| This article is about the episode. You may be looking for the UK sampler DVD, the Scandinavian VHS/DVD, the book, the Buzz Book or the magazine story. |
- “Thank you, Trevor! You're not a stick-in-the-mud at all!"
"No. But you were, just for a little while.” - ― Bertie and Trevor
Edward, Trevor and the Really Useful Party is the sixteenth episode of the third series. It is based on the magazine stories Edward and the Vicar and The Vicar's Fête written by Andrew Brenner.
Plot
One early morning, Trevor tells Edward that the Vicar is organising a garden party to fund the underprivileged children's seaside trip and Trevor will be the party's main attraction. Edward wishes he could help but he knows he cannot be much help without his rails. Although he wants to be helpful like Trevor, his driver replies that he is helpful in his own way, which is on the Fat Controller's railway.
The next day, it is Trevor's turn to look worried; because the Vicar had been so busy setting up the party, he forgot to put its posters up for anybody to notice. Edward suggests an idea by having the Vicar paste the posters on him and his coaches to attract a lot of guests wherever he goes. Edward's driver gives the idea to the Fat Controller, who agrees. Sure enough, many people become attracted and decide to attend the Vicar's garden party.
Later that afternoon, Trevor is resting in the orchard shed. Bertie arrives and teases him about his advanced age and announces that he will also be at the garden party bringing more guests there. Bertie then brags that not many people will want to ride on an old-fashioned traction engine after having travelled on him. Trevor ignores Bertie, knowing that the party would still be a success regardless.
The party takes place the next day but the orchard's ground is sodden from an earlier overnight downpour. Trevor knows that rain and mud will never spoil his day as they will stay on the road to prevent an accident. He soon puffs up and down the country lane giving a lot of children rides. Eventually, Bertie arrives bringing guests to the party and tells Trevor that people are coming from all over Sodor because Edward's idea has been a success. Trevor gives Bertie a cheerful whistle in reply but when he makes his way back to the orchard, Bertie gets stuck in the mud while attempting to drop his passengers off at the party. Fortunately, Terence is also there and quickly helps to get him out, joking that he is the one supposed to be ploughing fields and Trevor notes that Bertie's boastfulness has caught up with him and now learned his lesson to never try and go off road. Once back on the road, Bertie apologises to Trevor and the party is a success.
That evening, the Vicar thanks Edward and his crew for helping attract a lot of guests. Edward feels very pleased and really useful, while Trevor falls happily asleep knowing that all the underprivileged children will finally be able to visit the seaside.
Characters
- Edward
- Terence
- Bertie
- Trevor
- The Vicar of Wellsworth
- Jem Cole
- Sir Topham Hatt (does not speak)
- Stephen Hatt (cameo)
- Bridget Hatt (cameo)
- Mrs. Kyndley (cameo)
- Farmer Finney (cameo)
- The Boy (cameo)
- The Little Boys (cameos)
- Märklin Engine (scrapped model cameo)
- Diesel (deleted scene)
Locations
Trivia
- This episode's Korean title is just a transcription to Hangul of the word "Party".
- In most versions of the US dub and the New Zealand release of Trust Thomas and Other Stories, the music at the beginning and when Trevor tells Edward the bad news is omitted.
- The Märklin Engine makes an appearance as a scrap engine.
- A rare picture shows that Diesel was originally intended to appeared in the episode, most likely to discourage Edward. However, his scene was cut out for unknown reasons.
- This is the last episode for several things:
- Edward's last episode with a leading role until the sixth series episode Edward the Very Useful Engine.
- Trevor's last episode with a leading role.
- The last third series episode to include a "pilot narration" and use a still of the final shot for the end credits.
- The last third series episode released in 1991.
- The last episode in the third series to air in the United States on television via Shining Time Station before airing in the United Kingdom months later.
- The last episode with Trevor as a main character.
- The last appearance of Wellsworth Scrap Yard until the 2014 special, Tale of the Brave and its last appearance in an episode until the eighteenth series episode Disappearing Diesels along with the last appearance of the scrapyard in the model series.
