (2002-9-17) |
| The engines are skeptical of a new crane engine named Harvey, but he soon proves his usage after Percy has an accident. ||||||
| 133 | 3 | "No Sleep for Cranky" | David Mitton | Paul Larson | 18 September 2002 (2002-9-18) |
| Cranky ends up being even more Cranky than ever after having to listen to Salty's stories all day. He soon gets what he paid for when he accidentally knocks over a shed; stranding Salty, Bill and Ben. ||||||
| 134 | 4 | "A Bad Day for Harold the Helicopter" | David Mitton | Teleplay by : Simon Nicholson Story by : David Mitton | 19 September 2002 (2002-9-19) |
| 134 | 4 | "A Bad Day for Harold" | David Mitton | Teleplay by : Simon Nicholson Story by : David Mitton | 19 September 2002 (2002-9-19) |
| Harold boasts to Percy that he can handle all the mail in one trip after he gets stuck at a broken signal, but soon gets his comeuppance after his motor fails. ||||||
| 135 | 5 | "Elizabeth the Vintage Lorry" | David Mitton | Paul Larson | 20 September 2002 (2002-9-20) |
| 135 | 5 | "Elizabeth the Vintage Quarry Truck" | David Mitton | Paul Larson | 20 September 2002 (2002-9-20) |
| When Thomas breaks his coupling rods, his crew finds a vintage Sentinel lorry named Elizabeth inside a shed. ||||||
| 136 | 6 | "The Fogman" | David Mitton | Teleplay by : Jonathan Trueman Story by : David Mitton | 23 September 2002 (2002-9-23) |
| The Fat Controller replaces Cyril the Fogman with a Foghorn but doesn't realize it's unreliability after Thomas has a landslide accident directly caused by the Foghorn. ||||||
| 137 | 7 | "Jack Jumps In" | Steve Asquith | Jonathan Trueman, Phil Fehrle and Abi Grant | 24 September 2002 (2002-9-24) |
| Thomas delivers a friendly, enthusiastic new front loader called Jack to an excavation site. However, Jack has a tendency to do jobs that he is not suited to. Note: This was the first part of a setup for a planned spin-off. ||||||
| 138 | 8 | "A Friend in Need" | Steve Asquith | Phil Fehrle, Jonathan Trueman and Abi Grant | 25 September 2002 (2002-9-25) |
| Jack joins The Pack in excavating the land under an old railway bridge, but a steam shovel called Ned is too clumsy to lower his arm enough while passing under the bridge, and by accident, he knocks the important keystones loose; leading to Thomas almost collapsing down the bridge. Note: This was the second part of a setup to a planned spin-off. ||||||
| 139 | 9 | "It's Only Snow" | David Mitton | Teleplay by : James Mason Story by : David Mitton | 26 September 2002 (2002-9-26) |
| With Toby, Thomas delivers a holiday tree over to a village; but when his snowplough breaks and demolishes a water tower; Thomas doesn't want to give up. ||||||
| 140 | 10 | "Twin Trouble" | David Mitton | Brian Trueman | 27 September 2002 (2002-9-27) |
| Donald and Douglas end up in an argument after an accident and refuse to work with each other anymore. However, they soon realise how much they need each other after Donald has an accident while working with Duck. ||||||
| 141 | 11 | "The World's Strongest Engine" | David Mitton | Teleplay by : Paul Larson Story by : David Mitton | 30 September 2002 (2002-9-30) |
| Diesel is sent to help with the work at Brendam Docks while Henry is sent for repairs from an accident, much to the steam engines' displeasure. At the prodding of the trucks, Diesel decides to haul them all at once to flaunt his strength. His bragging misfires when he attempts to move the trucks with their brakes on, and has an accident himself. ||||||
| 142 | 12 | "Scaredy Engines" | David Mitton | Teleplay by : Robin Kingsland Story by : David Mitton | 1 October 2002 (2002-10-01) |
| On Halloween, Thomas teases Percy for being scared in the Smelter's Yard; but Duck feels sorry for Percy, and teaches Thomas a lesson by tricking him. ||||||
| 143 | 13 | "Percy and the Haunted Mine" | David Mitton | Teleplay by : Robyn Charteris Story by : David Mitton | 2 October 2002 (2002-10-02) |
| Percy ventures into an abandoned mine and is spooked by the sinking buildings and the proclaimed "naughty gnomes". ||||||
| 144 | 14 | "Middle Engine" | David Mitton | Teleplay by : Brian Trueman Story by : David Mitton | 3 October 2002 (2002-10-03) |
| Percy is made a middle engine by 'Arry and Bert, leading to him being sent through the coal loading ramp and being blamed for it. James tries to convince him that he can outsmart the diesels, but proves himself wrong. ||||||
