Merry Winter Wish

"It's called the Star of Knapford. It's a very special star. If an engine passes by it they can make a wish and maybe, just maybe, their wish will come true."

- Salty

Merry Winter Wish is the twelfth episode of the fourteenth season.

Plot
Knapford station is to be decorated with lots of festive lights, including one big special light - the Star of Knapford. Thomas is given the job of delivering the special light from Brendam to Knapford, but Salty arrives with some exciting news. He tells the engines that engines and people can make wishes upon the star and that maybe, just maybe, those wishes will come true. Thomas is now even more excited and sets off with his special special.

At a junction, Thomas sees Percy clatter over a bridge and thinks that Percy would like to make a wish. He chases Percy and finally catches up with him. Percy makes his wish and Thomas sets off once again. Thomas then sees Henry. Thomas thinks that Henry might like to make a wish too. So he follows him to Tidmouth Sheds where Henry does make a wish. Finally, Thomas sees James whiz past. Thomas chases after James to see if he would like to make a wish. Thomas follows James up Gordon's Hill, but, coming down the other side, Thomas slips and slides on the icy rails and cannot stop. When he finally grinds to halt, the star flies off his flatbed and through the air and crashes onto the tracks in front of Thomas. Thomas worries that none of his friends' wishes will come true and wonders how he can get the star to Knapford. He makes a wish on the broken star that his friends will come and help him. His wish comes true when a concerned Henry, James, and Percy arrive to help.

Percy keeps an eye on the star, Henry collects some workmen to fix it, and James and Thomas fetch Rocky. The star is soon mended and the friends chuff quickly to Knapford. Once there, the star is lifted into place on the station's roof. Everyone cheers and claps when the star is lit up. Thomas apologises for his friends' wishes not coming true, but they have. Henry, James, and Percy reveal that their wishes were that they would all be under the Star of Knapford together.

Characters

 * Thomas
 * Henry
 * James
 * Percy
 * Salty
 * Sir Topham Hatt
 * A dockyard worker
 * Rocky (does not speak)
 * Cranky (does not speak)
 * Gordon (cameo)
 * Emily (cameo)
 * Rosie (cameo)
 * Stanley (cameo)
 * Jeremiah Jobling (cameo)
 * The Bird Watcher (cameo)

Locations

 * Knapford
 * Brendam Docks
 * Tidmouth Sheds
 * Gordon's Hill
 * The Watermill

Trivia

 * Almost every television guide in the UK refers to this episode as Thomas' Winter Wish, which may mean this was the episode's original British title.
 * In Norway, this episode is called "Merry Christmas Wish". The German title is "The Star of Knapford". In Japan this episode is titled "You Can Grant a Wish".
 * The episode was re-narrated for the UK to replace the "Winter Holidays" lines with "Christmas Holidays".

Goofs

 * Brakevans should have been added to Rosie, James, Percy, and Thomas' trains.
 * When Thomas chases James, James is facing the same way as Thomas. But when the star flies through the air, James somehow turns around.
 * Thomas, James, Percy, and Henry have never heard of the Star of Knapford before, but they have been on Sodor longer than Salty.
 * The Star of Knapford flew a lot farther than really possible.
 * On the trip to Knapford, Thomas and Percy have lamps, but Henry and James do not.
 * James says that being together was his wish, but he did not get a chance to make a wish.
 * When the star is put back on Thomas' flatbed, it is never reattached. Rocky simply puts the star down and Thomas puffs away.
 * When Thomas chases Percy, they both pass a red signal.
 * At Knapford, Henry just pushes Rocky and lets him roll on his own.