Thomas & Friends series 2

Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends is a children's television series about the engines and other characters working on the railways of the Island of Sodor, and is based on The Railway Series of books written by Rev. W. Awdry.

This article lists and details episodes from the second season of this series, which was first broadcast in 1986. Most episodes in this season have two titles: the original titles (also known as "UK titles") are unbracketed, while American-adapted titles (also indicated by " - US") are bracketed. Both titles are considered valid, although the original titles are perhaps more correct than the American-adapted titles.

Season 2 was originally narrated by Ringo Starr, however George Carlin has since re-narrated the episodes for American audiences. Template:Spoiler

Episodes

Thomas, Percy and the Coal (Double Trouble - US)

One morning, Thomas boasts to Percy and Toby about blue being the only colour for a 'Really Useful Engine'. They both laugh and ignore him. Later, Thomas is resting in a siding when Percy brings some trucks to be filled by a coal hopper. The trucks push too hard - Percy is forced through the buffers - the coal comes down - all over Thomas! He's not exactly pleased at this, thinking Percy (who, while concerned, can't help but laugh) did it on purpose. He's so dirty that Toby has to take his next train. That night, Thomas and Percy are still quarrelling. Toby, though, thinks it a great joke. Next morning, Thomas is waiting at the station when Percy arrives with some trucks. He's worn out, so his Driver tells him to go and have a drink - at the siding with the unsafe buffers... Sure enough, Percy slides through the buffers and into a pile of coal. Thomas sees all, and leaves when the signal drops, happy that Percy's learnt his lesson as well. Thomas and Percy make up that night, and both engines promise to be more careful of coal.

• Featuring Thomas, Percy, Toby, Annie and Clarabel, and the Troublesome Trucks.
• Cameo by The Fat Controller.
• This is the first episode based on a story by Christopher Awdry.
• Percy's first accident.
• Despite having a different name in the US, George Carlin, as Mr. Conductor, refers to this story as Thomas, Percy and the Coal in Shining Time Station.

Cows (A Cow on the Line - US)

Edward is busy taking trucks to the yard, when he passes a paddock full of cows. The cows are not used to the noise and smoke of steam engines, and charge the train, breaking off the last few trucks. Edward continues on, not suspecting a thing. When he finds out, Gordon and Henry tease him about being scared of cows, but Toby encourages Edward, saying he knows about the difficulty of cows. Later, Gordon puffs along with his passenger train along the main line, but finds a stray cow on the bridge. He tries to shoo it, but it won't move. Henry then comes the other way, and also tries to shoo her, but she won't budge. The signalman finds out the cows name is Bluebell, and she's looking for her calf. They soon retrieve it, and Bluebell, now happy to see her calf, walks off the bridge. Gordon and Henry carry on, hoping to keep the story quiet. The other engines soon find out, and laugh about it. Gordon tries to explain, but Edward, Thomas, James and Toby all believe Gordon was scared of the cow, embarrassing him greatly.

• Featuring Edward, Gordon, Henry, Percy, Toby, Troublesome Trucks, and Bluebell the Cow.
• Cameos by James and Thomas

Bertie's Chase

One morning, Thomas' fireman is not coming to work, so Bertie promises Thomas that he will take the passengers to Edward's train for their journey. But Edward is not informed of this, and leaves the junction just before Bertie arrives. A very long chase ensues, but Bertie finally manages to catch up with Edward at the third station. Edward apologizes for the chase, the passengers board Edward's train, and Bertie informs Thomas that his passengers are on the train. Thomas gratefully thanks his friend.

• Featuring Edward, Bertie, and Thomas

Saved from Scrap

Edward is busy on his branch line. He collects trucks of scrap near the scrapyard, and finds a small old traction engine parked near the line. Edward discovers the traction engine's name is Trevor, and that he's going to be broken up soon. Trevor tells Edward stories about the old days, and that now he's not useful anymore. Edward is distraught, and tries to figure out a way of saving him from scrap. He soon find the right person to buy him, when he reaches Wellsworth Station. The person is Edward's friend, The Vicar. He owns an Orchard near Edward's line, and so Edward tried to convince him to buy Trevor. At the scrapyard, Trevor is cleaned and run by his driver, Jem Cole. Trevor is excited, and soon shows off his paces when the Vicar and his sons arrive. Later, the Vicar walks out of the office saying he 'got him for cheap'. Trevor is delighted, as he now has a home. Trevor lives now at the Vicarage Orchard, and absolutely loves the church fete, where he gives rides to children. Edward is happy too, and Trevor always contemplates how much he loves children, when the job is done.

