Fish

Fish is the twenty-fourth episode of the fourth series. It is based on the story of the same name from The Railway Series book Really Useful Engines.

Plot

One night, a special load of fish is ordered. The Fat Controller decides that extra vans must be added to the end of the Flying Kipper. The only vans available are four old ones which had not been used for a long time. Duck shunts them into position and, moments later, Thomas arrives with the Mail Train. He crossly warns Duck to take care, telling him vaguely about his own experience with fish, then leaves, still cross. Henry grumbles about his extra load but his driver tells him that another engine will help them up Gordon's Hill. Henry soon sets off from the harbour and makes good progress along the coastal run.

At Wellsworth, Duck waits for Henry while workmen light up his lamp and fill his water tank. After Henry arrives, Duck gently buffers up to the back of the train but is not coupled to it so that Henry can continue on without Duck once he summits the hill. As the train nears the top of the hill, Henry pulls the train harder than he realises and Duck lags behind. Then, the tail lamp on the last van falls off and Duck, lost in the darkness, whistles but receives no reply. Henry begins slowing down as the train begins to feel heavier. Trying to catch up to Henry, Duck accelerates and collides into the back of Henry's train, smashing the last van to pieces and causing boxes of fish to spill out. Henry stops as soon as he hears the crash.

The next morning, workmen arrive to clear the mess and the broken tail lamp is found at the bottom of the hill. The Fat Controller kindly explains to Duck that the accident was not his fault and that the crew should have checked that the tail lamp was fixed on properly and assures Duck that he will soon be in working order again. Duck reflects that Thomas' earlier advice about fish was right and remarks to the Fat Controller that fish got him in "a right pickle".

Characters

• Thomas
• Henry
• Duck
• Sir Topham Hatt
• Edward (does not speak)
• James (cameo)
• Percy (cameo)
• Skarloey (stock footage cameo)
• Rheneas (stock footage cameo)
• Narrow Gauge Coaches (stock footage cameos)
• Gordon (mentioned)

Locations

• Tidmouth Beach
  • Tidmouth Lighthouse
  • The Seaside Village
• Mountainside Runby
• Road Beside Rail and Canal Runby
• Knapford Harbour
  • Sodor Shipping Company
• Wellsworth
• Gordon's Hill
• Lakeside (stock footage)
  • Lakeside Bridge (stock footage)
  • Lakeside Junction (stock footage)
  • Neptune Refreshments (stock footage)

Trivia

• This is the 50th episode narrated by Michael Angelis.
• This is the first episode of a few things:
  • The first episode to feature Duck's speechless face since the second series episode Dirty Work.
  • The first on-screen appearance of Henry's astonished face as it only appeared in a deleted scene of the second series episode Edward's Exploit.
  • The first episode where Henry's surprised face is used more than once in a single series.
• This episode marked the last of a few things:
  • Duck's last episode with a leading role until the sixth series episode Scaredy Engines.
  • The last time the music first heard at the start of the third series episode Thomas, Percy and the Post Train is used; it is played at the start of this episode as the narrator introduces the story similar to the said episode.
  • The last appearance of Duck's cross face.
  • This is the last episode in the Finnish dub where Duck's original English name is used. From the fifth series onwards, he's called "Ankkanen".
• Edited stock footage from A Bad Day for Sir Handel is used.
• Crates labelled "Fulton's" can be seen during the episode. These are used as either a reference to Fulton's Fish Market in New York City, USA or set dressing props from Tugs, the sister series of Thomas & Friends. A modified model of O.J., Lakesider III, from said series also appears in the episode.
• A Lynton and Barnstaple Railway Van used in this episode is currently owned by Twitter user ThomasTankMerch.
• A reference to the first series episode Thomas Goes Fishing is made.
• In the UK version, Michael Angelis' line, "Then, there was trouble," is reused from the fourth series episode Steam Roller.

Goofs

• Throughout the episode:
  • Henry's lamp is not on his lamp iron.
  • Thomas has Edward's whistle sound.
• Duck's eyes are misaligned in some scenes.
• As Duck is shunting the vans, two of them switch places.
• Thomas' eyes are misaligned in the first close-up shot of him.
• In a close-up shot of Duck, his lamp has no light.
• In the Finnish dub, Gordon's English name is mistakenly used when referring to Gordon's Hill.
• At Gordon's Hill, the middle two of the old vans switch to the other direction.
• Henry's eyes are misaligned when going up Gordon's Hill.

In Other Languages

Home Video Releases

Episode

Reference