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- “You wouldn't have a problem if you were an express engine. You'd go really fast and get the job done in double-quick time like me!”
- ― Gordon
Thomas Tries His Best is the thirteenth episode of the ninth series.
Plot
The engines are very busy delivering items to help set up the fair and all are looking forward to it, especially Thomas. However, that afternoon, he is told by the Fat Controller to take some of Farmer McColl's chickens from Dryaw to Brendam. When Thomas arrives at Dryaw, Farmer McColl is not there; his lorry has a flat tyre, so Thomas must wait. Then, James arrives and tells Thomas that he can go over to the fair and be back before Farmer McColl turns up. Thomas agrees with James and leaves Dryaw to see the children at the fair.
However, Thomas begins to panic and worries that Farmer McColl might come whilst he is gone, a red signal might hold him up, and the Fat Controller will be cross if he is late with the chickens. Thomas puts his job first and reverses back to Dryaw. By the time Farmer McColl arrives at Dryaw with the chickens, it is already evening. Once the chickens are loaded up in his vans, Thomas leaves for Brendam.
At Abbey, Thomas meets Gordon, who tells Thomas that if he goes fast he will be on time to see the fair. So when their signals turn green, Gordon departs with the express, closely followed by Thomas who speeds away. However, Gordon's next signal is green whilst Thomas' is red. Thomas brakes hard and the chickens get very cross. As soon as he stops, Thomas remembers that he was told to go slowly with the chickens, which he does for the rest of the journey. By the time he gets to Brendam, it is already night and Thomas knows he will not be able to go to the fair.
However, it turns out that Thomas can go to the fair as a new generator is needed to run attractions at the fair. Once there, the generator is unloaded and put to work, bringing the fair back to life. Thomas is very happy that, against all the uncertainties, he is at the fair.
Characters
- Thomas
- Gordon
- James
- Sir Topham Hatt
- The Dockyard Manager
- Edward (does not speak)
- Henry (does not speak)
- Percy (does not speak)
- Cranky (does not speak)
- Farmer McColl (does not speak)
- Toby (cameo)
- Emily (cameo)
- Henrietta (cameo)
- Butch (cameo)
- Stephen Hatt (cameo)
- Bridget Hatt (cameo)
- Big Mickey (faceless, cameo)
Locations
- Kellsthorpe Road
- Knapford Yards
- Maithwaite
- Tidmouth Sheds
- Dryaw
- Brendam Docks
- Abbey
- Peel
- Gordon's Hill (deleted scene)
Trivia
- Going by production order, this is the twentieth episode of ninth series.
- A deleted scene is shown in a tenth series interactive segment, Farmer McColl's Farm, in the airing Friendship. In the deleted scene, at night, Emily, having been to the fair and wanting to help, meets Thomas, who still really wants to go to the fair, at a signal and tells him she would take his train so he can go. Unaware that the vans are loaded with chickens, Emily speeds away, much to the discomfort of the chickens. Thomas catches up with her, informs her that the vans contain chickens and tells her that they must go slowly, and thus Emily learns it is better to be slow.
- During the scene where Thomas reconsiders his actions, the UK version's narrator speaks in the third person as himself, but in the US version, the narrator speaks in the first person as Thomas. Thomas also does the line in the Japanese version.
- Each member of the Steam Team have a specific job for the fair:
- Thomas - Pulling the fairground games and bunting
- Edward and Henry - Pulling the ferris wheel
- Gordon - Pulling the bandstand, helter skelter and fairground tents
- James - Pulling the merry-go-round
- Percy - Pulling the bumper cars
- Toby - Taking the brass band to the fair
- Emily - Pulling the rollercoaster
Goofs
- At the beginning, Thomas has Percy's whistle sound, and Gordon has Henry's.
- When Thomas leaves the station he has one chicken car, but when he arrives at the Docks he has two.
Merchandise
- Magazine Stories - Thomas Tries His Best (magazine story)
- Mega Bloks - Thomas at the Sodor Fair
- Motor Road and Rail - James and the Merry Go Round
In Other Languages
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Home Media Releases
UKDVD Boxsets
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DVD Boxsets
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| #01 Percy and the Oil Painting | #10 Rheneas and the Dinosaur | #19 Thomas' New Trucks |
| #02 Thomas and the Rainbow | #11 Thomas and the New Engine | #20 Duncan and the Old Mine |
| #03 Thomas' Milkshake Muddle | #12 Toby Feels Left Out | #21 Bold and Brave |
| #04 Mighty Mac | #13 Thomas Tries His Best | #22 Skarloey the Brave |
| #05 Molly's Special Special | #14 The Magic Lamp | #23 Saving Edward |
| #06 Respect for Gordon | #15 Thomas and the Statue | #24 Thomas and the Golden Eagle |
| #07 Thomas and the Birthday Picnic | #16 Henry and the Flagpole | #25 Keeping Up with James |
| #08 Tuneful Toots | #17 Emily Knows Best | #26 Flour Power |
| #09 Thomas and the Toy Shop | #18 Thomas' Day Off | |