• Introducing Trevor
• Featuring Edward, Trevor, Thomas, The Vicar, and Jem Cole.
• Cameos by Percy, Gordon and James

Old Iron

James is cross with Edward when he shows up late at the station. James returns to the shed saying that Edward clanks about like a lot of old iron and makes the other engines wait. A few days later, James's driver is ill, so his fireman prepares him for shunting. Suddenly, James starts down the line after two boys fiddle with his controls while the fireman is away. The signalman calls for the engine inspector who arrives with Edward. He joins Edward's crew and James's fireman and the crew give chase after James. James soon finds himself going faster and faster, and realizes he has no driver and can't stop! Edward and his crew soon catch up with a frightened James, where the engine inspector lassoes James's buffer with a noose of rope, while the fireman scrambles over and takes control. James apologizes to Edward for calling him old iron, and thanks him for saving him. They arrive at the station where the Fat Controller is waiting. He sends James to the shed for a rest, and tells Edward he will go to the works to be mended. Edward is most thrilled.

• Featuring James, Edward, Thomas, Percy, and The Fat Controller
• Cameos by Henry and Gordon.

Thomas and Trevor (A New Friend for Thomas - US)

Trevor is happy at the Vicarage Orchard, but is sometimes sad because he doesn't have enough work. Edward cheers him up when he tells him he will be working in the Harbour with Thomas. Trevor is delighted, and is soon put on a flat truck. Edward takes him to meet Thomas. Thomas, first introduced to Trevor, is doubtful and confused. He takes him to Harbour, and Trevor explains along the way of what he is and what he does. Thomas is still confused, and Trevor reassures him that he can be useful without rails. When they arrive at the harbour, they find mess everywhere. Luckily Trevor is helping haul the loads to their right places, and Thomas brings Annie and Clarabel with children aboard. Trevor gives children rides, and then has to go home. Back at the Orchard, Trevor is sad his fun ended, but Thomas cheered him up. That night, Trevor contemplated on meeting new friends, helping out, and making children happy.

• Featuring Trevor, Thomas, Edward, Annie and Clarabel
• This story was originally written by Christopher Awdry for a Thomas Annual.

Percy and the Signal

Percy is being very cheeky to the Big Engines, first teasing Gordon and then convincing James to stay in his shed and not do his work. To pay him back, Gordon and James devise a plan, suggesting the idea of "Backing Signals" to Percy, who puffs off over-confidently. When Percy comes to a signal that points upwards rather than downwards to indicate a clear line, Percy mistakes this for a "Backing Signal", and moves backwards rather than forwards. Percy's driver explains this, but not before Gordon witnesses everything, much to Percy's embarrassment.

That night in the sheds, Gordon and James talk about signals. They laugh, but Percy thinks they're being very silly.

• Featuring Percy, Gordon, James and The Fat Controller
• Cameos by Thomas, Edward and Henry

Duck Takes Charge

Percy is very busy at the harbour. He tells the other engines, and they say he doesn't work hard enough. Soon the Fat Controller understands Percy, and buys a new engine called Montague. The engine arrives, and says his nickname is Duck because he has been said to waddle, which of course he can't. Sir Topham Hatt decides to name him Duck, and has Percy show him around. Soon the bigger engines find out, and tease Duck about his name, and start ordering him around. He gets annoyed, and soon makes a plan to stop them. That evening, Duck and Percy park in front of the sheds, disabling the big engines from entering. Sir Topham Hatt soon arrives and is very cross, and Duck explains his actions. Sir Topham Hatt scolds Duck & Percy, and then scolds the big engines, saying they made the disturbance. Just as the Fat Controller promised, Percy is then sent to work on Thomas' branch line, leaving Duck to manage alone, which he does very easily.

