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{{Youmay|''the episode''|''[[Bill or Ben (magazine story)|the magazine story]]''}}
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[[Category:Season 17 episodes]]
  
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{{Infobox Episode
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|title1=Bill or Ben?
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|image1=File:BillorBenpromo.jpg
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|writer=[[Andrew Brenner]]
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|director=[[David Baas]]
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|producer=
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*[[Ian McCue]] & [[Halim Jabbour]] {{Note|[[HiT Entertainment]]}}
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*[[Robert Anderson]] {{Note|[[Jam Filled Toronto|Arc Productions]]}}
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|narrator=[[Mark Moraghan]]
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|series=[[Series 17|17]]
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|series_no=17.15
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|number=403
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|released=
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* 4 October 2013 {{Note|UK}}
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* 1 November 2013 {{Note|AUS}}
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* 12 January 2014 {{Note|JPN}}
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* 18 March 2014 {{Note|US}}
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* 6 April 2014 {{Note|HUN}}
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* 26 November 2014 {{Note|GER}}
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* 1 December 2014 {{Note|SPN}}
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* 18 January 2017 {{Note|KOR}}
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|previous=[[Percy's Lucky Day]]
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|next=[[Too Many Fire Engines]]}}
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{{Quote|Oh, dear. What's happened here, sir?"<br>"Oh, no. Has Connor broken down, sir?"<br>"There are two of you! You played a trick on me. You ''aren't'' really faster than I am!|Bill, Ben, and Connor}}
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'''Bill or Ben?''' is the fifteenth episode of the [[Series 17|seventeenth series]].
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  +
==Plot==
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One day, while puffing along the mainline, a big and fast engine Bill and Ben have never seen before pulls onto their track at a junction. Further along the line, Bill and Ben meet Thomas who tells them that the streamlined engine was Connor. The twins think that Connor must be full of himself, racing around and surprising other engines. Thomas tries to explain that Connor is friendly, but the twins are not convinced.
  +
  +
Sometime later, the twins pass through Henry's tunnel when they get surprised by Connor again. Ben is still inside the tunnel as Connor passes and whistles hello to Bill. The twins decided to play a trick on the streamlined engine.
  +
  +
The next time Connor comes to [[Island of Sodor|Sodor]], Bill is waiting for him. Bill challenges Connor to a race, but the big streamlined engine does not think it would be fair to race against such a small tank engine. Eventually, Connor agrees and when the signal turns green, they both race off towards Ulfstead Castle. Bill is soon left far behind and Connor thinks he has won. Connor gets a massive shock when he pulls into Ulfstead Castle and sees Ben waiting at the platform. Connor falls for the twins' plan and thinks it is Bill who has beaten him to the castle. Ben suggests that they have a rematch and race back to the bridge. Connor agrees and the race soon starts.
  +
  +
This time, Connor takes no chances and focuses solely on beating the little tank engine. He concentrates on the race so hard that he runs through a red signal and nearly causes a serious accident with Henry. Connor's relief is short-lived as the Fat Controller pulls up in Winston. He is very cross with Connor for missing the red signal. Just then, the twins both pull up and Connor realises that he was being tricked all along. The Fat Controller is not amused with Bill and Ben's antics and punishes them by ordering Bill to be repainted so that they cannot be confused so easily.
  +
  +
At the Sodor Steamworks, Bill tries to get out of being repainted but Victor has been warned in advance by the Fat Controller about the twins' tricky ways. Shortly, Bill has a brand new dark blue livery.
  +
  +
Back at the shunting yard, Ben laughs when he sees his twin. Bill is not happy; now that he does not look the same as his twin, it is no fun at all. Then, Ben has a crafty idea and heads off to the Steamworks himself. When he arrives, Victor is not there and Ben tells Kevin that he is Bill and has come to be repainted in accordance with the Fat Controller's orders. Kevin is unsure as he thinks Bill was repainted the day before, and thinks that he should wait until Victor returns so they can arrange it, but Ben refuses to wait, and threatens to involve the Fat Controller. Kevin, not wanting to get into trouble with the Fat Controller, agrees to let Ben be repainted. Soon, Ben has been painted the same colour as Bill. Victor arrives and is not happy, but there is nothing he can do; the job has already been done.
  +
  +
Bill and Ben, now both painted dark blue, are on their way again when they see Connor up ahead. The twins decide to play another trick on him. Bill challenges Connor to another race. Connor agrees, thinking aloud about his assurance that only one of the twins has been repainted. Connor thinks he will definitely win, but Bill is not so sure...
  +
  +
==Characters==
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* [[Thomas]]
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* [[Henry]]
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* [[Bill and Ben]]
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* [[Connor]]
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* [[Victor]]
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* [[Kevin]]
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* [[Sir Topham Hatt]]
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* [[Rosie]] {{Cameo}}
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* [[Winston]] {{Cameo}}
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* [[Troublesome Trucks]] {{Cameos}}
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* [[Minor Human Characters in the Television Series#The Second Teacher|The Teacher]] {{Cameo}}
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* [[Minor Human Characters in the Television Series#The Bird Watcher|The Bird Watcher]] {{Cameo}}
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* [[Minor Human Characters in the Television Series#Dowager Hatt's Friends|One of Dowager Hatt's Friends]] {{Cameo}}
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* [[Minor Human Characters in the Television Series#The Lady with the Big Hat|The Lady with the Big Hat]] {{Cameo}}
