Thomas and the Guard

"Rubbish! You're too fat! (You're too slow!, - US Narration), you need exercise!"

- Thomas to Henry

Thomas and the Guard, retitled Thomas and the Conductor for American releases, is the eleventh episode of the first season. It aired in the Shining Time Station episodes Faith, Hope and Anxiety in 1989 and Fortune Teller Schemer in 1993.

Plot
Thomas the Tank Engine is enjoying his new life running the branch line, of which he is very proud and considers the most important part of the railway. Thomas' new coaches, Annie and Clarabel, agree with him and Thomas loves them both very much despite them both being old and needing new paint. When taking trains, Annie can only take passengers: however Clarabel takes passengers, luggage and the guard. Thomas and his coaches often sing to each other while taking trains and journeys often proceed smoothly. Annie and Clarabel know how important pleasing the Fat Controller is to Thomas and whenever he is cross he is not cross with them.

One day, Thomas angrily waits at the junction for Henry who is running late (and not for the first time) so he can pick up passengers. Eventually Henry feebly arrives, complaining that his system is not working properly. As far as Thomas is concerned, Henry's only problem is his own laziness. Thomas, keen to be on time, leaves as soon as his guard blows the whistle but goes so fast he does not give the guard time to get aboard, leaving him behind. The guard waves his red flag, but it is no use and the tank engine is well on his way and out of the station.

Thomas sings to his coaches as usual, but Clarabel does not sing as she is very upset that her guard has been left behind. Annie tries to tell Thomas that they haven't got a guard aboard, but Thomas is in a hurry and does not listen. The two coaches try to brake, but cannot without a guard. Eventually Thomas stops when he reaches a signal set to "Danger." He and his crew wait to find out what is the matter from the guard, but he does not come and Annie and Clarabel finally cry that he has been left behind.

Soon the passengers notice a figure running up behind them; it is the guard, who has been trying to catch up to Thomas. He is very hot following the chase and has a drink to cool down and tells everyone what happened. Thomas is very sorry that he left the guard behind, but the guard assures Thomas it was not his fault. The signal drops and Thomas and his crew decide to make up for lost time.

With the guard back aboard, both Thomas and his coaches feel reinvigorated and manage to reach the end of the line in record time.

Characters

 * Thomas
 * Henry
 * Annie and Clarabel
 * Bertie (pre-filmed footage cameo)
 * Sir Topham Hatt (mentioned)

Locations

 * Dryaw
 * The Windmill
 * Elsbridge
 * Ffarquhar
 * River Els
 * Hackenbeck Tunnel
 * Rail Under Road Bridge and Signalbox
 * The Main Line

Trivia

 * This episode is based on the story of the same name from The Railway Series book, Tank Engine Thomas Again.
 * Pre-filmed footage from Thomas and Bertie and Thomas Goes Fishing, stock footage from Thomas and the Breakdown Train, and mirrored stock footage from Thomas' Train are used. Footage from the former was not cut properly, as Bertie can be seen for a split second on the top-left corner after Thomas, Annie and Clarabel enter the tunnel.
 * The shots of Thomas passing under the bridge before entering the tunnel and arriving at Ffarquhar station were used for the Classic Series' opening credits.
 * This is the first episode where the outro music is not used during the ending.
 * George Carlin's narration of this episode has been broadcasted on television, but has never been released on VHS or DVD, along with Thomas Goes Fishing. For a limited time in 2009, however, it was released on iTunes and it is currently available for digital download from Amazon in Thomas &amp; Friends Classic Volume 1.
 * Henry being feeble is a foreshadowing of the episode, Coal.
 * Likely due to broadcasting concerns and because "fat" is a much more pejorative term in the US than in the UK, Thomas' line "You're too fat!" is changed to "You're too slow!" in the US versions just like when The Fat Controller is referred as his real name "Sir Topham Hatt" in the US versions of Thomas & Friends media instead of his nickname.
 * This episode was Emu's first experience watching Thomas, as shown when he and his puppeteer Rod Hull were presenting Children's ITV in December 1985.

