recursal/Fanatic-Fandom huggingface dataset:
Thomas and the Fireworks Display

**Thomas and the Fireworks Display** is the fourteenth episode of the eighth season and the 187th episode overall.

## Plot

Tonight is the Fat Controller's harvest fireworks display, for which he decides to give James the job of collecting the fireworks from the depot. This upsets Thomas because he wanted that job, but James tells him that he was chosen because he is as red as a rocket and twice as grand.

At the coal mine, Thomas is furious about James' job and angrily shunts some trucks around. James arrives at the docks to collect the fireworks and chuffs off to Knapford Station. But along the way, James breaks down and his driver goes to phone for help.

Thomas arrives at Knapford Station, where Gordon is letting off people from all over the island to see the fireworks, and seeing the children happy makes Thomas happy. The Fat Controller gives Thomas the news that James has broken down near the Vicarage Orchard and that Thomas must push him to the station or the fireworks will be cancelled. Realizing that this would make the children sad, Thomas heads off to find James.

Thomas finds James and calls him busted boiler, teasing him that he does not look really useful now, which makes James cross and embarrassed. Thomas tells James that he must look out for things ahead for him, as he can not see ahead. James forgives Thomas after hearing that the children would be upset if the fireworks do not get to Knapford and they start on their way.

Back at Knapford Station, the Fat Controller sees that it is late and near the children's bedtime, so he decides to cancel the display. While heading towards Knapford, James is confused that a signal they have reached is red. Thomas thinks a passenger train is coming and James realizes that Gordon is taking the children home, so they try blowing their whistles loudly, but it does not work because no one can hear them.

As Gordon is just about to leave, Thomas has an idea to let his driver set off a firework. Gordon and the Fat Controller see it, realizing it is a signal from Thomas and James and that the fireworks display is on again. The signal then turns green and Thomas and James arrive at the station.

At Tidmouth Sheds, Thomas and James watch the fireworks. James tells Thomas that they are both Really Useful Engines and Thomas says that they are most useful when they work together.

## Characters

* Thomas
* James
* The Fat Controller
* Troublesome Trucks *(do not speak)*
* Gordon *(does not speak)*

## Locations

* Tidmouth Sheds
* Knapford
* Kirk Ronan Coal Mine
* Brendam Docks
* Vicarage Orchard
* Knapford Bus Depot
* Knapford Yards

## Trivia

* This is the only episode to celebrate Guy Fawes day (Bonfire Night).

## Transcript

Thomas and the Fireworks Display Transcript
Wash Behind Your Buffers

**Wash Behind Your Buffers** is the twenty-fourth episode of the ninth season and the 214th episode overall.

## Plot

There is to be an Engine Gala and Country Show at Lakeside for the railway's 100th anniversary, and Rheneas and Skarloey are to lead the gala. Mr. Percival asks Madge to deliver brushes and soap to make sure the two engines are clean for the event while making sure she is cleaned herself as she is pulling the brass band. She starts with Rheneas who had been working at the Blue Mountain Quarry and she advises Nancy on how to get him clean. Once he is, Madge goes to see Skarloey but becomes very muddy while driving along the mountain roads.

Madge finds Skarloey who is just as dirty from working at the Rheneas Slate Quarry and also advises Nancy on how to get him clean. Unfortunately, Madge has spent too much time making sure they are clean that she does not have time to get clean herself. While Mr. Percival is inspecting Skarloey and Rheneas, Madge arrives at the gala filthy and attempts to get cleaned. Unfortunately, she accidentally sprays mud all over Rheneas and Skarloey. However, the workmen begin cleaning them up again and the two engines return the favour by instructing the workmen to give Madge her washdown. Skarloey and Rheneas are soon cleaned as well in time for the gala to begin.

## Characters

* Skarloey
* Rheneas
* Madge
* The Thin Controller
* Nancy *(does not speak)*
* Sir Handel *(cameo)*
* Peter Sam *(cameo)*
* Rusty *(cameo)*
* Duncan *(cameo)*
* Duke *(cameo)*
* Freddie *(cameo)*
* Mighty Mac *(cameo)*

## Locations

* Crovan's Gate Sheds
* Crovan's Gate
* Ben Glas
* Lakeside
* Rheneas Slate Quarry
* Blue Mountain Quarry *(mentioned)*

## Trivia

* The scene where Madge sprays Skarloey and Rheneas with mud was turned into an online meme.
* This episode's title is based on the saying, "Wash behind your ears."
The Slip Coaches

The **Slip Coaches**, individually named **Adam**, **Mirabel** and **Declan**, are three Great Western bogie coaches who work with Duck on The Little Western. They are special as they can be uncoupled at stations without the engine stopping. Duck calls them **Slippies**.

## Biography

The Slip Coaches are very good friends with Duck. Like most coaches, they do not like being bumped by an engine. They can be very judgemental if they are not treated right, and need to be handled delicately.

## Basis

The Slip Coaches are based on the Great Western Railway Collett Slip Coaches. These coaches had the unique ability in which they could be uncoupled at stations without stopping. The uncoupled coaches are stopped when the guard sets a handbrake.

## Livery

The Slip Coaches are painted claret and cream with black roofs and window frames, loosely based off of the chocolate and cream livery used by coaches on the Great Western Railway, later the Western region of British Railways.

