The Grand Opening

"My hat is ruined!" "So is mine."

- Lady Hatt and the Fat Controller

The Grand Opening is the twenty-first episode of the seventh season.

Plot
Skarloey is often late doing maintainence work and the Fat Controller is cross and worried that he may be late for the grand opening of Rumblin Bridge station. On the day of the grand opening Lady Hatt and the Fat Controller charter the hot air balloon to take them to Rumblin Bridge, but the balloon's burner runs out of fuel and the balloon falls into a tree. Luckily, Skarloey, who is as late as ever, is nearby and the Hatts hitch a ride with him to the station.

Characters

 * Skarloey
 * Peter Sam
 * Rusty
 * Sir Topham Hatt
 * Lady Hatt
 * Harold (does not speak)
 * Rheneas (cameo)
 * Duncan (cameo)
 * Thomas (cameo)
 * Annie (cameo)
 * Tiger Moth (cameo)

Locations

 * Rumblin Bridge
 * Dryaw
 * The Skarloey Railway Viaduct

Trivia

 * Stock footage from Something Fishy is used.

Goofs

 * When Skarloey puffs into the station at the beginning, the puffing sound does not match the speed at which he is travelling.
 * When the Fat Controller says "The wind direction is perfect", his arm slowly slides downward.
 * Skarloey's brakevan is referred to as a box car in the US narration.
 * The Skarloey Railway is incorrectly referred to as the Mountain Railway.
 * The pilot is smiling when the hot air balloon's flame goes out.
 * In the UK narration, the narrator says "Sir Topham Hatt" twice.

Quotes

 * Lady Hatt (as balloon starts to fall): I want to get off!
 * The Fat Controller: Not now, dear.