This article is about the hot air balloon. You may be looking for the song. |
The Hot Air Balloon, also known as the Red Balloon, came to Sodor primarily to carry holidaymakers. It is stationed at Dryaw airfield and carries passengers around, providing a rather different view of the Island. James originally disliked the balloon, but eventually grew rather fond of it.
Biography
Thomas & Friends
In its first appearance, Thomas took the balloon to Dryaw airfield where it was pumped up with hot air. He and James were jealous of the balloon because they thought it would steal their passengers until the Fat Controller explained that it would attract more passengers to the Island. The balloon fell on top of James after it ran out of hot air. James was petrified, and let off a huge burst of steam, which invariably blew the balloon back up again.
Later on, the Fat Controller and Lady Hatt used the balloon to transport themselves to the grand opening of Rumblin Bridge station as Harold was having engine trouble. However, the balloon's burner ran out of fuel and it crashed into a tree. Skarloey saw the damaged balloon and offered to take the Hatts to the grand opening instead.
In its last appearance, Mr. Percival arranged for a special balloon ride for Pansy and Patrick's birthday. However, Duncan accidentally caused the balloon to crash into the weather-vane on Mr. Percival's house, tearing a hole through the material. Realising the error of his ways, Duncan collected a balloon repair man, who had little hope of repairing the balloon until Duncan suggested using a birthday flag to repair the damage.
Appearances
Thomas & Friends
Music Videos
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Books
Magazine stories
Video GamesMiscellaneous
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Audio Files
Theme
First used | Last used | Composers | Theme Song |
---|---|---|---|
James and the Red Balloon | The Grand Opening | Mike O'Donnell Junior Campbell |
Trivia
- The music video, The Red Balloon refers to the balloon as a male character and implies that it is sentient.
- When it returned in the twelfth series, the envelope of the balloon became larger and rounder at the top, tapering off near the bottom. This is due to it being made to Gauge 3 scale, so as to not be out of scale with the narrow gauge engines' large scale models.
Locomotives | Steam | Thomas | Percy | Toby |
---|---|---|
Diesel | Mavis | |
Former | Glynn | Coffee Pots | Daisy | |
Rolling Stock | Passenger | Annie and Clarabel | Henrietta | Hannah |
Non-Rail Vehicles | Terence | Bertie | Harold | Bulgy | Caroline | Bulstrode | Tiger Moth | Elizabeth | The Hot Air Balloon | Cleo | |
People | Mrs. Kyndley | Farmer Finney | Farmer McColl | Farmer Trotter | Ruth | |
Affiliates | Toby's Branch Line | Ffarquhar Quarry Company | |
Infrastructure | Stations | Knapford | Dryaw | Toryreck** | Sports Field Halt** | Elsbridge | Maithwaite** | Hackenbeck | Ffarquhar | New Harbour* |
Sheds | Elsbridge Engine Sheds (Carriage Shed) | Hackenbeck Shed | |
Tunnels and Bridges | The Valley Bridge* | Elsbridge Viaduct | Bulgy's Bridge* | The Watermill | Hackenbeck Tunnel |