Free the Roads

**Free the Roads** is the first episode of the twenty-third series, the five-hundred-thirty-ninth episode, and the twenty-third series premiere of *Thomas & Friends*.

## Plot

Bulgy thinks that all passengers should travel by bus and not rail until he learns that having so many passengers is not easy for the buses on their own.

## Synopsis

Bulgy is annoyed at the engines always taking the passengers. He attempts to take some that are waiting for Percy to arrive, but they decline his offer to ride on him. Bulgy attempts to block off Percy at the level crossing while trying to express his "free the roads" policy, but moves after Bertie tells him to. While fantasying about him and Bertie saving passengers from being taken by Percy by taking them instead, he accidentally knocks into some steel drums that have some tires on them. One of the tires rolls off the drums and onto a plank of wood that launches a bag of soil into a water tower.

Thomas fills up with water from the water tower Bulgy catapulted the bag of soil into and breaks down some time later while taking Annie and Clarabel. Bulgy is then asked by Sir Topham Hatt to take Thomas' passengers instead. Some of the other engines also take on water from the same water tower and break down as well, leaving Bertie and Bulgy very busy.

Bulgy initially likes taking passengers, but he soon gets more than he bargained for; Bertie ends up breaking down due to an overload of passengers to take, leading them to ride in Bulgy and causing him to break down as well. When his passengers complain about this, Bulgy states his regrets in getting the soil in the water tower. Unfortunately, Sir Topham Hatt hears this and chastises Bulgy for what he did and for causing confusion and delay. Bulgy is then left broken down while the passengers are picked up by the engines. He is then left further dismayed when he is taken back to the garage by Thomas but is still sticking to his beliefs.

## Cast

* Joseph May as Thomas
* Christopher Ragland as Percy and a Passenger
* Teresa Gallagher as Annie, Clarabel, The Teacher and Albert's Wife
* Keith Wickham as Bertie and Sir Topham Hatt
* Colin McFarlane as Bulgy
* Kerry Shale as Max
* Rob Rackstraw as Monty, The Knapford Stationmaster and a Passenger

Gordon, Butch, One of Dowager Hatt's Friends, The Bird Watcher and the Sodor United Football Team have no lines in this episode.

## Physical distribution

This episode is available on the "Steam Team to the Rescue" DVD.

## Trivia

* This episode marks the first of a few things:
	+ The first time since the seventh series episode, Bulgy Rides Again that Bulgy has had a leading role in an episode.
	+ The first episode since the twentieth series finale, Over the Hill to be produced by Ian McCue.
	+ Max and Monty's first speaking roles since the twentieth series episode, Mucking About and their first appearance without any of the other Pack members and their first appearances since the twenty-first series episode, A Shed for Edward.
	+ The first episode where Thomas, Gordon, Percy, Bertie and Bulgy gain more realistic looks.
* Bulgy and Bertie in the fantasy sequence were portrayed as Batman and Robin from the 1960s TV series Batman. Theme music renditions were played throughout the episode.
* This episode marks Bertie and Bulgy's only appearances and Butch's only non-cameo appearance in the twenty-third series.
* In the US, this episode is paired with Heart of Gold and in Mexico, they are paired with Chucklesome Trucks and in Japan, this episode is paired with Crowning Around.
* Bertie mentions the events of the twenty-first series episode, Unscheduled Stops.
* This episode is named after a quote on Bulgy's original signboards.

## Errors

* Max and Monty have their US voices in the UK dub.
* Kerry Shale is not credited in either the US or UK end credits despite voicing Max.
* Rob Rackstraw is not credited in the UK end credits for voicing Monty. However, Rasmus Hardiker is credited despite not voicing him.
* Max and Monty have Paxton and Sidney's horn sounds, respectively.
* When Bulgy arrives at Maithwaite, he clips through the signal box.
* As Percy starts leaving Maithwaite, his last two coaches are not rendered properly as they are merged together.