Steam Roller

"Look! Here's Sir Handel! He tried to race a steamroller, but the steamroller nearly beat him!"

- The boys Steam Roller is the twelfth episode of the fourth season. In the US, it first aired on Mr. Conductor's Thomas Tales in 1996.

Plot
Sir Handel has recently had new wheels fitted and he claims that he is better than the others. Skarloey, attempting to bring Sir Handel down to size, tells him of an anti-railway steamroller named George, whom Sir Handel vows to sort out. Sir Handel is later bringing a special train home when he meets George on the alongside road, making it near impossible for him to pass. After the steamroller refuses to move aside, the two have a shouting match which ends when George crashes into Sir Handel's train. The next day, a fence is put up and George is taken away. Sir Handel claims credit, but loses his pride when some boys start lauding him with his race with the roller.

Characters

 * Skarloey
 * Sir Handel
 * Peter Sam
 * Rusty
 * George
 * Thomas (cameo)
 * James (cameo)
 * Percy (cameo)
 * Rheneas (cameo)
 * Duncan (cameo)
 * Duke (cameo)
 * Bertie (cameo)
 * Stephen Hatt (cameo)

Locations

 * Skarloey Railway Engine Sheds
 * Hawin Doorey

Trivia

 * This episode is based on the story of the same name from The Railway Series book, Gallant Old Engine.
 * The line "...they lumbered along as the insults continued." is omitted in the US narration. Instead, George retorts, "You don't own the road, get out of my way."
 * The Italian title of this episode is "George the Steamroller". The Norwegian and German titles are "The Steamroller". The Spanish title is "The Big Race".
 * This episode marks Sir Handel's last speaking role until the tenth season episode A Smooth Ride.

Goofs

 * Thomas has James' whistle sound.
 * Rheneas appears briefly, but he is supposed to be at the Works.
 * Skarloey's white stripe on his boiler is crooked.
 * Throughout the episode, red wires are visible on George.
 * In the first shot of George, his face is slightly crooked.
 * George's face is out of place in the first two scenes of him at the level crossing.
 * After Sir Handel retorts "...I'm better" and chuffs off, George follows without a driver.
 * When Sir Handel goes over the crossing, the sign post moves slightly.
 * When George races Sir Handel, his back-right wheel hits a bucket.
 * When George crashes into the trucks, they derail, but in the next shot, they are tipped over.
 * In the last scene, Rusty is tilted.
 * On his way back to the sheds, Sir Handel passes a red signal.
 * When George crashes into the trucks, a workman figure on the left of the screen has fallen onto the stone wall.