Thomas' Tricky Tree

"Don't ye know what a Christmas tree looks like? It's tall and green and pointy!"

- Duncan teasing Thomas

Thomas' Tricky Tree is the seventh episode of the tenth season.

Plot
It's Christmastime, and the Skarloey Railway Engines are busy taking passengers and freight. Thomas is on his way to the Wharf to collect the Christmas tree from Sir Handel for the Fat Controller. However, upon arrival, Thomas can't find it. Duncan asks Thomas if he's looking for something, so Thomas explains. Duncan can't help but tease Thomas that he doesn't know what a Christmas tree looks like, making Thomas cross; he gets even more cross when Duncan suggests to Peter Sam that Thomas needs their help, which Thomas right-down refuses.

Thomas sets off to find the Christmas tree himself. First, he meets Sir Handel, who is about to explain that he's got the Christmas tree on his flatbed. But, Thomas interrupts him, jumping to the conclusion that Sir Handel (like Peter Sam and Duncan) is teasing him, and wants to help him find the Christmas tree, leaving Sir Handel feeling confused.

Thomas carries on around the Wharf, and meets Rusty in a warehouse, who asks Thomas if he needs help. Again, Thomas turns down Rusty's assistance. However, he begins to worry that he won't find the Christmas tree. In another warehouse, Thomas meets Skarloey, who ask if he needs help. Again, Thomas turns Skarloey down, not wanting to be teased by another narrow-gauge engine. Then, Thomas sees a flatbed with a green tarpaulin over it. Feeling excited, Thomas takes it, thinking that it's the Christmas tree that he's being looking for, but Skarloey is confused.

Thomas takes the flatbed out of the warehouse, but some frozen pointwork get the better of Thomas sending him into a siding. Thomas' flatbed crashes through the buffers and into the canal; but then, he realizes how silly he had being when Skarloey explains to Thomas that the flatbed had no Christmas tree on it - it was a load of pipes. Also, he goes onto explaining that Sir Handel delivered the tree earlier; so only he knows where it is, according to Duncan.

Thomas realizes that he had being very silly in thinking that, him being a standard-gauge engine, he knew better than the narrow-gauge engines. So admitting defeat, he goes off to the Transfer Yards to find Sir Handel, which is exactly where he is. After apologizing to Sir Handel, Thomas asks him for his assistance, which Sir Handel happily accepts. Going back to the Wharf, Thomas collects the Christmas tree and thanks Sir Handel for his help. Duncan apologizes to Thomas for teasing him, and in return, Thomas apologizes to Duncan for not asking for his assistance.

Once at the village, the Christmas tree is ready, and the Fat Controller switches on the Christmas lights. Thomas now knows that, no matter what size he and his friends are, he can still ask for their help.

Characters

 * Thomas
 * Skarloey
 * Sir Handel
 * Duncan
 * Rusty
 * Peter Sam (does not speak)
 * Mighty Mac (does not speak)
 * Sir Topham Hatt (does not speak)
 * James (cameo)
 * Mr. Percival (mentioned)

Locations

 * The Wharf
 * Transfer Yards
 * Mountain Village Station
 * The Old Wooden Bridge

Goofs

 * The water that splashes up from the canal is dyed blue.
 * How were the pipes floating in the canal? They were made of metal.
 * When Thomas puffs quickly away to find Sir Handel, a steam platform is clearly visible.
 * Brakevans should have been added to Thomas, Duncan, Peter Sam, Skarloey, and Sir Handel's trains.
 * When Thomas meets up with Skarloey, the narrator says that Thomas puffed into another warehouse even though it is the same warehouse where he met up with Rusty.
 * Peter Sam has Emily's seventh season whistle sound.