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* [[Minor Human Characters in the Television Series#The Welsh Bird Watcher|The Welsh Bird Watcher]] {{Cameo}}
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* [[Minor Human Characters in the Television Series#The Great Railway Show Judge|The Great Railway Show Judge]] {{Cameo}}
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==Locations==
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* [[Knapford Yards]]
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* [[Ulfstead Castle]]
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* [[Sodor Steamworks]]
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* [[Victor's Shed]]
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* [[Henry's Tunnel]]
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* [[Vicarstown Bridge]]
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* [[The Mainland]] {{Mentioned}}
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==Cast==
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===UK===
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* [[Ben Small]] as Thomas
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* [[David Bedella]] as Victor
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* [[Jonathan Broadbent]] as Bill and Ben
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* [[Jonathan Forbes]] as Connor
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* [[Keith Wickham]] as Henry and the Fat Controller
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* [[Matt Wilkinson]] as Kevin
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===US===
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* [[Martin Sherman]] as Thomas
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* David Bedella as Victor
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* Jonathan Broadbent as Bill and Ben
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* Jonathan Forbes as Connor
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* [[Kerry Shale]] as Henry, Kevin and Sir Topham Hatt
  +
  +
==Trivia==
  +
* Going by production order, this is the twenty-fourth episode of the seventeenth series.
  +
* This episode is very similar to the magazine story [[Diesel's Race]], which was likely also written by Andrew Brenner. It also has similarities to the [[Series 2|second series]] episode, [[The Diseasel]].
  +
* This marks the first time since the [[Series 7|seventh series]] episode, [[Bill, Ben and Fergus]] that Bill and Ben have had leading roles in an episode.
  +
* This is the first time since the film, [[Thomas and the Magic Railroad]] where all of the engines have lamps.
  +
* Connor's close call with almost colliding with Henry is an example of performing a real-life railway danger known as a SPAD (Signal Passed At Danger).
  +
  +
==Goofs==
  +
* Henry's brake van changes between shots.
  +
* When Connor screeches to a stop, his bogie wheels and trailing wheels spark, but neither are fitted with brakes.
  +
* Through out the episode, Connor's driving rods are not connected to his wheels.
  +
* When Bill and Ben speak to Thomas, Ben is not coupled to the trucks.
  +
* When Connor nearly hits Henry's train, the initial shot of him shutting his eyes as he applies his brakes shows him slowing down inches from Henry. In the next shot, Connor is not even at the points yet.
  +
* When Connor realises that he had been tricked, his valve gear is not connected to his crosshead.
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==Merchandise==
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* [[Wooden Railway]] {{Discontinued}}
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* [[Capsule Plarail]]
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* [[Magazines|Magazine stories]] - [[Bill or Ben]]
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==In Other Languages==
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{{Other Languages
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|GER=Bill oder Ben?
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|JPN=ビルかな?ベンかな?
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|FRE=Qui est qui?
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|NOR=Bill eller Ben?
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|GRE=Ο Μπιλ ή ο Μπεν;
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|HEB=?ביל או בן
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|SPA=¿Bill o Ben?
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|POL=Wiluś, czy Benio
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|RUS=Билл или Бен
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|UKR=Білл або Бен
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|HUN=Bill vagy Ben?
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|ITA=Bill o Ben?
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|RUM=Bill sau Ben?
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|CZE=Bill nebo Ben?
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|THA=แฝดซ่าส์ท้าแข่ง
  +
|POR=Bill ou Ben?
  +
|KOR=빌인가 벤인가
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|HRV=Bill ili Ben?
  +
|CHI=比尔或班
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|EST=Bill või Ben?
  +
}}
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==Home Media Releases==
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{{Scroll box|
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===UK===
  +
* [[Railway Mischief]]
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* [[1st Class Stories]]
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* [[The Complete Series 17]]
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====DVD Boxsets====
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* [[10 DVD Boxset (2015)]]
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===AUS===
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* Railway Mischief
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===US===
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* [[Engines to the Rescue (US DVD)|Engines to the Rescue]]
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* [[Series 17 (Digital Download)]]
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====DVD Boxsets====
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* Engines to the Rescue and [[Tale of the Brave]] '''Double Pack'''
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===THA/CHN===
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* [[No Snow For Thomas (DVD)]]
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===HRV===
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* [[Phantom Express (DVD)]]
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  +
===GER===
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* [[Thomas' Snowplough]]
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}}
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{{Series 17}}
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[[es:¿Bill o Ben?]]
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[[pl:Wiluś czy Benio?]]
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[[ru:Билл или Бен?]]
  ⚫
[[Category:Series 17 episodes]]
 
