Trusty Trunky

This article is about the episode. You may be looking for the elephant or the magazine story.

Trusty Trunky is the fourth episode of the twenty-second series.

Plot

Thomas is working on the Indian Railway. Whilst in the shunting yards, Thomas is reunited with Ashima and is introduced to Rajiv, who boasts about his crown which he claims makes him royal. Noor Jehan then tells him off for saying that, stating that a crown does not make him royal. Thomas is surprised when he sees several animals in the yards, including chickens, goats and elephants. He is also shocked when Ashima tells him about elephants being in the shunting yards when engines were busy. He gets a fright when he believes an elephant is shunting behind him, but it is revealed to be Shankar shunting his trucks for him to pull.

Thomas is amazed by what he sees in India while delivering his trucks; palaces, high bridges and several animals, including goats on top of carriages, cows sleeping on the track and elephants wandering around the countryside. While thinking that it sounds like animals run the railway (and daydreaming about an elephant as the Fat Controller running the railway), he accidentally derails in a paddy field. He sees Rajiv and asks for his help, saying that Rajiv could get his crown polished for helping him out.

After some time of waiting, an elephant approaches Thomas. Although he is scared of the giant animal, Thomas is surprised when she lifts him back onto the tracks and washes him off. While Rajiv is annoyed at how Thomas has just got himself back onto the tracks, Ashima recognises the elephant as Trusty Trunky, who has also helped her out. Rajiv becomes annoyed when Trusty Trunky almost sprays him and his crown with water, although Thomas and Ashima laugh at her washing Thomas.

Characters

• Thomas
• Ashima
• Rajiv
• Shankar
• Noor Jehan
• Sir Topham Hatt (fantasy)
• The Indian Breakdown Cranes (do not speak)
• The Brown Tender Engine (cameo)
• The Grey Tender Engine (cameo)
• The Maroon Tank Engine (cameo)
• The Purple Tank Engine (cameo)
• The Purple Tender Engine (cameo)
• A Diesel Shunter (cameo)
• The Indian Fashion Designer (cameo)
• Percy (cameo; fantasy)
• Emily (cameo; fantasy)
• James (portrait cameo; fantasy)
• Ferdinand (portrait cameo; fantasy)

Locations

• India
  • Varkala Railway Station
  • Taj Mahal
  • The Indian Beam Bridge
  • The Indian Paddy Field
• Island of Sodor (fantasy)
  • Knapford (fantasy)
    • Sir Topham Hatt's Office (fantasy)

Cast

UK

• John Hasler as Thomas
• Tina Desai as Ashima
• Nikhil Parmar as Rajiv
• Sheena Bhattessa as Noor Jehan
• Sanjeev Bhaskar as Shankar
• Keith Wickham as the Fat Controller

US

• Joseph May as Thomas
• Tina Desai as Ashima
• Nikhil Parmar as Rajiv
• Sheena Bhattessa as Noor Jehan
• Sanjeev Bhaskar as Shankar
• Keith Wickham as Sir Topham Hatt

Trivia

• Going by production order, this is the fifth episode of the twenty-second series.
• This episode marks the first of several things:
  • Ashima's first appearance in an episode, as well as her first appearance since her debut in The Great Race.
  • Rajiv's first speaking role and appearance in an episode, as well as his first appearance since his debut in The Great Race.
  • Shankar's first speaking role and his first appearance in an episode.
  • The first episode written by Becky Overton since the nineteenth series episode, Wild Water Rescue.
  • The first episode not to have Teresa Gallagher as part of the voice cast since the Big World! Big Adventures! rebrand.
  • The first episode to take place in India.
  • The first production since The Great Race to feature Tina Desai as part of the voice cast.
  • The first time religion is mentioned in the television series.
• The events of The Great Race are mentioned by Thomas when he met Ashima on Sodor.
• When Thomas first meets Ashima in the shunting yard, an arrangement of the song You Can Only Be You is heard.
• Nikhil Parmar, Sheena Bhattessa and Sanjeev Bhaskar join the voice cast.
• This is the second episode to be named after an animal with a name, the first being Gremlin the dog in the fifth series episode, Gordon and the Gremlin.
• This episode is based off a real life event where two elephants helped an engine from Australia and its train of trucks get back on the rails.
• This is the only episode of the twenty-second series set in India where Charubala does not appear.
• In the magazine version, some of the express coaches at Varkala Railway Station are painted a different colour to the ones featured in the episode.
• Ashima explains to Thomas that cows need to be treated with respect, which is a moral of Hinduism, one of the main religions of India.
• Stock footage from this episode was used in the Japanese version of the revamp title sequence.
• This is the only episode to have a unique transition to the Learn With Thomas segment.
• On the Nick Jr. US airing of this episode, it was paired with the twenty-second series episode School of Duck.
• This episode focuses on Goal 15: Life on Land as it was part of Mattel's partnership with the United Nations to promote 6 of the chosen Sustainable Development Goals.

Goofs

• During the fantasy sequence, Thomas and Percy's cab doors are not open.
• Before Thomas derails, one of his bufferbeam parts are black instead of red.

In Other Languages

Merchandise

• Magazine Stories - Trusty Trunky (2019/2025)

Home Media Releases

UK/AUS

• Here Comes the Steam Team!

GER

• Big World! Big Adventures! - India

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