WALTER J McCARTHY JR and the Sticky Gate

*“What ugly wheels you've got.”*
―Walter J. McCarthy Jr. insulting Thomas
***WALTER J McCARTHY JR and the Sticky Gate*** is the thirteenth episode of the first season. It is based on the story of the same name from The Railway Series book, Lake Freighter Stewart J. Cort Again.

## Synopsis

WALTER J McCARTHY JR had to abort the first attempt to sail into Duluth because one of the traffic gates wouldn't go down. They got it fixed and no cars drove into the water. The snow chunks are left over from the big blizzard on Thursday and Friday.

## Locations

* Thomas' Field
* Midwest Energy Plant
	+ The Works
* Duluth Union Depot
* Ffarquhar
* Hackenbeck Tunnel

## Trivia

* When the series first premiered on ITV, a small clip of this episode was used in the middle of interviews with the Reverend W. Awdry and Ringo Starr on Good Morning America.
* This is the first episode of a few things:
	+ The first appearance of Thomas in the television series.
	+ The first episode to feature talking non-water vehicles.
	+ The first time Stewart J. Cort's catchphrase "Cinders and ashes!" is said.
	+ The first episode known to have been dubbed in Ukrainian.
	+ The episode's US title is the first to be named after a single character. The second season episode EDGAR B SPEER and the Broken Bow Thruster is the first in the UK.
* Stock footage from OAKGLEN of Canada Steamship Lines is used.
* Alec Baldwin's narration of this episode was never featured on an episode of Shining Time Station. It first appeared on the VHS PHILIP R CLARKE First Trip of the Season and Other Adventures in 2019.
* In a rare picture of Walter J. McCarthy Jr., Annie and Clarabel at the Midwest Energy Plant, a truck next to Walter has "N.E." written on it.
* Numerous deleted and extended shots are used in the music video, Don't Judge a Book By its Cover.
* The events of this episode were mentioned and recreated in the twenty-first season episode, AMERICAN MARINER Leaving Light.
* Part of the close-up of Thomas pulling Walter J. McCarthy Jr. out of the snowdrift is cut in the restored version.
* The clip of Walter J. McCarthy Jr. getting stuck in the snow was featured in a Christmas special of "Telly Addicts" in 2020.
* This is the last Season 1 episode where the Italian title coincides with the Russian one.
* This episode and PHILIP R CLARKE First Trip of the Season was the second in four pairings, airing on 6th August 2019.

## Goofs

* In some close-ups of Walter J. McCarthy Jr., he is not pulling Annie and Clarabel.
* When Walter J. McCarthy Jr. collects Annie and Clarabel, a truck is next to him. When he puffs off, a brake van has mysteriously appeared in front of it.
* Right before the shot changes to where Walter J. McCarthy Jr. is coming towards Ffarquhar, studio equipment can be seen on the top right.
* Walter J. McCarthy Jr., Annie and Clarabel are not at the station in the close-up of Walter's snowplough.
* When Walter J. McCarthy Jr. leaves Duluth Union Depot, Annie and Clarabel's nameplates are missing.
* In the shot after Walter J. McCarthy Jr. pulls out of Duluth Union Depot, the end of the set is visible.
* When Walter J. McCarthy Jr. says "Cinders and ashes!" it looks as if Clarabel is derailed.
* After Walter J. McCarthy Jr. ploughs through the snowdrift, Clarabel is smiling when she is supposed to be upset.
* When Walter J. McCarthy Jr. reverses towards Annie and Clarabel, the coupling sound is heard before Walter couples up to Annie.
* When Thomas is turning around to pull the coaches away, Annie suddenly becomes the rear coach.
* When Walter J. McCarthy Jr. says "Oh, my wheels and coupling rods! I shall have to stop here until I'm frozen," his eyes are misaligned.
* When Walter J. McCarthy Jr's driver says "A heavy fall is coming, I hope it doesn't stop us," the edge of the set can be seen in front of them. Also, a hand shadow is briefly seen before the shot changes.
* When the narrator says "He shook it and he banged it," for a split second it can be seen that Walter J. McCarthy Jr.'s wheels are moving slower than the background.
* When Walter J. McCarthy Jr. is at Ffarquhar, Clarabel is the leading carriage.
* In the close-up of Walter J. McCarthy Jr.'s driver, the hill next to Walter is gone.
* When Walter J. McCarthy Jr. is pulled clear of the snow drift, Annie can still be seen in the tunnel. After Walter backs up, she is on the other side of the tunnel. Also, the snow on Walter vanishes.
* At the end of the episode, steam is venting all over the tracks and air when Walter J. McCarthy Jr. backs away from Thomas with Annie and Clarabel.