Air date: December 25th, 2012 (UK/AUS), September 23rd, 2012 (US)
It is Christmas on the Island of Sodor. Thomas, Toby, and Rheneas are shunting in the Blue Mountain Quarry. Thomas says he is going to pick up a Christmas tree that the Logging Locos have brought from Misty Island. Rheneas says they do not have a tree and Toby comments that it would not be Christmas without one. Rheneas wants to go to Misty Island to find a tree for his friends, but Thomas is too busy and Toby says that Misty Island is strange and scary. Thomas says this is nonsense so Toby agrees to take Rheneas.
When they arrive at the Search and Rescue Centre, Toby and Rheneas meet the Logging Locos, who tell them that there will be plenty of trees on Misty Island. When Toby and Rheneas reach Misty Island, Toby says he wants to chuff slowly and carefully, but Rheneas tells him to go fast. Toby chuffs quickly to the Hollow Tree Tunnel. He does not want to chuff forward, but Rheneas tells him to chuff faster and faster. Toby decides that if he closes his eyes, it would not be as scary. He goes fast and they pass some Christmas trees. Rheneas tells Toby to stop, but Toby does not want to; he is too scared.
Next Toby and Rheneas come up to the Shake Shake Bridge. Toby is scared and does not want to cross, so he closes his eyes and races over the Shake Shake Bridge. They race around Misty Island and pass more Christmas trees. Rheneas tells Toby to stop, but he does not; he is too scared. Then the mist comes down. Toby stops because he is scared. Rheneas tells Toby to go fast, but Toby cannot as he is too frightened. Rheneas is worried that his friends will wake up and still not have a tree. Toby explains that he finds going fast scary and would prefer to go slowly. Rheneas agrees and, with the help of the Logging Locos, the engines go slowly and carefully and find a perfect tree. Toby realises that when he is not going fast, Misty Island is not scary after all and he keeps his eyes open the entire time.
Rheneas and Toby return to the Blue Mountain Quarry. The engines there are all amazed and agree it is a wonderful Christmas surprise.
This episode contains examples of:
- An Aesop: Nothing is as strange as it seems.
- Christmas Episode
- Continuity Nod: Toby encounters the Logging Locos the same way Thomas first encountered them in Misty Island Rescue; they're even in the same positions on the same track, along with the same introductions.
- End of an Age: This episode marks the last of many things:
- The end of the Nitrogen era before transferring to Arc for the animation.
- The last episode written by Sharon Miller.
- The last episode for narration from Michael Angelis for the UK and Michael Brandon for the US, and the last for two separate narrators.
- The last episode to feature Misty Island outside of mentions.
- The end of the infamous "three strikes" formula since Season 8.
- Face Your Fears: What Toby learns.
- Grand Finale: This episode marks the end of episodes being written by Sharon Miller. This also marks the last narration of Michael Angelis for the UK and Michael Brandon for the US. It is also the last episode of the Nitrogen era.
- Non-Indicative Title: The title of the episode has nothing to do with the Express Coaches.
- Rule of Three: Toby gets scared of the Hollow Tree Tunnel, the Shake Shake Bridge, and the island's mist.
- Season Finale
- Series Continuity Error: Toby has been to Misty Island before in "Merry Misty Island" and "Toby and Bash".
