Bowled Out

"My hat! You've sucked it through your air intake!" "Bother your hat!"

- The Inspector and Sir Topham Hatt

Bowled Out is the eighteenth episode of the fourth season. In the US, it first aired in the Mr. Conductor's Thomas Tales episode, For the Birds in 1996.

Plot
During the last few days of Stepney's visit to the North Western Railway, an engine shortage has occurred and the only engine available is a diesel. When the Diesel arrives he insults the engines almost immediately, claiming them to be out of date.

The engines are furious, but cannot think of a plan for revenge. There is no need though, as the Diesel sucks an inspector's bowler hat through his air-intake vent and breaks down just as he is about to take an express. Duck and Stepney who has longed for a long run, then volunteer in taking the train. Leaving the failed Diesel in the shed, the two engines set off down the Main Line and in record time reach Crovan's Gate where Gordon waits to take over.

Stepney leaves the next day and while the engines bid him farewell, the Diesel creeps sulkily away leaving only two things to remember him by: a bad smell, and a battered bowler hat.

Characters

 * Thomas
 * Edward
 * Henry
 * Gordon
 * James
 * Percy
 * Duck
 * Donald and Douglas
 * Stepney
 * The Diesel
 * Sir Topham Hatt
 * Skarloey (cameo)
 * Sir Handel (cameo)
 * Rusty (cameo)
 * Annie and Clarabel (cameo)
 * Bertie (cameo)
 * Stephen Hatt (cameo)

Locations

 * Tidmouth Sheds
 * Wellsworth
 * Gordon's Hill
 * Crovan's Gate
 * Skarloey Railway Engine Sheds
 * Shunting Yards
 * Bluebell Railway (mentioned)
 * Henry's Tunnel (deleted scene)

Trivia

 * Going by production order, this is the seventeenth episode of the fourth season.
 * This episode is based on the story of the same name from the Railway Series book, Stepney the "Bluebell" Engine.
 * This episode marks the final appearance of Sir Handel until the tenth season episode Follow that Flour. It also marks the last appearance of Crovan's Gate until the eighteenth season (excluding stock footage appearances in the seventh season).
 * In a rare picture, Gordon is in Henry's place when the Fat Controller makes the announcement.
 * According to the description on Thomas and the Special Letter and other stories, the Diesel was brought to Sodor to take over Daisy's work while she was ill.
 * This episode marks the Diesel's only speaking role to date and also his last appearance to date.

Goofs

 * The goods train next to James is being pushed by a crew member, as a shadow is seen.
 * Gordon's buffers are slightly crooked at different points in the episode.
 * When the Diesel arrives, James swaps tracks from the left of Donald and Douglas to the right and then back again.
 * A pipe can be seen on the Diesel's air-intake in the close-up of the inspector's hat.
 * Stepney is missing his crew in the first shot.
 * When the Diesel breaks down, he has his air-intake covered, but when the inspector notices his hat, his air-intake cover is off.
 * In the close-ups of Duck and Stepney during the scene where the Diesel breaks down, the scenery changes.
 * In the shot of Duck and Stepney puffing up Gordon's Hill, a red and blue wire can be seen in the middle coach. In the same shot, the track in front of the engines appears to sink just before they roll over it.
 * Bertie has Bulgy's horn sound.
 * James has Smudger's whistle sound when he leaves the station. Conversely, James is missing his whistle in this shot.
 * Gordon has Duck's whistle sound when he leaves the station.
 * After the Diesel grinds to a halt and the camera switches to Duck and Stepney and then back to the Diesel, he is slightly further away from the coaches.
 * When Duck and Stepney reach Gordon's Hill, Duck gains a lamp.
 * Gordon is missing his brake pipe.
 * In a rare still image, Gordon has a crooked buffer.
 * When the Diesel arrives at Tidmouth Sheds, the braking sound is heard long before he actually stops.
 * When the engines are whistling at Tidmouth Sheds, Percy's whistle sound is heard, but he is not in the sheds. This is because stock audio from Thomas' Christmas Party is used.
 * In the second shot, the camera lens can be seen at the top left hand corner.

Home Media Releases
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UK

 * Thomas' Train and 17 other stories (Direct-to-Home Video)
 * The Complete Fourth Series
 * Classic Collection

WAL

 * Thomas the Tank Engine: Bumper Special 2

US

 * Thomas and the Special Letter
 * Season 4 (Digital Download)

DVD Packs

 * James Goes Buzz Buzz and Other Thomas Stories/Thomas and the Special Letter and Other Stories
 * Totally Thomas Volume 6

AUS

 * Thomas and the Special Letter and other stories
 * All Aboard October!
 * The Complete Fourth Series

DVD Boxsets

 * Complete Series 1-10

JPN

 * New Thomas the Tank Engine Vol.6
 * I Will Not Loose to the Diesel
 * The Complete Works of Thomas the Tank Engine 2 Vol.6

PHL

 * Paint Pots and Queens (Philippine DVD)

NL

 * The Greatest Stories: The Adventures of Edward, Toby and the Diesels
 * Thomas and the Special Letter (Dutch DVD)

NOR

 * On New Adventures
 * The Old Coach

UKR

 * A Train Thomas and Friends
 * Thomas and Friends - Season 4 (Ukrainian DVD)

MYS

 * Peter Sam and the Refreshment Lady and Other Adventures
 * Passengers and Polish and Other Thomas Adventures

ITA

 * Here Comes the Queen

DK

 * The Brave Engine and Other Stories

GR

 * A Day at the Station

DVD Boxsets

 * 3 DVD Boxset 2

IN

 * Trucks and Other Stories

CHN

 * Thomas and Friends Season 1-4 (DVD)

TWN

 * Thomas and Friends Volume 10 (Taiwanese DVD)

THA

 * Thomas and Friends - Volume 14 (Thai DVD)
 * }}