Air date: October 17th, 2005 (UK), October 16th, 2005 (US)
The engines are very busy delivering items to help set up the fair and all are looking forward to it, especially Thomas. However, he is told by the Fat Controller to take some of Farmer McColl's chickens from Dryaw Station to Brendam Docks. When Thomas arrives at Dryaw, Farmer McColl is not there; his lorry has a flat tyre, so Thomas must wait. Then, James arrives and tells Thomas that he could go over to the fair and be back before Farmer McColl turns up. Thomas agrees with James and leaves Dryaw to see the children at the fair.
However, Thomas begins to worry that Farmer McColl might come whilst he is gone or Thomas will be held up by a red signal on the way back, which would make the Fat Controller cross if he is late with the chickens. Thomas puts his job first and reverses back to Dryaw. By the time Farmer McColl arrives at Dryaw with the chickens, it is already evening. Once the chickens are loaded up in his vans, Thomas leaves for Brendam.
At Abbey Station, Thomas meets Gordon, who tells Thomas that if he goes fast, he will be on time to see the fair. So, when their signals turn green, Gordon departs with the Express, closely followed by Thomas who speeds away. However, Gordon's next signal is green whilst Thomas' is red. Thomas brakes hard and the chickens get very cross. As soon as he stops, Thomas remembers that he was told to go slowly with the chickens, which he does for the rest of the journey. By the time he gets to Brendam, it is already night and Thomas knows he will not be able to go to the fair.
However, Thomas is asked to get a new generator for the fair. Once there, the generator is unloaded and put to work, bringing the fair back to life. Thomas is very happy that, against all the uncertainties, he is at the fair.
This episode contains examples of:
- Deus ex Machina: Thomas' extremely late delivery of the chickens would certainly have caused him to miss the fair... but then the generator breaks down, and he's chosen to take a new one there.
- Imagine Spot: Thomas has three of them as he leaves Dryaw Station. First, he imagines Farmer McColl arriving at the station while he wasn't there, second, he imagines being held up by a signal on the way back, and third, he imagines the Fat Controller being cross with him for being late.
- Toxic Friend Influence: James and Gordon both give bad advice to Thomas: James tells him that he can go to the fair and return before Farmer McColl comes back and Gordon advises Thomas to finish his jobs quickly so he can go to the fair. Luckily, Thomas remembers to wait for Farmer McColl first and go slowly with the chickens.
