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{{Youmay|''the episode''|''[[Thomas' Trusty Friends (DVD)|the DVD]]''}}
{{Infobox Episode
|title1=Thomas' Trusty Friends
|image1=Thomas'TrustyFriends81.png
|writer=[[Paul Larson]]
|director=[[Stephen Asquith]]
|producer=[[Phil Fehrle]]
|narrator=
* [[Michael Angelis]] {{Note|UK}}
* [[Michael Brandon]] {{Note|US}}
|series=''[[Jack and the Sodor Construction Company]]''
|series_no=1.23
|number=
|released=
* 2 October 2006 {{Note|UK}}
* 1 May 2007 {{Note|US/CAN}}
* 3 October 2007 {{Note|AUS/NZ}}
* 19 October 2007 {{Note|GER}}
* 19 May 2009 {{Note|NL}}
|previous=[[A Happy Day for Percy]]
|next=[[A Tale for Thomas]]
}}
{{Quote|This is the strongest wall I've ever seen!|Oliver's operator}}
'''''Thomas' Trusty Friends''''', originally titled '''''Another Fine Mess''''' is the twenty-third episode of [[Jack and the Sodor Construction Company]]. 

==Plot==
Thomas is bringing Ned to a demolition site, which Ned is excited as he gets to demolish a building. Thomas finds it confusing that Miss Jenny's machines find it exciting to knock buildings down. Once there, Ned is excited to knock down the building. However, he gets disappointed when he finds out that Oliver is given the task, and instead has to clear rubble. 

Oliver prepares to knock down a wall with a wrecking ball, but the wall does not collapse as it does not work. He swings harder, but the wall still does not fall down. He is fitted with a larger one, but it does not work either. Meanwhile, Ned asks the foreman if he can help, but despite Oliver's attempts that keep failing, he declines by saying that it is Oliver's job. With that, Ned goes back to loading rubble, but he drops it onto the ground instead of the trucks because he is thinking about demolishing.

Back at Oliver, the workmen fit him with the biggest wrecking ball they have, but still to no avail. Oliver gives up, very angry, and his operator and the foreman are running out of ideas. Ned is still thinking about demolishing and does not pay attention. He collides with the chimney, which collapses onto the building with the wall that Oliver cannot demolish. While the workmen cheer, pieces of debris start falling onto and denting Oliver's roof, the corner of the destroyed building falls down, and Thomas is surprised to see his trucks fully loaded with bricks from the building's destruction. Ned is very happy that he finally demolished the building, and asks Oliver if he wants him to demolish anything else. Oliver, covered in dust, tells him that he thinks he has done enough for one day.

==Characters==
* [[Thomas (T&F)|Thomas]]
* [[Oliver (excavator)|Oliver the Excavator]]
* [[Ned]]
* [[Jenny Packard]]
* [[Sodor Construction Company Staff#The Foreman|The Foreman]]

==Location==
* [[The Brickworks]]

==Trivia==
* This episode [[:File:Thomas'TrustyFriendsBehindtheScenes.jpg#metadata|was filmed on]] [[:File:Thomas'TrustyFriendBehindtheScenes2.png#metadata|18 October 2002.]]
* This episode's number was confirmed by a document confirming that all 13 completed episodes of Jack and the Sodor Construction Company had been filmed by 27 January 2003<ref>https://drive.google.com/file/d/1jz8zcBoS_bO0_xUhhkRq7QtKRgewPc-X/view</ref> and by the [[:File:Thomas'TrustyFriendsStoryboard.png|storyboard]].
* Virgin TV Anywhere's website alternatively titled the episode as "Another Fine Mess."
* The original title of this episode is a reference to the misquoted catchphrase of comedy duo Laurel and Hardy and their 1930 film of the same name.
* This is the only appearance of Oliver's clenched face.
* This is the last episode of three things:
** Oliver's last speaking role until the special, [[The Great Discovery]] and his last speaking role in a episode until the [[Series 20|twentieth series]] episode, [[Mucking About]].
** Ned's last appearance until said special.
** The last episode until the [[Series 21|twenty-first series]] episode, [[Terence Breaks the Ice]] in which only one engine appears. In both cases, Thomas is the engine.
* The ship's boiler from [[Edward's Brass Band]] is seen in the Brickworks.
* In the destruction scene, before Ned says "Oops," the crash sound from the [[Series 4|fourth]] to [[Series 6|sixth series]] can be heard.
* According to [[Chris Lloyd]], it was all achieved with string and fullers earth. The building was made in panels out of plaster and laced with string on the inside, when the building was put together it all locked into a frame on the base. Then string was attached to each opposite wall at various heights that had been put in at the moulding stage. The end walls had string attached to ropes, so we could pull them at the end. The roof was vac formed styrene panels, then laid on top of string. Once the building was together it was dusted with rubble, pre-made bricks and dust and fullers earth. The chimney was hollow and made of plaster. It sat on a rig that could be tilted, knocking the chimney over. The idea was to let the chimney fall, crashing through the roof and falling onto the preloaded strings which would snap the walls in with its own weight. The reason for the rope was that the chimney would not reach to the end of the building when it fell.

==Goofs==
* At the beginning of the episode Thomas' steam platform can be seen.
* After Ned dumps the rubble besides the truck, Thomas starts speaking before the scene transitions, meaning he keeps smiling until partway through his scolding of Ned.

==In Other Languages==
{{Other Languages
|DUT=Vertrouwde vrienden Thomas
|GER=Thomas und seine treue Freunde
}}

==Home Media Releases==
===UK/US/AUS/NL/GER===
* [[Thomas' Trusty Friends (DVD)|Thomas' Trusty Friends]]

====UK DVD Boxsets====
* [[The Ultimate Collection (UK Exclusive Boxset)|The Ultimate Collection]]
* [[5 Exciting DVDs]]

====US DVD Boxsets====
* [[Totally Thomas Volume 9]]
* Thomas' Trusty Friends and [[On Site with Thomas and Other Adventures|On Site with Thomas]] '''[[Double Feature]]'''
* [[Ultimate Thomas Collection]]

====AUS DVD Boxsets====
* [[HiT Children's Favourites#AUS_4|HiT Favourites 3 Disc Collection]]
* [[Essential Collection (Five Disc Collection)]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{Jack and the Sodor Construction Company}}
[[es:Los Amigos Confiables de Thomas]]
[[he:חבריו הנאמנים של תומס]]
[[pl:Wierni Przyjaciele Tomka]]
[[ru:Лучший разрушитель]]
[[Category:Episodes]]
[[Category:Jack and the Sodor Construction Company episodes]]
[[Category:Direct-to-Home Video]]
[[Category:2006]]
[[Category:2007]]
[[Category:Jack and the Sodor Construction Company]]
[[Category:2000s]]