[[Category:Episodes]]
  
[[Category:Episodes]]

Revision as of 04:48, 31 May 2020

Main Page
Gallery

This article is about the episode. You may be looking for the magazine story.

“Oh, dear. What's happened here, sir?"
"Oh, no. Has Connor broken down, sir?"
"There are two of you! You played a trick on me. You aren't really faster than I am!”
― Bill, Ben, and Connor

Bill or Ben? is the fifteenth episode of the seventeenth series.

Plot

One day, while puffing along the mainline, a big and fast engine Bill and Ben have never seen before pulls onto their track at a junction. Further along the line, Bill and Ben meet Thomas who tells them that the streamlined engine was Connor. The twins think that Connor must be full of himself, racing around and surprising other engines. Thomas tries to explain that Connor is friendly, but the twins are not convinced.

Sometime later, the twins pass through Henry's tunnel when they get surprised by Connor again. Ben is still inside the tunnel as Connor passes and whistles hello to Bill. The twins decided to play a trick on the streamlined engine.

The next time Connor comes to Sodor, Bill is waiting for him. Bill challenges Connor to a race, but the big streamlined engine does not think it would be fair to race against such a small tank engine. Eventually, Connor agrees and when the signal turns green, they both race off towards Ulfstead Castle. Bill is soon left far behind and Connor thinks he has won. Connor gets a massive shock when he pulls into Ulfstead Castle and sees Ben waiting at the platform. Connor falls for the twins' plan and thinks it is Bill who has beaten him to the castle. Ben suggests that they have a rematch and race back to the bridge. Connor agrees and the race soon starts.

This time, Connor takes no chances and focuses solely on beating the little tank engine. He concentrates on the race so hard that he runs through a red signal and nearly causes a serious accident with Henry. Connor's relief is short-lived as the Fat Controller pulls up in Winston. He is very cross with Connor for missing the red signal. Just then, the twins both pull up and Connor realises that he was being tricked all along. The Fat Controller is not amused with Bill and Ben's antics and punishes them by ordering Bill to be repainted so that they cannot be confused so easily.

At the Sodor Steamworks, Bill tries to get out of being repainted but Victor has been warned in advance by the Fat Controller about the twins' tricky ways. Shortly, Bill has a brand new dark blue livery.

