U.S. Title: A Big Day for Thomas
Air date: October 23rd, 1984
Adapted from: Thomas the Tank Engine, "Thomas' Train"
Thomas, seeing the other engines pull trains, wishes to pull his own for once. Despite ridicule from the other engines for his impatience, Thomas still wishes to fulfil his dream of pulling a train.
One day, Henry is ill, giving Thomas more hope to pull a train. As he pulls Henry's coaches to Knapford, Sir Topham Hatt is notified of Henry's illness and lets Thomas pull Henry's train, seeing him as the only engine around to do so. Despite being warned against being impatient, Thomas hurries off before he can be coupled to the coaches to the people's shock and anger. However, when he stops at a signal, a signalman tries to ask him about his train, causing Thomas to realise he left his train behind at the station.
Back at Knapford, the passengers are furious over the train being greatly delayed and Thomas' act of impatience, but upon seeing a remorseful Thomas returning, they decide to give him another chance. This time, Thomas is properly coupled to his train and successfully pulls it to its destination. Sadly, the mishap earns him tons of ridicule from the other engines much to his chagrin.
Tropes featured in the episode:
- All of the Other Reindeer: The other engines to Thomas.
- An Aesop: Don't be impatient when you are new to helping out.
- Bittersweet Ending: Well, more bitter than sweet. Thomas manages to get the train moving properly after the passengers decide to give him another chance, but the mishap he got into earlier earns the little tank engine tons of ridicule from the other engines for a long time to his chagrin.
- Conforming OOC Moment: Edward was among the other engines who teased Thomas, despite the narration stating him to be the kind and wise engine.
- Early-Bird Cameo: The police officer from "Thomas in Trouble" makes a brief appearance in this episode.
- Foreshadowing:
- This is the first time in the series that Henry is ill which makes a crucial part in "Coal" several episodes later.
- The big engines point out to Thomas that he couldn't pull passenger trains because he was too impatient and will leave them behind. And sure enough, Thomas did leave the coaches behind.
- The Freelance Shame Squad: In the ending, the big engines laugh at Thomas for his mistake.
- Jerkass Has a Point: While they were mocking Thomas, the big engines (particularly Gordon) tell him he was too impatient to pull passenger trains, and knowing what happened later on, they weren't wrong.
- Jerkass Realization: The passengers are infuriated by Thomas' mistake, until he comes back looking extremely sorrowful and they feel sorry for him.
- No Sympathy: Downplayed, since Thomas does appear to have a sad, concerned facial expression regarding Henry's illness, but when Henry has still not recovered by the morning, Thomas is actually hopeful it will last long enough for him to get an opportunity to pull his train.
- Subverted with the passengers. At first they're angry about the accident, but when Thomas comes back in tears their mood changes and the train leaves without further mishap.
- Oh, Crap!: Thomas' expression
when he realized that he left the Express Coaches behind the station. - A Tragedy of Impulsiveness: An excited Thomas speeds off before his train is properly coupled.
