Thomas & The Old Oak Tree

**Thomas & The Old Oak Tree** is the ninth episode of the fourth season.

## Plot

Thomas enjoys working on his branch line like clockwork with his faithful driver, who he worked for many years. Sometimes after the day's work is over, they stop by The Old Oak Tree where his driver visited since he was a child, as it was a peaceful spot. Thomas notices his driver is getting old and would soon have to retire. His driver cheers him up that "they'll be good friends no matter what happens."

The next morning, Thomas sees a different driver. He asks where his driver is, the new driver will be his driver today, and orders Thomas to work. The new driver didn't have the same experience as Thomas' driver had. Thomas starts to become concerned about his driver, thinking he has retired after all. As the days pass, Thomas still didn't see his driver, becoming more frustrated. One afternoon, the new driver wanted Thomas to move across the Island, but Thomas refuses until he knows where his driver is. The new driver slowly reveals that Thomas' driver has a virus, much worse than Coughs & Sneezles. The new driver explains everything with one word standing out from the rest: terminal.

Later that night, Thomas depressively returns to his shed. The other engines didn't know how to make Thomas feel better. Throughout the rest of the week, Thomas couldn't attend his work properly: shunting trucks to the work sidings and missing the station platform.

While at Knapford Station, the new driver was called into Sir Topham Hatt's Office. While sharing nervous glances, Sir Topham Hatt announces Thomas' driver died at 8 o'clock this morning. Thomas begans to cry as his heart sank from hearing the news about his driver. He then remembers what his driver said about "being friends no matter what happens." Thomas had an idea to honor his driver, but doesn't know where it would be at. Sir Topham Hatt shares a brain cell that Thomas' driver had a request for his funeral to pull a special train to take him to his final resting place at The Old Oak Tree.

The funeral train was only fitting for Annie & Clarabel, which had some of their seats removed for the casket and the driver's family. They made their way to The Old Oak Tree, where Thomas says goodbye to his driver. Even though his driver deceased, whenever he visits The Old Oak Tree, his driver will still be there to see him.

## Characters

* Thomas
* Thomas' Driver
* Thomas' New Driver
* Sir Topham Hatt
* Henry *(does not speak)*
* Gordon *(does not speak)*
* James *(does not speak)*
* Percy *(does not speak)*
* Annie & Clarabel *(do not speak)*
* Toby *(stock footage cameo)*
* Bertie *(cameo)*
* Trevor *(cameo)*
* Billy *(cameo)*
* Rebecca *(cameo)*
* Terence *(cameo)*

## Locations

* Windmill
* Ffarquhar
	+ Ffarquhar Station
	+ Ffarquhar Sheds *(stock footage)*
* The Old Oak Tree
* Tidmouth Sheds
* Knapford
	+ Knapford Shunting Yard
	+ Knapford Station

## Trivia

* Stock footage from Thomas' Plan is used.
* This is the first episode of the following:
	+ The first episode in which someone dies.
	+ The first episode since Thomas Working Hard in which only one vehicle speaks and the rest are humans.
	+ In filming order, this is the first appearance of a Windmill. Since the scenes were reused as "pre-filmed" stock footage for Clarabel's New Friend.
	+ The first episode is use close-up models and Large-Scaled figurines.
* This is the only appearance of The Old Oak Tree.

## Errors

* Because stock footage was used for the Ffarquhar Sheds scene, Toby is in his old livery.