- The last appearance of Tidmouth Hault until the fifth series episode Thomas, Percy and Old Slow Coach.
- This episode marks the only appearance of Wellsworth Road.
- This episode, alongside the next one, aired in the UK exactly forty-seven years after The Railway Series book, The Three Railway Engines, was first published, as well as airing on George Carlin's 55th birthday.
- This episode aired back-to-back with the third series episode A Scarf for Percy on Storytime with Thomas in the US.
- Michael Angelis' line, "It was a beautiful day but Edward was worried" was reused from Percy's Promise.
- A scrap steam shovel from Tugs appears at Wellsworth Scrap Yard.
- This episode has the most words and syllables in its title out of any episode title of the entire show, at a total of seven words and twelve syllables.
- In Canada, this episode was released before Saved from Scrap meaning the Canadian audience would not know who Trevor is.
Goofs
- In the original version, studio equipment is visible at the very top of the screen in the opening scene and some scenes of Bertie talking to Trevor.
- At the start:
- Trevor runs over a plank of wood and part of the scrapped Märklin Engine.
- Edward's eyes are misaligned.
- Trevor is referred as Edward in the Czech dub.
- Edward's trucks derail when he pulls up at the scrapyard.
- When Trevor talks to Edward about the bad news, his eyes are misaligned and his face also plate moves a bit.
- The people at the garden party are standing on blu-tack or are attached to clear plastic bases.
- When Bertie tries to move out of the mud:
- He appears to let out exhaust but in the next shot, the exhaust is gone.
- The ground moves a bit.
- The narrator says that Terence and Trevor are pulling Bertie out of the mud but Terence is the only one helping. This is different from the original magazine version, in which Terence is nowhere to be seen and Trevor pulls Bertie out of the mud all by himself.
Quotes
- Trevor: The Vicar says that not all children are able to have holidays by the sea, so he's having a garden party to raise money for a seaside trip. I'm going to be the star attraction, giving rides to all the visitors. The Vicar is putting up posters all about it.
- Edward: I'd like to help too but, without my rails, I wouldn't be much good at a garden party.
- Narrator: It was a beautiful day but Edward was worried.
- Edward: I wish there was something I could do for the party. I'd like to be helpful like Trevor.
- Charlie (Edward's Driver): [laughs] You're helpful in your own way and that's on the railway.
- Bertie: Hello, Trevor. Why are you dozing there like an old stick-in-the-mud?
- Trevor: I'm not dozing. I'm resting.
- Narrator: Then he told Bertie about the Vicar's party.
- Bertie: I'll be there, too. I'm not sure people will want to ride on an old traction engine after travelling in a smart, red bus like me.
- Bertie: Help, I'm stuck!
- Narrator: His wheels have sunk deep in the orchard mud. Terence the Tractor arrived just in time.
- Terence: [sees Bertie stuck in the mud] I'm the one who has to plough fields. We'd better get you out of here!
Merchandise
- Book - Edward and the Party
- Buzz Book - Edward, Trevor and the Really Useful Party
- Magazine story - Trevor and the Party
In Other Languages
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Home Video Releases
Episode
References
| #01 A Scarf for Percy | #10 The Trouble with Mud | #19 One Good Turn |
| #02 Percy's Promise | #11 No Joke for James | #20 Tender Engines |
| #03 Time for Trouble | #12 Thomas, Percy and the Post Train | #21 Escape |
| #04 Gordon and the Famous Visitor | #13 Trust Thomas | #22 Oliver Owns Up |
| #05 Donald's Duck | #14 Mavis | #23 Bulgy |
| #06 Thomas Gets Bumped | #15 Toby's Tightrope | #24 Heroes |
| #07 Thomas, Percy and the Dragon | #16 Edward, Trevor and the Really Useful Party | #25 Percy, James and the Fruitful Day |
| #08 Diesel Does It Again | #17 Buzz, Buzz | #26 Thomas and Percy's Christmas Adventure |
| #09 Henry's Forest | #18 All at Sea | |