| For other uses, see Thomas in Trouble (disambiguation). |
- “Where's your cowcatcher?"
"But I don't catch cows, sir.” - ― The policeman and Thomas
Thomas in Trouble, retitled Thomas Breaks the Rules on North American releases, is the twenty-second episode of the first series. It is based on the story of the same name from The Railway Series book Toby the Tram Engine.
Plot
One day, Thomas is leaving the quarry at the end of his branch line with some trucks and his coaches. The rails here run alongside the road, so Thomas is always careful at this point in his run and whistles to make sure no one is in his way. Thomas sees a new policeman by the crossing and, having been friends with the previous constable who has just retired, he whistles to him in greeting. Unfortunately, the policeman is not in the mood to be friendly.
"But I don't catch cows, sir."
The policeman first complains about engines whistling after remarking that he did not get any sleep the night before and then tells Thomas that he is breaking the law by not having any cowcatchers or side plates fitted, making Thomas very cross. Thomas' driver protests, stating that they have been along the road many times before without an accident but the policeman says that it only makes the situation worse and brands Thomas a "regular law breaker" in his notebook. Thomas sadly continues on to the station.
During breakfast, the Fat Controller receives a phone call informing him of Thomas' run-in with the police. He heads to the junction and tries to reason with the policeman, who tells him that the law is unchangeable. Giving up on the argument, the Fat Controller decides to equip Thomas with cowcatchers. Thomas worries that people will compare him to a tram. This comment reminds the Fat Controller of Toby, the tram engine he met while on holiday. Knowing that Toby's line has lost its business to buses and lorries, he writes to Toby's controller, asking to send him to his railway.
A few days later, Toby arrives and is greeted by the Fat Controller. Toby has brought his coach, Henrietta, who was going to be turned into a henhouse and the Fat Controller allows her to stay as well. Toby proves to be exceptional at handling trucks and, although Thomas is jealous at first, they readily become good friends when Toby uses his bell to frighten the policeman as payback for being mean to Thomas.
Characters
- Thomas
- Toby
- Sir Topham Hatt
- The First Butler
- The New Ffarquhar Constable
- Troublesome Trucks (do not speak)
- Henrietta (does not speak)
- Lady Hatt (not named, does not speak)
- James (cameo)
- Annie and Clarabel (cameos)
- Earnest (portrait cameo)
- The Retired Ffarquhar Constable (mentioned)
- Toby's Controller (mentioned)
Locations
Trivia
- A portrait of Earnest, a Victorian-style steam engine with a moustache, can be seen inside Topham Hall.
- This is Toby's last episode with a leading role until the third series episode Mavis.
- In the scene where the Fat Controller is talking on the phone, the voice on the other end is actually a sped-up snippet of dialogue from a later scene in the episode, specifically, the one where the Fat Controller argues with the policeman. This was used again in Off the Rails, along with several other quotes from this episode.
- Stock footage from the original version of Thomas' Train was used in the original version. The restored version of both episodes replace said shot with a different one where Thomas has a different happy face. A deleted scene from Coal is used as well.
- The shot of Thomas puffing away sadly was used in the intro for Storytime with Thomas, albeit with Thomas' happy face edited over his scared one. Footage from other episodes of Thomas & Friends, as well as Magic Adventures of Mumfie (another television series created by Britt Allcroft), is visible on the sides of the trucks he is pulling.
- This was the last first series episode introduced by Matthew Kelly before his departure from Children's ITV. However, Matthew would later introduce the entire second series in 1986.
- The scene where Thomas is very cross with the policeman has become a popular internet meme.
- When this episode and Toby and the Stout Gentleman were released on Curiosity Stream in 2024, the episode's format was stretched to 16:9 widescreen and the UK narration was used.
Goofs
- In the restored version, during the first close-up of Thomas, his wheels do not move for the first two seconds of the shot.
- When Thomas stops and talks to policeman, the top right corner of his tank has a chip in it.
- When Thomas' driver says, "Rubbish! We've been along here hundreds of times and never had an accident," the brim of his cap is coming off and there is also a hole in his chin.
- The words "regular law breaker" are already written in the policeman's notebook before Thomas' driver says that they had travelled along the line before. This is corrected in the original version by blurring the shot but not in the 2003 restored version.
- Clarabel is facing the wrong way when Thomas puffs away from the policeman and when Toby passes Elsbridge at the end.
- In the first shot of Elsbridge Station, one of the stairs is crooked.
- During the confrontation between the Fat Controller and the policeman, Thomas' crew can both be seen inside his cab and on the Elsbridge platform.
- When the Fat Controller talks to the policeman, the brim of his top hat has several chips in it.
- When Thomas says, "They'll say I'll look like a tram," the bush beside him moves slightly and his smokebox saddle is cracked, there is a gap between his right eye (viewer's left) and face and his eyebrows are also peeling off.
- Before Toby passes Thomas, the track in front of him wobbles.
- In the Serbian dub, Ringo Starr's narration can be heard in the background.
- When Thomas puffs away from the policeman, studio equipment is visible at the top left.
In Other Languages
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Merchandise
Toby and the Stout Gentleman and Thomas in Trouble (1985 Ladybird book)- Thomas in Trouble (1990 UK/Australian Buzz Book)
- Thomas in Trouble (1992 Octopus Book)
Magazine Story
- Thomas in Trouble (1988 magazine story)
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 Off the Rails |
| #07 Thomas and the Breakdown Train | #16 Trouble in the Shed | #25 Down the Mine |
| #08 James and the Coaches | #17 Percy Runs Away | #26 Thomas' Christmas Party |
| #09 Troublesome Trucks | #18 Coal | |