## Appearances

### Season 12

* Duck and the Slip Coaches
* Last Train For Christmas

### Season 14

* Blown Away (cameos)
* Letters to Santa (cameos)
* Pouty James (first and second; cameos)
* Mike's Whistle (cameos)
* Ryan and Daisy (cameos)
* Skiff and the Mermaid (cameos)

## Trivia

* Unlike in the official television series, the Slip Coaches have names in the Sodor Stories series. The female coach is named after an Autocoach from the Railway Series with the same name, Mirabel. The two male coaches have names based off other RS autocoaches. Adam from Alice and Declan from Dulcie.
* Adam and Declan are the first male coaches to be introduced in the series. All three coaches are also the first sentient coaches to be introduced in the series since Old Slow Coach in the fifth season.
* They were the first characters with embedded faces since Harold in the second season.
* They are the only series-exclusive vehicular characters to appear in the Small Railway Engines adaptations.
‘Arry and Bert

## Bert

'**Arry** and **Bert** (also known as **Iron 'Arry** and **Iron Bert**) are twin diesel engines who work at the smelters and scrapyards of the Sodor Ironworks.

## Biography

Arry and Bert are unquestionably devious and scheming. They feel superior to steam engines and working at the smelters yard, they enjoy the chance to break up engines or at least make their lives more difficult. Due to their grim task, they have earned a reputation on Sodor as "The Grim Messengers of Doom". They wish to scrap Oliver who had escaped the cutter's torch once before. They had also attempted to scrap Stepney and Fergus without anyone’s permission.

'Arry and Bert also have a tendency to act scheming, slimy, greasy and oozy, playing tricks and coming up with schemes to make the steam engines' lives miserable and more difficult. However, despite their prejudices, the diesels have cooperated with steam engines on occasions. The steam engines have also often come to the rescue when they are in trouble.

'Arry and Bert were bought by Sir Bertram Topham Hatt in 1960 to shunt trucks at the Ironworks, nearby Peel Godred. The two diesels aren't really friendly towards steam engines but they do get along at times when things aren't bright.

## Basis

'Arry and Bert are based on British Rail (BR) Class 08 diesel-electric shunters.

## Livery

Arry and Bert are painted green-grey with yellow cabs and yellow hazard stripes on their fronts. They have their company's name (Sodor Ironworks) painted on their sides in white.

## Appearances

### Season 5

* Stepney Gets Lost *(not named; Bert does not speak)*

### Season 7

* James and the Queen of Sodor *(cameos)*
* Fergus Breaks the Rules

## Trivia

* ‘Arry and Bert are actually not quite identical: Bert has more stubble.
* Bert is the first character in the franchise to share his name with another character, the second being Oliver the Excavator sharing his name with Oliver the Great Western Engine.
The Trestle Bridge

**The Trestle Bridge** is the third episode of the seventh season, the 154th episode overall and the second story to be completely rewritten.

## Plot

Early one morning, Duncan teases Peter Sam for being a little scared while pulling the night train, so Skarloey tells him about his earliest days on the railway to teach him a lesson. Many decades ago, Skarloey was cocky and reckless, making Rheneas and the workmen concerned. His mood changed when a trestle bridge broke apart and almost made Skarloey fall over and injure his crew. For a long while after, Skarloey refused to cross the bridge, making Mr. Mack and Rheneas rather annoyed.

## Characters

* Skarloey
* Rheneas
* Peter Sam
* Duncan
* Mr. Mack *(flashback only)*

## Locations

* Skarloey Sheds
* Crovan’s Gate
* Crovan’s Gate Sheds
* The Old Trestle Bridge
* The Old Iron Bridge *(mentioned)*
* Glennock *(mentioned)*

## Trivia

* This episode’s story is heavily inspired by the Railway Series book, Very Old Engines, where the stories were set in the Skarloey Railway’s earliest years, where Skarloey and Rheneas first arrived without cabs (and trailing wheels for Skarloey) and Skarloey was a much different character compared to nowadays. Although the story were the two engines become firm friends and more wiser is different in the story Stick-in-the-Mud than how it is in this episode.
* This is the first rewritten story to receive a different title compared to the original. This original episode was titled The Old Bridge in the official TV series.
* This story began its writing stages in 15th April 2022, but wasn’t finished until 24th April 2022.

## References to Other Stories

* Skarloey reminds Duncan of when he was scared by what he thought was a ghost engine on the Old Iron Bridge, much to Duncan’s embarrassment.

## Links to the Story

https://www.deviantart.com/jamesawilliams1996/art/The-Trestle-Bridge-914032819
The Tortoise and the Hare

**The Tortoise and the Hare** is the twenty-second episode of the ninth season and the 212th episode overall.

## Plot

Thomas is taking Buster to the newly built Vicarstown Racetrack to smooth the track, and the steamroller is dreaming about winning a race. While Buster is working, Max and Monty tease him about being slow. Once the work is done, Miss Jenny allows Max, Monty, and Buster to race so that they can test the racetrack. Although she warns them about being safe, Max and Monty are thinking about being anything but. The race soon begins and Max and Monty race off with Buster happily trundling behind, but the two dump trucks are arguing about who jumped the line. Monty is so cross that he intentionally hits Max, which infuriates him and in retaliation attempts to bump Monty back. However, it backfires as they lose control and end up in a ditch while unaware when Buster trundles ahead. A bull scares them both away and they manage get out of the ditch, only for Buster to already be near the finish line and win the race. Max and Monty then argue about who came second and third. When Thomas takes Buster home, he is proud of what he had done while Max and Monty are still arguing over their own positions in the race.

