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- “Get out of my way, you great clumsy roadhog!"
"Huh! I don't move for imitation steamrollers!” - ― Sir Handel and George
Steam Roller is the twelfth episode of the fourth series. It is based on the story of the same name from The Railway Series book, Gallant Old Engine.
Plot
Because Sir Handel keeps slipping between the tracks, he has recently had some new wheels fitted with broad tyres and is very proud of them. But, one day, the other engines tease him due to their unusual shape, calling them "steamroller wheels," much to his annoyance. Peter Sam, who is sympathetic, refers to when he got his special funnel and was teased about it, until the other engines learned how useful it is. Sir Handel, who believes the other engines are simply jealous, announces that his wheels are just as special as Peter Sam's funnel and claims that he can go faster than the others. Skarloey, attempting to bring Sir Handel down to size, tells him that he would be the perfect engine to deal with George, a grumpy anti-railway steamroller who is working nearby. Sir Handel proudly proclaims that he will send George packing.
The next morning, Sir Handel and George meet at a level crossing. The two immediately develop a mutual animosity towards each other, with George accusing Sir Handel of pretending to be as good as him. Sir Handel simply replies that he is better and cheerfully puffs away, leaving George fuming.
Sir Handel is later bringing a special train home when he comes up alongside George again on the road alongside the railway. George is travelling very close to the tracks, making it very difficult for Sir Handel to pass. Sir Handel whistles to get George's attention but George takes no notice and does not give Sir Handel any room to pass. Both of them start trading insults. Sir Handel attempts to pass George who, not wanting to admit defeat, deliberately rams into some of Sir Handel's trucks, causing them to derail and spill coal on the lineside. Sir Handel, George and their drivers then get into an argument over whose fault it was until a policeman arrives to find out what is going on. Everyone stops arguing and soon gets to work clearing up the mess.
The next day, workmen put up a long fence between the railway and the road so as to prevent further accidents from occurring. When the work is done, they leave, taking George with them. Sir Handel, thinking he sent George away, claims credit and becomes even more conceited, much to the despair of the other engines. Later, however, some boys arrive and immediately start teasing Sir Handel about his confrontational race with George. Sir Handel, now embarrassed of the incident, has never spoken about steamrollers since.
Characters
- Skarloey
- Rheneas
- Sir Handel
- Peter Sam
- Duncan
- Duke
- Rusty
- George
- The Little Boys
- The Crovan's Gate Policeman
- Thomas (cameo)
- James (cameo)
- Percy (cameo)
- Bertie (cameo)
- Green Narrow Gauge Coaches (cameos)
- Stephen Hatt (cameo)
Locations
Trivia
- This episode marks first with a few things:
- George's first appearance and only appearance in the fourth series and to be narrated by George Carlin.
- The first time Sir Handel's trailing wheels are referred to as "Steamroller Wheels." This is also the only time they are referred to as such in the model series. They would later gain the nickname "Steamroller Wheels" again in the twenty-fourth series episode, The Great Little Railway Show.
- This episode marks last with a few things:
- Sir Handel's last episode with a leading and speaking role until the tenth series episode, A Smooth Ride.
- Duke's last speaking role, albeit grouped with other engines.
- The last appearances of Sir Handel small scale's happy, smiling, cross, shocked, grumpy and neutral faces.
- In the US and Canada, this episode was released on VHS before Special Funnel was released on VHS or aired on television, meaning that the American and Canadian audiences would not have known about Peter Sam's new funnel.
- This was one of the few Thomas episodes to get featured on the Captain Kangaroo spin-off series Mister Moose's Fun Time on Fox Family Channel.
- This episode was shown alongside the second series episode, Woolly Bear, on Storytime with Thomas.
- When Skarloey tells Sir Handel about George, a Common Wood Pigeon can be heard in the episode.
- While Sir Handel and George argue, the bus stop sign from Thomas and Bertie can be seen, along with a model of a bulldozer from Tugs.
- The drivers and workmen arguing is actually sped up audio of the crew members mumbling.
- The line "Then, there was trouble" was later reused for the US dub of Henry and the Elephant and the UK dub of Fish.
- The music cues from after the policeman arrives to Sir Handel's arrival at the Shed is taken directly from Home at Last.
- This episode marks the only appearances of Rusty's chuckling face and Rheneas' cross face.
- The JEI TV version of the Korean dub added subtitles to inform viewers what a steam roller is.
- This episode's title in the Spanish dub is La gran carrera, the same title as that of the 2016 special, The Great Race, in said language.
Goofs
- Throughout the episode:
- Skarloey's white stripe on his boiler is crooked.
- Red wires are visible on George.
- Thomas has James' whistle sound at the beginning.
- When George is backing up before making rude remarks about the engines, there is a pile of asphalt in front of him. However, in the next shot, it is a pile of gravel.
- Rheneas appears even though he was supposed to be at the works.
- In several shots, George's face is crooked.
- George's face is out of place in the first two scenes of him looking happy at the level crossing and when Sir Handel meets him.
- When Sir Handel goes over the crossing, the signpost moves slightly. This also happens when George goes over the crossing next.
- The wires from the servos can be seen coming out from under the van into Sir Handel's cab when he goes over the bridge.
- During the scene of Sir Handel and George's second confrontation, they can be seen passing the exact same bus stop sign in front of a lorry full of stones three times.
- A clanging sound is heard before George rams Sir Handel's train.
- When George crashes into the trucks, a workman figure on the left of the screen has fallen onto the stone wall.
- When the workmen are arguing, black tack can be seen holding them upright on the set.
- Sir Handel passes a red signal on his way back to the Sheds.
Quotes
- All Skarloey Railway Engines: Look at his steamroller wheels!
- Sir Handel: Be quiet! You're jealous.
- Peter Sam: Don't worry. The engines all teased me about my special funnel until they learned how useful it is.
- Sir Handel: Did you hear that? My wheels are special like Peter Sam's funnel. I can go faster than any of you!
- Narrator: Skarloey had a plan to make Sir Handel see sense.
- Skarloey: With your grand wheels, Sir Handel, you're just the engine to tackle George.
- Sir Handel: Who's George?
- Skarloey: That steamroller over there. Listen.
- Narrator: The steamroller was making rude remarks about the engines.
- George: Railways are no good! Turn them into roads! Pull 'em up! Turn them into roads! Railways are no good! Turn them into roads! Pull 'em up! Turn them into roads!
- Sir Handel: Don't worry. Leave him to me. I'll send him packing. George will soon get a run for his money!
- [Sir Handel meets George at a level crossing]
- George: Huh! You're Sir Handel, I suppose.
- Sir Handel: And you, I suppose, are George. Yes, I've heard of you.
- Narrator: Sir Handel was standing no nonsense.
- George: And I've heard of you. You swank around with your steamroller wheels pretending you're as good as me.
- Sir Handel: Actually, I'm better. Goodbye!
- Narrator: George chuffered on fuming.
- Sir Handel: Get out of my way, you great clumsy roadhog!
- George: Huh! I don't move for imitation steamrollers!
- Narrator: They lumbered along as the insults continued. Then, there was trouble.
- (George rams into Sir Handel's trucks, via an escalated shouting match)
- Sir Handel: Ah! That was your fault!
- George: No, it wasn't! It was yours.
- Narrator: Everyone was arguing about who was to blame.
- Policeman: Hello, hello, hello. And what's going on here?
- Boy: Look! Here's Sir Handel! He tried to race a steamroller but the steamroller nearly beat him!
- Narrator: Sir Handel never mentions steamrollers now.
In Other Languages
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Merchandise
- My Thomas Story Library book - George
Home Video Releases
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 | |