This article is about the episode. You may be looking for the magazine story. |
- "Whatever next?! Those aren't coaches, they're cattle trucks!"
"OOH!! What a horrid engine!"
"It's not what I'm used to!" - ― Sir Handel insulting the coaches
A Bad Day for Sir Handel is the sixth episode of the fourth series. It is based on the story simply titled Sir Handel from the The Railway Series book Four Little Engines.
Plot
Skarloey and Rheneas enjoy working on their railway that weaves around the lakes and along mountainsides. Their coaches are filled with visitors and the engines are proud to run the line come rain or shine. They will never let their passengers down but, due to their old age, they tire more easily. Their drivers understand this and tell them that the Manager is sending two more engines to help run the line since there is more than enough work for the two of them on the railway. Both Skarloey and Rheneas are pleased with the news and they promise that they will give the new engines a big welcome.
The newcomers, who are named Sir Handel and Peter Sam, arrive one day. Sir Handel is rude, complaining about the sheds and insulting Skarloey. Peter Sam is much friendlier, explaining to a sympathetic Skarloey that Sir Handel is a quite nice engine but is simply upset at the moment. Sir Handel's fireman comes to get him ready for a passenger train to the Top Station. Because he is tired, Sir Handel refuses, telling the fireman to let Peter Sam do it instead but the fireman firmly tells Sir Handel he must go first. When Sir Handel picks up some of the coaches, he despises their looks and insults them by calling them cattle trucks. The coaches are hurt but Sir Handel simply says that they are not the sort of coaches he is used to.
Sir Handel arrives at Crovan's Gate and meets Gordon, who brings some passengers to board Sir Handel's train. The two engines introduce themselves and Sir Handel recognises Gordon as a fellow express engine. He goes on to say that he is used to smart coaches and praises Gordon's own but quickly heads off, leaving Gordon speechless. When Sir Handel reaches the Top Station, he hopes for a rest but his driver tells him that he is expected to collect trucks at the quarry. He crossly refuses to do so and punctuates his point by deliberately derailing himself. By the time Peter Sam arrives with workmen to put Sir Handel back on the rails, Sir Handel starts to feel rather silly. The Fat Controller, who is also on board, sternly tells Sir Handel he will talk to him later. Then, the Fat Controller leaves aboard Peter Sam.
That evening, Sir Handel returns to the sheds to find the Fat Controller waiting for him. He scolds Sir Handel for his naughty behaviour and shuts him up in the sheds as punishment until he can be trusted to behave again.
Characters
- Gordon
- Sir Handel
- Peter Sam
- Narrow Gauge Coaches
- Sir Topham Hatt
- Skarloey (does not speak)
- Rheneas (does not speak)
- Thomas (cameo)
- Percy (cameo)
- The Injured Sailor (cameo)
- Bertie (deleted scene cameo)
Locations
- Lakeside
- Hawin Dooiey
- Skarloey
- The Mountain Line
- Skarloey Bridge
- Skarloey Slate Quarry (mentioned)
- Crovan's Gate
Trivia
- This episode marks:
- The first on-screen appearance of Gordon's surprised face since the second series episode Wrong Road, albeit with modified eyebrows (excluding a deleted scene in the third series episode Gordon and the Famous Visitor).
- The only appearance of Sir Handel's snarling/seething face.
- The last appearance of the Injured Sailor.
- The last time the phrase "You're a very naughty engine!" is said until the twentieth series episode Tit for Tat.
- Both UK dubs are the same, although the early one lacks some sound effects.
- Many whistle sounds are missing in the US dub.
- Some models from Tugs can be seen in this episode at Lakeside, notably Lakesider III, which is actually a modified model of the character O.J.
- From this episode throughout the rest of the fourth series, Gordon has Duck's whistle sound. However, his normal whistle sound can be heard in certain episodes when other engines are whistling.
- Gordon's smiling face gains modified eyebrows in this episode.
- In both the original UK dub and the US one, a wheeshing sound effect can be heard when Sir Handel blows steam as he goes on the Mountain Line but not in the later UK dub, most international ones or the Ukrainian voice-over.
- Two small rocks were placed between the two sets of the track to derail Sir Handel.
- This was one of few Thomas episodes featured on Mister Moose's Fun Time on FOX Family as a promo to advertise the show.
- This episode was shown alongside Four Little Engines in an airing of Storytime with Thomas.
Goofs
- One broadcast of this episode on JimJam in Romania in 2011 had no narration and only included the music and sound effects.
- At the beginning, Skarloey has Duke's original whistle sound and Rheneas has Peter Sam's. Rheneas would later use Peter Sam's whistle again in Series 6-12.
- In the UK dub and the Ukrainian voice-over:
- Sir Handel has Rheneas' original whistle sound.
- When Sir Handel backs onto his coaches, he can still be heard puffing for another four seconds after he stops.
- The red coach Sir Handel backs onto has a face. However, at Crovan's Gate, the coach's face disappears.
- Gordon is missing his brake pipe.
- When Sir Handel goes off-camera on the mountain ledge, the steam platform blows steam too late.
- When the Fat Controller scolds Sir Handel, a fly crawls on the workbench next to Sir Handel.
In Other Languages
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Merchandise
Sir Handel (2004 My Thomas Story Library book)
Magazine Story
A Bad Day for Sir Handel (2004 De Agostini magazine story)
Home Video Releases
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Episode
Reference
#01 Granpuff | #10 Rock 'n' Roll | #19 Henry and the Elephant |
#02 Sleeping Beauty | #11 Special Funnel | #20 Toad Stands By |
#03 Bulldog | #12 Steam Roller | #21 Bulls Eyes |
#04 You Can't Win | #13 Passengers and Polish | #22 Thomas and the Special Letter |
#05 Four Little Engines | #14 Gallant Old Engine | #23 Paint Pots and Queens |
#06 A Bad Day for Sir Handel | #15 Rusty to the Rescue | #24 Fish |
#07 Peter Sam and the Refreshment Lady | #16 Thomas and Stepney | #25 Special Attraction |
#08 Trucks | #17 Train Stops Play | #26 Mind that Bike |
#09 Home at Last | #18 Bowled Out | |