Thomas and Stepney

*“He runs a famous branch line. Did you know that?"*
"Huh! It may be famous, but my branch is first on the line. Everyone knows that too!”

―Percy and Thomas
***Thomas and Stepney*** is the sixteenth episode of the fourth series. It is based on the stories Bluebells of England and Stepney's Special from The Railway Series book, Stepney the "Bluebell" Engine.

## Plot

Thomas has been running his branch line like clockwork and shares his confidence to Percy, who doubtfully agrees, and then finds out that there is an engine with a branch line as famous as his and that the engine is proposing to visit. The engine is named Stepney, who is far away but the Fat Controller says that he will visit the North Western Railway someday.

Meanwhile, Stepney has been running the Bluebell Railway smoothly, which is not very long, much to his disappointment. Later, he sees Rusty, who saved him from scrap. Stepney tells Rusty that he is bored with the railway and is longing for a long journey, while Rusty suggests talking to his driver, who agrees with his engine. Fortunately, in the evening, he is delighted to discover that he has been invited to visit the Fat Controller's railway, in which Stepney heads off the following morning.

By now, the engines have heard the news and begin to talk about Stepney. However, Thomas is a bit jealous about how Stepney's famous branchline is as famous as his own and leaves to fetch his coaches. Percy looks at the passengers at Knapford on track 5 and claims they are stranded with no train, but he is wrong; the signal drops and before long, an engine's whistle is heard from a distance. Douglas tells the engines that Stepney has come. Stepney arrives through the junction, where the engines whistle a big welcome. Edward hopes that Stepney will meet Thomas, as they both have branch lines. Stepney then goes off to work with Duck to shunt coaches in the yard all afternoon.

Later that evening, Thomas sees Stepney and Duck but continues with his final branchline train. But then, the two tank engines hear shouting at the station and a sound of a ringing alarm. The alarm turns out to be the telephone which the signalman answers and finds that one of the trains is a special. Thomas is furious when he finds out that he has to be shunted to let another train pass and is frustrated to find Stepney pulling the special.

Thomas continues to grumble about it next morning, but Stepney explains the situation: he took an important passenger who chartered a special train which Duck let him take, yet when he is unable to finish, Thomas realises he was nervous since he did not know the line. Stepney flatters Thomas by calling him an expert and Thomas, no longer jealous and cross, proceeds to tell Stepney all about his branchline.

## Characters

* Thomas
* Edward
* Percy
* Douglas
* Stepney
* Rusty
* The Important Passenger
* Duck *(does not speak)*
* Henry *(cameo)*
* Gordon *(cameo)*
* James *(cameo)*
* Annie and Clarabel *(cameo)*
* The Vicar of Wellsworth *(cameo)*
* The Inspector with the Bowler Hat *(cameo)*
* One Little Boy *(cameo)*
* Sir Topham Hatt *(mentioned)*
* Stepney's Controller *(mentioned)*

## Locations

* Callandale
* Bluebell Valley
* Knapford
* Tidmouth Sheds
* Brendam Docks
	+ Sodor Shipping Company

## Trivia

* A deleted scene from the previous episode is used.
* In the US and the International versions, when the special is ordered and the music is heard. This is absent in the US version. Towards the end of the episode, the background shunting noise and some whistle sounds are also used in the US and the International versions.
* On PBS Kids Sprout airings, this episode used the unrestored opening credits.
* The area where Thomas travels in the first scene is the same set Sir Handel and George had their altercation in the fourth series episode, Steam Roller, but with standard gauge track added.
* A grey warehouse from TUGS appears at the shunting yards.

