Skarloey's Special Surprise

**Skarloey's Special Surprise** is the twenty-second episode of the first season.

## Plot

Every night, the narrow gauge engines would listen to Duke's stories about the Mid Sodor Railway. Luke wanted Skarloey to tell him about his stories of his youth when he was cabless, but Rheneas tells him that was enough stories for the night. Luke noticed Skarloey feeling a bit sad, as he made an excuse for thinking about something that made him fell into pieces. The next morning, Thomas arrived at the Transfer Yards to collect some scrap trucks to the Scrapyards in Wellsworth when he noticed Skarloey thinking about his old friend Neil from his young days. Skarloey explains to Thomas that Neil was an old engine and that old engines get sent to the scrapyards to be cut up when broken down. Thomas was determined that very old engines wouldn't be scrapped as he believes that they could be found and eventually restored. And with that, he puffed away to the scrapyards.

When he arrived, Reg was there sorting out scrap and was pleased to see Thomas with his delivery. As soon as he was uncoupled from his trucks, he went past an old wooden shed where he heard a voice. As he backed down, he saw that the voice came from an old boxy engine which was unsurprisingly Neil. Neil then tells Thomas about his Sodor history. Thomas was too excited to tell Skarloey the news, he darted out of the scrapyard without introducing himself to Neil much to his surprise. Thomas returned to the Transfer Yard only to find Mr. Percival who tells Thomas that Skarloey had gone to the Sodor Steamworks for minor boiler repairs. Thomas left the Transfer Yards to work on his branch line. Once completed his branch line run, Thomas took the Fat Controller to the scrapyard to show him Neil, and plans to restore him and have a welcome party at Ulfstead Castle. Neil thanks Thomas and the little blue tank engine took his controller back to Knapford where he saw Mr. Percival waiting on the platform and also told him about Neil, as well a plan to surprise Skarloey while he's in the Steamworks.

The next day, Skarloey was still being repaired at the Steamworks, as Victor and Kevin were making sure he was ready to go. Just then, Kevin spotted Thomas outside approaching the Steamworks pulling a flatbed with a large crate. He also brought Sir Topham, Mr. Percival and Sir Robert Norramby to give Skarloey his special surprise. The crate was lifted off the truck, to reveal Neil much to everyone's shocking surprise, including Skarloey who was very happy to see his old friend again for thinking he was scrapped years ago. Kevin was full of questions asking about Skarloey's history with Neil. The earl announces that Neil was to be restored into steam and would be a new addition to his Estate Railway. Over the past few days, Victor and Kevin were working hard restoring Neil into steam. Once the restoration was complete, Neil thanks Victor and Kevin, and puffed away to Ulfstead Castle where the welcome party took place. Stephen thought he was oldest engine on Sodor as Skarloey tells him that Neil was a lot older than he was. The Fat Controller's mother, Dowager Hatt took a dislike to Neil and believes that he should be scrapped despite his age. Glynn tells the engines that he used to work with Neil when he was first built. Neil was happy to see Glynn again as well, and felt like working in a castle railway was a dream come true, as everyone bursts into laughter.

## Characters

* Thomas
* Neil
* Stephen
* Glynn
* Reg
* Skarloey
* Rheneas
* Sir Handel
* Peter Sam
* Duke
* Victor
* Luke
* Millie
* Kevin
* Sir Topham Hatt
* Dowager Hatt
* Mr. Percival
* Sir Robert Norramby
* Edward (*cameo*)
* Gordon (*cameo*)
* BoCo (*cameo*)
* Philip (*cameo*)
* Rusty (*cameo*)
* Duncan (*cameo*)
* Bertram (*cameo*)
* Annie and Clarabel (*cameo*)
* Trevor (*cameo*)
* Nelson (*cameo*)
* Lady Hatt (*cameo*)
* Stephen Hatt (*cameo*)
* Bridget Hatt (*cameo*)
* Jem Cole (*cameo*)

## Locations

* The Depot
* The Transfer Yards
* Crocks Scrap Yard
* Knapford
* Sodor Steamworks
* Ulfstead Castle
* Wellsworth (*mentioned*)
* Great Waterton (*mentioned*)
* Ffarquhar Branch Line (*mentioned*)

## Cast

* Bikliqi Studios as Thomas
* BorisFanGirl as Millie
* Crane Engine Studios as Sir Robert Norramby
* Dueling Express as Glynn and Duke
* Elliot Killick-Ward as Stephen
* Gingercat65 as Dowager Hatt
* Holden Stafford as Kevin
* Joseph's Railway Studios as Reg
* Numpty Pootis 8012 as Neil
* Oliver gwr 1995 Thomas the tank engine fan as Rheneas
* Red E2 Engine as Sir Handel
* SteamTeam3211 as Luke, Sir Topham Hatt and Mr. Percival
* SudrianRailwayStudios as Peter Sam
* TheGermanofSodor as Victor
* TidmouthHarbour52 as Skarloey

## Trivia

* This episode marks the first of a few things:
	+ The first episode to feature TidmouthHarbour52 as Skarloey instead of Dueling Express. The role will eventually become permanent starting with the Season 2 episode, Henry's Heavy Haul.
	+ The first episode to feature BorisFanGirl as part of the cast. Originally, TwilightAngel was meant to voice Millie in the series until she left the cast for unknown circumstances. Her role of Henrietta would also go to her aforementioned replacement voice actress.
* This episode marks the last of a few things:
	+ The second and last episode to have Dueling Express as Duke. Starting from Duke Suits his Grace, the role was given to Tom Allmark.
	+ The last episode to have Gingercat65 in the cast altogether.
* This episode marks Dowager Hatt's only speaking role in the season as well as the only episode where she is voiced by Gingercat65. Starting with Season 2, the role was given to Dana-Kenzie.
* The events from the Railway Series book, Very Old Engines were mentioned a couple of times throughout the episode, as well as the Season 4 episode, Bulldog.

## Watch Episode

Skarloey's Special Surprise (Thomas & Friends ERTL Adventures; Season 1; Episode 22)