Flash Bang Wallop!

"I hope the photographer will take some photographs of me delivering the mail!" "I'll be photographed because I am the brighest red engine on the island!" "And I will be photographed because I am the number one tank engine!" "No Thomas, I will be photographed more than you because I am Gordon! I'm fastest and best and pull the express!"

- Percy, James, Thomas, and Gordon arguing over who will have their picture taken.

Flash Bang Wallop! is the sixth episode of the sixteenth season.

Plot
One morning, the engines are at Tidmouth Sheds when the Fat Controller arrives, holding a big book. The book is entitled Great Railways and is full of photographs of engines on the Mainland. The Fat Controller goes on to tell the engines that a photographer is coming to the island to take some photographs for a book featuring Sodor's engines. When the Fat Controller leaves, the engines chat excitedly about having their photos taken for the book. Gordon is sure that he will have the most photographs taken, but Thomas is determined to prove Gordon wrong and get into as many photos as he can.

Later, Thomas is transporting some pigs to Farmer Trotter's pig farm and spots the photographer about to take a photograph of Percy. Thomas speeds up and blocks Percy out of the photograph. Percy is surprised and swerves into a siding and ends up in a big pile of coal. Thomas carries on, unaware of Percy's accident. On his way to the farm, Thomas passes through Maron as Gordon thunders past with the express. Thomas is sure that Gordon will not have been in a photograph yet and decides to find the photographer to have another photo taken. At a junction, the photographer is waiting to take a photograph of James. Thomas wants to be in James' photograph and speeds up, resulting in Thomas blocking James out of the photo. James is surprised and veers into a siding, destroying a set of buffers and derailing. Thomas is so busy feeling pleased with himself, he does not notice James' derailment.

Thomas arrives at Farmer Trotter's pig farm and Gordon steams by, boasting that he has been in two photographs. Thomas is now more determined to be featured in even more photographs. Thomas sets off to find the photographer and soon spots him standing on a bridge about to take a photograph of Henry. Thomas charges towards the bridge, trying to get into Henry's shot. The photographer is startled and drops his camera, which smashes on the ground. The photographer is distraught. The Fat Controller steps down from Henry's cab. The Fat Controller is furious and tells Thomas about all the trouble that he has caused. Thomas is apologetic as now none of the engines can be photographed. The photographer tells Thomas that he has a spare camera at Brendam Docks, but there is not enough time to collect it. Thomas promises to fetch the camera and bring it back to the photographer in time.

At the Docks, Thomas picks up the camera and heads back to the photographer. On the way back, Thomas sees Percy in the heap of coal. Thomas promises to come back and help his friend after he has delivered the camera. Next he meets James and promises to rescue him as well. At the bridge, the spare camera is handed to the photographer who thanks Thomas before the little engine sets off to help his friends. He finds Rocky, who is being pushed to the docks by Edward. Thomas asks if Rocky can help him. Rocky is pleased to help and Thomas and Rocky set off to rescue James. Rocky lifts James back onto the rails and Thomas and Rocky race away to help Percy. Soon a grateful Percy is back on the rails too.

That evening, Thomas returns to Tidmouth Sheds exhausted. Gordon is sure that he is in more photographs than Thomas. The little tank engine does not care; he had to help his friends and that is more important than being in a photograph.

A few days later, the engines are all gathered at Knapford. The photographer was there, holding a big book. The book is entitled Sodor: The Great Railway and he presents it to the Fat Controller. Thomas gasps when he sees the cover of the book. It features a photograph of him and Rocky rescuing Percy. Thomas decides that a photo of he and his best friend is the best photograph of all and all the engines whistle in agreement.

Characters

 * Thomas
 * Edward
 * Henry
 * Gordon
 * James
 * Percy
 * Rocky
 * Sir Topham Hatt
 * The Photographer
 * Farmer Trotter (does not speak)
 * Toby (cameo)
 * Emily (cameo)
 * Rosie (cameo)
 * Stanley (cameo)
 * Hiro (cameo)
 * Scruff (cameo)
 * Henrietta (cameo)
 * City of Truro (cameo, appears in book)

Locations

 * Tidmouth Sheds
 * Farmer Trotter's Pig Farm
 * Knapford
 * Brendam Docks
 * Maron
 * Kirk Ronan Junction

Trivia

 * One of the photographs in the "Great Railways" book is of an R.R.'s Class 14A 2-6-2+2-6-2 Beyer-Garratt and another is of City of Truro. The front cover shows a Fowler 0-4-0 Diesel-mechanical locomotive.
 * Stock footage from Up, Up and Away! is used.
 * This episode's title is based on the song "Flash Bang Wallop" by British rock musician, Tommy Steele.

Goofs

 * When Thomas collects Rocky, the points are set against him.

Merchandise

 * Wooden Railway - Thomas' Pig Pick Up 2-pack and Farmhouse Pig Parade set (contains Thomas, a truck, the Photographer's Draisine, a farmhouse, and a bridge)
 * Books - Go, Go Thomas!/Express Coming Through! and Flash! Bang! Wallop!