## Characters

* Thomas
* Jack
* Oliver the Excavator
* Max and Monty
* Buster
* Miss Jenny

## Locations

* Killdane
* Vicarstown Racetrack

## Trivia

* This episode is based on Aesop's fable of the same name and as a result shares the same plot with Edward the Great.
* The car appearing in one of the Racetrack's billboards is a Renault R8 Gordini in the famous blue racing paintjob.
Tickled Pink

**Tickled Pink** is the third episode of the tenth season and the 219th episode overall.

## Plot

The Fat Controller sends James to the Sodor Steamworks for a new coat of paint. Emily has broken down while picking up Bridget Hatt to take her to a birthday party and as no other engine is available, the Fat Controller sends James, who is still painted in his pink undercoat. When Emily sees James, she laughs at him, so to prevent the others from doing the same, he decides to hide.

James sees Toby coming down the line and hides beneath a willow tree in Henry's Forest, but Gordon rushes past blowing the branches up, so Toby does see James and laughs. Then he sees Diesel shunting the coal trucks. James really does not want to be seen by Diesel, so he hides behind the waiting trucks. Eventually, Diesel shunts them all away and James and his pink paint are revealed. Now Diesel laughs at James.

Finally, James tries hiding from Gordon in Henry's Tunnel. Thomas and Percy arrive to see what is going on and Gordon insists for the engine in the tunnel to reveal itself so that the express can get through. So, James is left with no choice but to reveal himself and after James is laughed at, he realises he is running late. So he steams to Cronk, passing by Henry and Spencer who also laugh, but James does not care; he just wants to be a really useful engine.

James thinks Bridget and her friends will laugh at him too, but instead they smile, get excited and very happy. Bridget and her friends tell James that pink is their favourite colour, which makes James feel better.

## Characters

* Thomas
* Henry
* Gordon
* James
* Percy
* Toby
* Emily
* Spencer
* Diesel
* The Fat Controller

## Locations

* Tidmouth Sheds
* Sodor Steamworks
* Killdane
* Henry's Forest
* Henry's Tunnel
* Vicarstown
* Vicarstown Yards
* Cronk
* Tidmouth

## Voice Cast

* Ben Small as Thomas and Toby
* Keith Wickham as Henry, Gordon, James, Percy and the Fat Controller
* Teresa Gallagher as Emily, Bridget Hatt and Bridget Hatt's Friends
* Matt Wilkinson as Spencer
* Kerry Shale as Diesel

## Trivia

* In real life, "Works grey" also served the function of being a primary "undercoat" of paint, allowing the locomotive to be used for test runs and checks to find any faults or required modifications before undergoing the expensive and often time-consuming process of being painted in a full livery.
* The plot is similar to Henry Sees Red from the 37th Railway Series book, Henry and the Express.
Thomas and the Trucks

**Thomas and the Trucks** is the sixth episode of the first season. It is based on the story of the same name from the second Railway Series book, Thomas the Tank Engine.

## Plot

Thomas is fed up with his job of shunting coaches and complains relentlessly to the other engines about it every night, saying that he wishes to see the world for a change, despite the others taking little notice. One night, Edward comes to the shed and feels sorry for Thomas. Edward offers to let Thomas take his goods train, while he shunts coaches for him. Thomas happily agrees.

The next morning, their drivers agree and Thomas sets off happily for the yard. Troublesome Trucks talk a lot, do not attend to what they are doing and often play tricks on engines who are not used to them. Edward is well aware of this and has warned Thomas to be careful but he is too excited to listen. Thomas prepares his train and once coupled up, he starts to pull, but the trucks are not ready. Despite their cries to and wait, Thomas just ignores them as he puffs out of the station rather stubbornly.

Thomas goes faster and faster passing through Crosby Tunnel and the junction along the journey, but the increased speed makes the trucks very cross. Thomas eventually slows down while climbing Gordon's Hill where the big blue engine got stuck on, but the trucks begin to push him down the hill as his driver is trying to apply the brakes at the top. Thomas loses control of the trucks as they rush into Maron. He swerves into a siding at the goods yard and shuts his eyes until finally he stops in front of the buffers, narrowly preventing an accident.

The Fat Director, having seen everything, questions him why he came in so fast. Thomas explains that the trucks pushed him, while the Fat Director advises Thomas that he has a lot to learn about trucks and that after pushing them about in the yard for a few weeks, he will know much more about them as Edward. And then he will be a Really Useful Engine.

## Characters

* Thomas
* Edward
* Troublesome Trucks
* The Fat Director
* Henry *(does not speak)*
* Gordon *(does not speak)*
* Orange Coaches *(does not speak)*
* Eagle *(cameo)*
* Green Express Coaches *(indirectly mentioned)*

## Locations

* Tidmouth Sheds
* Knapford
* Crosby
* Crosby Tunnel
* Gordon's Hill
* Maron
	+ Maura Bridge
	+ Maron Signals Runby

## Trivia

* A slight indirect reference to the starting is made by Edward in the thirteenth series episode, Philip to the Rescue.
Toby’s Windmill

**Toby's Windmill** is the sixteenth episode of the seventh season and the 167th episode overall.

## Plot

Toby's favourite place on Sodor is the old windmill that belongs to his friend, the miller. One day, Toby is on his way to collect some flour to take to market, but is so distracted by the sight of the rotating sails that he accidentally damages the flour sacks in the trucks. This makes the miller very upset as this might put him out of a job. Toby begins to worry that the windmill might close down, but his driver is more worried about a storm on the way.

Toby goes home to Ffarquhar, sad about the trouble he had caused. That night, a fierce storm sweeps across the island and lightning strikes the windmill, destroying it. The next morning, Toby carefully puffs along surveying the storm damage, especially the old windmill. The miller is unable to afford any timber, so he has lost his job. Not wanting to lose the windmill, Toby tries his best to help.

