Steam Roller

"Look! Here's Sir Handel! He tried to race a steamroller, but the steamroller nearly beat him!"

- The boys Steam Roller is the twelfth episode of the fourth season. In the US, it first aired on Mr. Conductor's Thomas Tales episode, For the Birds in 1996.

Plot
Sir Handel has recently had new wheels fitted and he claims that he is better than the others, episodically the time when Peter Sam got a new funnel. Skarloey, attempting to bring Sir Handel down to size, tells him of an anti-railway steamroller named George, whom Sir Handel vows to pay out. Sir Handel is later bringing a special train home when he meets George on the alongside road, making it near impossible for him to pass. After the steamroller refuses to move aside, the two have a shouting match which ends when George crashes into Sir Handel's train. The next day, a fence is put up and George is taken away. Sir Handel claims credit, but loses his pride when some boys start lauding him with his race with the roller.

Characters

 * Skarloey
 * Sir Handel
 * Peter Sam
 * Rusty
 * George
 * The Little Boys
 * The Policeman
 * Thomas (cameo)
 * James (cameo)
 * Percy (cameo)
 * Rheneas (cameo)
 * Duncan (cameo)
 * Duke (cameo)
 * Bertie (cameo)
 * Stephen Hatt (cameo)

Locations

 * Skarloey Railway Engine Sheds
 * Hawin Doorey

Trivia

 * This episode is based on the story of the same name from The Railway Series book, Gallant Old Engine.
 * A reference to Special Funnel is made.
 * This episode marks Sir Handel's last speaking role until the tenth season episode, A Smooth Ride.
 * The collision between George and Sir Handel is based on an event that took place in Muskerry, County Cork, Ireland in 1927.

Goofs

 * Thomas has James' whistle sound.
 * Skarloey's white stripe on his boiler is crooked.
 * Throughout the episode, red wires are visible on George.
 * In the first shot of George, his face is crooked.
 * George's face is out of place in the first two scenes of him at the level crossing.
 * When Sir Handel goes over the crossing, the sign post moves slightly. This also happens when George goes over the crossing.
 * When George crashes into the trucks, they derail, but in the next shot, they are tipped over.
 * In the last scene, Rusty is tilted.
 * On his way back to the sheds, Sir Handel passes a red signal.
 * When George crashes into the trucks, a workman figure on the left of the screen has fallen onto the stone wall.
 * The two times Sir Handel is at the railway sheds he is covered in soot, but the two times he is at the level crossing he is spotless.

UK

 * Thomas and Stepney and other Stories
 * Chases, Races and Runaways
 * The Complete Fourth Series

WAL

 * Thomas the Tank Engine: Bumper Special 2

US

 * Thomas and the Special Letter (DVD)

NOR

 * Favourites From Thomas and Friends (Norwegian VHS/DVD)
 * Thomas and Stepney (Norwegian VHS)

JPN

 * New Thomas the Tank Engine Vol.6
 * The Complete Works of Thomas the Tank Engine 2 Vol.5
 * Thomas and the Mountain Railway Engines

GR

 * A Day at the Station

DVD Boxsets

 * 3 DVD Boxset 2

ITA

 * The Sleeping Beauty