This article is about the episode. You may be looking for the annual story, the magazine story, the 2014 magazine story, the 2020 magazine story, the Malaysian DVD or the Thai DVD. |
- "Oh my! I remember this! Every year, on my birthday..."
"Happy birthday, sir!" - ― The Fat Controller, Winston and Thomas
Happy Birthday Sir! is the nineteenth episode of the sixteenth series.
Plot
On the Fat Controller's birthday, Thomas pulls into Brendam Docks, where he meets Salty and Edward. Then the Fat Controller arrives in Winston, the new track inspection vehicle. The Fat Controller tells Thomas that, to celebrate his birthday, he is going shopping with Lady and Dowager Hatt. He goes on to tell Thomas that the tank engine must take Winston with him while he does his jobs. Thomas is pleased with his task and the Fat Controller tells Thomas to meet him back at the docks. After the Fat Controller leaves, Salty recalls a story that Edward had told him. A long time ago, when the Fat Controller was still a young man, he used to visit all of the stations on Sodor on his birthday in an open-topped carriage, pulled by Edward. Edward remembers how much the Fat Controller smiled whilst on his travels. Salty states that the carriage has been missing for years. Thomas and Winston are amazed by Salty's story. Soon, it is time for Thomas to start his jobs, so he and Winston head off. However, Winston does not have his mind on work; he is thinking about the Fat Controller's birthday.
At Maron, Thomas is coupled up to a flatbed of apples destined for Farmer Trotter's Pig Farm. Thomas tells Winston about his job, but Winston is not there. When he returns, he tells Thomas that he went to look for something. Thomas is not very happy, as looking for something is not being really useful. Thomas and Winston soon arrive at the Pig Farm and, as Thomas chats to Farmer Trotter, Winston rolls away. When he returns, Winston tries to explain that he was looking for something, but Thomas reminds him that looking for things is not being really useful and that being really useful means being reliable. At the Whispering Woods, Thomas is coupled up to a flatbed of logs. When Thomas looks to Winston, he is not there again. When Winston finally returns, he tells Thomas that he thinks he has found something. Thomas is not interested and insists that Winston travel in front of him on the same line so that he cannot be distracted again.
As Winston and Thomas travel through the Whispering Woods, Winston cannot help but look around. It is almost teatime and Thomas tells Winston to hurry up. Thomas speeds up, but does not notice Winston slowing down. Thomas hits Winston and the pair come to a stop. Thomas is worried that the Fat Controller will be angry, but Winston is smiling. He thinks he has found something that will make the Fat Controller very happy. Thomas finally asks Winston what he has been looking for and Winston tells him that he has been looking for the carriage that the Fat Controller used to ride in on his birthday. There, on an overgrown siding, is the rusty, old abandoned carriage - Winston had found it. Thomas decides they should take the carriage to Victor at the Steamworks so that it can be restored. Then they can give the Fat Controller the best birthday surprise of all.
At the docks, the Fat Controller is waiting as Thomas and Winston rattle in. Thomas apologises for being late and offers to take the Fat Controller to Knapford, where they can show him why they are late. Thomas and Winston, who is driven by the Fat Controller, soon arrive at Knapford. The Fat Controller is puzzled until Edward steams in, hauling the newly restored open-topped carriage. The Fat Controller is almost overcome with emotion when he sees it. Thomas and Winston both wish the Fat Controller a happy birthday and he thanks them for their special surprise.
