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- “But Sir, I am Gordon and I pull the express."
"I know who you are, Gordon.” - ― Gordon and Sir Topham Hatt
Express Coming Through is the third episode of the sixteenth series.
Plot
Dowager Hatt is planning a "Welcome to Sodor" party at Knapford for some very important visitors from the Mainland. The station is being decorated and undergoing a thorough clean before the party. Both Thomas and Gordon think they will be chosen to carry the important visitors and as such, they set off to the docks where the important visitors have arrived. The Fat Controller gives Thomas the job of taking the visitors on a tour of the Island before taking them to the party, much to Gordon's surprise. The Fat Controller tells Gordon to go to Misty Island to collect some Jobi Wood as he needs a very strong engine for that job. Gordon is fairly happy at being called a very strong engine in front of the important visitors. After the Fat Controller leaves, Thomas asks Dowager Hatt if she and the visitors want to travel in the express coaches. Dowager Hatt accepts the offer, but Gordon scoffs; he thinks Thomas is not strong enough to haul the heavy express.
Thomas realises that the express is heavier than he imagined as he pulls into the Sodor Search and Rescue Centre. Rocky, Harold, Captain and Butch are surprised to see Thomas with the express. Rocky asks if the express is too heavy, but Thomas assures Rocky that he can pull the express easily. Then Gordon emerges from the Misty Island Tunnel with the Jobi wood just in time to hear Thomas declare: "Express Coming Through!" Gordon groans as Thomas chuffs on to the next stop in his tour. On the way, Thomas admits to himself that the express is too heavy for him, but he has an idea. He decides to leave some of the visitors at various sights of Sodor to lighten the load.
First he drops off a few of the visitors at the Slate Quarry. The visitors do not think the quarry is a very special site, but Thomas is pleased. He is sure that Gordon would not visit the quarry. This is important because Thomas does not want Gordon to know that he was right about the express being too heavy for the little tank engine. Meanwhile, the Dowager is unaware that some of her visitors are missing; she is too busy enjoying the cake in the buffet car. She is also unaware that Thomas is still struggling with the express. Soon Thomas arrives at a cow field where he drops off even more visitors. He leaves the visitors and heads to Knapford.
At Knapford, the other engines are waiting for the party to begin and the Fat Controller is very surprised to see Thomas with the express. Dowager Hatt steps onto the platform and thanks Thomas. Her mood soon changes when she finds out that Thomas has dropped her visitors off all round the Island. Thomas is forced to admit in front of everyone that he cannot pull the express and explains the logic behind his plan. Furiously, Dowager Hatt demanded Thomas to do something. Thomas asks Gordon to pick up the important visitors as he is the strongest and fastest engine.
Later Dowager Hatt welcomes all of the visitors to her party, but the Fat Controller is concerned about the lack of balloons. Thomas tells the Fat Controller that the balloons for the party are still at the docks and offers to collect them. When he arrives back, the party is soon being enjoyed by everyone. The Fat Controller welcomes the visitors to Sodor and declares that some of his engines are strong and some are fast, but every one of them is really useful.
Characters
- Thomas
- Gordon
- Rocky
- Sir Topham Hatt
- Dowager Hatt
- Percy (does not speak)
- Annie and Clarabel (do not speak)
- Butch (does not speak)
- Harold (does not speak)
- Captain (does not speak)
- Edward (cameo)
- Henry (cameo)
- James (cameo)
- Toby (cameo)
- Emily (cameo)
- Hiro (cameo)
- Scruff (cameo)
- Lady Hatt (cameo)
- The Mayor of Sodor (cameo)
- The Duke and Duchess of Boxford (cameo)
- Mr. Percival (cameo)
- Some Brass Band Members (cameo)
- Sir Topham Hatt's Assistants (cameos)
- The Railway Inspector (cameo)
- The Railway Coal Inspector (cameo)
- The Blond-haired Engineer (cameo)
- The Photographer (cameo)
- The Bargeman (cameo)
- The Teacher (cameo)
- The Bird Watcher (cameo)
- Dowager Hatt's Friends (cameo)
- The Welsh Bird Watcher (cameo)
- The Lady with the Big Hat (cameo)
- The Ginger-haired Boy (cameo)
- The Knapford Stationmaster (cameo)
- A Schoolgirl (cameo)
- Barrow Football Fan (cameo)
- The Great Railway Show Judge (cameo)
- The Female Puppet Show Entertainer (cameo)
Locations
- Knapford
- Sodor Search and Rescue Centre
- Callan Castle
- Farmer Trotter's Pig Farm
- Single Track Siding and Bridge Runby
- Norramby Fishing Village
- Brendam Docks
- Sodor Slate Quarry
- Misty Island (mentioned)
Cast
UK
- Ben Small as Thomas
- Keith Wickham as Gordon, Sir Topham Hatt and Dowager Hatt
- Matt Wilkinson as Rocky
US
- Martin Sherman as Thomas
- Kerry Shale as Gordon and Sir Topham Hatt
- William Hope as Rocky
- Keith Wickham as Dowager Hatt
Trivia
- The title comes from one of Gordon's catchphrases, said multiple times in the series by engines pulling the express.
Goofs
- When Gordon says "Express coming through!" he gives three toots from his whistle, but steam can only be seen coming from it twice.
Merchandise
- Wooden Railway - Thomas' Balloon Delivery
- Books - Go Go Thomas!/Express Coming Through!, Here Comes Thomas! and Express Coming Through!
- Magazine Stories - Express Coming Through!
In Other Languages
| Language | Title |
|---|---|
| Chinese | 特快车来了 |
| Czech | Projíždí expres |
| French | Thomas et l'express |
| German | Der Schnellzug fährt jetzt durch! |
| Hungarian | Utat a gyorsvonatnak! |
| Italian | Attenzione sta passando l'Espresso |
| Japanese | トーマスときゅうこうれっしゃ |
| Korean | 특급열차 나갑니다 |
| Norwegian | Ekspressen kommer! |
| Polish | Ekspres Jedzie Tu |
| Portuguese | Expresso passando |
| Romanian | Trece Expressul! |
| Russian | Чужая работа |
| Spanish | Express en Camino |
| Thai | รถด่วนมาแล้ว |
| Turkish | Ekspres Geliyor |
Home Media Releases
| #01 Race to the Rescue | #08 Thomas Toots the Crows | #15 Muddy Matters |
| #02 Ol' Wheezy Wobbles | #09 Bust My Buffers! | #16 Whiff's Wish |
| #03 Express Coming Through | #10 Percy and the Calliope | #17 Welcome Stafford |
| #04 Percy and the Monster of Brendam | #11 Thomas and the Sounds of Sodor | #18 Don't Bother Victor! |
| #05 Ho Ho Snowman | #12 Salty's Surprise | #19 Happy Birthday Sir! |
| #06 Flash Bang Wallop! | #13 Sodor Surprise Day | #20 The Christmas Tree Express |
| #07 Thomas and the Rubbish Train | #14 Emily's Winter Party Special | |