| 145 | 15 | "James and the Red Balloon" | David Mitton | Teleplay by : Jenny McDade Story by : David Mitton | 4 October 2002 (2002-10-04) |
| When Thomas delivers a hot air balloon to the airfield, he and James become worried that it could take away their passengers. ||||||
| 146 | 16 | "Jack Frost" | David Mitton | Teleplay by : Paul Larson Story by : David Mitton | 7 October 2002 (2002-10-07) |
| James and Percy have to deliver coal around the Island to prepare for a big freeze. After Thomas jokes to him about "Scary Jack Frost", Percy gets scared while James is not convinced. ||||||
| 147 | 17 | "Gordon Takes a Tumble" | David Mitton | Teleplay by : Robin Kingsland Story by : David Mitton | 8 October 2002 (2002-10-08) |
| Gordon does not feel that it would be dignified for an express engine to pull goods trains, but when Salty teases him and Gordon is assigned to deliver a goods train, Gordon is determined to show Salty how an express engine pulls trucks. ||||||
| 148 | 18 | "Percy's Chocolate Crunch" | David Mitton | Teleplay by : Brian Trueman Story by : David Mitton | 9 October 2002 (2002-10-09) |
| When a water shortage restricts all engines to one washdown per day, Percy is especially upset by this, as he has all the dirty jobs. He desperately tries to stay clean, but gets dirtier everywhere he goes, frustrating him further. This comes to a head when he takes an accidental journey through the chocolate factory. ||||||
| 149 | 19 | "Buffer Bother" | David Mitton | Ross Hastings | 10 October 2002 (2002-10-10) |
| Ben gets new buffers, making Bill feel jealous; putting his responsibility and reliability aside. ||||||
| 150 | 20 | "Toby Had a Little Lamb" | David Mitton | Jenny McDade | 11 October 2002 (2002-10-11) |
| During the winter, Toby is flagged down by a farmer who needs a vet to examine his lambs on the other side of the hill. Duck tries to clear away the snow, but it becomes too thick for him to plough. ||||||
| 151 | 21 | "Thomas, Percy and the Squeak" | David Mitton | Teleplay by : Jenny McDade Story by : David Mitton | 14 October 2002 (2002-10-14) |
| Thomas is chosen by the Fat Controller to collect the famous Italian opera singer Allicia Botti from the docks, leaving aside dirty Percy, who is a "Guaranteed Connection". However, Thomas' pride soon goes away once Allicia screams at the sight of a mouse in Clarabel. ||||||
| 152 | 22 | "Thomas the Jet Engine" | David Mitton | Teleplay by : Ross Hastings Story by : David Mitton | 15 October 2002 (2002-10-15) |
| 152 | 22 | "Thomas and the Jet Engine" | David Mitton | Teleplay by : Ross Hastings Story by : David Mitton | 15 October 2002 (2002-10-15) |
| Gordon boasts to everyone that he is the fastest engine on Sodor, but when Thomas is sent on a wild hayride after a jet engine he is made to deliver is accidentally turned on; Gordon ends up having the last laugh. ||||||
| 153 | 23 | "Edward the Very Useful Engine" | David Mitton | David Mitton | 16 October 2002 (2002-10-16) |
| 153 | 23 | "Edward the Really Useful Engine" | David Mitton | David Mitton | 16 October 2002 (2002-10-16) |
| Gordon believes that Edward is too old, but when he gets stuck on his hill; Edward proves how useful he can be. ||||||
| 154 | 24 | "Dunkin' Duncan" | David Mitton | Teleplay by : Jenny McDade Story by : David Mitton | 17 October 2002 (2002-10-17) |
| Impatient Duncan wants the other engines at the incline to work faster, but they instead stick to the railway rules. ||||||
| 155 | 25 | "Rusty Saves the Day" | David Mitton | Teleplay by : Paul Larson Story by : David Mitton | 18 October 2002 (2002-10-18) |
| Rheneas and Skarloey's old line is too battered for them to run on. Rusty works hard to clear their line, but as a result, he falls behind on his quarry work, leaving the Fat Controller with no choice but to shut down the line altogether, and Rheneas and Skarloey are forced to join Rusty at the quarry. ||||||
| 156 | 26 | "Faulty Whistles" | David Mitton | Teleplay by : Ross Hastings Story by : David Mitton | 21 October 2002 (2002-10-21) |
| When Peter Sam accidentally gets his whistle knocked off by a branch and is barred from working until he gets a new one, Duncan teases him and boasts that any proper engine has a whistle. He soon learns his lesson when his own whistle comes off while delivering an organ. ||||||

