Ghost Train

Template:YoumayTemplate:Infobox Episode

> Let me in! Let me in!"
> "No, no! Not by the smoke of my chimney, chim chim!"
> "I'll chuff and I'll puff and I'll break your door in!
>
> Percy and Toby

***Ghost Train***, retitled ***Percy's Ghostly Trick*** in American releases, is the twenty-fourth episode of the second season. It is based on the story of the same name from the Railway Series book Tramway Engines.

## Plot

Percy is telling Thomas and Toby the story of a ghost train that his driver told him the night before and is afraid to think of it. However, Thomas does not believe a word and runs off calling Percy a silly little engine. Percy tells his driver that Thomas did not believe in the ghost and Percy's driver explains that it was only a story he saw on television. Percy cannot help but be disappointed.

That evening, Percy is returning to the sheds after having finished his work at the harbour. Percy enjoys running at night and knows exactly where he is despite the dark. What Percy does not know is that a broken cart of lime is ahead on the tracks. While Sam the farmer has gone for help, Percy comes down the line and smashes the cart to pieces. After being completely covered by the lime, Percy runs to the nearest signal box.

At the signal, Percy meets Toby and his driver explains to the signalman what happened. The signalman arranges to sort out the hazard on the line but suggests Percy be cleaned up as he looks like a ghost. This gives Percy an idea to scare Thomas and asks not to be cleaned until he plays his trick. Toby agrees to help and sets off.

At the sheds, Thomas is preparing to take his evening train, when Toby - pretending to be scared - arrives and tells him that Percy has had an accident. Thomas is mildly concerned for Percy but is more worried that this will make him late. Toby tells him the line has been cleared, but that he thinks he saw Percy's ghost. Thomas is unconcerned and tells Toby not to worry.

After this, however, a ghostly voice comes from outside demanding to be let in. Thomas is frightened as the shed doors open and reveal what appears to be Percy's ghost. Thomas pretends to not be terrified, says he is late, and quickly runs off to collect Annie and Clarabel. Even after he has finished his run, he does not return for the rest of the night.

The next morning, Thomas finally returns and meets Toby at the station. When Toby asks what happened, Thomas reveals he slept in the goods shed claiming he did not want to intrude as Toby would be sad about Percy. However, as he makes his excuse, Percy whistles in the distance. This prompts Thomas to run off, still scared, and unaware that Percy is actually fine.

Percy (who is now cleaned up and none the worse for his adventure) arrives having heard everything. Percy cannot help but be pleased as Toby remarks that Thomas is acting as if he had seen a ghost.

## Characters

* Thomas
* Percy
* Toby
* Annie and Clarabel Template:Do not speak
* Percy's Ghost Engine (*does not speak*)
* Sam the Farmer Template:Note
* Terence Template:Note

## Locations

* The Viaduct
* Tidmouth
	+ Tidmouth Yard
		- Tidmouth Yard Sheds
* The Branch Line Cutting
* The Watermill
* The Windmill
* Anopha Quarry
* Toryreck Signal Runby
* Crowe's Farm Crossing
* Toryreck Junction
* Knapford Harbour Template:Mentioned

## Trivia

* This is the 50th episode of the television series overall.
* The ghost steam train is just Percy's model covered in white streamers with Edward's whistle sound.
* In the English narrations, when Toby says "Anyone would think that our Thomas had just seen a ghost," a reverb effect is used on "ghost" to provide a scary-like feel.
* Percy and Toby's exchange at the sheds is a spoof of the tale of *The Three Little Pigs*.
* The crate of treacle, later used in the next episode, is seen twice: first at the scene of Tidmouth Station in between one of the Breakdown Train's cranes and the two brake vans, the second when Percy scares Thomas at the end.
* A deleted scene shows Terence pulling the lime cart.
* When Thomas interrupts Percy during his ghost story at the beginning and when Percy talks to his driver about it, it is daytime in the original version of the episode. In the restored version, it is close to dusk.
* Ringo Starr's US narration of this episode has been broadcast on Shining Time Station. To date, it has not been released on home video in any form.
* In the restored version of the episode, the fade effect after Thomas leaves Tidmouth Station is missing.
* This episode's title in the Korean dub is "유령기차" which is the same title as the seventeenth season episode, The Phantom Express in the same dub.
* According to the Conductor's trading card, the Conductor helped Percy play his ghostly trick on Thomas in this episode.
* Unlike other episodes, Percy's lamp is placed on his middle shaft, not the one on his right (viewers' left). This is mainly due to him using the original UK headcode of "Light Engine".
* This episode marks the first of a few things:
	+ The first episode told by George Carlin in the US alongside the third season episode, Thomas, Percy and the Dragon during its *Shining Time Station* air date.
	+ The first time fog is shown throughout an entire episode.
	+ The first supernatural themed episode of the entire franchise.
* This episode marked the only occurrences of three things:
	+ The only appearance of Percy's Ghost Engine.
	+ The only supernatural themed episode of the entire franchise to feature Thomas' infamous "O" face.
	+ The only episode where Thomas' horrified face is seen without teeth.
	+ The only appearance of Toryreck Junction until the twenty-first season episode, Hasty Hannah, and its only appearance in the model series.
	+ The only appearance of Crowe's Farm Crossing until the twelfth season episode, Thomas' Shortcut, and its only appearance in the model series.
* This episode marked the last occurrences of a few things:
	+ The final episode to feature Thomas' infamous original first season "O" face. It would appear again via stock footage in Paint Pots and Queens. The reason why it never properly appeared again after this episode was because the production crew considered it "too jarring" for younger viewers.
	+ The last episode narrated by Goran Grgić in Croatia.

## Goofs

* In the opening shot of the viaduct, a light on the scaffolding goes on a bit too late.
* In the shot of Toby telling Thomas about Percy's accident, the film has been cut since his eyes jerk from up to down.
* In the restored version, Toby leaves Percy to go to the sheds a little later than he did in the original, but the puffing noise starts before he moves. This is because an alternate take of Toby leaving was used instead of the original analogue shot.
* During the scene when Thomas visits Toby at the station after his scare, Thomas is right next to Toby for the wide shots, but is a little further forward during his close-ups.
* As Thomas leaves the sheds, his lamp is off and slightly tilted to the left (viewers' right), there are wires next to the windows outside and what appears to be a piece of wood can be seen behind the doors.
* When Percy is puffing through the valley, he has a black box attached to his cab. This is most likely the power source for both of his lamps. This can also be seen on the back of Percy's Ghost Engine, earlier in the episode.
* Percy's left (viewer's right) cylinder is loose throughout the first half of the episode.
* When Percy comes into the shed, Toby's face mask is loose.
* When Percy passes the windmill, his tail lamp is not red.
* Clarabel is facing the wrong way when Thomas leaves Tidmouth.
* When Percy enters the sheds, his lamp is slightly crooked.

1. ↑ [1] on ThomasTankMerch's blogspot