U.S. Title: Thomas Meets the Queen
Air date: April 16th, 1995
Adapted from: Gordon the Big Engine, "Paint Pots and Queens"
Thomas and Gordon are puffing together back home after the events of "Off the Rails" and "Down the Mine". They arrive back at the sheds to discover decorations are being put up. Thomas wonders what's happening, and The Fat Controller tells the engines that the Queen is coming to visit Sodor. The engines then wonder who would pull the Royal Train. Edward says he's too old, and Gordon is still in disgrace. James thinks he'll be chosen, but Henry tells him that he couldn't climb hills, and brags he'll pull the Royal Train and will have a new coat of paint.
One rainy day, Henry's driver and fireman cover the cab to keep dry at Knapford. A painter was on the ladder above the line, and when Henry's steam blows high into the air, the painter loses sight, and then he and his paint pot fall onto Henry, with the paint pot falling onto Henry's dome. The painter says that Henry's not a pretty picture, and the Fat Controller says that it won't do for the Royal Train, and that he must make other arrangements.
Thomas and Gordon are waiting for the Fat Controller, who can see that both engines are sorry for their accidents and deserve a treat. He tells the two engines that Thomas will look after the coaches, Edward will go in front to clear the line, and Gordon will pull the Royal Train. The great day comes, and the engines are busy gathering people from all over the island for the special occasion, and Edward soon steams in and tells everyone that the Queen has arrived. Gordon then pulls into the station with the queen's train. The Fat Controller stands to attention and welcomes the queen. She thanks him for a splendid ride and asks to see the engines. Percy and Toby then whistle and cheer for the queen, and when it's time to leave, the Queen speaks especially to Thomas, Edward, and finally Gordon, who takes her home and no engines ever felt prouder than those on the Fat Controller's railway.
Tropes featured in the episode:
- Break the Haughty: Downplayed. Henry's boasting resulted in the painter falling off the ladder and dropping the paint pot on his paintwork.
- Call-Back: Gordon and Thomas are still in disgrace for sliding into a ditch and falling down a mine. Their alliance from the latter episode is also still in effect as the two try to defend each other in front of the Fat Controller.
- Continuity Nod: Henry arrogantly reminds James of how "You can't climb hills".
- Deadpan Snarker: The painter's comment to Henry after the paint falls into his paintwork:Painter: Well, you're not a pretty picture.
- Disneyfication: The painter bawls at Henry for causing his accident and forcing him to get more paint in the novel version. In the episode he merely makes a good natured jab at Henry's ruined paint work.
- Flashback Cut: Also doubles as Stock Footage. Stock footage of "Off the Rails" and "Down the Mine" are shown in the beginning.
- Foreshadowing: When Henry boasts about being the one to pull the Royal Train, he claims he'll get a new coat of paint, then a paint bucket falls on him.
- Laser-Guided Karma: Henry had earlier made fun of James for Slipping on leaves on Gordon's hill, which resulted in him getting covered in paint.
- Series Continuity Error: This episode was supposed to take place directly after Thomas' accident in "Down The Mine" (and is one of few later adapted episodes that still directly continues from an earlier one), however Duck is shown in the celebrations, despite not officially appearing until "Duck Takes Charge" in Season Two. Doubles as Adaptation Induced Plothole.
- Standard Snippet: "God Save the Queen" is heard at the end of the episode.
