Four Little Engines (episode)

"Old engines can't pull trains like the young ones can." "They can if they're mended, Old Faithful, and that's what's going to happen to you. You deserve it."

- Skarloey and his driver

Four Little Engines is the fifth episode of the fourth season. It first aired in the US in the Mr. Conductor's Thomas Tales episode, Wildlife in 1996 and aired on the last airing of Storytime with Thomas on Fox Family.

Plot
Edward is sent to The Works to be mended. On the way, he meets a narrow gauge engine called Skarloey, who is resting in a shed and is lonely as his brother Rheneas is going to be mended. The two talk for a while, until some workmen came to take Edward. Edward says goodbye and that Skarloey's railway is lovely before leaving.

Meanwhile, Sir Handel, with his punishment ended, is pulling some awkward and rude coaches who don't trust him whatsoever when he has to stop suddenly due to a flock of sheep straying onto the line. The coaches become angry, thinking that he deliberately bumped them, they bump him off the rails. No one is hurt, and Sir Handel limps home. With no engine to take the passengers home, Skarloey volunteers and goes to fetch the coaches.

When Skarloey arrives, he scolds the coaches for their behaviour and how they would have hurt their passengers. The coaches apologise and as soon as the guard blows his whistle, Skarloey's journey begins. Skarloey stops at every station making good time until they get to a hill. Skarloey thinks it would be easy when they go down, but it is not, as Skarloey's springs become weak from age and the rail joints jar his wheels. But as soon they come down the hill, his springs become completely broken coming down the hill, tilting him on one side. His driver says they would need a bus to take the passengers. Skarloey refuses the idea as he is determined to get them back to the last station.

Later, James waits impatiently at the station but Skarloey makes it on time. James collects the passengers and takes them home. Everyone is pleased, but Skarloey reflects afterwards that he is in no state to pull trains, but is delighted when his driver tells him he will be mended and that he deserves it.

Characters

 * Edward
 * Skarloey
 * James (does not speak)
 * Rheneas (does not speak)
 * Sir Handel (does not speak)
 * Peter Sam (does not speak)
 * Sir Topham Hatt (does not speak)
 * Thomas (cameo)
 * Percy (cameo)
 * Duck (cameo)
 * Douglas (cameo)
 * Oliver (cameo)
 * Annie and Clarabel (cameo)
 * Terence (cameo)
 * Mrs. Kyndley (cameo)

Locations

 * Crovan's Gate
 * Rheneas
 * Skarloey
 * Glennock
 * Callan
 * Rheneas Viaduct
 * Skarloey Railway Engine Sheds
 * The Works (mentioned)

Trivia

 * This episode is based on the stories Skarloey Remembers and Old Faithful from The Railway Series book, Four Little Engines.
 * This marks the last time that Peter Sam and Sir Handel are refered to as Falcon and Stuart.
 * This is the only episode in the entire series to be named after a Railway Series book, rather than one of the stories in the book.

Goofs

 * This episode was broadcast out of order: the events of the episode takes place after A Bad Day for Sir Handel and Peter Sam and the Refreshment Lady but aired before them for some reason.
 * When Edward passes Skarloey, some of his wheels are not moving.
 * Sir Handel has Rheneas' whistle sound.
 * Just before the coaches derail Sir Handel, they are not coupled together.
 * In the Crovan's Gate scene, either Thomas or Duck has James' whistle sound.
 * Annie is facing the wrong way as Thomas passes through Crovan's Gate.
 * After Skarloey leaves Crovan's Gate, the coaches lose their faces.
 * When Skarloey says, "It'll be better downhill," the stripe on his tank is crooked.
 * Skarloey is crooked before the spring broke.
 * In the last scene, Skarloey whistles despite having no steam.
 * James and Edward have different whistle sounds for the rest of the season.
 * In a rare still, there are four coaches behind Sir Handel instead of three when he is bumped off the rails.
 * In a rare still, red and black wires are seen underneath Sir Handel's cab.
 * The front coach on Skarloey's train is swapped with another, as the bufferbeam is lower when being coupled.

Merchandise

 * Buzz Books - Four Little Engines

Home Media Releases
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UK

 * Chases, Races and Runaways
 * Truck Loads of Fun
 * The Complete Fourth Series
 * Classic Collection

WAL

 * Thomas the Tank Engine: Bumper Special 2

US

 * Thomas Meets the Queen and Other Stories
 * Season 4 (Digital Download)

JPN

 * The Complete Works of Thomas the Tank Engine 2 Vol.5
 * New Thomas the Tank Engine Vol.3
 * Look Out! Look Out! A Great Crisis

AUS

 * Thomas and the Special Letter and other stories (Australian VHS) (Direct-to-Home Video)
 * ABC For Kids - Bumper Collection
 * Truck Loads of Fun
 * The Complete Fourth Series

DVD Boxsets

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

GR

 * A Day at the Station

DVD Boxsets

 * 3 DVD Boxset 2

NOR

 * Anniversary (Norwegian VHS/DVD)
 * The Old Coach (Norwegian VHS/DVD)

DK

 * Four Little Locomotives and Other Stories

MYS

 * Four Little Engines and Other Thomas Adventures
 * One Good Turn and Other Adventures

UKR

 * A Train Thomas and Friends
 * Thomas and Friends - Season 4 (Ukrainian DVD)

FIN

 * Rock 'n' Roll Locomotive (Finnish DVD)

IN

 * Oliver Owns Up and Other Stories

GER

 * Friends Help Friends

DVD Boxsets

 * Thomas and His Friends Box Set 1

NL

 * The Greatest Stories: The Adventures of Thomas, Percy and Gordon
 * Merry Christmas!

PHL

 * Four Little Engines (Philippine DVD)

ITA

 * The Sleeping Beauty

CHN

 * Thomas and Friends Season 1-4 (DVD)

TWN

 * Thomas and Friends Volume 9 (Taiwanese DVD)

THA

 * Thomas and Friends - Volume 12 (Thai DVD)
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