Henry and the Flagpole

"I wasn't expecting to see the flagpole down here!"

- Henry seeing the broken flagpole

Henry and the Flagpole is the sixteenth (thirteenth in Australia) episode of the ninth season.

Plot
Henry loves going to Lord Callan's Castle as it means that he gets to pass his favourite tree; the tall, pine tree. After Henry delivers cargo for the upcoming banquet to the castle, the Fat Controller tells him to collect a new flagpole from the Docks.

At the Docks, Henry searches for the flagpole, expecting it to be standing up. However, Henry gets distracted by Cranky's tall height and does not see the new flagpole on the flatbed in front of him. Henry bumps into the flatbed, causing the flagpole to roll off and land onto the tracks. Salty is rolling by and accidentally crushes the flagpole. Henry was not expecting the flagpole to be laying down. Salty said that Henry can't see the flagpole tall if it's layed down and Henry felt very silly. The Fat Controller arrives saying it's a disaster now that Lord Callan's Castle will not have a flagpole.

That evening, Henry meets Toby, who is looking at the tall, pine tree, and tells him about the broken flagpole. Toby suggests that the tall pine tree would be useful as a new flagpole, but Henry does not agree. The next morning, Henry is sent to the forest with workmen carrying saws and axes. Henry thinks that the tall, pine tree is going to be cut down and is determined to save the tree by finding a new flagpole. But all the flagpoles he can find are too short, even those at the beach and at the airfield. That night, the Fat Controller scolds Henry for delaying the workmen's job at the forest and, as punishment, he is to collect coal trucks while Edward takes the workmen.

At the Coaling Plant, Henry tells Thomas about finding a new flagpole and Thomas suggests that sometimes things can be found where one would not expect. So Henry goes off and puts Thomas' theory into practice. After looking at a field of cows, Henry sees Trevor at the Vicarage Orchard, knowing he will not make a good flagpole.

At the Docks, Henry sees some tourists taking photographs of an old ship and Salty tells Henry that the old ship's mast is to be chopped up for firewood. Henry decides to use it as a new flagpole and, once the old ship's mast is on a flatbed, he rushes off to the forest. At the forest, Henry pleads with the Fat Controller not to cut down the tall, pine tree as he found a new flagpole. The Fat Controller tells Henry that there was no intention to cut down the tall, pine tree at all; the workmen's job was to collect firewood for the Scottish Castle banquet.

That night, Henry and Thomas see the Scottish flag hoisted up the old ship's mast and Henry thinks it looks beautiful, but not as beautiful as the tall, pine tree.

Characters

 * Thomas
 * Henry
 * Toby
 * Salty
 * Trevor
 * Sir Topham Hatt
 * Cranky (does not speak)
 * Emily (cameo)
 * Annie (cameo)
 * Tiger Moth (cameo)
 * Lord Callan (cameo)
 * Edward (mentioned)

Locations

 * Brendam Docks
 * Sodor Shipping Company
 * Callan Castle
 * Three Tier Bridge
 * Dryaw
 * The Lighthouse
 * Tidmouth Beach
 * The Coaling Plant
 * The Cow Field
 * Henry's Forest
 * Wellsworth Vicarage Orchard

Trivia

 * This episode marks Trevor's last speaking role until the twentieth season episode, Three Steam Engines Gruff.
 * Going by production order, this is the thirteenth episode of the ninth season.

Merchandise

 * Books - Henry and the Flagpole and Thomas Gives the Circus

Home Media Releases
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UK

 * The Spirit of Sodor
 * The Complete Series 9

DVD Boxsets

 * Classic Collection

US

 * Thomas and the Toy Workshop

DVD Boxsets

 * Sodor Friends Holiday Collection
 * Thomas and the Toy Workshop/Thomas and the Really Brave Engines and Other Adventures Double Feature
 * Ultimate Thomas Collection

AUS

 * The Complete Series 9

DVD Boxsets

 * Complete Series 1-10
 * The Essential Collection (5 DVD Boxset)
 * Series Nine and Series Ten Double Pack
 * Series Nine and The Great Discovery Double Pack

JPN

 * I Dreamed Thomas Goodnight Bedtime Stories!
 * Thomas the Tank Engine Series 9 Vol.3
 * There Are Lots Of Thomas & Friends

NL

 * Thomas and the New Locomotive

MYS

 * Flour Power and Other Adventures
 * Henry and the Flagpole and Other Adventures

HUN

 * Thomas and the New Locomotives

SPN

 * Thomas and Friends - Volume 8 (Spanish DVD)

DVD Boxsets

 * Second Season (Spanish DVD)

THA

 * Thomas and Friends Volume 26 (Thai DVD)
 * Thomas and Friends - Volume 30 (Thai DVD)

GER

 * Thomas and the Rainbow (DVD)

NOR/DNK/FIN/SWE
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 * Thomas and the Rainbow (Norwegian DVD)