## Goofs

* When Thomas puffs past the field at the beginning, studio equipment is visible in the top-right corner. In addition, Clarabel appears to be facing forwards.
* While Percy is telling Thomas about Stepney, as the camera is on Thomas, Percy's right lamp iron is bent but when the camera is on Percy, it is normal.
* While the engines wait for Stepney, a tar wagon, perched on another tar wagon, is visible behind Gordon and Henry.
* Stepney has Rheneas/Smudger's whistle sound in most of the US and the International versions; his usual one is heard once. In the US and the International versions, Stepney has Duke's whistle sound when he is working with Duck.
* In the US and the International versions, when Percy finishes talking about Stepney, his whistle sound is a higher pitched version of Thomas' whistle.
* In the US and the International versions, Gordon, Duck and Douglas have the same whistle sound.
* When Thomas says "Why are we waiting? My passengers are being delayed," a black box is attached to his cab.
* In the close-up of Thomas' driver, Annie is facing the wrong way.

## Quotes

**Thomas**: Good morning Percy. My branch is the pride of the line. Wouldn't you agree?
**Percy**: Uh yes, Thomas, of course, but...
**Thomas**: But what Percy? Out with it.
**Percy**: Well there is another engine with the famous branch line too.
**Thomas**: Who? Where?
**Percy**: His name's Stepney. He's faraway, but Sir Topham Hatt says he may visit us.
**Thomas**: When?
**Percy**: Oh someday.
**Stepney**: Everyone's been so kind, but my railway is so short and I do miss a good long run.
**Rusty**: I think you should tell driver too. I'm sure he'll understand.
**Percy**: He runs a famous branch line. Did you know that?
**Thomas**: *[jealous]* Huh! It may be famous but my branch is the first on the line. Everyone knows that too. *[leaves to fetch his coaches]*
**Percy**: Look! Why have they all come? There's no train yet.
*[but Percy is wrong, as the signal drops, and an unfamiliar whistle is heard]*
**Douglas**: Here he comes!
*[Stepney arrives and whistles]*
**Edward**: I hope you'll meet Thomas too. You both have branch lines to be proud of.
**Thomas**: Shunted, and on my own branch too! It's a disgrace!
**Stepney**: I'm sorry I was a special.
**Thomas**: Why?
**Stepney**: An important passenger arrived just as you left, he ordered a special train and Duck let me take it. We had a splendid run, but...
**Thomas**: But, it can make an engine nervous not to know the line.
**Stepney**: Exactly. You're such an expert.
**Narrator**: Thomas felt much better. He couldn't be cross anymore and began telling Stepney all about his branch line. The End!

## Home Media Releases

### UK

* Thomas and Stepney and other Stories
* The Complete Series 4

### WAL

* Thomas the Tank Engine: Bumper Special 2

### US

* Rusty to the Rescue and Other Thomas Stories
* Best of Thomas
* Thomas & Friends Classic Volume 4

#### DVD Boxsets

* Adventure On the Tracks
* Best Tales on the Tracks
* Best of Thomas, Percy and James Platinum Edition
* Best of James/Best of Thomas **Double Feature**
* Ultimate Thomas Collection
* Best of Collection

### JPN

* New Thomas the Tank Engine Vol.5
* The Complete Works of Thomas the Tank Engine 2 Vol.4
* Try to Get Along

### AUS

* Thomas and Stepney and other Stories
* The Complete Series 4
* The Best of Thomas and Friends - Volume 1

#### DVD Boxsets

* Complete Series 1-10
* Classic Collection
* Series Three and Series Four **Double Pack**

### NOR

* Favourites From Thomas and Friends (Norwegian VHS/DVD)
* Thomas and Stepney *(Norwegian VHS)*

### MYS

* Passengers and Polish and Other Thomas Adventures
* Peter Sam and the Refreshment Lady and Other Adventures

### NL

* Rock 'n Roll (Dutch DVD)
* The Greatest Stories: The Adventures of Thomas

### UKR

* A Train Thomas and Friends
* Thomas and Friends - Series 4 (Ukrainian DVD)

### THA

* Thomas and Friends - Volume 14 (Thai DVD)

### HK

* Thomas and Friends Volume 10 (Thai DVD)
* Thomas and Friends Volume 2 (DVD)

### TWN

* Thomas and Friends Volume 12 (Taiwanese DVD)