Duncan the Humbug

**Duncan the Humbug** is the eighth episode of the twelfth season and the 263rd episode overall.

## Plot

It is Christmas on the Skarloey Railway. It is a busy time, but the engines love this time of year. All the engines that is except for Duncan who complains even more than usual.

During the day, Duncan complains to Rheneas about the cold weather. He then complains to Rusty about the apparent lack of sand. Later, he complains about the extra passengers slowing him down to Skarloey, causing the engine to start losing his Christmas spirit.

By the time Skarloey returns to the sheds, he is not feeling very festive at all. Neither are Rheneas and Rusty, as the former believes that Duncan may turn Christmas into a big chore. Emily arrives and tells them that even Duncan will be impressed by the brightly lit sheds. But sure enough, Duncan arrives and starts complaining. Emily tells her narrow gauge friends that the Fat Controller is giving all of the standard gauge engines a new coat of paint. Duncan thinks this is unfair, but Rusty informs him that the Thin Controller is planning a similar treat for his narrow gauge engines. Duncan is pleased, but goes off grumbling as usual. Skarloey and Rheneas have just about had enough of Duncan’s complaining and begin to wish that there was a way to stop him from it, even just for one day. Rusty then decides to talk to the Thin Controller about it.

The next day, Duncan travels to the Steamworks for his fresh coat of paint where he finds the Thin Controller talking to Victor. The Thin Controller tells Duncan that he is upsetting the other engines with his constant complaining and that he will only get his coat of paint if he is cheerful for the rest of the day. Duncan accepts the challenge and sets off to work.

On his way, Duncan meets Rheneas at Skarloey station. Rheneas reminds Duncan to go slow on the icy rails. Duncan thanks Rheneas for the reminder. At Crovan's Gate, Duncan has to wait while all the passengers climb aboard his carriages with their extra luggage. Skarloey arrives and notices that Duncan's attitude has completely changed since yesterday. Shortly, Duncan gets held up by blocked tracks at Rheneas Tunnel. To pass the time, the passengers start to hum a Christmas tune. Duncan does not like the humming at all, but when he hears Rusty coming down the line behind him, he grins and bears at the passengers humming.

Later, Duncan gets stuck behind Luke on a slippery hill. Try as he might, Luke cannot reach the summit; his wheels will not grip the rails. Duncan is very impatient with Luke and upsets him. Unfortunately, Rusty is watching Duncan with interest. Duncan realises that he has upset Luke and decides to help his friend. As Luke's sandbox is empty, Duncan drops some sand on the line himself. He then buffers up to Luke and gives him a push to the top of the hill. Rusty has seen everything. Duncan feels sad; he knows that he lost his temper and that means no new coat of paint for him.

The next morning, Duncan heads to the Steamworks anyway to apologise for his behaviour. As Duncan begins to explain to the Thin Controller he is cut off mid-sentence. The Thin Controller explains that Duncan had done a very kind thing in helping Luke and such usefulness should be rewarded with a new coat of paint. The Thin Controller also says that he had been wrong to make Duncan be cheerful all day. Rusty goes on to say that he is just that sort of engine and, as Luke points out, it does not make him any less useful.

## Characters

* Emily
* Skarloey
* Rheneas
* Rusty
* Duncan
* Luke
* The Thin Controller
* Victor (does not speak)
* Sir Handel (cameo)
* Peter Sam (cameo)
* Duke (cameo)
* Mighty Mac (cameo)
* Freddie (cameo)
* The Fat Controller (mentioned)

## Locations

* Crovan's Gate
* Crovan's Gate Sheds
* Ben Glas
* Rheneas Tunnel
* Skarloey
* Skarloey Viaduct
* Blue Mountain Junction
* Sodor Steamworks
* Cros-ny-Cuirn
* Glennock Hill

## Voice Cast

* Ben Small as Rheneas
* Keith Wickham as Skarloey and the Thin Controller
* Tom Stourton as Duncan
* Matt Wilkinson as Rusty
* Michael Legge as Luke

## Trivia

* The tunes of the Christmas carols, **Once in Royal David City**, **Hark! The Herald Angels Sing**, **I Saw Three Ships**, **We Three Kings**, **God Rest Ye, Merry Gentlemen** and **12 Days of Christmas** can be heard occasionally throughout the episode.
* Duncan's quote, "Bah humbug!", is a reference to the Charles Dickens novel, A Christmas Carol.