A Scarf for Percy

"My funnel's cold! My funnel's cold! I want a scarf! I want a scarf!" "Rubbish, Percy! Engines don't wear scarves." "Engines with proper funnels do! You've only got a small one!"

- Percy and Henry arguing over scarves.

A Scarf for Percy is the first episode of the third season. In the US, it premiered on the Shining Time Station episode Is Anybody There? in 1991 and aired on the last airing of Storytime with Thomas on Fox Family.

Plot
It is a very cold winter morning on the Island of Sodor, with Thomas and Percy in the sheds feeling the brunt of it. Thomas complains that his firelighter is late, but Percy reminds him that the firelighter isn't late... rather, they're awake early because of the cold. As wind and snow make the two engines even colder, the two decide to take their minds off the weather by talking about warm things in the hope that they'll feel less cold as a result. Percy lists off some things known for keeping away the cold, and his mind soon turns to scarves. Thomas jokes that Percy needs a nice warm scarf around his funnel, but while he's only kidding Percy thinks happily about how warm a scarf would be until the firelighter finally arrives.

The Fat Controller is much warmer that morning, as he enjoys hot porridge for breakfast while looking forward to taking some visitors on a tour of the island. He tells his wife that he has pressed his best trousers and will put them in his trunk ready to be changed into when it's time for photographs. He then leaves to catch his train.

Percy is soon hard at work, still thinking about scarves which isn't helped by seeing everyone wearing them. He complains about his cold funnel to Henry, telling him he wants a scarf. Henry tells Percy that engines don't wear scarves, but Percy retorts that Henry won't because his funnel is too small. Henry is furious at being insulted, but Percy puffs away before he can answer, leaving the bigger engine to scoff it off as he gets ready to pull the special train.

At the station, it is time for photographs and the Fat Controller is waiting impatiently for his trousers which are in one of the trunks being carried on a baggage trolley across the line. The two porters pulling the trolley walk backwards to make sure nothing falls off so they aren't able to see what is coming. Percy, still feeling cheeky, arrives at the station and his driver shuts off steam as usual. Percy decides to startle the coaches by coming in as quietly as possible, however the porters don't hear him either. Percy doesn't stop until it's too late, as he crushes the trolley and sends the luggage and a crate of jam flying into the air. The jam ends up splattering across Percy, the passengers and the Fat Controller. Meanwhile the Fat Controller's hat lands on Percy's lamp iron and his best trousers end up wrapping themselves around Percy's funnel.

Everyone is furious, especially the Fat Controller who snatches his top hat before discovering what has become of his trousers making him even angrier. He tells Percy that they'll have to pay the passengers for their ruined clothes and warns him to never play tricks on the coaches again. Percy, still covered with jam and wearing the trousers, feels very silly and ashamed, and quickly leaves to be washed.

Percy soon encounters James, who jokes that Percy found a 'scarf' after all and runs off to tell Henry. That night, Thomas and a clean Percy prepare to go to sleep happy that the firelighter has agreed to arrive earlier the next day. Henry arrives, having enjoyed taking the passengers on their tour, and feels sorry for Percy but can't resist a small joke as he mentions the weather is meant to be warmer so there won't be any need for a scarf. Percy assures Thomas and Henry that he's now well aware that engines don't need scarves but a nice warm boiler instead.

Characters

 * Thomas
 * Henry
 * James
 * Percy
 * Sir Topham Hatt
 * Lady Hatt (not named; does not speak)
 * Jeremiah Jobling (cameo)
 * Farmer Trotter (cameo)
 * The Firelighter (mentioned)

Locations

 * Dryaw
 * Tidmouth Sheds
 * Knapford Yards
 * Topham Hall
 * Hawin Croka
 * The Watermill (deleted scene)
 * Shunting Yards (mentioned)

Trivia

 * This episode is based on the story Percy and the Trousers from The Railway Series book, Henry the Green Engine.
 * This episode marks the first of a few things:
 * The first episode narrated by Michael Angelis in the UK, George Carlin in the US and Aku Laitinen in Finland as well as the first episode narrated by Håkan Mohede alone in Sweden.
 * The first episode produced solely by The Britt Allcroft Company.
 * The first episode to have separate narrators for the UK and US.
 * The first episode to be released on Home Media before airing on TV.
 * Britt Allcroft's first episode as producer. This was also Angus Wright's first episode as executive producer.
 * The first episode to use the shot of Thomas in Tidmouth Yard for the end credits.
 * A deleted scene shows a truck getting splashed with jam. This shot is later used in Accidents Will Happen. Another deleted scene shows Percy pulling the red branch line coaches past the water mill. A third shows Percy wearing a different scarf.
 * When first repeated on ITV in 1993, Henry's scenes and the ending were cut out to fit the timeslot.
 * A CGI recreation of the scene where Percy crashes into the baggage trolley was made for Blue Mountain Mystery.
 * In the restored version, it appears to be dark out during the scenes of Thomas and Percy at the shed. Also, the shot of Percy's eyes spinning as he yells, "Oh!" is slowed down.

