Thomas, Percy and Old Slow Coach

"You said that the countryside runs got you all fired up, James, but I didn't think you meant it in this way!" "Pah! It was the stupid trucks' fault, not mine!"

- Percy teasing James over his accident.

Thomas, Percy and Old Slowcoach is the sixteenth episode of the fifth season.

Plot
Thomas, James, and Percy look up at the early morning sky. Thomas says that all the villagers of Sodor are happier when springtime comes, except for the Fat Controller, as said by James, who complains about the hard work he has been given especially the coastal runs he has been running on lately. But Percy tells James that the Fat Controller wants everything to be ready for the holidays and the salty air makes him feel good. James scoffs and prefers being in the countryside instead, before leaving the shed to collect his goods train from the docks.

Thomas and Percy then leave the sheds to take some empty trucks to the scrapyard. When they finish the job discover an old coach in the scrap yard. She looks very dirty and sad, and says that she's not useful anymore despite being in perfect shape. The yard manager arrives and is asked by Percy's driver about the coach, whose name is Old Slow Coach is due to being broken up soon. Thomas and Percy are very upset, but Thomas promises to help but is unsure how yet.

Meanwhile, James enjoys his journey but there is trouble; one of the fuel tankers in his train leak fuel and all the tankers ignite immediately. James' driver immediately pulls into a siding and his driver notifies the fire department. Thomas and Percy then arrive at the junction and the guard reveals that the fuel tankers' fire were caused by sparks billowed from James' funnel. Although it is quite a mess, the fire is now extinguished. Percy teases him about being fired up in the countryside, rather than being in the literal way, but James scoffs and says that that was the trucks' fault that caused the fire. Thomas and Percy are now given the all-clear signal to proceed with their journey, but at a reduced speed, while they feel sorry for James.

Later that day, Thomas and Percy take on water when they find out that there is another fire at the workmen's hut near them. Unfortunately, the fire engines have a bigger problem; they are completely out of water, but they cannot use water from the sea because it can clog their pumping apparatus and decides to let the hut burn. But Thomas suggests that they use the water from his and Percy's tanks. The plan works well and the fire was soon put out, but the workmen's hut is destroyed. A foreman arrives and worries about sleeping quarters for the men and cannot stay homeless on the beach, Percy comes up with the idea of using Old Slow Coach as the workmen's new temporary hut. Percy's crew then phones the Fat Controller, who agrees to do so and will be cleaned up, restored, with new paint.

Old Slow Coach is cleaned up, repainted, and restored and feels splendid. Thomas and Percy collect her and she sets off happily enjoying her new life with the workmen.

Characters

 * Thomas
 * James
 * Percy
 * Old Slow Coach
 * Sir Topham Hatt
 * Jem Cole (cameo)
 * Jeremiah Jobling (cameo)

Locations

 * Tidmouth Hault
 * Tidmouth Hault Sheds
 * The Scrapyards
 * The Flour Mill
 * The Lighthouse
 * Sodor Shipping Company
 * Workmen's Hut
 * Sir Topham Hatt's Office
 * Brendam Docks (mentioned)

Trivia

 * Elements of the magazine story Fire are used.
 * Pre-filmed footage from Thomas and the Rumours is used.
 * Scrap models of Thomas, Gordon, Donald, Douglas, City of Truro, and Toad can be seen in the background in shots of the scrapyard.
 * In the first shot of Thomas and Percy at the scrapyard, Big Mickey's model from TUGS can be spotted.
 * In the Latin American dub, Old Slow Coach is referred to as a male.
 * When Thomas and Percy puff to see what they can do to the fire at the workmen's hut, behind them in the background at Tidmouth Hault is the stationmaster's house from Thomas Comes to Breakfast can be seen.
 * This is the last time a guard has a speaking role until the eighteenth season episode, Thomas and the Emergency Cable.

Goofs

 * The new station at Tidmouth Hault now appears to be a shed.
 * In one scene, Thomas' scared face mask is missing the eyebrows.
 * In one shot of Old Slow Coach at the scrapyard, Percy and his trucks are missing.
 * When Thomas and Percy shunt their trucks in the sidings, Percy's eyes are wonky.
 * When the guard says: "It's quite a mess," Thomas lurches forward a bit.
 * When James cries for help, his eyes are wonky.
 * The term "guard" is used at one point in the US narration.
 * When Percy says: "You said the countryside runs got you all fired up James," his lamp is wonky.
 * When the narrator says: "They reach the siding and his driver give the alarm," James is covered in smoke dust but when driver says: "It's dangerous" James is clean. However, when Thomas and Percy arrive, James is covered in smoke dust again.
 * In one shot in the scrapyard part of the rails are oily.
 * In the close-up of James' driver when he give the alarm, his eye is dislocated.

Merchandise

 * Books - Thomas and Percy to the Rescue

Home Media Releases
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UK

 * Peep Peep Party
 * The Complete Fifth Series

DVD Boxsets

 * Classic Collection

US

 * Cranky Bugs and Other Thomas Stories
 * Season 5 (Digital Download)

DVD Boxsets

 * Totally Thomas Volume 3

AUS

 * Happy Holidays
 * The Complete Fifth Series

DVD Packs

 * Complete Series 1-10

ITA

 * Back All!

SWE

 * Little Engines Help Out

NOR

 * Fleas and 15 and other Stories
 * The Old Coach (Norwegian VHS/DVD)

DK

 * Forward and Backward and Other Stories

GR

 * The Trains Have Fun

MYS

 * Haunted Henry and Other Thomas Adventures
 * Put Upon Percy and Other Adventures

PHL

 * Oliver's Great Adventure

JPN

 * New Thomas the Tank Engine 2 Vol.4
 * A Nice Little Story of Thomas the Tank Engine
 * The Complete Works of Thomas the Tank Engine 2 Vol.3

WAL

 * Fleas and 15 other Stories

TWN

 * Thomas and Friends Volume 12 (Taiwanese DVD)

THA
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 * Thomas and Friends - Volume 18 (Thai DVD)