- “It'll be a piece of cake."
"Tea rooms don't live in cakes!” - ― The Refreshment Lady and Peter Sam
The Refreshment Lady's Tea Shop, retitled The Refreshment Lady's Stand in the majority of North American releases, is the eighth episode of the seventh series.
Plot
It is summer and the narrow gauge engines are busy as usual. The hot sun makes the passengers very thirsty, which keeps the refreshment lady very busy. The Fat Controller gives Peter Sam the job of taking her around the railway to find a suitable spot for a new tea room. Peter Sam is sure that he can find her a beautiful place.
Peter Sam takes the refreshment lady across bridges, through the woods, across the causeway and past Whispering Waterfall. But at the end of the day, the refreshment lady cannot decide which place she likes best, wishing she could build a shop at each place. Peter Sam is disappointed and does not feel useful at all.
That night, a storm rolls across the island. The little engines stay in their sheds talking about the storm, but Peter Sam is still thinking about the refreshment lady's tea room. The next morning, the Fat Controller gives Peter Sam the job of helping Rusty clear up the storm damage. Peter Sam is happy to feel useful again. He finds Rusty next to a shed which has been blown off the tracks, but Peter Sam realizes it is not a shed; it is a rusty old coach, which gives him an idea.
Peter Sam takes the coach to the Fat Controller and his driver explains how the coach could be turned into a tea room. The Fat Controller is sure it can be repaired, and he is right. In no time, the coach is salvaged and converted into a beautiful tea room on wheels. Peter Sam shows it to the refreshment lady, who is delighted to see her brand new tea room. The Fat Controller tells Peter Sam to pull the tea room around the railway.
Now the refreshment lady serves tea at all of her favourite places across the railway. Peter Sam is very happy too.
Characters
- Skarloey
- Peter Sam
- Rusty
- Sir Topham Hatt
- Refreshment Lady
- Jem Cole (does not speak)
- Rheneas (cameo)
- Duncan (cameo)
- Bridget Hatt (cameo)
- The Teacher (cameo; also doubles for the Refreshment Lady)
Locations
- Narrow Gauge Iron Bridge
- Skarloey Railway Yard
- Tea Room Station
- Rumblin Bridge
- Woodland Way
- Sodor Castle
- Whispering Waterfall
- The Depot
- The Old Trestle Bridge
- Rheneas Viaduct
- Skarloey Slate Quarry (stock footage)
Trivia
- Going by production order, this is the twelfth episode of the seventh series.
- Stock footage from the sixth series episode, Rusty Saves the Day is used.
- The Welsh dub of this episode is the only version where the Refreshment Lady has a name (Ceinwen).
- This episode marks several things for the Refreshment Lady:
- Her first speaking role since the fourth series episode, Peter Sam and the Refreshment Lady.
- Her only speaking role in the seventh series.
- Her last speaking role.
- Her second shared role with Peter Sam.
- Her only leading role.
- The first and only appearance of her Tea Room.
- This is the last episode that Jem Cole is referred to by name until the twentieth series episode, Three Steam Engines Gruff.
- Instead of the Italian accent given by George Carlin in the fourth series episode Peter Sam and the Refreshment Lady, Michael Brandon gives the Refreshment Lady a standard American accent.
- This is the first appearance of Peter Sam's large scale horrified face from the fifth series, and his large scale worried face.
- When travelling to inspect potential locations, the Teacher's seated figure is used in place of the Refreshment Lady.
- Peter Sam breaks the fourth wall at the end of the episode.
Goofs
- When Peter Sam says "I can find her a beautiful place," an eyelash is stuck above his bufferbeam.
- In the shot of the engines during the storm, except for Duncan the engines' eyes are wonky.
- Throughout the episode, Peter Sam has Duncan's whistle sound, and his eyes are wonky in some scenes.
- Due to the Teacher's seated figure being used for the Refreshment Lady, her outfit changes during the journey.
Quotes
- The Fat Controller: The Refreshment Lady needs another place for another tea room.
- Peter Sam: I can find her a beautiful place.
- Refreshment Lady: I knew it. It'll be a piece of cake.
- Peter Sam: Tea rooms don't live in cakes!
- Refreshment Lady: It's just my way of saying it would be fun and easy to find the right place.
____________________________________________________
- Rusty: [looks at the old derailed coach] Driver said this shed is useless now.
- Peter Sam: It's not a shed! It's an old railway coach!
Merchandise
- TrackMaster (discontinued)
In Other Languages
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Home Media Releases
UK/AUSUK DVD Boxsets
AUS DVD Boxsets
WALUS
CAN
DVD BoxsetsMYSITADKDVD BoxsetsSWETHAJPNKORTWNHK |
| #01 Emily's New Coaches | #10 Toby's Windmill | #19 Bulgy Rides Again |
| #02 Percy Gets It Right | #11 Bad Day at Castle Loch | #20 Harold and the Flying Horse |
| #03 Bill, Ben and Fergus | #12 Rheneas and the Roller Coaster | #21 The Grand Opening |
| #04 The Old Bridge | #13 Salty's Stormy Tale | #22 Best Dressed Engine |
| #05 Edward's Brass Band | #14 Snow Engine | #23 Gordon and Spencer |
| #06 What's the Matter with Henry? | #15 Something Fishy | #24 Not So Hasty Puddings |
| #07 James and the Queen of Sodor | #16 The Runaway Elephant | #25 Trusty Rusty |
| #08 The Refreshment Lady's Tea Shop | #17 Peace and Quiet | #26 Three Cheers for Thomas |
| #09 The Spotless Record | #18 Fergus Breaks the Rules | |