| For other uses, see Thomas, Terence and the Snow (disambiguation). |
| For other uses, see Terence. |
- "Pooh! Snow is silly soft stuff — it won't stop me!"
- ― Thomas
Thomas, Terence and the Snow, retitled Terence the Tractor on most North American releases, is the thirteenth episode of the first series. It is based on the story of the same name from The Railway Series book Tank Engine Thomas Again.
Plot
Autumn has arrived on the Island of Sodor, turning the fields and trees from green to brown. One day, Thomas is running along his branch line when he spots a tractor ploughing the fields. The tractor introduces himself as Terence, whom Thomas cheekily tells that he has ugly wheels. The tractor explains his wheels are caterpillars and allow him to go anywhere he wishes. Thomas is unamused, telling Terence he doesn't want to go anywhere but he likes his rails as he leaves.
"You're a very naughty engine."
Soon, winter comes with dark clouds full of snow. Thomas' driver is worried that a heavy snowfall is coming but Thomas is not scared of snow, calling it "silly soft stuff". He successfully finishes a journey at the last station only to find his snowplough waiting for him, much to his displeasure. Thomas' driver explains that he will need to wear it for the next journey but Thomas is certain snow will not stop him. Thomas finds his snowplough to be heavy and uncomfortable and it makes him cross as he shakes and bangs it throughout his journey. By the end of the day, the plough is so badly damaged that his driver has to remove it. He scolds Thomas for his naughtiness as he shuts the doors to the shed for the night.
The next morning, Thomas' crew arrive early to try and mend the snowplough but cannot make it fit. Thomas is very pleased that he does not have to wear it and boasts to Annie and Clarabel, who are worried about the snow. Thomas' driver is also worried, knowing the snow will be deep in the valley. Thomas is not concerned at all and rushes into a tunnel thinking of how clever he is, only to find a massive snowdrift at the other end of the tunnel which he runs straight into. He tries to reverse out of the drift but his wheels cannot get any traction on the slippery rails. The guard goes for help as Thomas' crew and the passengers try to dig him out but this only causes more snow to fall until he is nearly buried. Thomas is very upset, believing he will stay there until he is frozen, realising that it is his fault for not wearing his snowplough and begins to cry.
A bus arrives to pick up the passengers and then Terence comes to rescue Thomas. After taking the now-empty Annie and Clarabel away, Terence returns for Thomas, whose wheels are clear of the snow but is still unable to move due to the slippery rails. A chain is attached between Terence and Thomas and, with much tugging and wheel-slip, Terence finally pulls Thomas free of the large drift. Thomas is now able to move on his own again and couples up to Annie and Clarabel. He thanks Terence for rescuing him and praises his caterpillar wheels. Thomas' driver hopes that Thomas has learned his lesson and will act more sensible in the future. Thomas promises to try as he humbly heads back to the sheds.
Characters
- Thomas
- Annie and Clarabel
- Terence (Debut)
- Bertie (not named, does not speak)
- Troublesome Trucks (cameos)
- Farmer Finney (cameo)
- Sir Topham Hatt (deleted scene)
- Mrs. Kyndley (deleted scene)
Locations
Trivia
- When the series first premiered on ITV, a small clip of this episode was used in the middle of interviews with the Rev. W. Awdry and Ringo Starr on Good Morning Britain.
- This is the first episode of several things:
- The first appearances of Terence and Bertie in the television series.
- The first episode to feature anthropomorphic non-rail vehicles.
- The first episode to feature an on-screen crash, as well as Thomas' first accident.
- The first time Thomas' catchphrase, "Cinders and ashes!" is said.
- The first time the phrase, "You're a very naughty engine!" is said.
- The first episode known to have been dubbed in Ukrainian.
- The episode's US title is the first to be named after a single character. The second series episode, Daisy is the first in the UK.
- The first time that Thomas cries.
- The first time that an engine cries after getting into an accident, the second is the twelfth series episode, Excellent Emily.
- Stock footage from Thomas and the Guard is used.
- George Carlin's dub of this episode was never featured on Shining Time Station. It first appeared on the Thomas and Bertie's Great Race and Other Adventures VHS in 1993.
