Ghost Train

"Well, well, well! What do you know about that? "Anyone would think that our Thomas had just seen a ghost!"

- Percy and Toby

Ghost Train, retitled Percy's Ghostly Trick in North American releases, is the twenty-fourth episode of the second series. It is based on the story of the same name from the Railway Series book Tramway Engines.

Plot
Percy tells Thomas and Toby the story of a ghost train that his driver saw the night before. However, Thomas does not believe a word of it and calls Percy a silly little engine. The next day, Percy tells his driver that Thomas did not believe in the ghost and the driver explains that it was merely television fiction.

That evening, Percy is returning to the sheds from the harbour. Despite the darkness, Percy knows just where he is, but he is unaware that a cart full of lime is stuck on the tracks at the level crossing ahead. While Sam the farmer has gone for help, Percy comes down the line, destroying the cart and is left completely covered by the lime.

Percy runs to the nearest signal box, where he meets Toby and his driver explains to the signalman what happened. The signalman arranges to sort out the hazard on the line but suggests Percy be cleaned up, as he looks like a ghost. This gives Percy an idea to scare Thomas and asks not to be cleaned until he plays his trick. Toby agrees to help and sets off.

At the sheds, Thomas is being prepared for his evening train when Toby arrives and tells him that Percy was involved in an accident. Thomas is mildly concerned for Percy, but more worried that this will make him late. Toby tells him the line has been cleared, but that he thinks he saw Percy's ghost saying it was coming to warn them. Thomas is unconcerned and tells Toby not to worry.

Shortly after, a ghostly voice is heard outside, demanding to be let in. As Thomas watches in horror, the shed doors creak open, revealing what appears to be Percy's ghost. Thomas quickly says he is late and leaves to collect Annie and Clarabel. Even after he has finished his run, he is so scared that he does not return to the shed for the rest of the night.

The next morning, Thomas meets Toby at the station. When Toby asks Thomas where he has been, Thomas reveals that he spent the night in the goods shed, claiming he knew Toby would be upset about Percy's demise and did not wish to intrude. As he stumbles through his excuse, Thomas hears Percy's whistle in the distance and runs off.

Percy, who is now cleaned up and none the worse for his adventure, arrives, having heard everything. Percy cannot help but feel pleased as Toby remarks that Thomas is acting as if he had seen a ghost.

Characters

 * Thomas
 * Percy
 * Toby
 * Annie and Clarabel
 * Percy's Ghost Engine
 * Sam the Farmer
 * Terence

Locations

 * The Viaduct
 * Hawin Ab
 * Tidmouth
 * Tidmouth Yards
 * Ffarquhar Sheds
 * The Branch Line Cutting
 * The Watermill
 * The Windmill
 * Ffarquhar Quarry
 * Crowe's Farm Crossing
 * New Harbour

Trivia

 * This is the 50th episode of the television series overall.
 * The ghost steam train is just Percy's model covered in white streamers with Edward's whistle sound.
 * In the English dubs, when Toby says "Anyone would think that our Thomas had just seen a ghost," a reverb effect is used on "ghost" to provide a scary-like feel.
 * Percy and Toby's exchange at the sheds is a spoof of the tale of The Three Little Pigs.
 * The crate of treacle, later used in the next episode, is seen twice: first at the scene of Tidmouth Station in between one of the Breakdown Train's cranes and the two brake vans, the second when Percy scares Thomas at the end.
 * A deleted scene shows Terence pulling the lime cart.
 * Ringo Starr's US dub of this episode has been broadcast on Shining Time Station. To date, it has not been released on home video in any form.
 * This episode's name would later be shared with one from Thomas & Friends: All Engines Go.
 * The events of this episode were later mentioned by Percy in the third series episode, Thomas, Percy and the Dragon.
 * In the restored version of the episode, the fade effect after Thomas leaves Tidmouth Station is removed.
 * According to the Conductor's trading card, the Conductor helped Percy play his ghostly trick on Thomas in this episode.
 * Unlike other episodes, Percy's lamp is placed on his middle shaft, not the one on his right (viewers' left). This is mainly due to him using the original UK headcode of "Light Engine".
 * This episode marks the first of a few things:
 * The first episode told by George Carlin in the US alongside the third series episode, Thomas, Percy and the Dragon during its Shining Time Station air date.
 * The first episode released in the US narrated by a narrator born in that country.
 * The first time fog is shown throughout an entire episode.
 * The first supernatural-themed episode of the entire franchise.
 * The first appearance of Toby's shocked face. It would appear from the third series onwards but with different eyebrows.
 * This episode marked the only occurrences of several things:
 * The only appearance of Percy's Ghost Engine. Although it was mentioned in the third series episode, Thomas, Percy and the Dragon.
 * The only supernatural-themed episode of the entire franchise to feature Thomas' original shocked face.
 * One of the three second series episodes where Thomas' horrified face is seen without teeth with the others being Thomas, Percy and the Coal and Thomas Comes to Breakfast.
 * The only appearance of Toryreck Junction until the twenty-first series episode, Hasty Hannah, and its only appearance in the model series.
 * The only appearance of Crowe's Farm Crossing until the seventeenth series episode, Thomas' Shortcut, and its only appearance in the model series.
 * Had the scene not been deleted, this episode would have marked the only appearance of Sam the Farmer in the television series.
 * This episode marked the last occurrences of a few things:
 * The final episode to feature Thomas' infamous original first series "O" face. It would appear again via stock footage in Paint Pots and Queens. The reason why it never properly appeared again after this episode was because the production crew considered it "too jarring" for younger viewers.
 * The last episode narrated by Goran Grgić in Croatia.
 * The last episode to feature the viaduct being repaired.

