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This article is about the episode. You may be looking for the Malaysian VCD,
the Indonesian VCD/Polish/Czech/Indian DVD
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“The Fat Controller chose me because I'm as red as a rocket and twice as grand!”
― James

Thomas and the Firework Display is the eleventh episode of the eighth series.

Plot

Tonight is the Fat Controller's harvest fireworks display, for which he decides to give James the job of collecting the fireworks from the depot. This upsets Thomas because he wanted that job but James tells him that he was chosen because he is as red as a rocket and twice as grand.

At the Coaling Plant, Thomas is furious about James' job and angrily shunts some trucks around. James arrives at the depot to collect the fireworks and chuffs off to Knapford Station. But along the way, James breaks down and his driver goes to phone for help.

Thomas arrives at Knapford Station, where Gordon is letting off people from all over the island to see the fireworks and seeing the children happy makes Thomas happy. The Fat Controller gives Thomas the news that James has broken down and that Thomas must push him to the station or the fireworks will be cancelled. Realising that this would make the children sad, Thomas heads off to find James.

Thomas finds James and calls him busted boiler, teasing him that he does not look really useful now, which makes James cross and embarrassed. Thomas tells James that he must look out for things ahead for him, as he can not see ahead. James forgives Thomas after hearing that the children would be upset if the fireworks do not get to Knapford and they start on their way.

Back at Knapford Station, the Fat Controller sees that it is late and near the children's bedtime, so he decides to cancel the display. While heading towards Knapford, James is confused that a signal they have reached is red. Thomas thinks a passenger train is coming and James realises that Gordon is taking the children home, so they try blowing their whistles loudly but it does not work because no one can heard them.

As Gordon is just about to leave, Thomas has an idea to let his driver set off a firework. Gordon and the Fat Controller see it, realising it is a signal from Thomas and James and that the fireworks display is on again. The signal then turns green and Thomas and James arrive at the station.

At Tidmouth Sheds, Thomas and James watch the fireworks. James tells Thomas that they are both Really Useful Engines and Thomas says that they are most useful when they work together.

Characters

Locations

Trivia

  • Going by production order, this is the first episode of the eighth series.
  • Though not directly stated, this episode is themed around Guy Fawkes Night (also known as Bonfire/Firework Night), making it the only model episode of the series to focus on the English celebration.
  • Extended stock footage from the fifth series episode Thomas and the Rumours is used. This episode and Percy Gets It Right share the same opening shot while also being extended stock footage in both episodes.
  • This episode marks the first appearance of James' tired face since the fifth series episode, James and the Trouble with Trees and the last appearance of it overall.
  • In the All Aboard with the Steam Team and Songs from the Station DVD dubs, the timing of when James asks, "Why would the signal be red?" is a few seconds earlier than in other DVDs with Michael Angelis' dub and the US, UK and Australian television broadcasts.
  • The ending shot of Thomas and James watching the fireworks at Tidmouth Sheds is angled similarly to the ending shot of the sixth series episode Scaredy Engines, when Thomas and Percy are also watching fireworks at Tidmouth Sheds.
  • In the individual version of the episode, the music is omitted at the end of the episode.
  • This episode marks last of three things:
  • This was the first eighth series episode to air on CiTV, as the episodes were broadcast in production order.
  • Deleted scenes show James and Gordon puffing past the watermill.
  • When the Fat Controller gives James the job of taking the fireworks, the background shunting noise from the fourth to seventh series is heard.

Goofs

  • Because stock footage is used, Annie and Clarabel appear in their old liveries.
  • In the Polish dub, Gordon's English name is mistakely used.
  • During the night shots, light can be seen coming from the back of Thomas' headlight.
  • When the driver lights the rocket, a thin wire used to pull the rocket is visible.
  • Thomas is not making any smoke when he and James arrive at Knapford station with the fireworks train.
  • In a close up of Thomas at Knapford Station, the trucks he is pushing disappear.

In Other Languages

View content
Language Title
Brazilian Portuguese Thomas e a queima de fogos
Chinese Mandarin 托马斯和烟火表演
Croatian Tomica i vatromet
Czech Tomáš a ohňostroj
Danish Thomas og fyrværkerriet
Dutch Thomas en het vuurwerk
Finnish Tuomas ja ilotulitus
French Le feu d'artifice
German Thomas und das Feuerwerk
Greek Η γιορτή του θερισμού
Hungarian Thomas és a tűzijáték
Italian Thomas e i fuochi d'artificio
Japanese トーマスとはなびたいかい
Korean 불꽃놀이
Latin American Spanish Thomas y el espectáculo de fuegos artificiales
Norwegian Thomas og fyrverkeriet
Polish Tomek i pokaz sztucznych ogni
Romanian Focuri de artificii
Russian Томас и фейерверки
Scottish Gaelic Tòmas agus an iomhaigh
Serbian Tomas i vatromet
Spanish Fuegos artificiales
Swedish Thomas och fyrverkerierna

Merchandise

Home Video Releases

UK

UK DVD Boxsets

US

CAN

  • Songs from the Station

US/CAN DVD Packs

AUS

AUS DVD Boxsets

ZA

ZA DVD Boxsets

MYS

IND

SPN

SPN DVD Boxset

ROM

ROM DVD Packs

NL

GER

NOR/SWE/DK

FIN

HUN

HUN DVD Boxset

CZ

POL

GRC

IDN

THA

JPN

KOR

HK

TWN

Episode

Reference



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