The Water Wheel

"I guess you can call it 'Wheelie Useful'!"

- Thomas

The Water Wheel is the fifteenth episode of the twenty-second series.

Plot
Thomas is given a water wheel to take to Tu Zi Quan to replace the old, broken one so as to bring water to the paddy fields. Although Thomas doubts that it looks strong enough, Hong-Mei tells him that it is made from bamboo, which is light but very strong and used for a number of things.

After Hong-Mei, An An and Yin-Long tell Thomas about the importance of the water wheel, he decides to take a shortcut to get it delivered quickly. Unfortunately, it is through a low bridge which accidently knocks the wheel off Thomas' flatbed without him knowing until it bounces right in front of him and Yong Bao.

The water wheel then races along the Chinese countryside with Thomas going after it. It even ends up swinging on the Chinese Breakdown Crane, on a mountain, and then down a river. Thomas, disappointed at having lost the water wheel, arrives sadly at the paddy fields. While Thomas attempts to explain what happened, the workers notice the water wheel flowing down the river. This is praised by the workers, who think that Thomas thought about having the wheel flow down the river and ask him to help them pull it into place. Thomas does so, and is impressed by the strength of the bamboo and its really usefulness.

Characters

 * Thomas
 * Yong Bao
 * Hong-Mei
 * The Chinese Diesel
 * The Male Chinese Breakdown Crane
 * An An and Yin-Long
 * The Grey Tender Engine
 * Annie and Clarabel

Locations

 * Island of Sodor
 * The Watermill
 * China
 * Chinese Railway Sheds
 * The Chinese Town Halt
 * Himalayas
 * The Bamboo Forest
 * The Chinese Railway Bridge
 * Cherry Blossom Runby
 * Chang Jiang River
 * Tu Zi Quan

UK

 * John Hasler as Thomas
 * Dan Li as Yong Bao
 * Chipo Chung as Hong-Mei and the Chinese Women
 * Su-Lin Looi as the Chinese Diesel
 * Siu-see Hung as An An
 * Windson Liong as Yin-Long, the Chinese Breakdown Crane and the Chinese Men

US and CAN

 * Joseph May as Thomas
 * Dan Li as Yong Bao
 * Chipo Chung as Hong-Mei and the Chinese Women
 * Su-Lin Looi as the Chinese Diesel
 * Siu-see Hung as An An
 * Windson Liong as Yin-Long, the Chinese Breakdown Crane and the Chinese Men

Trivia

 * Going by production order, this is the twenty-first episode of the twenty-second series.
 * This episode has a similar plot to the twelfth series episode, Steady Eddie and Thomas Thinks Bamboo is Really Useful from the Really Useful Around the World series.
 * This episode marks the Chinese Diesel and the Male Chinese Breakdown Crane's only appearances in the twenty-second series, their first and only appearances in an episode and their last appearances; however, the Female Chinese Breakdown Crane does not appear.
 * This episode focuses on Goal 6: Clean Water and Sanitation as it was part of Mattel's partnership with the United Nations to promote 6 of the chosen Sustainable Development Goals.
 * On the Nick Jr. US airing of this episode, it was paired with An Engine of Many Colours.

Merchandise

 * Magazine Stories - The Water Wheel

UK/AUS

 * A Colourful World

GER

 * Big World! Big Adventures! - China

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