• Introducing Duck
• Featuring Percy, Duck, Gordon, James, Henry and The Fat Controller.
• Cameo by Thomas
• Toby is mentioned.

Percy and Harold (Percy Proves a Point - US)

While at work on the new harbour, Percy meets Harold, a helicopter who calls the railway "slow, not much use, and quite out of date," and to add to this, his noisy propeller irritates the little engine. Percy returns to the quarry to pick up trucks, and explains to Toby that he will get payback. His chance comes when he sees Harold ahead, and the race is on. When Percy reaches the harbour wharf, he is afraid he's lost. But sure enough, his Driver spots Harold landing in the airfield a few minutes after. His crew sing him a song commemorating the event, and Percy is very happy. He and Harold are now friends.

• Introducing Harold
• Featuring Percy, Harold, Toby and Thomas.

The Runaway

Thomas isn't feeling well. He goes to the Works, and Duck takes over his work. Soon, Thomas comes back, albeit with a small problem: his brakes aren't always working properly. This causes a great deal of trouble for his crew, but eventually they learn to be especially careful. One day, Thomas' fireman is taken ill, and Thomas rests at a station to wait for Henry's passengers. While his crew chats on the platform, Thomas starts to roll away, and realizes the replacement didn't put his brakes on properly, and steam away by himself just as Henry pulls in, and becoming a Runaway! Harold is quickly called, and, with the Inspector, he flies away, and gives chase to Thomas. The little blue engine finally tires near a station, and Harold lands in time for the Inspector to leap into Thomas' cab and stop him. Grateful, Thomas agrees with the Inspector that it won't happen again.

• Featuring Thomas, Harold, Duck, Percy, Annie and Clarabel, Terence, Edward, Henry, Toby and The Fat Controller.
• Bertie is mentioned.

Percy Takes the Plunge

Percy is boasting to some other engines about how he braved bad weather to help Thomas. Henry shows up and angrily sends the engines away. Percy teases Henry saying "water is nothing to an engine with determination" (referring to the time Henry ran into the tunnel for fear of the rain spoiling his paint). Percy on the other hand says he's not afraid of water. Later, at the harbour, Percy is sitting idle with Thomas looking at a "Danger" board, sitting on a quay that has sunk into the water. Thomas warns Percy about it (remembering when he went past a similar board and fell down a mine) but Percy scoffs at it. A few days later he asks some trucks to give him a bump when they get to the quay. He plans to have the trucks push him past the board, and then make them stop. They bump him, and knock his driver and fireman off the footplate. Percy slides past the board, but can't stop, and runs right into the water! The Fat Controller comes in a boat and scolds Percy, and tells him that he can't be rescued until high tide. It's late at night when floating cranes come and lift Percy out of the water. Percy feels very silly when he is taken to the works on Henry's freight train. Henry teases him about the incident saying he didn't have enough determination, and says he might like it next time. Percy is now quite confident that there won't be a next time.

• Featuring Percy, Thomas, Henry, Bill and Ben (unnamed), The Fat Controller, and the Troublesome Trucks.
• Cameo by Diesel (not yet introduced).
• This is the first accident where the Breakdown Train is not used.

Pop Goes the Diesel

Duck is working very hard on the main line, but the work is very hard for all the engines, so the Fat Controller brings a diesel named "Diesel" for a trial on the Island. Duck is told to show Diesel around and how to work, but Diesel rejects Duck's advice and instead tries to pull some very old trucks. Unfortunately for Diesel, the trucks' brakes are still on, and Diesel pulls them so hard that the brakes snap and cause a great mess on the railway. Duck laughs as the trucks sing "Pop Goes the Diesel" to bully Diesel. Diesel is then told to help clear the mess with the Breakdown Train.

Diesel is still angry, for he believes the incident was Duck's fault, and plans to get back at the Great Western Engine........

• Introducing Diesel
• Featuring Duck, Diesel, Gordon, Henry, James, Percy, The Fat Controller, and the Troublesome Trucks
• Cameos by Thomas and Toby
• This story features the first song sung by trucks, and is the first of three episodes often referred to as the 'Diesel trilogy'.

