- “I can do it! I can do it! To the top! To the top!”
- ― Sir Handel
A Smooth Ride is the second episode of the tenth series.
Plot
Sir Handel arrives at the Transfer Yards after working all summer at the stone quarry. The Thin Controller is happy to see him back and tells him to take some apples from the orchard to the middle station and give a smooth ride. Sir Handel collects three of the trucks and starts his journey for the middle station. He pulls the train around the lake, across the stone bridge, and starts to puff up a hill. Sir Handel realises that he is rattling and rocking, so he stops. Peter Sam arrives behind Sir Handel and knows why he has stopped. Sir Handel tells him about his problem, and he feels sorry for his friend. Sir Handel asks if he can be pushed up the hill, and Peter Sam agrees and helps him up to the summit. At the middle station, Sir Handel is praised by the Thin Controller, so he does not tell him about his problem. Then, the Thin Controller tells him to take sheep from the farm to their new field.
Sir Handel starts to worry; the sheep require a smooth ride too. When Sir Handel gets to the farm, the farmer warns him about being smooth. Once again, Sir Handel rattles and rocks at the approach of a hill and stops. Duncan arrives behind Sir Handel. Sir Handel tells Duncan about his problem. Duncan understands and helps Sir Handel in getting the sheep to their field.
Sir Handel returns to the Transfer Yards where the Thin Controller and his wife Mrs. Percival are waiting. The Thin Controller is very pleased with Sir Handel's work so far, and he has a surprise job for him; it is Mrs. Percival's birthday and the Thin Controller wants Sir Handel to take them to the summit of Culdee Fell for a picnic. This makes Sir Handel very worried as he knows how steep the gradient to Culdee Fell is. When Sir Handel is climbing up Culdee Fell, he is determined to do it, but he rattles and rocks again. The picnic basket inside his carriage opens and food spills out. The Percivals are being bumped around in the carriage as well. When Sir Handel finally stops, the Thin Controller is concerned about him and suggests that he should send him back to the stone quarry where only bumpy engines work. Sir Handel owns up to his problem, but the Thin Controller makes a phone call.
Mighty Mac helps Sir Handel back to the Transfer Yards and he is now sure that he is going back to the stone quarry. However, when they arrive, he sees Thomas with the Thin Controller who states that he is not sending Sir Handel back to the stone quarry; he has asked a fitter to fix him. Sir Handel smiles from buffer to buffer. After his repairs, Sir Handel is finally able to climb up the summit of Culdee Fell smoothly. The children in his carriage cheer for him, and Sir Handel gives them the smoothest ride of all.
Characters
- Thomas
- Sir Handel
- Peter Sam
- Mr. Percival
- The Hill Farm Farmers
- Duncan (does not speak)
- Mighty Mac (do not speak)
- Mrs. Percival (does not speak)
- Bridget Hatt (cameo)
- Mr. Percival's Assistant (cameo)
Locations
- Valley View
- Culdee Fell Hill
- Rheneas Viaduct
- The Transfer Yards
- Skarloey Apple Orchard
- Tea Room Station
- Hill Farm
- Skarloey Slate Quarry (mentioned)
Trivia
- Inside the coach, two London Midland and Scottish Railway posters are seen.
- This episode marks the first of a few things:
- Sir Handel's first speaking and leading role since the fourth series episode, Steam Roller.
- This is the first episode in the Finnish dub where Sir Handel is called "Sir Hanski". Previously he was called by his original English name.
- The first episode written by Simon Nicholson since the sixth series episode, A Bad Day for Harold the Helicopter.
- The first appearance of the Tea Room Station since the seventh series episode, Trusty Rusty.
- From this episode until The Great Discovery, Peter Sam's chuckling face has its teeth removed.
Goofs
- The shot of Sir Handel while deliving the apples is used twice at the beginning and later of the episode.
- In the US dub:
- Sir Handel's number is referred to as big instead of small.
- The apple trucks are referred to as such at only one point.
- When Sir Handel stops to talk with the Thin Controller, wires are visible inside his cab.
- When Sir Handel's wheels spin, one derails.
- The narrator says "shutter" instead of "shudder".
- When Sir Handel breaks down, he makes diesel noises, but he is only a steam engine.
- Mighty Mac mysteriously turns around while taking Sir Handel to the transfer yards.
- The narrator says that the children in his carriages cheered, but Sir Handel has only one coach.
Merchandise
- Take Along - Sir Handel and apple car (discontinued)
In Other Languages
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Home Media Releases
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| #01 Follow that Flour | #11 Fearless Freddie | #21 Emily and the Special Coaches |
| #02 A Smooth Ride | #12 Toby's New Shed | #22 Thomas and the Colours |
| #03 Thomas and the Jet Plane | #13 Big Strong Henry | #23 Thomas and the Birthday Mail |
| #04 Percy and the Funfair | #14 Sticky Toffee Thomas | #24 Duncan's Bluff |
| #05 The Green Controller | #15 Which Way Now? | #25 Missing Trucks |
| #06 Duncan Drops a Clanger | #16 Thomas and the Shooting Star | #26 Thomas and the Treasure |
| #07 Thomas' Tricky Tree | #17 Edward Strikes Out | #27 James the Second Best |
| #08 Toby's Afternoon Off | #18 Topped Off Thomas | #28 Thomas and Skarloey's Big Day Out |
| #09 It's Good to Be Gordon | #19 Wharf and Peace | |
| #10 Seeing the Sights | #20 Thomas' Frosty Friend | |