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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

Locations

Trivia

  • This episode marks last with a few things:
    • Sir Handel's last speaking role, let alone starring 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, smirking and neutral faces.
    • The last episode in the Finnish dub where Sir Handel's original English name is used. From the tenth series onwards, he's called "Sir Hanski."
  • 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. It also aired alongside Woolly Bear on Storytime with Thomas.
  • This episode marks 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.
  • 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 scrap tractor model 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 appearance 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 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.
  • 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 sign post 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. 
  • 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

View content
Language Title
Albanian Cilindri i avullit
Brazilian Portuguese O rolo compressor
Chinese Mandarin 压路机
Czech Parní válec
Danish Damptromlen
Dutch Stoomwals
Finnish Höyryjyrä
German Die Dampfwalze
Greek Ο Τζόρτζ, ο ατμοκίνητος οδοστρωτήρας
Hungarian Az Úthenger
Italian Rullo compressore
Japanese スチームローラー
Korean 헨델 경의 바퀴 자랑
Latin American Spanish La gran carrera
Norwegian Dampveivalsen
Polish Walec parowy (Original)
Walec (Alternate)
Romanian Utilajul de netezit
Russian Паровой каток
Slovenian Parni valjar
Swedish Ångvälten
Ukrainian Паровий каток
Welsh Olwynion Mawr

Merchandise

Home Video Releases

UK

UK DVD Boxset

WAL

US

CAN

  • Thomas and the Special Letter and Other Stories (Direct-to Home-Video)

US/CAN DVD Packs

AUS

  • Thomas and Stepney and Other Stories (Direct-to-VHS)
  • Series Four

AUS DVD Packs

NZ

  • Thomas and Stepney and Other Stories

ZA

IND

MYS

PHL

ITA

NL

GER

NOR

DK

SWE

SVN

GRC

GRC DVD Boxset

THA

JPN

KOR

CHN

HK

TWN

Reference



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