- A truck next to Thomas has "N.E." written on it in a rare picture of him, Annie and Clarabel at Tidmouth.
- Numerous deleted and extended scenes are used in the music video, Don't Judge a Book by Its Cover. The deleted scenes were also used in the Viewmaster Slides.
- The events of this episode were referenced and recreated in the twenty-first series episode Terence Breaks the Ice.
- The beginning of the close-up of Terence pulling Thomas out of the snowdrift is extended in the restored version.
- The clip of Thomas getting stuck in the snow was featured in a Christmas special of Telly Addicts in 1990.
- Bertie makes an unnamed appearance in this episode; he would be properly introduced in the next episode. He can also be seen passing Thomas, Annie and Clarabel and even Terence during autumn in a deleted scene.
- This episode and Thomas and Bertie was the second in four pairings which aired on 6 August 1990.
- The JEI TV version of the Korean dub added subtitles to inform viewers what a snowplough is.
Goofs
- In some close-ups of Thomas, he is not pulling Annie and Clarabel.
- In Thomas' first point of view shot:
- The edge of the set can be seen in front of them.
- A hand shadow is briefly seen before the shot changes.
- Thomas' wheels are not moving for a few seconds in the first close up of him when puffing through the snow.
- As the shot fades from the close up of Thomas to where he is coming towards Ffarquhar, studio equipment can be seen on the top right.
- When Thomas is at Ffarquhar, Clarabel is the leading carriage.
- Thomas, Annie and Clarabel are not at the station in the close-up of his snowplough.
- For a split second, when Thomas "shook and banged" his plough, his wheels are moving slower than the background.
- When Thomas collects Annie and Clarabel, a troublesome truck is next to him. When he puffs off, a brake van has mysteriously appeared in front of it.
- When Thomas leaves Knapford, Annie and Clarabel's nameplates are missing.
- In the shot after Thomas pulling out of Knapford Station, the end of the set is visible.
- When Thomas says "Cinders and ashes!", Clarabel appears to be derailed.
- The hill next to Thomas is gone in the close-up of his driver.
- After Thomas ploughs through the snowdrift, Clarabel is smiling.
- In the close up of Thomas after he crashed into the snowdrift, his eyes are misaligned.
- When Terence is turning around to pull the coaches away, Annie suddenly becomes the rear coach.
- In the close up of Terence when he begins to pull Thomas out of the snowdrift, the tracks underneath him are missing.
- When Thomas is pulled clear of the snow drift, most of the snow on him vanishes.
- At the end of the episode:
- The coupling sound is heard before Thomas couples up to Annie.
- Steam is venting all over the tracks and air when Thomas backs away from Terence with Annie and Clarabel.
- In the Ketchup TV description, it says Thomas is always cheeky to Terence but they only meet for the first time at the beginning of the episode and Thomas just insults Terence's wheels.
In Other Languages
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Merchandise
Thomas and Terence and James and the Tar Wagons (1985 Ladybird book)- Thomas and Terence (1990 Buzz Book)
- Terence (2003 My Thomas Story Library book)
- Thomas and Terence (2002 Briarpatch trading card)
- Snowy Thomas (2025 Bandai toy)
Home Video Releases
Episode
UK narration
US narration (George Carlin)References
| #01 Thomas and Gordon | #10 James and the Express | #19 The Flying Kipper |
| #02 Edward and Gordon | #11 Thomas and the Guard | #20 Whistles and Sneezes |
| #03 The Sad Story of Henry | #12 Thomas Goes Fishing | #21 Toby and the Stout Gentleman |
| #04 Edward, Gordon and Henry | #13 Thomas, Terence and the Snow | #22 Thomas in Trouble |
| #05 Thomas' Train | #14 Thomas and Bertie | #23 Dirty Objects |
| #06 Thomas and the Trucks | #15 Tenders and Turntables | #24 Thomas' Christmas Party |
| #07 Thomas and the Breakdown Train | #16 Trouble in the Shed | #25 Off the Rails |
| #08 James and the Coaches | #17 Percy Runs Away | #26 Down the Mine |
| #09 Troublesome Trucks | #18 Coal | |