Goofs

 * Percy's trucks disappear when he passes Dryaw.
 * In the UK version, when the Fat Controller says, "I shall put them in my trunk and change into them just before the photographs are taken," Michael Angelis waits an unusually long length of time before adding, "he said to his wife."
 * When Percy puffs alongside Henry, the track he was on leads to a dead end.
 * One of the porters' trousers keep changing from green to brown.
 * Percy appears to have derailed after hitting the trolley, but he is still on the track in the next shot.
 * Lady Hatt is seen as one of the people wearing scarves at Dryaw, but she was just seen with Sir Topham Hatt.
 * The trousers are largely out of scale.
 * In the restored version, when Percy puffs alongside Henry, he stops a little ahead of Henry, but in the next scene, he is right next to Henry.
 * When the narrator says "Thomas and Percy were cold and cross," Thomas' eyes are wonky.
 * When Percy crashes into the trolley, he seems to have run it over after he jumps. However, in the next shot the trolley is somehow in front of him.
 * Before Percy puffs by the workmen he has no headlamp, then gains one puffing past them, and it then disappears after leaving.
 * Percy looks happy when he is crashing into the trolley.
 * When Percy crashes into the trolley, one of the porters appears to be wobbling.
 * The crate that was spinning in the air fell twice on Percy.
 * There had been two suitcases on the trolley that were pulled upward before Percy crashed into the trolley.

Quotes

 * Percy: Why don't we talk about something else?
 * Thomas: Yes. Like how silly we'll look when our funnels turn into icicles.
 * Percy: That's not funny! Maybe we'll stop feeling cold, if we talk about warm things, like sunshine and steam...
 * Thomas: ...And firelighters!
 * Percy: Scarves!
 * Thomas: Scarves! That's what you need, Percy! A woolly scarf around your funnel!


 * James: Hello Percy. So you found a scarf, eh? But legs go in trousers, not funnels.

Merchandise

 * Buzz Books - A Scarf For Percy

Home Media Releases
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UK

 * Time for Trouble and other stories (Direct-to-Home Video)
 * Thomas' Christmas Party and 17 other stories
 * Ghost Train and other stories/Time for Trouble and other stories
 * The Biggest Ever Christmas Collection
 * The Complete Third Series
 * The Best of Percy
 * Seasonal Scrapes

DVD Packs

 * Classic Collection
 * The Best of Friends

WAL

 * Thomas the Tank Engine: Bumper Special 1

US

 * Thomas, Percy and the Dragon and Other Stories
 * Thomas' Christmas Party and Other Favorite Stories
 * Best of Percy
 * Thomas' Fan Favorite Adventures
 * Season 3 (Digital Download)

DVD Boxsets

 * Totally Thomas Volume 7
 * Best Tales on the Tracks
 * Best of Collection
 * Platinum Edition
 * Thomas and the Treasure/Thomas, Percy and the Dragon and Other Stories Double Feature
 * On-the-Go Pack

AUS

 * The Biggest Ever Christmas Collection
 * The Complete Third Series

DVD Boxsets

 * Complete Series 1-10
 * Classic Collection
 * Series Three and Series Four Double Pack

NZ

 * Bumper Video Collection Volume 4

JPN

 * Thomas the Tank Engine Volume 12
 * The Complete Works of Thomas the Tank Engine 1 Vol.2
 * Mischief Strategy

DVD Boxsets

 * The Complete DVD Box 1

GER

 * The 9 Best Christmas Stories
 * Thomas and His Friends Vol. 6
 * Lots of Little Helpers

DVD Boxsets

 * Thomas and His Friends Box Set 2

DK

 * Now There Will Be Trouble and Other Stories

NOR

 * Ghost Train (Norwegian VHS)
 * Thomas Celebrates Christmas

UKR

 * A Train Thomas and Friends

PHL

 * Edward's Exploit (DVD)

MYS

 * Edward's Exploit and Other Thomas Adventures
 * The Deputation and Other Adventures

NL

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

ITA

 * The Brave Locomotive

IN

 * Ghost Train and Other Stories

SVN

 * Winter Morning

CHN

 * Thomas and Friends Season 1-4 (DVD)

THA

 * Thomas and Friends - Volume 8 (Thai DVD)
 * Thomas and Friends Volume 6 (Thai DVD)
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