Thomas to the Rescue

"Oh, it's you. What are you doing here?"

- Diesel

Thomas to the Rescue is the third episode of the eighth season.

Plot
Thomas is sent to work at the quarry with Mavis as the quarry has an important order to fill. When Thomas arrives at the quarry, he is shocked to discover that Diesel will be working there as well. Diesel is not pleased to see Thomas, who tells Diesel that he has come to help Mavis. Diesel tells Thomas that steam engines cannot help as much as Diesel engines. Thomas scoffs at Diesel's insult and sets to work at once.

It is not long before Diesel is causing trouble; he pushes Thomas underneath the hopper, covering him in stones, complains that Thomas smells and calls him a "stinky old steam engine", and even says that the Fat Controller is planning to scrap steam engines. Thomas refuses to believe what Diesel says, but he cannot help worrying about it in the shed that night.

The next morning, Salty delivers fresh Diesel fuel from the Mainland. Diesel and Mavis are quickly filled up and Diesel boasts that the fresh Diesel fuel makes his axles tingle. Then, just as Diesel rolls away to work, he coughs, splutters, and stops amid clouds of smoke. Diesel feels sick, as does Mavis, who is coughing out smoke from her exhaust. The Quarry Manager realises that the new Diesel fuel has been contaminated with water. It is not long before 'Arry, Bert, and Salty break down too.

Having heard the news, the Fat Controller orders the Quarry Manager to send Thomas to collect some clean Diesel fuel. Thomas sets off for the fuel depot and the workmen fill up two flatbeds with Diesel fuel drums. Despite the heavy load, Thomas sets off and delivers the clean fuel to Salty, 'Arry, and Bert, and then, he makes his final delivery at the quarry.

The dirty fuel is drained out of Diesel and Mavis' tanks and they are refilled with the clean fuel. Mavis thanks Thomas and, after the important order has being filled, the Fat Controller arrives aboard Percy to congratulate Thomas for being Really Useful and a credit to the railway; even Diesel has to agree with that.

Characters

 * Thomas
 * Diesel
 * Mavis
 * Salty
 * Sir Topham Hatt
 * Percy (does not speak)
 * 'Arry and Bert (do not speak)
 * James (cameo)
 * Gordon (cameo)
 * Cranky (cameo)
 * Bill and Ben (deleted scene)

Locations

 * Brendam
 * Tidmouth Sheds
 * Centre Island Quarry
 * Henry's Tunnel
 * The Scrapyards
 * The Fuel Depot
 * Shunting Yards

Trivia

 * In the UK, when Thomas lets off steam after being pushed under the hopper, Diesel remarks "...it's just a stinky old steam engine!" In the US he says "...it's just a stinky old steamie engine!".
 * In a rare picture, 'Arry and Bert are smiling when Thomas delivers the clean Diesel oil to them.
 * In Denmark and Poland, this episode is named "Thomas Comes to the Rescue". The German title is "Diesel's Big Mistake" In Japan this episode is called "Thomas' Outstanding Performance".

Goofs

 * Gordon has Duck's whistle sound.
 * Diesel pushes Thomas under the chute and reverses, but in a later shot focused on Thomas, Diesel has not reversed.
 * When Thomas is pushed under the chute, he has his happy face mask on even when the stone starts to fall on him.
 * As the Quarry had an important order to fill, Thomas should have stayed at the Quarry whilst another engine collected the fresh fuel for the diesel engines.
 * The narrator said, "Diesels all over the island started breaking down". But only Diesel, 'Arry, Bert, Mavis, and Salty are shown.
 * Brakevans should have been added to Thomas, Mavis, and Diesel's trains.

Merchandise

 * Take-Along (discontinued)