Toby discovers a fallen tree which Harvey and Terence are trying to clear away from the tracks. Toby tells the Fat Controller that the fallen tree could provide the timber required to mend the miller's windmill. The Fat Controller and the miller agree to Toby's idea and, several days later, the old windmill is restored to full, working order. The miller is very grateful and now calls the windmill "Toby's Windmill."

## Characters

* Toby
* The Fat Controller
* Harvey *(does not speak)*
* Terence *(does not speak)*
* Thomas *(cameo)*
* James *(cameo)*
* Percy *(cameo)*
* Daisy *(cameo)*
* Annie and Clarabel *(cameo)*
* Henrietta *(cameo)*
* Rheneas *(cameo)*
* Peter Sam *(cameo)*
* Trevor *(cameo)*
* Butch *(cameo)*
* Kelly *(cameo)*

## Locations

* Rheneas Station
* The Watermill
* Hawin Croka Canal
* Callan Castle
* Castle Loch Causeway
* Toby’s Windmill
* Ffarquhar
* Ffarquhar Sheds
* McColl Farm

## Trivia

* This episode marks Toby's only speaking role in the seventh season, which makes the seventh season the first season of the show to have Toby only have a speaking role once, the others being the eleventh season episode, The Lost Puff.
* The narrator mentions the episode's title when he says: "He never tires of watching the sails go round, and he is very proud that the miller now calls it: Toby's Windmill."
Toryreck

**Toryreck** is a small station located on the Loop Line of the Ffarquhar Branch Line.

## History

Toryreck station was originally the main station for the village of Dryaw.

Toryreck station is near the village centre, ironically making it better suited for goods than the main station. Workmen's trains stop here as do most goods trains, and it is not unknown for goods guards to have a van full of passengers on market days for Elsbridge or Knapford as the case may be.

Whenever Thomas passes the goods station, children wave to him from the nearby bridge, and occasionally he stops to talk to them. Once, Thomas was surprised to be flagged down at station to pick up passengers, as the station was for goods-only. An Inspector explained that a school bus had broken and the children needed a ride to Hackenbeck, which Thomas provided.

## Trivia

* The Rev. W Awdry derived the name "Toryreck" from the word "rectory"
Tidmouth Town Hall

**Tidmouth Town Hall** is where the **Town Hall** of Tidmouth is situated. The Town Hall also has a library on site. The North Western Railway has a station here located on Duck's branch line with two platforms and a footbridge. There are also several shops nearby.

## Trivia

* From the eleventh season onwards, the overgrown vines on the side of the town hall building have been removed.
* From Tale of the Brave onwards, the dinosaur skeleton dug up by Marion stands on a pedestal outside the town hall. The trees were also removed, but the rings from around the trunks were still present.
The Frozen Turntable

**The Frozen Turntable** is the fourteenth episode of the eleventh season and the 244th episode overall.

## Plot

One cold evening, the steam engines return to Tidmouth Sheds, only to discover the turntable is frozen solid. Only one berth is accessible and Gordon quickly demands that he uses it. Thomas and Edward, however, believe Percy should use it, as he is pulling the mail that night and will need somewhere to sleep when he finishes. The rest of the engines decide to look elsewhere.

Flynn offers them two berths in the shed at the Sodor Search and Rescue Centre. Gordon is not pleased with this; the noise made in the case of an emergency would keep him awake. James and Emily sleep at Killdane, whilst he and Henry go to the Steamworks instead. Victor explains there is only room for two engines, but Gordon states he would not get any sleep, as being at the Steamworks makes him think about breaking down. Victor suggests sleeping at Whiff's Waste Dump, but Gordon outright refuses.

Henry choose to stay at the Steamworks, leaving only Gordon who comes across Norman soon after. Norman explains that he can sleep at the Dieselworks, but once again, Gordon refuses to accept the offer, claiming he does not like the smell of diesel fuel. Despite his best efforts, Gordon is unable to think of anywhere else suitable for him to sleep, until he remembers Tidmouth Sheds. He heads back, thinking the workmen will have fixed the turntable, only to find it is still frozen.

However, Gordon has another idea. As Percy has not yet returned from his mail run, he decides to sleep in the available berth instead. When Percy finally does arrive, there is no longer any room for him and he is forced to go to Knapford. However, Gordon's hopes for a peaceful night's sleep are quickly shattered when work begins on the turntable, keeping him up all night.

By morning, the turntable is finally unfrozen. Before Gordon can leave though, a test-run goes wrong and the turntable freezes again, away from Gordon's berth, trapping him in the shed. The Fat Controller soon learns about what happened and assigns James to pull the Express instead and Percy to pull James' passenger train. Gordon is horrified, but there is nothing he can do about it.

It is getting dark by the time the turntable is finally unfrozen again. Gordon is relieved to be able to leave the shed, but unhappy about the fact he has not been able to do any work. The Fat Controller decides to give him Percy's mail duties that evening, much to Gordon's dismay and the amusement of the rest of the Steam Team.

## Characters

* Thomas
* Edward
* Gordon
* James
* Percy
* Norman
* Flynn
* Victor
* The Fat Controller
* Henry *(does not speak)*
* Emily *(mentioned)*
* Whiff *(mentioned)*

## Locations

* Tidmouth Sheds
* Killdane Sheds
* Maron
* Sodor Steamworks
* Knapford Sheds (mentioned)
* Vicarstown Dieselworks (mentioned)
* Sodor Search and Rescue Centre (mentioned)
* Whiff's Waste Dump (mentioned)

## Voice Cast

* Ben Small as Thomas and Flynn
* Keith Wickham as Edward, Gordon, James, Percy, Norman, the Fat Controller and the Workmen
* David Bedella as Victor
Thomas and Bertie

**Thomas and Bertie** is the fourteenth episode of the first season. It is based on the story of the same name from the fourth Railway Series book, Tank Engine Thomas Again.

