Thomas and the Birthday Picnic

"This is the best birthday picnic ever!" "Thomas, this is your best idea yet!"

- Dowager and the Fat Controller

Thomas and the Birthday Picnic is the seventh episode of the ninth series.

Plot
It is Dowager Hatt's birthday, and the Fat Controller decides to take her out on a birthday picnic. Thomas, who is to take the Hatts out for the day, decides to go to Shen Valley. Thomas arrives at Knapford station with Annie and Clarabel and the staff load up the picnic hamper and the birthday cake aboard Clarabel. Dowager Hatt looks very serious, making Thomas feel nervous. However, Thomas is no longer nervous once Percy cheers him up.

Thomas sets off for Shen Valley, hopeful that Dowager Hatt will love it. However, at Shen Valley, the Hatts are not impressed; the fields have just been ploughed, so they have to go elsewhere. Thomas decides to go to the Scottish Castle, but they cannot picnic there as it is closed for maintenance. Thomas sets off again, this time going too fast, making the journey uncomfortable for the Hatts. The Fat Controller tells Thomas to stop and once he does, the Fat Controller demands to know where they are going. But Thomas does not know as he has run out of ideas. The Fat Controller decides to cancel the birthday picnic as lunchtime has passed and Dowager Hatt wants to go home. Thomas heads back to Knapford, hopeful to have a good idea before they get home, but to no avail. Once the Hatts leave the train, Thomas sadly heads back to Tidmouth Sheds.

All the other engines hear what happened, but Percy hopes that Dowager Hatt will enjoy her birthday cake. Thomas quickly realises that in all his sadness, he forgot to let the staff unload the cake from Clarabel. Now Dowager Hatt cannot even have her birthday tea. Thomas hopes that an idea will come to him. As does Percy, who tries to blow his whistle, but only to make a faint whistle due to stone dust clogging it. Gordon tells Percy to blow his whistle hard and gives a long low note. Emily prefers high toots and blows two high toots of her whistle. Henry is proud of his whistle being slow and strong. All of the whistling finally gives Thomas a brilliant idea.

Later, the Fat Controller receives a phone call from the Knapford stationmaster, informing him that Thomas and the engines have a special surprise. At Knapford station, the Hatts are delighted to see the decorations and the food all set up, including the birthday cake. Thomas blows his whistle and one by one, all of the Steam Team whistle happy birthday to her. Dowager Hatt is very happy with her birthday picnic surprise and the Fat Controller congratulates Thomas for such a splendid idea.

Characters

 * Thomas
 * Henry
 * Gordon
 * Percy
 * Emily
 * Sir Topham Hatt
 * Dowager Hatt
 * Annie and Clarabel
 * Lady Hatt
 * Edward
 * James
 * Toby
 * Stephen Hatt
 * The Storyteller
 * Salty
 * Cranky
 * Big Mickey

Locations

 * Brendam Docks
 * Kellsthorpe Road
 * Tidmouth Sheds
 * Knapford
 * The Headlands
 * Shen Valley
 * Sodor Suspension Bridge
 * Callan Castle
 * Topham Hall
 * Henry's Forest
 * Hackenbeck Bridge
 * Bluff's Cove

Trivia

 * An extended stock footage from Thomas to the Rescue, a deleted scene from Henry and the Wishing Tree, stock footage from the learning segment Toby is Surprised to see... and unedited stock footage from Thomas and the Rainbow is used. Additionally, the former stock footage was sped up.
 * This is the first episode with a few things:
 * The first episode written by Sharon Miller.
 * The first appearance of Henry's happy face in the episode since the sixth series episode, Percy's Chocolate Crunch.
 * Dowager Hatt's first speaking role since her debut, as well as the first time she is referred to by name, albeit only in the UK dub. It is also her first appearance since the sixth series episode, Thomas the Jet Engine.
 * In the magazine story and Every Day's a Special Day on Sodor music video, a deleted scene shows that Thomas planned to take Sir Topham Hatt and his family to Bluff's Cove for the birthday picnic but was cancelled due to the rain.
 * Two British Railways posters are visible at Knapford's office. One for the "Coronation Scot" and one for "Battle of Britain." These can also be found in Mighty Mac.
 * A portrait of a man resembling Uncle Sam can be seen at Topham Hall.
 * This episode marks the last episode appearance of the Sodor Suspension Bridge in completely original footage until the sixteenth series episode, Whiff's Wish, not counting its stock footage in Emily Knows Best and Seeing the Sights nor in a ninth series learning segment, Getting to Bluff's Cove.

Goof

 * When Percy says, "Don't worry!" he tilts to the right briefly.

Merchandise

 * Books - Oh! Mrs. Hatt is Angry

Home Media Releases
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UK

 * Little Engines Big Days Out
 * The Complete Series 9
 * The Best of Thomas

DVD Packs

 * 5 Adventurous DVDs
 * The Ultimate Collection
 * Classic Collection
 * Adventure Pack
 * Official DVD and Book
 * The Best of Friends
 * 10 DVD Boxset

US/CAN

 * Tales from the Tracks
 * The Greatest Stories

DVD Boxsets

 * Let's Explore with Thomas
 * 4-Disc DVD Box Set
 * Steam Engine Stories
 * 3 DVD Lunchbox Set

AUS

 * Little Engines, Big Days Out
 * The Complete Series 9
 * My First Thomas with The Fat Controller
 * The Best of Thomas and Friends - Volume 2
 * It's Party Time!

DVD Boxsets

 * 3 Disc Set
 * My First Thomas
 * Complete Series 1-10
 * The Essential Collection
 * The Great Adventures of Thomas and Friends
 * Series Nine and Series Ten Double Pack
 * Series Nine and The Great Discovery Double Pack
 * HiT Favourites - 3 Disc Set

JPN

 * Thomas the Tank Engine Series 9 Vol.1
 * Thomas and the Birthday Delivery

DK

 * The Magic Lamp

NOR/SWE

 * Little Trains on a Day Out

FIN

 * The Little Locomotive Excursion

CZ

 * Thomas the Rescuer

GER

 * The Most Courageous Locomotive in the World

NL

 * Thomas and the Birthday Picnic

MYS

 * Best Friends and Other Adventures
 * Thomas' Milkshake Muddle and Other Adventures
 * Mighty Mac and Other Adventures

HUN

 * Bold and Brave

SPN

 * Thomas and Friends - Volume 7

DVD Boxsets

 * Season Season

THA

 * Thomas and Friends - Volume 28

KOR

 * Thomas the Little Engine and Friends Season 4 Vol. 1

HK

 * Thomas and Friends Volume 25

TWN
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 * Thomas and Friends Volume 13

Episode
Thomas y el Picnic de Cumpleaños תומס ופיקניק יום ההולדת Tomek i Urodzinowy Piknik Праздничный пикник