Toad Stands By

*“Oliver's no use at all, he thinks he's very clever!*
He says that he can manage us; That's the best joke ever!

When he orders us about, With the greatest folly,

We just push him down the well... Pop goes Old Ollie!”

―Scruffey and the trucks
***Toad Stands By*** is the twentieth episode of the fourth series. It is based on the story of the same name from The Railway Series book, Oliver the Western Engine.

## Plot

Oliver returns from the works after an earlier incident with trucks that pushed him into a turntable well. Oliver seems as good as new but is worried about the trucks, thinking that he would rather not use them. The trucks, prompted by their ringleader, Scruffey, sing a rude songto spite him. Thomas, Percy and Duck are shocked and angrily order them to be quiet, but since they cannot be everywhere at once, the trucks just continue singing where they are not at.

Toad, fearing that the matter may escalate, asks Douglas to speak with Oliver and gives him an idea. Oliver, feeling a sense of responsibility after what the trucks did to him previously, agrees with Toad. Following Toad's advice, Oliver handles the worst trucks two by two so he can handle Scruffey last. Oliver soon shunts S.C. Ruffey and his lieutenants and prepares to pull them, but Scruffey whispers to the trucks to hold back and they do. Oliver, however, is determined and uses all of his strength against the trucks. Scruffey is subsequently pulled apart, much to the horror of the other trucks and the delight of Duck and Toad.

The Fat Controller arrives and scrutinises the remains. He attributes it to Scruffey's poor build due to material fatigue and decides to have him repaired. Sometime later, the trucks become fearful of Oliver and whisper to each other not to anger him. Scruffey, who is now repaired, wisely remains silent.

## Characters

* Thomas
* Percy
* Duck
* Douglas
* Oliver
* Troublesome Trucks
* Scruffey
* Toad
* Sir Topham Hatt
* Henry *(cameo)*
* James *(cameo)*
* Märklin Engine *(scrapped model cameo)*

## Locations

* Crovan's Gate Yards
* Callan
* Tidmouth Sheds
* Knapford Yards
* Skarloey Railway Engine Sheds
* The Works *(mentioned)*

## Trivia

* Going by production order, this is the twenty-third episode of the fourth series.
* Despite its placement in the fourth series, this episode picks up right where the third series episode Oliver Owns Up leaves off. Stock footage from said episode is used, as a reference to that episode is made in this episode as well.
* This is the fifth time where Douglas appears without Donald, the first being in the third series episode, Escape, and the second being in the previous three fourth series episodes, Four Little Engines,  Rusty to the Rescue and Thomas and Stepney.
* At the beginning of the episode, the scrapyard Oliver passes is really the Skarloey Railway Engine Sheds set redressed with scrap models of Thomas, Gordon, and Donald and Douglas.
* This episode marks the first occurrence of a few things:
	+ This is the first time tankers have faces. The faces are the same ones used on the Skarloey Railway's slate trucks.
	+ This is the first episode to feature LNER 12 Ton Vans with faces.
	+ This episode marks Toad's first speaking and leading roles in the television series.
* This episode also marks the only occurrence of a few things:
	+ Oliver and Toad's only speaking roles in the fourth series.
	+ S.C. Ruffey's only appearance, though he appears in a deleted scene from the fifth series episode Horrid Lorry; his face was also reused for some other trucks in the fifth series.
* The song the trucks sing when Oliver arrives at the yard has the same tune as Pop Goes the Diesel.
* The loud crashing sound effect heard when S.C. Ruffey falls apart would be reused in several other episodes, notably in the fifth series episode, Rusty and the Boulder, and in a few New Series episodes up until the episode, Mountain Marvel.
* A scrap piece of the Goods engine and the steel company from TUGS can be spotted.