Dirty Work (Diesel's Devious Deed - US)

Diesel is sulking, since the trucks won't stop singing "Pop Goes the Diesel", despite Duck, Gordon, Henry and James telling them to stop. But Diesel still holds a grudge against Duck, and finally makes a plan to get revenge, which consists of telling tales about Gordon, James and Henry to the trucks, but not without adding that Duck told him first.

Soon the word spreads, and Gordon, James and Henry decide to get back at Duck. They bar him from the shed, causing the Fat Controller to intervene. Apparently, someone has called Gordon, James and Henry a "Galloping Sausage", "Rusty Red Scrap Iron", and "Old Square Wheels" respectively, and Diesel also states that he knows nothing about the incident.

With no evidence to prove Duck innocent, the Fat Controller sends Duck to Edward's station for a while. Duck tearfully leaves, while Diesel smirks in triumph.........

• Featuring Diesel, Duck, Henry, Gordon, James, the Troublesome Trucks and The Fat Controller.

A Close Shave (A Close Shave for Duck - US)

Duck sadly arrives at Edward's station, where he tells Edward about Diesel's lies, but the ever-kind Edward cheers him up and they both get to work with some troublesome trucks. After the work, Duck goes for a run around the countryside, until he hears a guard's warning whistle and runs for his life: apparently the trucks have broken away from Edward and, for reasons unknown, are chasing Duck down the line, determined to cause an accident. Duck tries to escape, but the trucks catch up and almost push him into the back of James' coaches. Duck turns into a siding at the last minute, but is unable to stop and crashes into a barber shop at the end of the railway, where an angry barber lathers Duck's face to teach him a lesson for scaring the customers. Then, Thomas, Percy and the Fat Controller arrive. As Thomas and Percy clear up the derailed trucks, the Fat Controller explains that Duck narrowly avoided a worse accident. The barber apologises and washes Duck's face just as Thomas pulls Duck out of the shop. The Fat Controller then tells Duck that he never believed Diesel in the first place and sent him packing. The other engines are now sorry and want Duck back.

A few days later, Duck returns home, where he is greeted by a loud chorus of cheers and whistles from Thomas, Percy, James, Gordon and Henry.

• Featuring Duck, Edward, the Troublesome Trucks, Thomas, and The Fat Controller
• Cameos by Percy, Henry, James and Gordon.
• This story features Duck's first accident

Better Late Than Never

The viaduct is being repaired, but the Fat Controller doesn't want to close the viaduct during the repairs, and this makes the engines have to go slow while crossing, often making certain engines late at Thomas' junction, annoying him greatly and making him late at the bus station. One day, Bertie grows angry with Thomas and berates him by suggesting another race.

One day, James is later than ever, making Thomas so. But along the way to the bus station, Thomas finds Bertie broken down by a level crossing. Now grateful for being late, Thomas takes Bertie's passengers straight to their destination.

After Bertie is repaired, he thanks Thomas, and they both agree that being late isn't so bad after all.

• Featuring Thomas, Bertie, Henry, James, and Annie and Clarabel
• Cameos by Edward, and Trevor

Break Van (Donald and Douglas - US)

Donald and Douglas are Scottish twin tender engines who have arrived on Sodor to help the Fat Controller, despite him ordering ONE engine. To avoid confusion, the Fat Controller paints numbers on them until sending the less useful one back home (Donald 9, and Douglas 10). But things start to look bad when a spiteful breakvan takes a dislike to Douglas and makes his trains late. Donald tells the van off and gives it a warning, which works, until Donald has an accident on a slippery railway and bumps his tender into a signal box, much to the Fat Controller's annoyance, for he had decided to send Douglas back and keep Donald.

James is then told to do Donald's work while Donald is at the works. James grumbles about it, and gets even more annoyed when Douglas tries to tell him that accidents happen by reminding him of his accident with some tar wagons. James then takes his next train: a heavy goods train. Unfortunately, he's taking the spiteful breakvan, who tells the trucks to hold back and make James tired. To his relief, James finds Douglas on the way, who agrees to help him up the hill by pushing from behind. However, James runs out of steam, and before the guard can stop him, Douglas pushes so hard he literally crushes the breakvan.

