Thomas and the Snowman Party

"I found a hat! I found a hat! The children will be pleased with that!"

- Thomas

Thomas and the Snowman Party is the thirteenth episode of the fourteenth season.

Plot
A "snowman party" is to be held at the Town Hall, with special appearances by Farmer McColl and his dog, the Brass Band, and Mr. Bubbles. Sir Topham Hatt asks Thomas to collect an important package from Knapford Station. Before leaving, Thomas notices the children building the snowman are upset because it does not have a hat. Thomas promises to find one, deviating away from his job.

Along the way, he finds three hats: one from McColl Farm, one at Maron Station, and one at Maithwaite. On his way to Knapford for the package, Toby reminds him about the children, so Thomas hurries back to the Town Hall. But instead, he finds that Farmer McColl, the Brass Band, and Mr. Bubbles have all lost their hats and cannot make it to the party.

Realizing his mistake, Thomas rushes off to collect the package from Knapford, and then collects the guests. The package is revealed to contain a new top hat for Sir Topham Hatt, who gives his old hat to the children to use on their snowman.

Characters

 * Thomas
 * James
 * Percy
 * Toby
 * Sir Topham Hatt
 * Mr. Bubbles
 * The Ginger-haired Boy
 * Annie and Clarabel (do not speak)
 * Farmer McColl (does not speak)
 * Sodor Brass Band (do not speak)
 * Rosie (cameo)
 * Stanley (cameo)
 * The Duke of Boxford (cameo)
 * The Bird Watcher (cameo)

Locations

 * Town Square
 * McColl Farm
 * Maron
 * Knapford
 * Maithwaite
 * The Fenland Track
 * Brendam Docks (mentioned)
 * Sodor Bakery (mentioned)

Trivia

 * Going by production order, this is the fourteenth episode of the fourteenth season.
 * Almost every television guide in the UK refers to this episode as Thomas and the Hats. That could have been the original title.
 * A poster at Maithwaite station shows a scene from the opening titles of Hero of the Rails.
 * In Japan this episode is called "Hat Snowman". In German it's called "Thomas and his Snowman Party".

Goofs

 * Thomas and his crew should have known to take one hat, because the children built one snowman, however, they should have known better than to take the hats, without a people's permission.