Fish

"Hello Duck! Going fishing? I'd take care If I were you." "Why?" "Well for one thing, if fish get into an engines boiler, they always cause trouble. And for another, fish can be awfully smelly. And I know what I'm talking about. Good night."

- Thomas advising Duck

Fish is the twenty-fourth episode of the fourth season. In the US, it first aired in the Mr. Conductor's Thomas Tales episode, Paint the Town Red in 1996.

Plot
A special load of fish is ordered and extra vans are needed for "The Flying Kipper" and, to Henry's annoyance, the only vans available are old and unused. Duck shunts them into position and moments later, Thomas arrives with the post train and he warns him to take care, reminding him of his own experience with fish. Henry is still complaining about his extra load, but his driver tells him that at least another engine will be there to help.

At Wellsworth, Duck waits for Henry and when he arrives he moves to the back to help him to the top of Gordon's Hill. As the train nears the top of the hill, the tail-lamp falls off. After that, Henry slows down while Duck suddenly loses sight of the train and as he frantically runs after it he crashes into the last van causing loads of fish to spill out and bringing the train to a halt.

The next morning, Edward arrived with the Breakdown crane & the workmen cleaned up the mess and the missing tail lamp is found at the bottom of the hill. The Fat Controller tells Duck that the accident was not his fault and that the crew should have fitted the tail lamp on properly, and Duck reflects that Thomas' earlier advice about fish was right.

Characters

 * Thomas
 * Henry
 * Duck
 * Sir Topham Hatt
 * Edward (does not speak)
 * James (cameo)
 * Percy (cameo)
 * Skarloey (stock footage cameo)
 * Rheneas (stock footage cameo)
 * Gordon (mentioned)

Locations

 * Lakeside
 * Tidmouth Harbour
 * Wellsworth
 * Gordon's Hill
 * The Lighthouse
 * The Seaside Village
 * Road Beside Rail and Canal Runby

Trivia

 * This episode is based on the story of the same name from The Railway Series book, Really Useful Engines.
 * This marks Duck's last leading role until the seventeenth season episode, The Thomas Way.
 * Either alternative or edited footage from A Bad Day for Sir Handel is used.
 * The first season episode, Thomas Goes Fishing is referenced.
 * Crates labelled "Fulton's" can be seen during the episode; these are either a reference to Fulton's Fish Market in New York City or set dressing props from the sister television series TUGS.

Goofs

 * Duck's eyes are wonky in some scenes.
 * Throughout the episode, Thomas has Edward's whistle sound.
 * Thomas' eyes are wonky in the first close up shot of him.
 * When the narrator says "Henry was pulling his train harder than he realised", Henry's eyes are wonky.
 * Henry's lamp is not on his lamp iron.
 * In a close up shot of Duck, his lamp has no light.

Quotes
Duck: Thank you sir, Thomas told me to be careful about fish. They got me in a right pickle, didn't they?

UK

 * Thomas and Stepney and other Stories
 * Thomas' Train and 17 other stories
 * The Complete Fourth Series
 * Classic Collection

WAL

 * Help and 15 other stories

US

 * Henry and the Elephant (DVD)
 * Fun With Thomas

AUS

 * Thomas and Stepney and other Stories
 * The Complete Fourth Series

DVD Packs

 * Complete Series 1-10

JPN

 * New Thomas the Tank Engine Vol.3
 * The Complete Works of Thomas the Tank Engine 2 Vol.2
 * Crash and Smash! Look Out!
 * Best of Henry

GER

 * Thomas Animal Adventure

NOR

 * Thomas and Stepney (Norwegian VHS)

ITA

 * Here Comes the Queen

UKR

 * A Train Thomas and Friends