Edward then comes along with the breakdown train and the Fat Controller, who claims that he thought Douglas had had the clumsy accident. But Edward and James defend Douglas, describing him as "grand", leaving the Fat Controller with a lot to think about.

Which engine will he send back to Scotland?

• Introducing Donald and Douglas
• Featuring Donald and Douglas, James, the Troublesome Trucks, Edward, The Fat Controller and the spiteful brakevan.
• Cameos by Thomas, Henry, and Gordon
• Donald and Douglas have their first accidents

The Deputation

Winter has arrived on Sodor, much to the engines' dismay. However, Donald and Douglas, being used to the weather in Scotland, easily use snowploughs to clear the railway, and even help Henry out of a snowdrift during the process. Unfortunately, Donald and Douglas are still worried that the Fat Controller will still send them back to Scotland, where they will be turned into scrap. Gordon, Henry, James and Percy are equally upset, and try to think of something to help the Scottish twins.

Percy speaks to Edward about it, and Edward tells him that a Deputation is the perfect plan, which Percy then relays to the other engines as an engine telling the Fat Controller that what he is doing is wrong. After a long pause, the engines decide to make Percy the Deputation, much to his dismay. Percy does go to see the Fat Controller, who listens to Percy and then sends him back to the sheds.

However, later on, the Fat Controller comes to visit the engines at the sheds, where, to everyone's surprise, he congratulates Donald and Douglas for their work in the snow and promises them a new coat of paint and nameplates, to avoid future confusion. But before he can tell Donald and Douglas that they are here to stay, his speech is drowned by a chorus of whistles from all the engines.

• Featuring Donald and Douglas, Percy, Duck, Gordon, James, Henry, Edward and The Fat Controller
• Donald and Douglas become permanent engines on the Island of Sodor

Thomas Comes to Breakfast

Thomas has worked for so long on his branchline that he knows it so well. His driver comments that Thomas could manage the work without him, but Thomas doesn't realise his driver is joking. Conceited, Thomas boasts to Percy and Toby in the sheds, but despite their warnings, Thomas takes no notice. The next morning, when the firelighter lights his fire, Thomas dares his safety and starts going down the railway by himself, unaware that he was only moving because the a nosy cleaner had meddled with his control. Thomas finds himself unable to stop, and ends up crashing into the Stationmaster's house at the end of the line. The Stationmaster and his family are furious at the damage, as is the Fat Controller, who sends Donald and Douglas to pull Thomas out. With his front badly twisted and bent, the Fat Controller angrily tells Thomas that he has to go to the works to be mended, but not before telling Thomas that a diesel will fill in for him while he's away, much to Thomas' chagrin and embarrassment.

• Featuring Thomas, Percy, Toby, Donald and Douglas, and The Fat Controller

Daisy

After Thomas's mishap with the Stationmaster's house, the Fat Controller introduces Percy and Toby to Daisy, the Diesel Railcar who has come to do Thomas' work. But Daisy proves to be hard to please: she complains about the engine shed, and later insults Annie, Clarabel and Henrietta ("rubbish"), causing Percy and Toby to take them away and spend half the night soothing their hurt feelings.

The next day, Daisy arrives at Thomas' junction, determined to prove herself better than Thomas. But she loses her temper and blows a fuse when Toby couples a milk van to her. She says pulling is bad for her swerves according to the fitter (although the stationmaster refuses to believe her). After a long argument, the shunter finally uncouples the milk van so as to avoid wasting the passengers' time. Daisy then purrs away feeling very pleased with herself. She decides she'll do what work she likes, and no more (although she says it to herself).

• Introducing Daisy
• Featuring Daisy, Percy, Toby, Annie and Clarabel, Henrietta, and The Fat Controller

Percy's Predicament

Over the days, Daisy continues to be lazy and stubborn on Thomas' branchline. Percy is furious to see that Daisy has left the milk van behind (again), but Toby offers to take the milk if Percy takes Toby's trucks from the quarry. Percy gratefully agrees, but starts ordering the trucks around at the quarry, prompting them to plan a payback. As Percy takes them, the trucks spring into action and start pushing him down the line so fast that the man in the signal box fails to switch Percy to the runaway siding in time. Percy is pushed into the yard, and he ultimately crashes into a break van. Percy isn't hurt, but he ends up stranded on top of a damaged truck. The next day, Toby and Daisy arrive to clean up the mess, and the Fat Controller expresses his annoyance at Percy for putting them in an awkward predicament (the branchline being run only by Toby and Daisy), but he also talks severely to Daisy for her laziness. However, he gives Daisy a second chance for helping Toby with Percy's accident, and Daisy gratefully promises to work harder. The next day, the wreckage is finally cleared, and Toby takes Percy to be mended just as Thomas returns and resumes work with Toby and Daisy until Percy's eventual return.

