Four Little Engines (episode)

"Old engines can't pull trains like the young ones can." "They can if they're mended, Old Faithful, and that's what's going to happen to you. You deserve it."

- Skarloey and his driver

Four Little Engines is the fifth episode of the fourth season. It first aired in the US in the Mr. Conductor's Thomas Tales episode, Wildlife in 1996.

Plot
Edward is sent to The Works to be mended. On the way, he meets a narrow gauge engine called Skarloey, who is resting in a shed and is lonely as his friend Rheneas is going to be mended. The two talk for a while, until some workmen came to take Edward. Edward says goodbye and that Skarloey's railway is lovely before leaving.

Meanwhile, Sir Handel is having issues with some coaches. His punishment has ended and tries to be kind to the coaches but they refuse to trust him and become awkward and rude. When he has to stop due to a flock of sheep straying onto the line, the coaches angrily think that he deliberately bumped them, so they lurch into Sir Handel and bump him off the rails. No disaster strikes and no one is hurt, but Sir Handel limps home. With no engine to take the passengers home, Skarloey volunteers and goes to fetch the coaches.

When Skarloey arrives, he scolds the coaches for their behaviour and how they would have hurt their passengers. The coaches apologise and as soon as the guard blows his whistle, Skarloey's journey begins. Skarloey stops at every station making good time until they get to a hill. Skarloey thinks it would be easy when they go down, but it is not, as Skarloey's springs become weak from age and the rail joints jar his wheels. But as soon they come down the hill his springs become completely broken, tilting him on one side. His driver says they would need a bus to take the passengers. Skarloey refuses the idea as he is determined to get them back to the last station.

Later, James waits impatiently at the station but Skarloey makes it on time. James collects the passengers and takes them home. Everyone is pleased, but Skarloey reflects afterwards that he is in no state to pull trains, but is delighted when his driver tells him he will be mended and that he deserves it.

Characters

 * Edward
 * Skarloey
 * James (does not speak)
 * Rheneas (does not speak)
 * Sir Handel (does not speak)
 * Peter Sam (does not speak)
 * Sir Topham Hatt (does not speak)
 * Thomas (cameo)
 * Percy (cameo)
 * Duck (cameo)
 * Donald or Douglas (cameo)
 * Oliver (cameo)
 * Annie and Clarabel (cameo)
 * Terence (cameo)
 * Mrs. Kyndley (cameo)

Locations

 * Crovan's Gate
 * Rheneas
 * Skarloey
 * Glennock
 * Callan
 * Rheneas Viaduct
 * Skarloey Railway Engine Sheds
 * The Works (mentioned)

Trivia

 * This episode is based on the stories Skarloey Remembers and Old Faithful from The Railway Series book of the same name.
 * This marks the last time that Peter Sam and Sir Handel are referred to as Falcon and Stuart.
 * This is the only episode in the entire series named after a Railway Series book, rather than one of the stories in the book.
 * Edward and James have different whistle sounds for the rest of the season.
 * This episode is the based after the events of future episodes. These being A Bad Day For Sir Handel and Peter Sam and the Refreshment Lady.

Goofs

 * When Edward passes Skarloey, some of his wheels are not moving.
 * Throughout this episode, Sir Handel has Rheneas' whistle sound.
 * In the Crovan's Gate scene, either Thomas or Duck has James' whistle sound and Annie is facing the wrong way.
 * After Skarloey leaves Crovan's Gate, the coaches lose their faces.
 * When Skarloey says, "It'll be better downhill," the stripe on his tank is crooked.
 * Skarloey becomes crooked before the spring breaks.
 * In a rare still, there are four coaches behind Sir Handel instead of three when he is bumped off the rails.
 * In a rare still, red and black wires are seen underneath Sir Handel's cab.
 * The front coach on Skarloey's train is swapped with another, as the bufferbeam is lower when being coupled.
 * When the narrator says "The coaches stood at the platform," Duck and his train aren't in the background.

Merchandise

 * Buzz Books - Four Little Engines

Home Media Releases
{{Scroll box|

UK

 * Chases, Races and Runaways
 * Truck Loads of Fun
 * The Complete Series 4

DVD Boxsets

 * Classic Collection
 * Bumper Party Collection! and Truck Loads of Fun Double Pack

US

 * Thomas Meets the Queen and Other Stories
 * Thomas & Friends Classic Volume 4

AUS

 * Thomas and the Special Letter and other stories (Australian VHS) (Direct-to-Home Video)
 * ABC For Kids - Bumper Collection
 * Truck Loads of Fun
 * The Complete Series 4

DVD Boxsets

 * 60th Anniversary - Limited Edition Boxset
 * Trainloads of Thomas Fun
 * Complete Series 1-10
 * Classic Collection
 * Series Three and Series Four Double Pack

NZ

 * Thomas and the Special Letter and other stories

WAL

 * Thomas the Tank Engine: Bumper Special 2

JPN

 * New Thomas the Tank Engine Vol.3 (Direct-to-Home Video)
 * The Complete Works of Thomas the Tank Engine 2 Vol.5
 * Look Out! Look Out! A Great Crisis

GR

 * A Day at the Station

DVD Boxsets

 * 3 DVD Boxset 2

NOR

 * Anniversary (Norwegian VHS/DVD)
 * The Old Coach (Norwegian VHS/DVD)

DK

 * Four Little Locomotives and Other Stories

MYS

 * Four Little Engines and Other Thomas Adventures
 * One Good Turn and Other Adventures

UKR

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

FIN

 * Rock 'n' Roll Locomotive (Finnish DVD)

IN

 * Oliver Owns Up and Other Stories

GER

 * Friends Help Friends

DVD Boxsets

 * Thomas and His Friends Box Set 1

NL

 * The Greatest Stories: The Adventures of Thomas, Percy and Gordon
 * Merry Christmas!

PHL

 * Four Little Engines (Philippine DVD)

ITA

 * The Sleeping Beauty

CHN

 * Thomas and Friends Season 1-4 (DVD)

THA

 * Thomas and Friends - Volume 12 (Thai DVD)

TWN

 * Thomas and Friends Volume 9 (Taiwanese DVD)|}}