## Plot

Thomas is waiting at a junction where a bus drives up alongside him. The bus introduces himself as Bertie, who remembers Thomas from the time he took his passengers home after Thomas crashed into a snowdrift and tells Thomas that he has come to help his passengers today. Thomas claims that he can go faster than Bertie, who challenges Thomas to a race. Their drivers agree and Thomas and Bertie begin their race.

As it takes Thomas a while to build up speed, Bertie takes a head start at the beginning until he reaches the level crossing, where Thomas passes him and takes the lead. After that, the road leaves the railway and Thomas stops at the next station to collect passengers. He tells them to get in quickly and as he starts off again, he sees Bertie zooming over the bridge and retaking the lead. Thomas tries to catch up, but he has to stop at Elsbridge because the signal is up. Bertie continues on gleefully while Thomas feels sure that he will lose the race, but he feels better after a drink and is ready to continue just as the signal drops.

While crossing the bridge, Thomas finds that he still has a chance to win, seeing Bertie waiting on a traffic light. As Bertie starts again, Thomas reaches full speed and takes the lead as he passes Bertie at the tunnel and makes it to the last station, winning the race. Everyone cheers for Thomas, but they also give Bertie a big cheer. Bertie congratulates Thomas and remarks that he would have had to be an aeroplane to beat him over the tunnel hill.

The two friends now work together and often talk about their race, but the passengers do not like to be bounced around and the Fat Director warns Thomas about running at dangerous speeds. Although it does not seem likely, the two still hope for a chance to race again.

## Characters

* Thomas
* Annie and Clarabel
* Bertie
* Terence *(mentioned)*
* The Fat Director *(mentioned)*

## Locations

* Knapford Bus Yard
* Knapford Crossing
* Dryaw
	+ Dryaw Airfield
* The Windmill
* Elsbridge
	+ Viaduct
* Terence's Field
* Hackenbeck Tunnel
* Ffarquhar
	+ Ffarquhar Yards

## Trivia

* A reference to the previous episode is made.
* The events were referenced and mentioned by Thomas in the fourth season episode, Thomas and the Special Letter, and Bertie did the same in the sixth season episode, Harvey to the Rescue.
* This marks the first time Thomas and Bertie race each other. They would try to race each other again in Three Cheers for Thomas and successfully race a lot more in the eleventh season onwards.

## References to Other Stories

* Bertie reminds Thomas of the time that he got stuck in the snow since he had to take Thomas' passengers and Terence pulled him out.
Whiff

**Whiff** is a green tank engine. His main task is to collect rubbish and scrap, which explains his dirty appearance and smell.

## Biography

In need of Wellsworth saloon trains, the Wellsworth and Brendam Railway bought a NER X1. When Whiff was commissioned into service in 1875, the engine was named after by one of the workmen's wisecracks due to the smell of the engines' smoke during steam test runs and ever since then it was stuck with that name. However 'Whiff' thought his given name sounds very undignified and decided to be called Kitson.

However he was highly strung and considers himself as an important tank engine, which made James (52) cross. Nowadays he's more levelheaded now and considers every tank engine important. He currently takes rubbish trains to and from the waste dump.

## Basis

Whiff is based on the North Eastern Railway's 2-2-4T No. 66, named "Aerolite". Aerolite was built in 1869 to replace a destroyed Kitson locomotive of the same name and to haul the Mechanical Engineer's saloon coach, which is also preserved on the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway. It was rebuilt extensively several times during its career. It was classified X1 by the LNER in 1923 and was retired in 1933, being preserved at York the following year. It can be found today at the National Railway Museum in York.

## Livery

Whiff is painted in a dark green livery with black and yellow lining and green wheels. He has red numberplates on his bunker. He wears large spectacles on his smokebox.

## Appearances

### Season 11

* The Frozen Turntable (mentioned)
* Scruff's Makeover

### Season 12

* Timothy and the Rainbow Truck (cameo)
* Samson Sent for Scrap (does not speak)

### Season 14

* Sidney Sings
* Bradford the Brake Van
* Pouty James (cameo)
* Buckled Tracks and Bumpy Trucks
* Henry in the Dark (cameo)

## Trivia

* Whiff has the same number as his basis, Aerolite.
* According to Whiff's designer, Whiff can be described as "nerdy". Despite this, he does not usually act this way, although he does wear glasses, a stereotypical nerd feature.
* Whiff is the first and only engine to wear an eyewear.
Vicarstown Sheds

**Vicarstown Sheds** is an engine shed located at Vicarstown. It served as the main sheds for the North Western Railway from 1915 to 1925, when the Motive Power Depot moved to Tidmouth Sheds.

## History

The North Western Railway established Vicarstown Sheds as its main Motive Power Depot in 1915. The bulk of its main line fleet was stationed here, as was Thomas, Vicarstown's station pilot. It was a 'dead end' type shed with six roads.

Following the 1925 agreement with the LMS to allow NWR trains as far as Barrow-in-Furness, the sheds were no longer required. It was closed in 1927/8, and a smaller one was erected for engines operating the car-ferry service. The turntable was taken up and installed at Barrow, while the main Motive Power Depot moved to Knapford.

In 1954, Percy told Jinty and Pug about how he braved bad weather to help Thomas here.