• Featuring Percy, Daisy, Toby, Thomas, Troublesome Trucks, and the Fat Controller
• Cameos by Annie and Clarabel.

The Diseasel

Bill and Ben are busy working in the Clay Pits and in the Harbour. One day they find their trucks missing, and a patch of oil on the track. When one of their Drivers mentions the word 'diesel' Ben mispronounces it and calls it a 'diseasel.' They end up arguing over whose fault it is that the 'diseasel' came, but their crew hushes them and comes up with a plan. They find the 'diseasel' (Boco) on siding with their missing trucks. After getting a real dose of 'double trouble' the diesel pleads them to stop, and the twins explain that there are indeed two of them. Edward arrives, and tells them off by sending them to fetch Boco's trucks before they can take their own back. Edward explains that they are kind at heart but can be 'madd'ning at times.' Boco sums it up by proclaiming, 'Madd'ning is the word.'

• Introducing Boco, Bill and Ben
• Featuring Bill and Ben, Boco, Edward and the Troublesome Trucks
• "Coughs and sneezles spread diseasels" is a reference to the real saying "Coughs and sneezes spread diseases"

Wrong Road

Thomas' and Edward's Branch Lines are important, but Gordon believes them vulgar. One night, Gordon is almost ready to leave when the fireman looks back and sees something green waving. It's not the guards flag as he had thought, but a lady's hat. Gordon has to be stopped and brought back. By that time, Edward is late with his train, so leaves first. However, the signalman isn't told of this, and sends Edward along the main line, and Gordon the Branch...

Next morning, Bill and Ben see Gordon, and discuss between themselves what they could do with them - it's clearly not Gordon, as he says branch lines are vulgar. They decide to drop the "Load of scrap metal" into the sea, leaving Gordon terrified. But Boco shows up, and sets the twins right. Gordon is very grateful, to say the least. He still believes Boco saved his life - but of course, the twins were only teasing.

• Featuring Gordon, Bill and Ben, Boco, Edward
• Cameos by Thomas, The Fat Controller, Jeremiah Jobling and the Stationmaster's wife.
• At the end of the episode, close inspection shows that Gordon is slightly derailed. (The front leading wheels).

Edward's Exploit

Some tourists are visiting the Island of Sodor. On their last afternoon, Edward is to take them to meet Bill and Ben. Whilst he struggles to start the heavy tourist train, Gordon, Henry and James tease and mock him, much to Duck and Boco's annoyance. Later, when Bill and Ben return from showing the tourists the China clay Works, Edward has to take them back to the station. However, the weather changes for the worse, and he struggles through the wind and rain. Suddenly, Edward's crank pin breaks, causing great damage and leaving the train stranded. Edwards crew removes his siderods, but Edward still struggles to move the train. With the tourists getting more anxious, Edward's crew decide to loosen the trains couplings, so Edward can pick the coaches up 'one by one'. This makes things much easier, and with a big effort, Edward gets the train moving. After one big effort, he puffs triumphantly into the station, where Henry is waiting to take the tourists on. The passengers sweep out, pushing aside an angry Fat Controller, and thank Edward and his crew for their efforts. Later, when Edward arrives at the sheds, Gordon and James remain respectfully silent.