Back at the shunting yard, Ben laughs when he sees his twin. Bill is not happy; now that he does not look the same as his twin, it is no fun at all. Then, Ben has a crafty idea and heads off to the Steamworks himself. When he arrives, Victor is not there and Ben tells Kevin that he is Bill and has come to be repainted in accordance with the Fat Controller's orders. Kevin is unsure as he thinks Bill was repainted the day before, and thinks that he should wait until Victor returns so they can arrange it, but Ben refuses to wait, and threatens to involve the Fat Controller. Kevin, not wanting to get into trouble with the Fat Controller, agrees to let Ben be repainted. Soon, Ben has been painted the same colour as Bill. Victor arrives and is not happy, but there is nothing he can do; the job has already been done.

Bill and Ben, now both painted dark blue, are on their way again when they see Connor up ahead. The twins decide to play another trick on him. Bill challenges Connor to another race. Connor agrees, thinking aloud about his assurance that only one of the twins has been repainted. Connor thinks he will definitely win, but Bill is not so sure...

Characters

Locations

Cast

UK

US

  • Martin Sherman as Thomas
  • David Bedella as Victor
  • Jonathan Broadbent as Bill and Ben
  • Jonathan Forbes as Connor
  • Kerry Shale as Henry, Kevin and Sir Topham Hatt

Trivia

  • Going by production order, this is the twenty-fourth episode of the seventeenth series.
  • This episode is very similar to the magazine story Diesel's Race, which was likely also written by Andrew Brenner. It also has similarities to the second series episode, The Diseasel.
  • This marks the first time since the seventh series episode, Bill, Ben and Fergus that Bill and Ben have had leading roles in an episode.
  • This is the first time since the film, Thomas and the Magic Railroad where all of the engines have lamps.
  • Connor's close call with almost colliding with Henry is an example of performing a real-life railway danger known as a SPAD (Signal Passed At Danger).

Goofs

  • Henry's brake van changes between shots.
  • When Connor screeches to a stop, his bogie wheels and trailing wheels spark, but neither are fitted with brakes.
  • Through out the episode, Connor's driving rods are not connected to his wheels.
  • When Bill and Ben speak to Thomas, Ben is not coupled to the trucks.
  • When Connor nearly hits Henry's train, the initial shot of him shutting his eyes as he applies his brakes shows him slowing down inches from Henry. In the next shot, Connor is not even at the points yet.
  • When Connor realises that he had been tricked, his valve gear is not connected to his crosshead.

Merchandise

In Other Languages

Language Title
Chinese 比尔或班
Croatian Bill ili Ben?
Czech Bill nebo Ben?
Estonian Bill või Ben?
French Qui est qui?
German Bill oder Ben?
Greek Ο Μπιλ ή ο Μπεν;
Hebrew ?ביל או בן
Hungarian Bill vagy Ben?
Italian Bill o Ben?
Japanese ビルかな?ベンかな?
Korean 빌인가 벤인가
Norwegian Bill eller Ben?
Polish Wiluś, czy Benio
Portuguese Bill ou Ben?
Romanian Bill sau Ben?
Russian Билл или Бен
Spanish ¿Bill o Ben?
Thai แฝดซ่าส์ท้าแข่ง
Ukrainian Білл або Бен

Home Media Releases

<< Series 16

Series 17

Series 18>>

#01 Kevin's Cranky Friend #10 Not Now, Charlie! #19 The Missing Christmas Decorations
#02 Scruff's Makeover #11 The Lost Puff #20 The Frozen Turntable
#03 Wayward Winston #12 The Thomas Way #21 Away from the Sea
#04 Gordon Runs Dry #13 The Phantom Express #22 Gone Fishing
#05 Calm Down Caitlin #14 Percy's Lucky Day #23 The Afternoon Tea Express
#06 Steamie Stafford #15 Bill or Ben? #24 The Smelly Kipper
#07 Henry's Hero #16 Too Many Fire Engines #25 No More Mr. Nice Engine
#08 Luke's New Friend #17 No Snow for Thomas #26 Thomas' Shortcut
#09 The Switch #18 Santa's Little Engine
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