## Residents

* Thomas the Tank Engine (1915-1925)
* Edward the Blue Engine (1915-1925)
* Molly the Shy Engine (1923-1925)
* ~~Eagle the Red Engine (1914-1925)~~
* Jinty the Pilot Engine (1946)
* Pug the Saddle Tank Engine (1959)
* Hiro the Master of the Railway (1951)
Mud Glorious Mud

**Mud Glorious Mud** is the sixteenth episode of the ninth season and the 206th episode overall.

## Plot

It is a muddy and rainy day as The Pack are digging foundations for the new waste dump, which Isobella doesn't like since she hates mud and tries to take the longest route since it's cleanest. Soon enough, the machines all start to run out of diesel and become stuck. The lorry that was about to deliver the needed fuel breaks down, so Thomas is told to deliver the fuel to Cronk Abbey. Meanwhile, Isobella (the only machine to not break down since she doesn't run on diesel) is asked to collect the fuel from him and take it to the site.

Although Isobella hopes she won't get too dirty, she soon comes across a flooded road she has to drive through and becomes dirty. While Thomas is on his way to Cronk Abbey, Isobella is warned by a police officer that the road ahead is blocked by a landslide and so she goes across the field. She soon becomes more dirty and doesn't even look like herself once she reaches Thomas at Cronk Abbey. Isobella soon takes the fuel from him and returns to the site (while not dirtier than ever) where The Pack are all fuelled up again. Miss Jenny praises Isobella for her efforts and states that she should be proud of herself and she is, but also cheekily asks for a washdown.

## Characters

* Thomas
* Jack
* Alfie
* Isobella
* Miss Jenny
* The Fat Controller
* Oliver the Excavator *(cameo)*
* Max and Monty *(cameos)*
* Byron *(cameo)*

## Locations

* Ffarquhar Sheds
* Cronk Abbey
* Whiff's Waste Dump Construction Site
* Killdane
* Sodor Construction Company Yard

## Trivia

* The title is a line from the chorus of the popular Flanders and Swann song, *The Hippopotamus*. The line was previously said by Alfie in Byron Saves the Day.
Washout

**Washout** is the eighth episode of the sixteenth season, the 361st episode overall and the eighth episode of the Original Stories Era of the series.

## Plot

While at the Steamworks, Rosie tells Duck the story of how she got her new red coat of paint. Daisy teased her for being painted in such a silly colour. But her opinion soon changed, when she was trapped on an old wooden bridge and strong river currents washed the supports away, putting her and her passengers in danger.

## Characters

* Percy
* Toby
* Duck
* Rosie
* Daisy
* Victor
* Annie and Clarabel
* The Fat Controller
* Arry and Bert (mentioned)
* Kevin (mentioned)

Kelly is also likely to appear.

## Locations

* Knapford
* Sodor Steamworks
* Ffarquhar Branch Line

## Trivia

* This story began its writing stages in 19th November 2021, but hasn’t been finished yet.
* This episode is a retelling of the Christopher Awdry story of the same name, from the 36th Railway Series book, Thomas Comes Home. The main difference is that Rosie is the central character of the story instead of Percy.
* This episode was made to provide a reason for Rosie’s new NWR red livery, something that the official TV series failed to explain.
The Sodor Tramway Line

Sodor Tramways is a company serving a branch line, from Great Waterton to Vicarstown. The line was a recent development by the ninth season in 1965, while restoring Great Waterton in time for Sodor Day of that same year. Flora was purchased by The Fat Controller to run a passenger service along this line.

## Route

The line starts at the town of Great Waterton, then goes west, through a wooded area near Henry’s Tunnel, then south-east, where it crosses over the Main Line via a dual-track crossing, before terminating at Vicarstown, at its own platforms underneath the big station.
Marshall

**Marshall** is a self-propelled Canadian snowplough locomotive, who works in the Canadian Rockies.

## Biography

Marshall is friendly and helpful. This was shown when he first met Thomas, and informed him which line he should go on, and checked on him when he was plowing ahead.

## Basis

Marshall is based on Colorado & Southern Rotary Steam Snow Plow No. 99201, built by the Cooke Locomotive and Machine Works in 1899.

## Livery

Marshall is painted dark grey with a dark red rotary snow plough and red lining. The number "64" and the Canadian flag are painted on the sides of his cab.

## Trivia

* Marshall has a much taller cab than his basis; this was to accommodate for his face.
Thomas, Percy and the Squeak

**Thomas, Percy and the Squeak** is the thirteenth episode of the sixth season and the 145th episode overall.

## Plot

Famous opera singer Alicia Botti is coming to Sodor for a concert and the engines are wondering who will take her to the venue at the Rolf’s Castle, a job that Gordon states Percy will not be chosen for as he is very dirty. Come the following day, the Fat Controller chooses Thomas and tells him to be squeaky clean.

Thomas goes to the washdown where Percy is waiting to be cleaned. However, Thomas insists that he must go next as he has an important job. Percy sets off, still dirty, to collect some coaches for his guaranteed connection. Once Thomas and his coaches are cleaned and prepare to set off, however, they hear a squeak. His crew assume that Annie's wheels are the cause of this, so they oil them. But, once on the move again, the squeak continues, making Thomas concerned.

At Brendam, Thomas pulls up to collect Alicia and the Fat Controller opens one of Annie's doors. However, there is a mouse inside, which causes Alicia to scream in horror; she screams so loudly that windows shatter all around Brendam, which amuses Gordon who claims she is definitely a Coloratura. Alicia is cross and refuses to ride onboard Clarabel, much to the embarrassment of Thomas and the Fat Controller. Because of this, Thomas does not feel important at all. Just then, Percy arrives back from his guaranteed connection and Alicia Botti considers him as a proper engine because of his dirty appearance and decides to ride in one of his coaches instead, much to Gordon's disgust.

