Chickens to School

"Sheep to market, children to farm, chickens to school."

- Thomas in a tired muddle

Chickens to School is the twenty-fourth (eighteenth in Australia) episode of the eighth season.

Plot
One summer night, Thomas is busy taking coal trucks to the Coaling Plant and is very tired by the time he arrives back at Tidmouth Sheds in the morning. Thomas wishes that he had some assistance with the coal delivery, but Gordon tells Thomas that a really useful engine does not need help. Just then, the Fat Controller arrives as he requires an engine to carry out three jobs. Thomas decides to carry out the three jobs, despite being tired. His three jobs are to take chickens to market, sheep to the farm, and the children to school. Gordon remarks that three jobs is too much for Thomas and he will need assistance. But Thomas tells him that tank engines do not need help at all.

So Thomas sets off with Annie, Clarabel, and two vans. He collects the chickens from the farm, the sheep from the valley, and the children from the station. Thomas carries on with his journey up and over Gordon's Hill and through Henry's Tunnel. Throughout the journey, he reminds himself where he is going. However, the tiredness starts getting the better of him and he gets into a muddle.

At the station where the market is being held, Thomas tells the lorry drivers to unload the sheep, instead of the chickens. Then Emily arrives and sees Thomas looking tired, so she offers to help. But Thomas turns it down, though he is very sleepy. After the market, Thomas goes onto Farmer McColl's and tells the children it is their stop. Finally at the school, Thomas delivers the chickens, much to the confusion of the school teachers.

Thomas heads off for home, but not before the Fat Controller receives phone calls about the sheep making a mess at market, the children getting muddy at the farm, and the chickens messing up the classrooms. The Fat Controller tells Thomas what happened and that he needs to put everything right, but this time with help. Thomas then tells the Fat Controller what Gordon said earlier - a really useful engine never needs help. Edward remarks that he is always helping Gordon up the hill, which makes Gordon blush with embarrassment.

Thomas sets off with Edward and Percy helping him. Edward takes the chickens from the school to market, Percy takes the sheep from the market to the farm, and Thomas collects the children from the farm and brings them to the school. That night, Thomas finally gets some much needed sleep in Tidmouth Sheds.

Characters

 * Thomas
 * Edward
 * Gordon
 * Emily
 * Sir Topham Hatt
 * Henry (does not speak)
 * Percy (does not speak)
 * Annie and Clarabel (do not speak)
 * James (cameo)
 * Caroline (cameo)
 * Stephen Hatt (cameo)
 * Farmer McColl (mentioned)

Locations

 * Tidmouth Sheds
 * The School
 * McColl Farm
 * Henry's Tunnel
 * Gordon's Hill
 * Wellsworth
 * The Windmill
 * Maron
 * Sir Topham Hatt's Office
 * Mr. Jolly's Chocolate Factory
 * The Coaling Plant (mentioned)

Trivia

 * Stock footage from Thomas Saves the Day and Thomas and the Circus is used.
 * The flags of the Philippines, China, Hong Kong, India, and Russia can be seen in the school.
 * According to a magazine poster, the farmer with the sheep is Farmer Collett who appears in several magazine stories.
 * This was the last episode to use stop-motion animation on static models.
 * Going by production order, this is the eighteenth episode of the eighth season.
 * Edward remarking him always helping Gordon up the hill might be a reference from the first season episode, Edward and Gordon, the sixth season episode, Edward the Very Useful Engine, and the eighth season episode, You Can Do it, Toby!

Goofs

 * In the stop-motion animation sequence of the teachers unloading the chickens, the end van moves.

Merchandise

 * Books - Thomas' Busy Day
 * Magazine Stories - Chickens to School

Home Media Releases
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UK/AUS

 * Peep! Peep! Hurray! Three Cheers for Thomas
 * The Complete Eighth Series

UK DVD Boxsets

 * Classic Collection
 * 5 Adventurous DVDs
 * Triple Pack
 * The Ultimate Collection

AUS DVD Boxsets

 * 60th Anniversary - Limited Edition Boxset
 * Complete Series 1-10

US

 * Thomas' Sodor Celebration!

DVD Boxsets

 * Celebrate with Thomas
 * 60th Anniversary DVD
 * Steamies vs. Diesels and Other Thomas Adventures/Thomas' Sodor Celebration!
 * Fun Pack
 * The Essential Collection (5 DVD Boxset)

MYS

 * Back to School Compilation
 * Don't Tell Thomas and Other Adventures
 * Emily's New Route and Other Adventures

POL

 * Thomas and Circus

SPN

 * Thomas and Friends - Volume 3 (Spanish DVD)

DVD Boxsets

 * First Season (Spanish DVD)

NOR

 * Thomas Saves the Day/Thomas the Hero
 * Play and Learn

FIN/DEN/SWE

 * Thomas Saves the Day/Thomas the Hero

HUN

 * Thomas the Tank Engine 4 - Gordon, a Role Model

DVD Boxsets

 * Thomas the Tank Engine & Gift Keys extension box

THA

 * Thomas and Friends - Volume 37 (Thai DVD)

ROM

 * Beep! Beep! Hooray!
 * Thomas and Friends - Vol. 4 (Romanian DVD)

DVD Packs

 * Triple Pack 3
 * Six DVD Set

SA

 * Peep! Peep! Hurray! Three Cheers for Thomas

JPN

 * Thomas the Tank Engine Series 8 Vol.5

TWN
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 * Thomas and Friends Volume 22 (Taiwanese DVD)