Thomas and the Billboard

"I've never been on a billboard before!"

- Thomas

"Thomas and the Billboard" is the first episode of the twelfth season.

Plot
It's Knapford Station's birthday and all the engines are preparing for the festivities. When a photographer comes to photograph the engines for a billboard Diesel accidentally obscures Thomas; Thomas thinks this was on purpose and is so distracted he goes the wrong way and knocks the billboard over. This gives an opportunity for all the engines to be in a new photo, but when Diesel isn't told, he has to do all the others' jobs. Everything is soon rectified and the new photo is put up at Knapford.

Featured characters

 * Thomas
 * Gordon
 * James
 * Emily
 * Diesel
 * Sir Topham Hatt
 * Sodor Brass Band
 * Percy (does not speak)
 * Edward (cameo)
 * Henry (cameo)
 * Toby (cameo)
 * Annie and Clarabel (cameo)

Trivia

 * Michael Angelis and Michael Brandon narrated this episode in the UK and US respectively, even though Pierce Brosnan was touted to narrate all twelfth season episodes.
 * Going by production order, this is the third episode of the twelfth season.

Goofs

 * It is impossible for the photograph to be taken and put up on a billboard within a day.
 * When the billboard is first seen a rope is covering Gordon's face, but when it is seen closer Gordon's face is not covered.
 * The narrator said that Diesel was puffing straight to Tidmouth but Diesel is a diesel.
 * The narrator says that Thomas took a branchline back to Tidmouth Sheds. A branchline finishes at a dead end - it's not a through route.
 * When the narrator says that no one had noticed Diesel's absence, Gordon and Henry change places.
 * When the engines gather at Knapford Henry has Gordon's face.
 * There is no mention of the old billboard being lifted out of the lake.
 * When the CGI eyelids blink, you can sometimes see through them.
 * Michael Brandon gives the Fat Controller a different voice.