Characters
- Thomas
- Edward
- Salty
- Winston
- Sir Topham Hatt
- Farmer Trotter
- A Woodsman
- The Ginger-haired Boy
- Cranky (does not speak)
- Lady Hatt (does not speak)
- Dowager Hatt (does not speak)
- Henry (cameo)
- Gordon (cameo)
- James (cameo)
- Emily (cameo)
- Rosie (cameo)
- Sir Topham Hatt's Assistants (cameos)
- The Teacher (cameo)
- The Blond-haired Engineer (cameo)
- The Bargeman (cameo)
- The Birdwatcher (cameo)
- The Laundry Lady (cameo)
- The Lady with the Big Hat (cameo)
- The Great Railway Show Judge (cameo)
- The Female Puppet Show Entertainer (cameo)
- A Dark Uniformed Boy (cameo)
- Big Mickey (faceless, cameo)
- Victor (mentioned)
Locations
- Knapford
- Gordon's Hill
- Brendam Docks
- Maron
- Farmer Trotter's Pig Farm
- Whispering Woods
- Whistling Woods
- Sodor Steamworks (mentioned)
Cast
UK
- Ben Small as Thomas
- Keith Wickham as Edward, Salty, the Fat Controller and the Woodsman
- Matt Wilkinson as Winston and Farmer Trotter
US
- Martin Sherman as Thomas
- William Hope as Edward
- Keith Wickham as Salty
- Matt Wilkinson as Winston
- Kerry Shale as Sir Topham Hatt, Farmer Trotter and the Woodsman
Trivia
- Going by production order, this is the twentieth episode of the sixteenth series and the series finale of the sixteenth series.
- This episode explains Edward and the Fat Controller's backstory.
- This episode aired before Blue Mountain Mystery was released, meaning that the audience may not have known who Winston is.
- This episode marks the only with a few things with Winston:
- His only appearance in the sixteenth series.
- The only time he is seen being driven by someone besides the Fat Controller.
- This episode marks the last of a few things:
- The last episode animated by Nitrogen Studios.
- The last episode directed by Greg Tiernan.
- The last episode produced by Nicole Stinn.
- The last episode written by Sharon Miller and the last episode with her as head writer. However, she did stay on the show as voice director.
- The final episode to follow a standardised writing formula in production order.
- The last episode produced in 2011 in production order.
- The last episode of the series dubbed by Michael Angelis in the UK prior to his passing in May 2020 which is eight years later, as well as the final episode dubbed by Michael Brandon in the US, Povl Dissing in Denmark (10 years before his death) and Vladimir Antonik in Russia and Ukraine in production order.
- This episode marks the last of a few things for Farmer Trotter:
- His last appearance until the special, Sodor's Legend of the Lost Treasure.
- His last appearance in an episode until the nineteenth series episode, Very Important Sheep.
- His last speaking role.
- The last time he is referred to by name until the special, Journey Beyond Sodor.
- A variation of Go, Go Thomas plays throughout the episode.
Goof
- In the US dub, when Winston says "I think I found something that will make Sir Topham Hatt very happy," his mouth moves to say "the Fat Controller."
In Other Languages
Language | Title |
---|---|
Brazilian Portuguese | Feliz aniversário senhor |
French | Une Surprise pour le Gros Contrôleur |
Galician | Feliz Aniversario Señor |
German | Eine Überraschung für den dicken Kontrolleur |
Hungarian | Boldog születésnapot, uram! |
Italian | Buon Compleanno, Signore! |
Japanese | トップハム・ハットきょうのたんじょうび |
Korean | 사장님의 생일 (dub) 뚱뚱한 관리자의 생일날! (subtitles) |
Norwegian | Gratulerer med dagen, sir! |
Polish | Wszystkiego Najlepszego! |
Romanian | La Mulți ani, Domnule! |
Russian | Подарок на день рождения |
Spanish | ¡Feliz Cumpleaños, Señor! |
Taiwanese Mandarin | 生日快乐,总管 |
Turkish | Mutlu Yıllar Efendim |
Merchandise
- Wooden Railway - Happy Birthday Special 2-pack (contains a decorated Thomas with a birthday cake on a flatbed) (discontinued)
- Plarail
- Capsule Plarail
- Magazine Stories - Happy Birthday, Sir!, Happy Birthday, Sir! and Happy Birthday, Sir!
Home Media Releases
Episode
#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 | |