Later, Thomas is back at the washdown when Percy arrives. This time, he lets Percy go next for his wash. That night, whilst Alicia Botti is performing her concert at Rolf's Castle, Thomas and Percy are at Tidmouth Sheds where the mouse - whom Thomas has named "Alicia" - now lives.

## Characters

* Thomas
* Gordon
* James
* Percy
* The Fat Controller
* Alicia Botti
* Henry *(does not speak)*
* Annie and Clarabel *(do not speak)*
* Edward *(cameo)*
* BoCo *(cameo)*
* Salty *(cameo)*

## Locations

* Gordon’s Hill
* Rolf's Castle
* Knapford
* Tidmouth Sheds
* Wellsworth
* Brendam Docks

## Trivia

* The line "Don't call me Dirty Percy!" has become a common internet meme.
Season 1

## Other Details

### Next Season

Season 2

**Season 1** is the first season of the Sodor Stories series.

## Episodes

1. Thomas and Gordon
2. Edward and Gordon
3. The Sad Story of Henry
4. Edward, Gordon and Henry
5. Thomas’ Train
6. Thomas and the Trucks
7. Thomas and the Breakdown Train
8. James and the Coaches
9. Troublesome Trucks
10. James and the Express
11. Thomas and the Guard
12. Thomas Goes Fishing
13. Thomas, Terence and the Snow
14. Thomas and Bertie
15. Tenders and Turntables
16. Trouble in the Shed
17. Percy Runs Away
18. Thomas Saves the Day
19. Coal
20. It’s Good to be Gordon
21. The Flying Kipper
22. Whistles and Sneezes
23. Toby and the Stout Gentleman
24. Thomas in Trouble
25. Dirty Objects
26. Thomas’ Christmas Party
27. Off the Rails
28. The Trouble With Mud
29. Down the Mine
30. Paint Pots and Queens

## Characters Introduced

* Thomas
* Edward
* Henry
* Gordon
* James
* Percy
* Toby
* Annie and Clarabel
* Henrietta
* Troublesome Trucks
* Terence
* Bertie
* The Fat Director
* Stephen Hatt
* Bridget Hatt
* Mrs. Kyndley
* Engine Inspector
* The Ffarquhar Policeman
* Jeremiah Jobling *(not named)*
* Eagle *(does not speak)*
* Elizabeth II *(does not speak)*
* Judy and Jerome (*not named; do not speak)*
* Dowager Hatt *(not named; does not speak)*
* Percy's Workshop Friends *(do not speak)*
* Farmer Finney *(cameo)*

## Locations

* Knapford
* Sir Topham Hatt's Office
* Ffarquhar Junction
* The Pond Runby
* Tidmouth Sheds
* Crosby
* Crosby Tunnel
* Reagh Viaduct
* Tidmouth Sheds
* Gordon's Hill
* Sodor Steamworks
* Maron
* Maura Bridge
* Henry's Tunnel
* Vicarstown
* The Cow Field
* Knapford Bus Yard
* Elsbridge
* Dryaw
* Wellsworth

## Trivia

* This season takes place between 1922 and 1953.
The Fat Controller’s Holiday

**The Fat Controller's Holiday** is the thirteenth episode of the fifth season and the 122nd episode overall.

## Plot

The Hatts are going on holiday, but when they exit Annie and Clarabel at Tidmouth Hault, Lady Hatt complains about feeling hot and tired and states about turning the two coaches into beach huts. Thomas is insulted and his driver assures him that the coaches will never be retired, rather to be improved.

The next day, Percy takes the family to Dryaw Airfield, for them to board Harold. Their flight however is delayed by a low-flying biplane called Tiger Moth, but they soon get to their retreat. After staying there for several days, Harold arrives to tell them that Tiger Moth has gone missing. The Fat Controller joins the search and in the end they find Tiger Moth crashed in a haystack. The Fat Controller scolds the pilot for his recklessness, seeing to have him and his plane grounded and continues his holiday, boating on a canal. However, they become bogged down in mud and after being unable to be pulled out by other boats, Percy helps them back to Wellsworth.

At the station, Thomas, Annie and Clarabel (with new aesthetic improvements) are waiting for them. Lady Hatt comments that the coaches appear more suitable than their previous appearance, while no one says a word about it. That evening, Thomas agrees with his coaches that no matter what they look like, they will always be Really Useful.

## Characters

* Thomas
* Annie and Clarabel
* Harold
* The Fat Controller
* Lady Hatt
* Stephen Hatt
* Bridget Hatt
* Percy *(does not speak)*
* Toby *(does not speak)*
* Henrietta *(does not speak)*
* Tiger Moth (does not speak)

## Locations

* Tidmouth Hault
* Knapford
* Dryaw
	+ Dryaw Airfield
* McColl Farm
* Maithwaite
* Canal Runby
* Wellsworth
* Ffarquhar Sheds

## Trivia

* This episode takes place on a bank holiday.

## Transcript

* The Fat Controller's Holiday Transcript
Vicarstown Bridge

**Vicarstown Bridge** is a bascule bridge and the main rail connection between the Island of Sodor and the Mainland.

## History

The first, ambitious and ill-fated, attempt to link Sodor with England via Barrow-in-Furness had been made by the Sodor and Mainland Railway in the 1850s. The Company's high hopes were disappointed. Their proposals for a bridge over the Walney Channel were persistently baulked by the Admiralty. Ironically, they later became the driving force behind the completion of the link to the Mainland.

