Percy and the Calliope

"Percy, what is making that music?" "It's the calliope, Sir. We were told to take it to the Smelter's Yard, but I got it to work!" "Well done, Percy! I am very proud of you! You have saved an important piece of Sodor's history."

- The Fat Controller and Percy

Percy and the Calliope is the tenth episode of the sixteenth season.

Plot
One morning, Percy and Diesel are tasked with collecting scrap. Their last stop is the Duke and Duchess of Boxford's Summerhouse where they pick up a very peculiar piece of scrap. The Duchess explains that the rusty, old organ is called a calliope and was used at summer fairs to play music. Percy is very interested in the calliope and thinks it would be wonderful to hear it. Diesel does not share Percy's enthusiasm and thinks the old piece of scrap belongs in the Smelter's Yard. Percy thinks it would be a shame to scrap the calliope and is determined to get it working again. Diesel laughs, but Percy is sure he will get the calliope working before they arrive at the Smelter's.

Along the line, the heavy work tires Percy out and, much to Diesel's annoyance, he has to stop and take on water. As he is being filled with water, Percy gets an idea - perhaps water can make the calliope work. Percy abruptly reverses so that the calliope is under the watertower's hose. Water gushes into the old pipes. Percy expects to hear music, but the only noise coming from the calliope is a loud gurgle. Diesel chuckles at Percy's attempt, but the little engine is sure he can get it working.

The two engines trundle towards the Smelter's Yard. The heavy work uses a lot of coal and it is not long before Percy has to stop for more. At the coal hopper, Percy's bunker is filled with coal. Percy gets another idea and, as the chute is still pouring coal, he reverses suddenly causing coal to rumble into the pipes of the calliope. Diesel is surprised, but Percy explains that if coal makes him work, perhaps it will make the calliope work. The calliope does not make music, just a big cloud of coal dust which covers Percy. Diesel cackles, but Percy is still determined to get the calliope in working order.

It is not long before Percy and Diesel have to stop at a level crossing. On the road, the Fat Controller is having problems of his own; his car will not start. Percy offers to help, but there is nothing the steam engine can do, except watch. The Fat Controller's bodyguards push the car and suddenly it roars into action. Seeing the men push the car gives Percy an idea. Soon the calliope is uncoupled from the scrap train and Percy pushes it along the line and up Gordon's Hill. The pipes rattle, but no music plays. When Percy reaches the top of the hill, he stops but the calliope does not. The coupling has snapped and the calliope hurtles down the hill at a tremendous speed. When it hits the bend in the line, the calliope derails. Percy feels terrible and blows a sad whistle. Diesel laughs, stating that the whistle is the only piece of music he has heard all day. This gives Percy a very good idea. His driver connects a length of hose from Percy's piston to the calliope. Percy puffs steam into the calliope and with a rumble, the calliope starts to play. The Fat Controller pulls up and inquires about the music and Percy explains everything. The Fat Controller is very proud of Percy for saving a valuable piece of the Island's history. The Fat Controller then tells Percy to take the calliope to the Steamworks where Victor restores it.

Characters

 * Percy
 * Diesel
 * Sir Topham Hatt
 * The Duchess of Boxford
 * Victor (does not speak)
 * The Duke of Boxford (does not speak)
 * Thomas (cameo)
 * Henry (cameo)
 * James (cameo)
 * Rosie (cameo)
 * Whiff (cameo)
 * Scruff (cameo)
 * Rocky (cameo)
 * Cranky (cameo)
 * Kevin (cameo)

Percy's driver and fireman groan.

Locations

 * The Duke and Duchess of Boxford's Summer House
 * Sodor Steamworks
 * Gordon's Hill
 * Brendam Docks
 * Whiff's Waste Dump
 * The Coal Hopper
 * The Smelter's Yard (mentioned)

Trivia

 * The music the calliope plays is the original Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends theme. Mike O'Donnell and Junior Campbell receive credit for it.
 * In Germany and Hungary, this episode is titled as "Percy and the Steam Organ". In Japan it is called "Percy and the Pipe-Organ".
 * This is the final episode to feature Michael Brandon as Diesel.

Goofs

 * A brakevan should have been added to Percy and Diesel's train.
 * Surely the Duke and Duchess would have tried to make the calliope work before scrapping it? And if they had, how was Percy able to make it work?
 * Percy should not have been able to puff backwards without his crew in his cab.
 * How did the calliope move when it was filled with coal and water?
 * Level crossings are meant to stop road traffic, not rail traffic.
 * Percy should have known that pushing the calliope would not make it play music.
 * How was the calliope put back on the tracks?
 * The coal, water, and crash surely would have damaged the calliope.
 * The texture for two tracks outside of the Steamworks is missing in the last shot.

Merchandise

 * Wooden Railway - Percy's Musical Ride (Percy and the calliope)