The Party Surprise

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This article is about the episode. You may be looking for the Australian DVD, the Taiwanese DVD or the magazine story.

The Party Surprise
Episode Overview
Writer	Simon Spencer
Director	Steve Asquith
Producer	Simon Spencer
Narrator	Michael Angelis (UK) Michael Brandon (US) Pierce Brosnan (UK/US; original cut)
Release Details
Series	12
Series no.	12.09
Number	297
Released	11th September 2008 (UK) 10th November 2008 (AUS) 28th December 2008 (US) 1st May 2009 (GER) 19th October 2009 (KOR; Kids 1) 13th October 2011 (KOR; EBS) 20th December 2020 (POL)
Episode Guide
← Previous	Excellent Emily
Next →	Saved You!

“What a wonderful party!”

―Colin

The Party Surprise is the ninth episode of the twelfth series.

Plot

Every year, a winter holiday party is held at Mr. Percival's house. Colin the crane lives at the wharf and is upset that he cannot go. While Colin is loading cargo into barges, Mr. Percival is visiting Mountain Village Station and is set to return in time for Freddie to take him to the party. Freddie, however, feels sorry for Colin and decides to ask Mr. Percival if they could hold the party at the wharf instead, so Colin could join in.

However, he sees Peter Sam and Rusty carrying party supplies. Not wanting the supplies to reach Mr. Percival's house, he tells the two engines that the party is now at the wharf, and asks them to leave their trucks and inform the other engines. Freddie shunts the trucks by Colin, asking him not to touch them until he returns. Freddie then hurries to Mountain Village Station to find Mr. Percival, only to discover he has already left.

Mr. Percival sees the cargo in front of Colin and, not knowing they are the party supplies, demands Colin load them immediately. Despite what Freddie told him, Colin complies so as to not get Freddie into trouble. Freddie returns to see them floating away on a barge. Realising his mistake, he hurries to Mr. Percival and explains everything. Mr. Percival agrees to hold the party at the wharf, also telling Freddie that he should have asked him first. Freddie manages to chase down the barge and redirect it back to Colin, whom Freddie explains the plan to. Freddie collects Mr. Percival, his family, and the children from the house. The party is a wonderful success and Colin is grateful to Freddie.

Characters

• Peter Sam
• Freddie
• Rusty
• Colin
• Mr. Percival
• The Bargeman
• Thomas (does not speak)
• Mrs. Percival (does not speak)
• Skarloey (cameo)
• Rheneas (cameo)
• Sir Handel (cameo)
• Duncan (cameo)
• Mighty Mac (cameo)
• The Percival Children (cameos)
• The Blond-haired Boy (cameo)
• The Ginger-haired Boy (cameo)

Locations

• The Wharf
• Mountain Village Station
• The Depot
  • Mr. Percival's House

Trivia

• Freddie gains an Irish accent in the UK narration.
• This is the first and only appearance of Colin. However, he was supposed to appear in King of the Railway, and the concept art of the film by Guru Studios shows that he would have been based at Ulfstead Castle.
• This episode marked the last of several things:
  • The last episode in which Thomas does not have a speaking role until the sixteenth series episode, Percy and the Monster of Brendam.
  • Mighty Mac's last appearance.
  • Freddie's last starring role.
  • Peter Sam's last speaking role until Blue Mountain Mystery and his last speaking role in an episode until the sixteenth series episode, Don't Bother Victor!.

Goofs

• When Freddie sees Peter Sam from the main Wharf station, he catches up to him. But when he does, he ends up in the same place as Peter Sam.
• Mr. Percival says "All this cargo must be loaded before the party" when he meant to say that the cargo must be unloaded.
• Freddie's voice in the US narration switches after Mr. Percival approves having the party at the Wharf.
• At the party, Rheneas has Skarloey's CGI face.

Merchandise

• My Thomas Story Library - Colin (discontinued)
• Magazine Stories - The Party Surprise!
• TrackMaster - Colin in "The Party Surprise" set (discontinued)

In Other Languages

Language	Title
Brazilian Portuguese	A Festa Surpresa
Chinese Mandarin	聚会上的惊喜
Croatian	Zabava iznenađenja
Czech	Překvapení z hor
Finnish	Yllätysjuhlat
French	Une Partie Surprise pour Colin
German	Die Überraschungsparty
Indonesian	Pesta Kejutan
Italian	La Festa a Sorpresa
Korean	프레디의 깜짝 파티 (Kids 1) 깜짝 파티 (EBS)
Latin American Spanish	La Fiesta Sorpresa
Polish	Przyjęcie Niespodzianka

Home Media Releases

UK The Complete Series 12 The Birthday Express DVD Boxsets 10 DVD Boxset US Railway Friends The Birthday Express DVD Boxsets Adventure Pack Full Steam Ahead Extraordinary Engines and Railway Friends Double Pack AUS The Party Surprise The Complete Series 12 DVD Boxsets The Essential Collection THA The Party Surprise TWN Party Surprise KOR Thomas the Little Engine and Friends Season 7 Vol. 2 MYS The Party Surprise and Other Adventures FRA The Party Surprise LATAM Railway Friends HK Thomas and Friends Volume 43 Thomas and Friends Volume 23

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Series 12

Series 13 >>

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#01 Thomas and the Billboard	#08 Excellent Emily	#15 Gordon Takes a Shortcut
#02 Steady Eddie	#09 The Party Surprise	#16 The Man in the Hills
#03 Rosie's Funfair Special	#10 Saved You!	#17 Thomas Puts the Brakes On
#04 Mountain Marvel	#11 Duncan and the Hot Air Balloon	#18 Percy and the Bandstand
#05 Henry Gets it Wrong	#12 James Works it Out	#19 Push Me, Pull You
#06 Heave Ho Thomas!	#13 Tram Trouble	#20 Best Friends
#07 Toby's Special Surprise	#14 Don't Go Back