The Vicarstown Bridge is a double tracked Scherzer Rolling Lift Bridge of some 120ft span which is situated at Vicarstown and which carries the North Western Main Line. It connects Sodor to the Mainland at Barrow-in-Furness, crossing the Walney Channel. The bridge was designed by Sir Topham Hatt I and was erected in 1914. Since 1925, the NWR has had rights to run trains over the bridge to Barrow-in-Furness. Also since that year, the Mainland had running powers over the bridge to enable them to operate their share of the joint NWR/LMS/BR suburban service between Barrow and Ballahoo.

It is frequently used by all the engines, especially Connor and Caitlin, who transport tourists from the Mainland to Ulfstead Castle on a daily basis, as well as Spencer, Flying Scotsman and Samson. The bridge was closed overnight in the eleventh season episode Calm Down Caitlin whilst it underwent some maintenance, it was blocked in the thirteenth season episode The Beast of Sodor and was again under repair in the thirteenth season episode Salty All at Sea.

When Gordon underwent an overhaul to be streamlined temporarily for the Great Railway Show, he refused to undergo the final safety checks and his safety valve was never reinstalled. Thomas, who had been badly damaged in a crash with Norman, was informed of this while he was being repaired at the Steamworks. Victor was unable to go, so Thomas, not fully repaired but in working condition, rushed to the Mainland to give Gordon his safety valve. However, the bridge was being raised to let a ferry pass under it. Thomas, having no time to lose, ran up the raised bridge and jumped over the canal. He landed the jump, though he landed on the wrong track after nearly derailing and had to avoid head-on collisions with Connor, Murdoch and Sidney.

## Trivia

* While not structurally based off of it, the concept and location for the bridge was inspired by the Walney Bridge, its official title being Jubilee Bridge, which originates in Barrow-in-Furness and spans over the Walney Channel connecting England to Walney Island.
The Lead Mines

## Operations

### Operator(s)

Tidmouth, Knapford and Elsbridge Light Railway (formerly) North Western Railway (formerly)

## Technical Details

### Gauge

4'8½" (1,435 mm; standard gauge)

**The Lead Mines** are a uranium and former lead mine located south-east of Toryreck off of Thomas' Branch Line.

## History

In the 1880s, the Ulfstead Mining Company became interested in the minerals, mostly lead, waiting to be found on the higher ground east of the marsh separating Tidmouth and Elsbridge; but without a firm footing they could not be either extracted or transported away. Accordingly, they called in A. W. Dry & Co., who had experience with working on drainage problems in East Anglia. A. W. Dry built embankments across the flats north and south of the River Els and installed tide gates, allowing mining operations to begin. A railway line was constructed to transport the lead to the harbour at Knapford, later extended to Tidmouth.

After the somewhat shaky start, the lead mine prospered for a time. Miners dug tunnels underground and while their roofs were strong enough to support trucks, they were not strong enough to support the weight of an engine. The run down of the mine began in 1925 and it had to close down in 1930, though fortunately the branch line found new traffic from quarrying at Ffarquhar. After the mine closed, Thomas was sometimes sent to the mine to deliver empty trucks and take away loaded ones full of spoils. On one of these trips in 1953, he disregarded the warning board about the instability of the tunnels and fell into a mine shaft and had to be rescued by Gordon.
Wellsworth

**Wellsworth** is a town with a population of 550, located near Sodor's south-west coast, at the far northern end of the Brendam peninsula. As it is the start of Edward's Branch Line, the station is commonly referred to as **Edward's Station**.

## History

The name is most likely derived from a well, now dry, in the grounds of the Old Nunnery. Legend has it that St. Tibba (or Saint Ebba), in the seventh century, dug a well to collect water which yielded remarkable cures. A Nunnery was later established here in 1160. The Poor Clares, an Order of Catholic Nuns, settled there sometime after 1286 and built their hospital around the well. Though King Henry VIII nominally suppressed the Order in 1534, the Sudrian interpretation of the Act secured that St. Tibba's Hospital remained and expanded as need arose.

Wellsworth is a pleasant seaside village. The air here is reputedly pure and bracing. There is a Convalescent Home and many doctors recommend a period spent here to patients suffering from respiratory ailments. Sir Topham Hatt and his family live here their mansion, Topham Hall, located in the outskirts of the town. Crock's Scrap Yard is located near the Vicarage Orchard.

The line from Wellsworth to Brendam is one of Sodor's oldest and was built in 1870 as part of the Wellsworth and Brendam Railway, which was later extended to Knapford in 1912 to connect with the Tidmouth, Knapford and Elsbridge Light Railway before becoming part of the North Western Railway in 1914. Wellsworth became a station on the Main Line, while the line to Brendam was downgraded to a branch line, with the junction located slightly east of the station.

The Mail Depot is located in the town here, and Percy often picks up and drops off mail at the station. The station is also home to a large shunting yard and an engine shed. It consists of several sidings, a turntable and a two-berth engine shed, with a coal hopper nearby. As Wellsworth is some 280ft below Maron, engines based here serve as bankers for trains going up Gordon's Hill.

## Trivia

* Wellsworth is named after Elsworth, where the Rev. W. Awdry was Rector between 1946-53.
* Wellsworth Drive in Columbus, Ohio, is named after the town.
The Thin Clergyman

**The Thin Clergyman** is an English Anglican clergyman, railway enthusiast, and children's author. He is a fictionalised version of Wilbert Awdry, the author of *The Railway Series*.

## Biography

Though not much is known about the Thin Clergyman, he is shown to be a kind and caring man who loved engines and writing books on them, as well as organising some railway shows of his layout for the children.

## Appearances

### Season 14

* Sodor’s Legend of the Lost Treasure (cameo)
* Tit For Tat (not named)

## Trivia

* When the Thin and Fat Clergymen visited the Arlesdale Railway, they drove a maroon car with the number plate "040 BMC".