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Thomas & Friends S1 E18 "Coal"
(aka: Thomas The Tank Engine S 1 E 18 Coal)

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Thomas & Friends S1 E18 "Coal" Recap
"It's expensive... but Henry must have a fair chance."

U.S. Title: Henry's Special Coal

Air date: December 4th, 1984

Adapted from: Henry the Green Engine, "Coal"

Sometimes Henry can pull trains, but at other times, he has no strength at all. One morning, He wakes up feeling very ill. He complains about it to James, who simply grumpily shrugs it off as Henry being lazy. The Fat Controller is also unhappy about this, given that this is the latest in a long line of problems with Henry and not even new parts or paint seem to help him. The Fat Controller tells Henry that if he can't get better, he will have to be replaced, which upsets him and his crew.

Determined to get to the bottom of the problem, the Fat Controller changes out of his usual suit into a crewman's uniform to ride along in the cab as Henry takes his first train. Henry manages to start but his fireman isn't pleased and notes that Henry's fire doesn't give enough heat. As a result, Henry quickly loses steam and has to rest in a siding when he reaches Wellsworth station. While Edward takes over the train, Henry's Fireman and the Fat Controller continue to discuss what the problem is, and the fireman explains that the coal provided for Henry is unsuitable for him, made worse by the poor lot they have been receiving lately. While the other engines can cope because they have big fireboxes, Henry's is too small, and can't make the heat needed for him to run properly. But if Henry had Welsh coal, he would easily improve. Although the Welsh coal will be expensive, the Fat Controller agrees that Henry deserves a fair chance and sends James to collect some.

When the coal arrives, the fireman carefully stokes up Henry's fire to give the best possible results. Henry has his doubts, but his mood changes as he comes into the platform with more than enough steam. The Fat Controller is happy to see that Henry is feeling well and warns the driver not to push him. The driver assures the Fat Controller not to worry, as Henry won't need pushing, but would have to be held back.

Henry has a pleasant journey with his passenger train, and for the first time, he arrives at Elsbridge ahead of schedule. When Thomas arrives, Henry calls him "lazybones", paying him back for an earlier insult before quickly running off. Thomas, too surprised to be mad, reacts with disbelief, and Annie and Clarabel agree with him.

Tropes featured in the episode:

  • The Alleged Train: Henry himself starts out as this, having a small firebox that renders him unable to function properly without a special type of coal. This problem will be remedied in the next episode.
  • Bowdlerise: In the UK narration, the Fat Controller informs Henry that he's too expensive. Both US versions have the Fat Controller asking Henry what's wrong with him.
  • Determinator: As the narrator notes, Henry tried very hard with his train during his test run but couldn't get enough steam, leading him to stop just outside Edward's station (technically at the platform, due to portions of the script being taken from the original book).
  • Does This Remind You of Anything?: Henry's small firebox rendering him unable to properly function without Welsh coal. Replace "small firebox" with "asthma" and "Welsh coal" with "an inhaler", and you'll understand what Henry has to go through.
  • Downer Beginning: The episode starts with Henry saddened of his condition, although James was unsympathetic of this, and then the Fat Controller informing him that he will need to replace Henry if they can't find anything to make him better.
  • Earn Your Happy Ending: Henry suffers with his illness until it was discovered that it's the coal and his small firebox causing it. After receiving Welsh coal, he is now a well and happy engine.
  • Ironic Echo: After Henry came to the station right before Thomas did, he calls him "lazybones" which is the same thing Thomas called him in "Thomas and the Guard".
  • Jerkass: James, he criticizes Henry for being lazy.
  • No Sympathy: Happens again to an ill Henry, this time he gets berated by James for not working hard enough. His crewmen on the other hand feel deeply for his situation, and while the Fat Controller notes he will need to take pragmatic action if it continues, he too wants to fix Henry's problem.
  • Reasonable Authority Figure: While the Fat Controller makes clear that they will need to resort to a replacement engine if they can't improve Henry's performance, he takes it upon himself to inspect Henry with his driver and fireman, and resorts to using an expensive Welsh coal when told it can fix the problem, noting Henry deserves a fair chance.
  • Stock Footage: Footage from "Edward, Gordon and Henry" and "Troublesome Trucks" and a deleted scene from "The Flying Kipper" is used.
  • Title Drop: UK only and the word is Coal.

Alternative Title(s): Thomas The Tank Engine S 1 E 18 Coal

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