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- "Well done, Thomas. You have saved the day. You are a really useful engine and a credit to the railway."
- ― The Fat Controller
Thomas to the Rescue is the third episode of the eighth series.
Plot
The Fat Controller sends Thomas to work with Mavis at the quarry, which has an important order to fill. When Thomas arrives at the quarry, he is shocked to discover that Diesel is working there as well. Diesel is not pleased to see Thomas, who tells him that he has come to help Mavis. Diesel claims that steam engines cannot help as much as diesel engines. Thomas scoffs at Diesel's insult and sets to work at once. However, Diesel is up to causing mischief and he pushes Thomas underneath the hopper, covering him in gravel. Diesel teases Thomas and claims that the Fat Controller is planning to scrap steam engines. Thomas refuses to believe Diesel's false claim, but he cannot help worrying about what he said in the shed that night.
The next morning, Salty delivers fresh diesel fuel from the Mainland. After being refueled, Diesel brags that the fuel makes his axles tingle. However, as he begins to work, his engine coughs, splutters and stops amid clouds of smoke billowing from his exhaust. Diesel feels sick, as does Mavis, who is coughing out smoke from her exhaust. The Quarry Manager realises that the new diesel fuel has been contaminated with water. It is not long before 'Arry, Bert and Salty break down as a result of it too.
Having heard the news, the Fat Controller orders the Quarry Manager to send Thomas to collect some clean diesel fuel. Thomas sets off for the fuel depot and the workmen fill up two flatbeds with diesel fuel drums. Despite the heavy load, Thomas sets off and delivers the clean fuel to Salty, 'Arry and Bert, and then he makes his final delivery at the quarry, where all work has just ended. The contaminated fuel is drained out of Diesel and Mavis' tanks and they are refilled with the clean fuel. Mavis thanks Thomas, and after the important order has been filled, the Fat Controller arrives aboard Percy to congratulate Thomas for being Really Useful and a credit to the railway; even Diesel has to agree with that Thomas is very special, especially when he is a steam engine.
Characters
- Thomas
- Diesel
- Mavis
- Salty
- Sir Topham Hatt
- The Ffarquhar Quarry Manager
- Percy (does not speak)
- 'Arry and Bert (do not speak)
- Gordon (cameo)
- James (cameo)
- Cranky (cameo)
- Donald or Douglas (scrapped model cameo)
- City of Truro (scrapped model cameo)
- Big Mickey (faceless, cameo)
- Bill and Ben (deleted scene)
Locations
- Island of Sodor
- The Mainland (mentioned)
Trivia
- Going by production order, this is the twenty-fourth episode of the eighth series.
- This is the first episode to be narrated by Michael Brandon in the US as released on DVD.
- In the original storyboards, Bill and Ben were meant to have a major role in this episode. In the Steamie Stumpers Quiz on Steamies vs. Diesels and Other Thomas Adventures, it is revealed that Bill and Ben were at the works because they needed repairs, and that was why the Fat Controller sent Thomas to the quarry. A deleted scene featuring Bill and Ben was shown in Calling All Engines!.
- This episode marks Mavis' only episode appearance in the eighth series.
- In a deleted scene, 'Arry and Bert are smiling when Thomas delivers the clean diesel fuel.
- This episode may have been rewritten from the cancelled Jack and the Sodor Construction Company episode, Pop Goes the Diesel, which was likewise written by Paul Larson. Additionally, a magazine story based on this episode also shares its title with the aforementioned cancelled episode.
- In the All Aboard with the Steam Team DVD, the narrator saying, "Even Salty had ground to a halt." is said earlier than in individual airings and other DVDs with the UK narration.
- In the half-hour airing, Differences and US DVD The Greatest Stories, the music played when Salty said, "Fresh diesel from The Mainland" is omitted.
- This episode is the first of a few things:
- The first episode in which Thomas and Diesel interact.
- The first episode to have Paul Larson co-write with another writer.
- The first episode of the eighth series to be publicly available.
- The first episode to feature Diesel's depressed face and Mavis' sad face.
- The first appearance of Thomas' upset face since the fourth series episode, Paint Pots and Queens and would frequently be used throughout the entire HiT Entertainment model era.
- When Thomas imagines if the Fat Controller scraps all the steam engines, the scrapped engines appear to be the models of City of Truro, Donald and Douglas.
- The steel company from TUGS can be seen when Salty broke down.
- In the zoom-in scene of Mavis saying, "Oh my!" her mouth is edited.
Goofs
- In the opening shot, Percy's steam platform is visible and Gordon also has Duck's whistle sound.
- Thomas' lamp is facing backwards when he sees the workmen loading fuel drums.
- Salty is missing his rear lamp in the first shot at the docks and a hole is also visible where it should be.
- When the narrator says Thomas was tired and he has one more delivery to make, his whistle is slightly out of place.
- The steam appears on the right when Thomas passes the hopper and Mavis taking the trucks.
- Right before the quarry manager talks to Thomas, his whistle is severely tilted.
- Mavis has a male voice in the Finnish dub.
- When Salty brings in the diesel fuel, there is a small gap between his face plate and eyes.
- Thomas' eyes are misaligned when he huffs "I don't believe you," to Diesel.
- In most close up shots of Mavis, her eyes are misaligned.
- In the Finnish dub of this episode, Mavis was mistakenly portrayed as male.
- Salty's flatbeds of diesel-drums are shown when zooming into Mavis and Diesel breaking down. However, in the shot of Mavis breaking down, Salty's train has disappeared.
Quotes
Thomas: (stating his opinion) "Coal doesn't make my axles tingle. I wish I could have fresh fuel."
Merchandise
- Take Along (discontinued)
- Books - Thomas Rescues the Diesels and Don't Say I Can't
- Magazine Stories - Pop Goes the Diesel, Engine Trouble and Thomas Saves the Day
- Bachmann (coming soon)
In Other Languages
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Home Media Releases
| #01 Thomas and the Tuba | #10 Emily's New Route | #19 Fish |
| #02 Percy's New Whistle | #11 Thomas and the Firework Display | #20 Emily's Adventure |
| #03 Thomas to the Rescue | #12 Gordon Takes Charge | #21 Halloween |
| #04 Henry and the Wishing Tree | #13 Spic and Span | #22 You Can Do It, Toby! |
| #05 James Gets a New Coat | #14 Edward the Great | #23 James Goes Too Far |
| #06 Thomas Saves the Day | #15 Squeak, Rattle and Roll | #24 Chickens to School |
| #07 Percy's Big Mistake | #16 Thomas and the Circus | #25 Too Hot for Thomas |
| #08 Thomas, Emily and the Snowplough | #17 Thomas Gets It Right | #26 Percy and the Magic Carpet |
| #09 Don't Tell Thomas | #18 As Good as Gordon | |