## Goofs

* In a close-up of the trucks singing, one truck has a broken buffer.
* Before the trucks start singing, there are two trucks in-between Duck and Thomas. However when the trucks stop singing and are told to be quiet, they disappear.
* When the line "with the greatest fally" is said, an insect can be seen on one of the trucks' face.
* When the trucks are singing, a spider can be seen crawling on a van before the close-up of Duck.
* When Oliver stops after going in between two rows of trucks, in one shot he is stopped just before two vans on either side, but then in the next shot he is between the two vans on either side.
* When Oliver says "It's really my fault... I shouldn't have fallen in the turntable well", Henry's trucks wobble and then derail.
* Douglas has Duck's whistle sound when he agrees to Toad's plan. At the end of the episode, Douglas has a different whistle sound.
* In the close-up shots of Oliver when he is talking to Duck and Toad, plastic bases can be seen under his driver and fireman's feet.
* When Oliver starts pulling the trucks, Scruffey is right next to Toad, but in the head-on shot of him groaning, he is several metres ahead of Toad.
* During the head-on shots of Scruffey when Oliver attempts to pull the trucks, the number of chain links on his coupling doubles.
* When Scruffey collapses, his axles disappear.
* Sir Topham Hatt is missing his eyebrows when he speaks to Oliver and Scruffey.
* When Sir Topham Hatt goes to inspect Scruffey, the coal load in Oliver's bunker is not correctly fitted.
* Scruffey, at the end of the episode, has only two chains on his hook.

## Quotes

**Scruffey and the trucks**: *[sing]* Oliver's no use at all, he thinks he's very clever.
He says that he can manage us, that's the best joke ever!
When he orders us about with the greatest folly, we just push him down the well!
"POP" goes Old Ollie!
**Thomas, Duck and Percy**: BE QUIET!
**Thomas, Duck and Percy**: We're sorry, Oliver.
**Oliver**: It's really my fault. I shouldn't fallen into the turntable well.

**Narrator**: Toad the Brake van felt sorry for Oliver too.
**Toad**: I'm worried Mr. Douglas. This disrespect for engines. Where's it going to end?
**Douglas**: Who knows?
**Toad**: I've got a plan Mr. Douglas. May I stay here today and help Mr. Oliver? We're both Great Western and must stand together.
**Douglas**: Certainly Toad.
**Duck**: Goodness gracious Toad. I don't think you should suggest such a thing to Oliver.
**Oliver**: No Duck, Toad's right. It's really my fault. I must put this trouble right.
**Toad**: I meant no disrespect you understand.
**Oliver**: Of course not Toad. Anyway, driver says the same and he's arranged it with the stationmaster.
**Duck**: Very well Oliver. But I must hurry. My passengers will be waiting. Good luck.
**Oliver**: So long.
**Toad**: *[seeing Oliver shunting trucks/cars]* That's the way Mr. Oliver and if you leave that Scruffey to last, then you'll have him behind you and You can bump him if he starts his nonsense.
*[Oliver shunts Scruffey]*
**Scruffey**: Hold back, hold back! And pass the word to the others. [The silly cars giggled]
**Narrator**: But Oliver knew what to do. There was plenty of sand on the rails and his wheels gripped splendidly. He gave a great heave.
**Scruffey**: Ooh! I don't like this!
**Duck**: Go on! Well done boy, well done!
**Scruffey**: OH! OH! I'm coming apart! *(breaks himself apart)*
**Sir Topham Hatt**: Well Oliver, so you don't know your own strength, is that it?
**Oliver**: *(stuttering)* No, sir.
**Sir Topham Hatt**: *[inspects Scruffey]* As I thought. Rotten wood, rusty frames. Maybe if we put you back together, you'll earn yourself a better name.

**Cars**: Take care with Mr. Oliver. If you play tricks on him, you'll never be the same car again!
**Narrator**: Scruffey has learned his lesson and says nothing at all. The End!

## Home Media Releases

### UK

* Thomas and Stepney and other Stories *(Direct-to-Home Video)*
* Biggest Party Video Ever!
* The Complete Series 4

### US

* Thomas and the Special Letter and Other Stories *(Direct-to-Home Video)*
* Thomas & Friends Classic Volume 4

#### DVD Packs

* James Goes Buzz Buzz/Thomas and the Special Letter **Double Feature**
* Totally Thomas Volume 6

### AUS

* Thomas and Stepney and other Stories *(Direct-to-Home Video)*
* The Complete Series 4

#### DVD Boxsets

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

### JPN

* New Thomas the Tank Engine Vol.3 *(Direct-to-Home Video)*
* The Complete Works of Thomas the Tank Engine 2 Vol.5
* Tell Me Stories, Thomas

### PHL

* Thomas and Friends Collection
* Thomas and the Special Letter (Philippine DVD)

### MYS

* Thomas and the Special Letter and Other Thomas Adventures
* Thomas and the Special Letter and Other Adventures

### NL

* The Greatest Stories: The Adventures of Thomas, James and Henry
* Thomas and the Special Letter (Dutch DVD)

### UKR

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

### THA

* Thomas and Friends - Volume 15 (Thai DVD)