Goofs

 * In the opening shot of the restored version, studio equipment is visible in the top-left corner.
 * In many scenes, Annie and Clarabel are facing the wrong way.
 * When Henry puffs into the junction, his brake coach is facing backwards.
 * When Thomas says "You're too fat! (You're too slow!, - US Narration) You need exercise!" he lets off steam. The scene then cuts to Henry briefly; but in the next scene the steam has gone and Thomas lets off more.
 * In the close-up of Thomas leaving the junction, Annie and Clarabel are not coupled behind him.
 * In a close-up of Thomas' driver, his cap's brim is broken.
 * The guard only has his red flag when he is said to have had two flags.
 * The guard is alternatively bearded and clean-shaven between scenes.
 * Annie still appears sad when Thomas begins moving again after the signal changes.
 * At the end of the episode which shows a close-up shot of Thomas, a camera connector is on his front.
 * When Thomas says "Bother that signal! What's the matter?" the background is different showing buffers in the left corner.
 * Because of stock footage, Bertie briefly appears. Even though he was not introduced until Thomas, Terence and the Snow.

Merchandise

 * Ladybird Books - The Sad Story of Henry/Thomas's Train/Thomas and the Guard
 * My Thomas Story Library - Annie and Clarabel (discontinued)

Home Media Releases
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UK

 * Thomas the Tank Engine & Friends (Betamax/VHS)
 * Troublesome Trucks and other stories
 * Troublesome Trucks, Coal and other stories
 * Thomas the Tank Engine (VHS)
 * Bumper Special
 * Thomas and Gordon, Troublesome Trucks and other stories
 * Thomas Gets Bumped and 17 Other Stories
 * The Biggest Ever Christmas Collection
 * The Complete First Series

DVD Boxsets

 * Classic Collection

WAL

 * Troublesome Trucks and 8 Other Stories (Welsh VHS)

US

 * James Learns a Lesson and Other Stories
 * The Early Years
 * Season 1 (Digital Download)

VHS/DVD Packs

 * Special Video Collector's Set
 * Totally Thomas Volume 9

AUS

 * Troublesome Trucks and other stories
 * The Biggest Ever Christmas Collection
 * The Complete First Series
 * My First Thomas with Thomas

DVD Boxsets

 * Complete Series 1-10 (Boxset)
 * My First Thomas
 * Classic Collection
 * Series One and Series Two Double Pack

FRA

 * The Magic of Sodor

JPN

 * Thomas the Tank Engine Vol.3
 * The Complete Works of Thomas the Tank Engine 1 Vol.2
 * The Complete DVD Box 1
 * Nice to Meet You Thomas!
 * Tell Me Stories, Thomas

PHL

 * Thomas and Friends Collection

GER

 * Thomas and His Friends Vol. 2
 * Rail Free for Steam and Diesel!

HRV

 * Thomas and Brakesman

NOR

 * Thomas-Festival (Norwegian VHS)
 * Thomas the Tank Engine 1 (Scandinavian VHS/DVD)

FIN/ISL

 * Thomas the Tank Engine 1 (Scandinavian VHS/DVD)

SA

 * Volume 1 (VHS)

NL

 * ...Taken by the Nose!
 * The Greatest Stories: The Adventures of Thomas

SE

 * Thomas and the Guard (Swedish VHS)

ITA

 * A Freight Train Troublemaker

ROM

 * Thomas and the Trucks (Romanian DVD)

DVD Packs

 * Triple Pack 1

SER

 * Thomas the Tank Engine 1

SVN

 * Thomas and Conductors (Slovenian DVD)

IND

 * Thomas and Gordon and Other Stories (DVD)

CHN

 * Thomas and Friends Season 1-4 (DVD)

DNK

 * Thomas and Gordon and Other Stories (Danish DVD)

TWN

 * Thomas and Friends Volume 2 (Taiwanese DVD)

THA

 * Thomas and Friends - Volume 2 (Thai DVD)

MYS

 * Thomas and Gordon and Other Adventures
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