Useful Locomotives

Useful Locomotives is the sixth German audio book.

Fish and Fireworks
As always, all the locomotives on the Island of Sodor are busy. The Fat Controller gives Thomas a "piquant" special job: He is supposed to help the overloaded Arthur transporting trucks with fish to the docks. It is not exactly Thomas' favourite job because he cannont stand fish and it gets even worse! In the end, everything is good and the beloved harvest fireworks can take place.

Gravel and Coal
Gordon, the mightiest and fastest steam locomotive on the island, has got problems. First, he is annoyed by the unfriendly Diesel, and then he suddenly hears strange noises from his inside! Maybe it is true after all? Is he actually ready for the scrap yard? Gordon tries to hide his suffering from the eyes and ears of the other locomotives. Not so easy though, because the annual examination of the railway inspector is getting closer!

Voice Cast
Some trucks and children speak, too. It is unknown who voiced them.
 * Manfred Steffen as the narrator
 * Dirk Bach as Thomas
 * Lutz Herkenrath as Henry
 * Jürgen Holdorf as Gordon
 * Tobias Schmidt as James
 * Achim Schülke as Percy
 * Judy Winter as Emily
 * Christian Rudolf as Diesel
 * Holger Potzern as 'Arry
 * Erik Schäffler as Salty
 * Renate Pichler as Annie
 * Marion Martienzen as Clarabel
 * Michael Weckler as James' driver
 * Konstantin Graudus as the stationmaster
 * Wolfgang Hartmann as the railway inspector
 * Jörg Gillner as the Fat Controller

Trivia

 * The stories are based on the eighth series episodes Fish, Thomas and the Firework Display, Squeak, Rattle and Roll and Spic and Span.
 * However, they are adapted in a way that they merge into each other: Thomas and the Firework Display take place right after Fish and Spic and Span plays during the events Squeak, Rattle and Roll.
 * This was the last audio book and therefore the last production narrated by Manfred Steffen.

Goofs

 * Salty is described as being a steam engine.