Passengers and Polish

"No passengers means no polish." "And no polish means no passengers!"

- Sir Topham Hatt and Duncan

Passengers and Polish is the thirteenth episode of the fourth season. In the US, it first aired on Mr. Conductor's Thomas Tales in 1996.

Plot
Nancy, the guard's daughter, has just finished polishing Skarloey while reminding him that Rheneas is coming home. Skarloey asks Nancy to polish him again. Duncan wants a polish too, but Nancy does not have time because she has to help The Refreshment Lady with the passengers. Duncan is very cross and complains about Peter Sam getting a special funnel, Sir Handel getting special wheels, and passengers getting refreshments while he doesn't even get polished.

His driver then tells him that one of Skarloey's coaches has come off the rails and they're to help clear the mess, and Duncan sulks about all the extra work. Duncan brings workmen to get the coach back on the rails, and he has to take the passengers home. Duncan makes the journey back very difficult, so his driver decides to stop to build up steam, but Duncan doesn't try. Finally, they start off again, but Duncan loses his patience and rudely stalls on the viaduct. He refuses to go on and stays put. Skarloey pulls him home, with the passengers cross and telling everyone what a bad railway it is.

The Fat Controller scolds Duncan and he retorts under his breath "No polish means no passengers." Duncan still has a lot to learn.

Characters

 * Skarloey
 * Duncan
 * Sir Topham Hatt
 * Nancy
 * Rheneas (does not speak)
 * The Refreshment Lady (does not speak)
 * Thomas (cameo)
 * Percy (cameo)
 * Jem Cole (cameo)
 * Jeremiah Jobling (cameo)
 * Mrs. Kyndley (cameo)
 * Farmer Trotter (cameo)
 * Sir Handel (mentioned)
 * Peter Sam (mentioned)

Locations

 * Callan
 * Crovan's Gate
 * Lakeside
 * Lakeside Bridge
 * Lakeside Junction
 * Rheneas
 * Skarloey
 * Sodor Castle
 * Rheneas Viaduct
 * Skarloey Railway Engine Sheds
 * Skarloey Railway Mountain Line

Trivia

 * This episode is based on the story of the same name from The Railway Series book, Gallant Old Engine.
 * Nancy's rag is a piece of blu-tak.
 * Stock footage from A Bad Day for Sir Handel is used.
 * References to Special Funnel and Steam Roller are made.
 * When the passengers are complaining, one of them can be heard saying "We're losing money!"

Goofs

 * In the close-up of Duncan complaining about not being polished at the beginning, his face moves. In the same shot, a hair or piece of wire can be seen behind Skarloey.
 * In Skarloey's flashback, Skarloey has Duncan's whistle sound and Rheneas has Sir Handel's whistle sound.
 * In the picture from the former, Duncan was wearing his normal face, while his reflection shows him wearing his angry face.
 * After Duncan takes away Skarloey's train, the brakevan moves from the front of the train to the back.
 * When Duncan passes through Crovan's Gate, he has a different whistle sound.
 * In the US, this episode aired before Home at Last, so the audience would not know who Duncan is.