- "Listen to me. There is nothing wrong with that tunnel. You stuck in it because you tried to do 'Rock 'n' Roll'. Tunnels are not dance floors and you are not a pop star! If it happens again, I shall find ways to cut you down to size. In other words, your career is, uh… 'on the line'. Need I say more?"
- ― The Fat Controller scolding Duncan about the tunnel
Home at Last is the ninth episode of the fourth series. It is based on the story of the same name from The Railway Series book The Little Old Engine.
Plot
Skarloey returns home after being repaired and meets Rusty, who has been helping to mend the line and do odd jobs. Skarloey takes a liking to Rusty, believing he is a kindly sort of engine.
Meanwhile, Peter Sam is depressed. He is still getting over his accident with the slate trucks and is eager to start working again. The Fat Controller tells him to take another day's rest and that he has a surprise for him, which turns out to be Skarloey. Peter Sam welcomes his friend back home and tells him of a rude, rough, rocking and rolling engine named Duncan who has arrived on the railway as a spare engine after Peter Sam's accident. Then, Skarloey’s driver arrives with news: Duncan is stuck in a tunnel and Skarloey must help free him and rescue the passengers.
Skarloey enjoys the journey, especially the smoothness of the rails now, praising Rusty for his work on the line. He arrives at the tunnel to find Duncan stuck on the other end. Duncan complains about the tunnel and the railway to his driver, who scolds him for doing "Rock 'n' Roll" in it. Skarloey leaves some workmen behind to repair the tunnel and clear the debris. Duncan is grateful that Skarloey has rescued him but still grumbles about the tunnel. Skarloey pays no attention and pushes Duncan's train to the last station and, then, back home.
That evening, the Fat Controller reprimands Duncan in the shed, stating that the there is nothing wrong with the tunnel and that Duncan only got stuck in it because he was trying to do "Rock 'n' Roll". Then, staring at Duncan's tall funnel, he further adds that, should it happen again, he will find ways to "cut him down to size" and that his career is "on the line". This threat is good enough to make Duncan behave better for at least the remainder of the evening.
Characters
- Skarloey
- Peter Sam
- Duncan
- Rusty
- Sir Topham Hatt
- Narrow Gauge Coaches (do not speak)
- Thomas (cameo)
- Duke (cameo)
- Troublesome Trucks (cameos)
- Farmer Trotter (cameo)
Locations
- Rheneas
- Crovan's Gate
- Mountainside Runby
- Valley View
- Forest Runby
- Skarloey Bridge
- The Railway Works (mentioned)
Trivia
- Going by production order, this is the tenth episode of the fourth series.
- Pre-filmed footage from the next episode is used.
- In the original UK dub:
- The exchanged lines between Skarloey and Peter Sam, "'Who is Duncan?' 'He came as a spare engine after my accident,' replied Peter Sam. 'Is he useful?'" are heard early.
- The music is omitted.
- This is one of the few episodes in the US dub that refers to a brake van as a caboose, its American term.
- This episode is the only appearance of Skarloey's prototype happy face.
- In a deleted scene, when the Fat Controller scolds Duncan, he wears a different surprised face mask, which would not be used on-screen until the fifth series episode Duncan Gets Spooked.
- Not counting a deleted scene of Duncan Gets Spooked, this episode marks the only on-screen appearance of Duncan's horrified face.
Goofs
- The original UK dub of this episode was released before Four Little Engines, so the audience would not have known about Skarloey going away to be mended.
- In the US dub, when Peter Sam tells Skarloey about Duncan, he mentions "his drivers" instead of "his driver", even though steam engines typically only need one driver.
- Skarloey's face moves when he talks to Peter Sam.
- When Skarloey leaves the sheds, he has a different whistle of a stock cartoon factory whistle but at 1 step higher pitch.
- When Skarloey puffs out of Crovan's Gate:
- His wheels are moving faster than he is.
- He is also missing his eyebrows.
- As Skarloey comes up behind Duncan's train, there is a spot of light above the brake van in the tunnel.
- Duncan's eyes are misaligned when he is stuck in the tunnel.
- Skarloey has Duke's original whistle sound when he pushes Duncan's train.
- When Duncan and Skarloey cross the bridge, some studio equipment can be seen near the top right corner.
- On PBS Kids Sprout airings of this episode, the closed captions incorrectly spell Skarloey as "Scarloee".
In Other Languages
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Home Video Releases
Episode
Reference
#01 Granpuff | #10 Rock 'n' Roll | #19 Henry and the Elephant |
#02 Sleeping Beauty | #11 Special Funnel | #20 Toad Stands By |
#03 Bulldog | #12 Steam Roller | #21 Bulls Eyes |
#04 You Can't Win | #13 Passengers and Polish | #22 Thomas and the Special Letter |
#05 Four Little Engines | #14 Gallant Old Engine | #23 Paint Pots and Queens |
#06 A Bad Day for Sir Handel | #15 Rusty to the Rescue | #24 Fish |
#07 Peter Sam and the Refreshment Lady | #16 Thomas and Stepney | #25 Special Attraction |
#08 Trucks | #17 Train Stops Play | #26 Mind that Bike |
#09 Home at Last | #18 Bowled Out | |