| This article is about the episode. You may be looking for the Chinese book or the magazine story. |
- "Wishing trees don't run railways! That's my job. Gordon just needed some repairs. He'll be back tomorrow."
- ― Sir Topham Hatt
Henry and the Wishing Tree is the fourth episode of the eighth series.
Plot
Henry enjoys working in the forest, but sometimes it can be lonely, hence the like of seeing passengers boarding Gordon's express at Knapford. Unimpressed, Gordon snootily orders Henry to keep his train away from the passengers. Saddened, Henry wishes that he could pull passengers, just for a change.
Later, Henry stops at the water tower on the outskirts of the forest. Strangely, the children are standing near one of the trees. Henry asks Thomas what they are doing, to which he tells Henry that they are probably making a wish on the old Sodor wishing tree. Henry decides to wish that he could pull the express, instead of Gordon. That evening, Sir Topham Hatt visits Henry at the sheds and tells him that tomorrow, he is to pull the express. Henry is happy, believing that his wish has come true.
The following morning, Henry chuffs into Knapford to collect passengers with his express coaches. When Henry puffs out of the station, the coaches are getting bumped. His driver reminds him that he cannot biff coaches like trucks. Little does Henry know is that Gordon is in the repair yard being fitted with a new boiler. He is lonely, as both he and his passengers miss each other. They are being bumped and bounced around inside the coaches and having an uncomfortable ride. That evening, when Henry returns to the sheds, the Fat Controller is waiting for him. He tells Henry that there have been complaints from the passengers and reminds him to be more careful. Henry then spots Gordon at the repair yard and is horrified, believing that his wish has made Gordon go to the repair yard, making him feel guilty.
The next day, Henry collects the buffet coach. He tries hard to be gentle but shunts the buffet car hard enough to cause all the contents inside to go flying. This sparks more complaints and Henry no longer wants to pull passengers, wishing that everything would be back to normal. When Henry arrives at the forest, he forgets which tree is the wishing tree. So he wishes on every tree in the forest that he can pull goods trains again. Soon, the Fat Controller arrives aboard Thomas, and when Henry explains all about the wishing tree, the Fat Controller tells Henry that running a railway is his job, not the wishing tree's, and says that Gordon is at the works because he needs repairs, not because Henry wished it would happen. He tells Henry that Gordon will be back to work tomorrow, making Henry delighted.
The next day, Gordon returns to work looking as good as new. The passengers are so pleased that they give him three cheers. Meanwhile, Henry is pleased to be back working in the forest. At the end of the day, Henry stops near the wishing tree and makes a wish that he would never have to pull passengers again.
Characters
- Thomas
- Henry
- Gordon
- Sir Topham Hatt
- Percy (cameo)
- Annie and Clarabel (cameos)
- Stephen Hatt (cameo)
- Bridget Hatt (cameo)
- Refreshment Lady (cameo)
- Cyril (cameo)
- The Storyteller (cameo)
- The Hatts' Second Butler (cameo)
- The Important Passenger (cameo)
- Allicia Botti (poster cameo)
- Trevor (deleted scene cameo)
- George (deleted scene cameo)
Locations
- Henry's Forest
- Gordon's Hill
- Tidmouth Sheds
- Knapford
- Knapford Yards (deleted scene)
- Crosby (deleted scene)
Trivia
- Going by production order, this is the twenty-first episode of the eighth series.
- This story was read by Abi Grant and Paul Larson on the Thomas & Friends Storytime Podcast, with Chris Renshaw as the composer for the background music.
- Pre-filmed footage from You Can Do It, Toby! is used.
- In the individual version of the episode, the last bit of music is omitted at the end.
- An Allicia Botti poster can be seen at the end of this episode.
- Neptune Refreshments, the Refreshment Lady's shop, can be seen outside Knapford Station.
- This episode marks:
- The first appearance of Henry's wincing face mask since the first series episode, Whistles and Sneezes as well it's last appearance.
- The first appearance of Henry's Forest since the third series episode, No Joke for James.
- The last appearance of the Hatts' second butler.
- On the All Aboard with the Steam Team DVD, the timing of when the narrator says, "The Fat Controller arrived on board Thomas" and "What are you doing Henry? You are causing confusion and delay" is a few seconds later and the last few lines in the last two scenes are said earlier than in the individual version of the episode.
- The scene where Gordon passes the signal box was filmed on 11 February 2004.
- Some deleted scenes from this episode appeared in the song, Sounds.
- When Gordon is in the repair yard, the background shunting noise from the fourth to seventh series is heard.
Goofs
- The Romanian title has Thomas' name in it, despite the fact that Henry is the main character in this episode.
- In the Korean dub, the English title card can still be seen behind the Korean title, this was fixed on later releases.
- Henry's lamp irons are crooked and his eyes are also misaligned in most scenes.
- In the shot of the passenger being bounced, a passenger's arm slides down a suitcase after being hit. Also, upon closer inspection, he has an arm attached to him, meaning that a spare arm was used to make it look like his arm was on the suitcase.
- Henry's tender is crooked when the Fat Controller scolds him, after taking the express for the first time.
- When Henry bumps the buffet car, some of his coal falls out.
- In the close up of the Fat Controller in Thomas' cab, the yellow stripe around his cab is peeling off a bit.
- In some scenes and one promotional image, Henry’s middle left driving wheel appears to be loose.
Merchandise
In Other Languages
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Home Media Releases
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| #01 Thomas and the Tuba | #10 Emily's New Route | #19 Fish |
| #02 Percy's New Whistle | #11 Thomas and the Firework Display | #20 Emily's Adventure |
| #03 Thomas to the Rescue | #12 Gordon Takes Charge | #21 Halloween |
| #04 Henry and the Wishing Tree | #13 Spic and Span | #22 You Can Do It, Toby! |
| #05 James Gets a New Coat | #14 Edward the Great | #23 James Goes Too Far |
| #06 Thomas Saves the Day | #15 Squeak, Rattle and Roll | #24 Chickens to School |
| #07 Percy's Big Mistake | #16 Thomas and the Circus | #25 Too Hot for Thomas |
| #08 Thomas, Emily and the Snowplough | #17 Thomas Gets It Right | #26 Percy and the Magic Carpet |
| #09 Don't Tell Thomas | #18 As Good as Gordon | |