• Featuring Edward, Duck, Boco, Bill and Ben, Gordon, James, Henry, and The Fat Controller
• Cameo by Bertie

Ghost Train (Percy's Ghostly Trick - US)

Percy tells the other engines of a story his driver told him about the Ghost Train who runs again every year at the day of the accident, plunging into the gap and shrieking like a lost soul. Thomas didn't believe it, which Percy's driver later tells his engine that it was only a pretend ghost on television! Percy is disappointed. That evening, on a return trip from the harbour, he crashes into a cartload of lime left across the level crossing. At the signal box, the signalman suggests they have to clean Percy, or people will think he's a ghost. However, Percy is delighted at this, and they all decide to try and scare Thomas. Toby promises to help, and puffs back to the shed, telling Thomas that Percy's had an accident and he's just seen his ghost. Thomas scoffs, but he is soon silenced by the sound of a ghostly voice outside the shed like a nightmare. As the shed doors creak open, he hurriedly puffs away to take his evening train. The next morning, Percy is cleaned, but he still decides to blow his 'ghostly' whistle once more to scare Thomas!

• Featuring Percy, Thomas and Toby.
• Cameos by Annie and Clarabel and Diesel.
• The "Ghost Train" appearing on screen was actually Percy covered in white streamers.

Woolly Bear

Every Summer, Percy stops by the lineside to collect hay that has been gathered by workmen. Toby then takes the hay to market. One day, Percy teases Thomas about being scared of his 'ghost' (a reference to the previous episode Ghost Train/Percy's Ghostly Trick). Thomas is in no mood for this, and complains that Percy's been late every afternoon that week - despite the hay. Percy is disappointed, but has to continue on to the harbour. There - a crate of treacle splits open on him - he's sticky all over! Percy then has to try to get through the hay, which the wind is blowing all over the place. More than once his wheels slip on the hay, and he has to wait for the workmen to clear the line before he can start again. Meanwhile, Thomas is waiting impatiently at the platform. When Percy finally arrives - 10 minutes late - everyone laughs at him for good reason - the hay has stuck to the treacle and he's covered in it. Percy, of course, can't see this until his driver shows him in a mirror. He asks to be cleaned before Toby sees - but it's no use. Thomas tells Toby all about it. Instead of talking about sensible things like playing Ghosts, Thomas and Toby talk about 'woolly bear caterpillars' and other things that crawl about in hay. They laugh, but Percy thinks they're being very silly.

• Featuring Percy, Thomas, and Toby.
• Cameos by Annie and Clarabel
• The Fat Controller is mentioned.

Thomas and the Missing Christmas Tree

It's Christmas time and all the engines are hard at work getting ready for the Christmas Party. Thomas is sent to collect the Christmas tree, but gets stuck in a huge snowdrift on the way. After the engines complain of Thomas being late, the Fat Controller explains what has happened. Donald and Douglas help him out, and as a reward, all the engines enjoy a huge Christmas Party, with Father Christmas as a special guest!

• Featuring Thomas, Donald and Douglas, Duck, Annie and Clarabel, Harold, Percy, Toby, The Fat Controller, Father Christmas/Santa Claus,
• Cameos by Gordon, Henry, Edward, James, Boco, Diesel, Bill and Ben, Bertie, Trevor, and Terence.
• This story, like some others in this season, was written by Christopher Awdry.
• Of all the major characters so far introduced in the series, the only two who were not present in the Christmas Party in the final scene were Daisy and Henrietta.

Characters Introduced

• Bluebell the Cow (Cows)
• Trevor (Saved from Scrap)
• The Vicar (Saved from Scrap)
• Jim Cole (Saved from Scrap)
• Duck (Duck Takes Charge)
• Harold (Percy & Harold)
• Diesel (Pop Goes the Diesel)
• Donald and Douglas (Break Van)
• Daisy (Daisy)
• Bill and Ben (The Diseasel)
• Boco (The Diseasel)

Notes

• Five of the episodes in this season are based on stories written by Christopher Awdry - those being Thomas, Percy and the Coal, Thomas and Trevor, The Runaway, Better Late Than Never and Thomas and the Missing Christmas Tree
• The first diesel engines are introduced - Diesel, Boco, and Daisy.
• First 'villain' character of the series is introduced - Diesel.
• First time that the troublesome trucks have actual moulded faces. In the previous series, they only had eyes and a mouth.
• George Carlin re-narrates some of these episodes for Shining Time Station and American video releases.
• The first female engine is introduced - Daisy.
• The first Twin characters are introduced - Bill and Ben; Donald and Douglas.