## Characters
### Introduced

* Harvey
* Salty
* Elizabeth
* Jack
* Alfie
* Oliver the Excavator
* Max
* Kelly
* Byron
* Ned
* Isobella
* Cyril the Fogman
* Jenny Packard
* Allicia Botti
* Farmer McColl (not named in original versions)

### Recurring cast

* Thomas
* Edward
* Henry
* Gordon
* James
* Percy
* Toby
* Duck
* Donald and Douglas
* Bill and Ben
* Diesel
* Mavis
* 'Arry and Bert
* Skarloey
* Rheneas
* Peter Sam
* Duncan
* Rusty
* Troublesome Trucks
* Bertie
* Trevor
* Harold
* Cranky
* The Fat Controller
* Stephen Hatt (not named)
* Stepney (does not speak)
* Annie and Clarabel (do not speak)
* Henrietta (does not speak)
* Terence (does not speak)
* Jem Cole (does not speak)
* Farmer Finney (not named; does not speak)
* Oliver (cameo)
* George (cameo)
* Butch (cameo)
* Tiger Moth (cameo)
* Bridget Hatt (cameo)
* Mrs. Kyndley (cameo)
* Farmer Trotter (cameo)
* The Refreshment Lady (cameo)
* Nancy (cameo)
* Tom Tipper (cameo)
* Dowager Hatt (cameo)
* Bulgy (mentioned)

## Home video releases
### United Kingdom

Series 6 was released on VHS and DVD in the UK by Video Collection International in three volumes. They were released in their original widescreen ratio on DVD, however, The Chocolate Crunch was released in fullscreen on both formats.
| DVD Title | Release Date | Included Episodes |
| The Fogman and Other Stories | 7 October 2002 (2002-10-07) | "The Fogman" "No Sleep for Cranky" "Salty's Secret" "Harvey to the Rescue" "A Bad Day for Harold the Helicopter" "Elizabeth the Vintage Lorry" "Twin Trouble" "Gordon Takes a Tumble" |
| The Chocolate Crunch and Other Stories | 24 March 2003 (2003-03-24) | "Percy's Chocolate Crunch" "Jack Jumps In" "The World's Strongest Engine" "Middle Engine" "Buffer Bother" "Thomas the Jet Engine" "Dunkin Duncan" "Faulty Whistles" |
| Brave Little Engines | 16 June 2003 (2003-06-16) | "A Friend in Need" "Scaredy Engines" "Percy and the Haunted Mine" "James and the Red Balloon" "Toby Had a Little Lamb" "Thomas, Percy and the Squeak" "Edward the Very Useful Engine" "Rusty Saves the Day" |
The only two episodes not released in these volumes are "It's Only Snow" and "Jack Frost", the former of which was included in the Series 7 release Engines to the Rescue.
2 Entertain released a complete series DVD volume in 2007.
Episodes from the series have also made it to various compilation releases with other series.

## Note

* ↑ This episode was first released on The Fogman and other Stories VHS/DVD on 7 October 2002.