Passengers and Polish

"No passengers means no polish." "And no polish means no passengers!"

- Sir Topham Hatt and Duncan

Passengers and Polish is the thirteenth episode of the fourth season. In the US, it first aired on Mr. Conductor's Thomas Tales in 1996.

Plot
Nancy, the guard's daughter, has just finished polishing Skarloey. Duncan wants a polish too, but Nancy does not have time and Duncan is furious. He later has to put one of Skarloey's coaches back on the rails and take the passengers home, making him angrier still. He soon loses his patience and stalls on the viaduct. Skarloey pulls him home and the Fat Controller reprimands him.

Characters

 * Skarloey
 * Duncan
 * Sir Topham Hatt
 * Nancy
 * Rheneas (does not speak)
 * The Refreshment Lady (does not speak)
 * Thomas (cameo)
 * Percy (cameo)
 * Mrs. Kyndley (cameo)
 * Jeremiah Jobling (cameo)
 * Jem Cole (cameo)
 * Farmer Trotter (cameo)
 * Sir Handel (mentioned)
 * Peter Sam (mentioned)

Locations

 * Callan
 * Crovan's Gate
 * Lakeside
 * Rheneas
 * Skarloey
 * Sodor Castle
 * The Skarloey Railway Viaduct
 * Skarloey Railway Engine Sheds

Trivia

 * This episode is based on the story of the same name from The Railway Series book, Gallant Old Engine.
 * Nancy's rag is a piece of blu-tak.
 * Stock footage from A Bad Day for Sir Handel is used.
 * When the passengers are complaining, one of them says "We're losing money!"
 * The Norwegian title is "Glory and Gaudiness". In the Netherlands it is titled "Travelers and Paint". It is called "No Polishing Duncan" in Italy. The German title is "To a High Gloss for Passengers". In Japan, it is called "Brush the Body".
 * A rare picture shows Duncan smiling on the viaduct.
 * In the US, this episode aired before Home at Last, so the audience would not know who Duncan is.

Goofs

 * In the close-up of Duncan complaining about not being polished at the beginning, his face moves. In the same shot, a hair or piece of wire can be seen behind Skarloey.
 * Before Duncan gets told off, Rheneas can be seen in the shed next to Skarloey. But Rheneas is supposed to be off being mended.
 * In Skarloey's flashback, either Skarloey or Rheneas has Sir Handel's whistle sound.
 * When Duncan passes through Crovan's Gate, either he or Percy has a different whistle sound.
 * When Duncan takes Skarloey's train, it somehow turns around.