Ghost Train

"Let me in! Let me in!" "No, no! Not by the smoke of my chimney, chim chim!" "I'll Chuff, and I'll puff, and I'll break your door in!"

- Percy and Toby

Ghost Train, retitled Percy's Ghostly Trick in American releases, is the twenty-fourth episode of the second season. In the US, this story aired on the Shining Time Station episodes Things that Go Ga-Hooga in the Night in 1989 and Scare Dares in 1991 and the Mr. Conductor's Thomas Tales episode, Missing Whistles in 1996.

Plot
Percy is telling Thomas and Toby the story of a ghost train that his driver told him the night before. Percy is afraid to think of it, however Thomas does not believe a word and runs off calling Percy a silly little engine. Percy tells his driver that Thomas did not believe in the ghost and Percy's driver explains that he does not either; it was a story on television. Percy cannot help but be disappointed.

That evening, after his work at the harbour is done, Percy runs back to the shed. Percy enjoys running at night and knows exactly where he is despite the dark. What Percy does not know is that a broken cart of lime is ahead on the tracks. While Sam the farmer has gone for help, Percy comes down the line and smashes the cart to pieces and the lime completely covers Percy, who runs to the nearest signal box.

At the signal, Percy meets Toby and his driver explains to the signalman what happened. The signalman arranges to sort out the hazard on the line, but suggests Percy be cleaned up as he looks like a ghost. This gives Percy an idea to scare Thomas and asks not to be cleaned yet. Toby promises to help.

At the shed, a scared Toby arrives and tells Thomas, who is preparing to take his evening train, that Percy has had an accident. Thomas is concerned for Percy, but also worries that this will make him late. Toby tells him the line has been cleared, but that he thinks he saw Percy's ghost. Thomas is unconcerned and tells Toby not to worry.

However, after this, a ghostly voice comes from outside demanding to be let in. Thomas is frightened as the shed doors open and reveal what appears to be Percy's ghost. Thomas, terrified, quickly runs off to collect Annie and Clarabel.

The next morning, Thomas finally returns and meets Toby at the station. Toby asks what happened and Thomas reveals he slept in the goods shed claiming he did not want to intrude as Toby would be sad about Percy. However, as he makes his excuses, Percy whistles in the distance and Thomas runs off.

Percy, now cleaned up and none the worse for his adventure, arrives having heard everything. Percy cannot help but be pleased as Toby remarks that Thomas is acting as if he had seen a ghost.

Characters

 * Thomas
 * Percy
 * Toby
 * Annie and Clarabel (do not speak)
 * Percy's Ghost Engine (does not speak)
 * Sam the Farmer (mentioned; deleted scene)
 * Terence (deleted scene)

Locations

 * The Viaduct
 * Tidmouth
 * Ffarquhar Sheds
 * The Watermill
 * The Windmill
 * Anopha Quarry
 * Crowe's Farm Crossing
 * Knapford Harbour (mentioned)

Trivia

 * This episode is based on the story of the same name from The Railway Series book, Tramway Engines.
 * The ghost engine is just Percy covered in white streamers and with Edward's whistle.
 * In all narrations (except for Japan), when Toby says "Anyone would think that our Thomas had just seen a ghost", the word ghost is said with a spooky echo.
 * Percy and Toby's exchange at the sheds spoofs The Three Little Pigs.
 * The crate of treacle, later used in the next episode, is seen when Percy scares Thomas at the end.
 * A deleted scene shows Terence with the lime cart.
 * When Thomas interrupts Percy during his ghost story at the beginning, it is daytime in the original version of the episode, but in the restored version of the episode, it's close to dusk.
 * Ringo Starr's US narration of this episode has been broadcast on the Shining Time Station episode Things that Go Ga-Hooga in the Night, but was never released on home video in any form.
 * This is the first Halloween-themed episode of the entire series.

Goofs

 * In the opening shot of the viaduct, a light on the scaffolding goes on a bit too late.
 * When Percy turns up at the signal box, he is covered in lime but his driver and his fireman are spotless when they should be covered in lime too.
 * In the shot of Toby telling Thomas about Percy's accident you can tell the film was cut, as his eyes jerk from up to down.
 * For some reason, in the restored version, Toby leaves Percy to go to the sheds a little later than he did in the original version and the scene of him leaving is sped up. To add to that the puffing noise starts before we see him do it.
 * During the scene when Thomas visits Toby at the station after his scare, Thomas is right next to Toby for the wide shots, but a little farther forward during his close-ups.
 * As Thomas leaves the sheds, his lamp is not turned on.
 * When Percy is puffing through the valley, he has a black box attached to his cab.
 * When Percy comes into the shed, Toby's face mask is loose.

Merchandise

 * TrackMaster - Ghostly Percy (discontinued)
 * Magazine stories - Ghost Train

Home Media Releases
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UK

 * The Deputation
 * The Complete Second Series
 * The Very Best of Thomas and Friends
 * The Best of Thomas
 * The Best of Percy
 * Edward's Exploit (UK DVD)

VHS/DVD Packs

 * Ghost Train and other stories/Time for Trouble and other stories
 * The Best of Friends
 * The Fogman/The Very Best of Thomas & Friends Double Pack
 * 10 DVD Boxset (2014)
 * Adventure On the Tracks
 * Classic Collection

AUS

 * The Deputation
 * The Complete Second Series
 * The Very Best of Thomas and Friends
 * The Best of Thomas and Friends - Volume 1

DVD Boxsets

 * 60th Anniversary - Limited Edition Boxset
 * Complete Series 1-10

NZ

 * The Deputation and Other Stories
 * Bumper Video Collection Volume 3

US

 * Percy's Ghostly Trick and Other Thomas Stories
 * 10 Years of Thomas
 * Best of Percy
 * Thomas' Halloween Adventures
 * The Greatest Stories
 * Season 2 (Digital Download)

VHS/DVD Packs

 * Platinum Edition
 * Thomas' Fan Favorite Adventures
 * Best Tales on the Tracks
 * Totally Thomas Volume 7
 * Adventure On the Tracks
 * Ultimate Thomas Collection
 * Percy's Ghostly Trick/Spills and Chills Double Pack
 * Percy's Ghostly Trick/Thomas' Halloween Adventures Double Feature
 * Thomas Gets Tricked/Percy's Ghostly Trick Double Feature
 * Thomas Gets Tricked and Other Stories/Thomas' Halloween Adventures Double Feature

NOR

 * Ghost Train (Norwegian VHS)

NL

 * The Ghost Train (Dutch DVD)
 * The Greatest Stories: The Adventures of Thomas, Percy and Gordon

HRV

 * Better Late Than Never (Croatian DVD)

GER

 * Heroes on Rails
 * Thomas and His Friends Vol. 5

UKR

 * A Train Thomas and Friends

PHL

 * Edward's Exploit (DVD)

JPN

 * Thomas the Tank Engine Vol.11
 * The Complete Works of Thomas the Tank Engine 1 Vol.6
 * Strange Story of Thomas the Tank Engine
 * Thomas and Percy and the Dragon

DVD Boxsets

 * The Complete DVD Box 1

MYS

 * The Deputation and Other Adventures

SA

 * Volume 4 (VHS)

ITA

 * The Brave Locomotive

IN

 * Ghost Train and Other Stories

ROM

 * Thomas Comes to Breakfast (Romanian DVD)

DVD Packs

 * Triple Pack 2

CHN

 * Thomas and Friends Season 1-4 (DVD)

THA

 * Thomas and Friends - Volume 8 (Thai DVD)

TWN
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 * Thomas and Friends Volume 5 (Taiwanese DVD)