Goofs

 * In the shot of Toby telling Thomas about Percy's accident, his eyes jerk from up to down.
 * In the restored version, Toby leaves Percy to go to the sheds a little later than he did in the original, but the puffing noise starts before he moves. This is because an alternate take of Toby leaving was used instead of the original shot.
 * During the scene when Thomas visits Toby at the station after his scare, Thomas is right next to Toby for the wide shots, but is a little further forward during his close-ups.
 * As Thomas leaves the sheds, his lamp is off and slightly tilted to the left (viewers' right), there are wires next to the windows outside and what appears to be a piece of wood can be seen behind the doors, which cracks open a bit when Thomas leaves.
 * When Percy is puffing through the valley, he has a black box attached to his cab. This is most likely the power source for both of his lamps. This can also be seen on the back of Percy's Ghost Engine, earlier in the episode.
 * Percy's left (viewers' right) cylinder is loose throughout the first half of the episode.
 * When Percy is heard approaching and arriving at Ffarquhar Sheds, he is nowhere to be seen in the shot of nearby Tidmouth Station and the shunting yard.
 * When Percy comes into the shed, Toby's face mask is loose.
 * When Percy passes the windmill, his tail lamp is not red.
 * Clarabel is facing the wrong way when Thomas leaves Tidmouth.
 * When Percy enters the sheds, his lamp is slightly crooked.
 * When Thomas leaves the quarry, both his dome and whistle appear to be crooked.
 * Thomas and Toby's eyes are wonky when talking about Percy at the sheds.

Quotes

 * [in Percy's story, a ghost engine runs across the island]
 * Percy: And every year, on the date of the accident, it runs again as a warning to others, plunging into the gap, shrieking like a lost soul!
 * [cut back to the quarry]
 * Thomas: Percy, what are you talking about?
 * Percy: The ghost train. Driver saw it last night.
 * Thomas and Toby: Where?
 * Percy: He didn't say. Oh, it makes my wheels wobble to think of it!
 * Thomas: Pugh! You're just a silly little engine. I'm not scared!




 * Percy: Thomas didn't believe in your ghost.
 * Driver: Neither do I. It was a pretend ghost on television / only a pretend ghost story.




 * [after Percy's work in the harbour, he returns home that evening]
 * Narrator: Percy knew where he was, even in the dark.
 * Percy: Crowe's Farm Crossing. We shan't be long now.




 * [after Percy's driver explains about the unexpected encounter with the lime cart]
 * Signalman: I'll see to it, but you'd better clean Percy or people will think he's a ghost.
 * Percy: Do let's pretend I'm a ghost and scare Thomas. That'll teach him to say I'm a silly little engine!




 * Toby: Percy's had an accident!
 * Thomas: Poor engine! Botheration! That means I'll be late!
 * Toby: They've cleared the line for you, but there's something worse!
 * Thomas: Out with it, Toby! I can't wait all evening!
 * Toby: I've just seen something! [stutters] It looked like Percy's ghost! It said it was coming here to warn us!
 * Thomas: Pugh! Who cares?! Don't be frightened, Toby. I'll take care of you.
 * [Percy creeps up behind the sheds]
 * Percy: [imitates a ghost] Peeeep! Peeeeeep! Pip-pip-pip, PEEEEEEEEEP! Let me in, let me in!
 * Toby: No, no! Not by the smoke on my chimney-chim-chim!
 * Percy: I'll chuff, and I'll puff, and I'll break your door in!
 * [the doors slowly open]
 * Thomas: Oh, dear! It's getting late. Oh, I had no idea. [leaves the sheds] I must find Annie and Clarabel!




 * Toby: Where have you been?
 * Thomas: Ah well, I knew you'd be sad about Percy and I uh, I didn't like to intrude. I slept in the goods/freight shed and... [cut to a shot with a "ghost train" heard in the distance] Oh sorry, can't stop. Got to see a coach about a train. [leaves]
 * [later, Percy arrives, having overheard everything]
 * Percy: Well well well, what do you know about that?
 * Toby: Anyone would think, that our Thomas had just seen a ghost!

Merchandise

 * TrackMaster - Ghostly Percy
 * Magazine stories - Ghost Train

Home Media Releases
{{Scroll box|

UK

 * The Deputation and Other Stories
 * The Best of Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends
 * Ghost Train and other stories/Time for Trouble and other stories
 * The Complete Series 2
 * The Very Best of Thomas and Friends
 * The Best of Thomas
 * The Best of Percy
 * Edward's Exploit

VHS/DVD Packs

 * The Best of Friends
 * The Fogman and The Very Best of Thomas & Friends Double Pack
 * 10 DVD Boxset
 * Classic Collection

US

 * Percy's Ghostly Trick and Other Thomas Stories
 * 10 Years of Thomas
 * Best of Percy
 * Thomas' Fan Favorite Adventures
 * Thomas' Halloween Adventures
 * The Greatest Stories
 * Thomas & Friends Classic Volume 2

CAN

 * Percy's Ghostly Trick and Other Thomas Stories
 * 10 Years of Thomas
 * Best of Percy
 * Thomas' Halloween Adventures
 * The Greatest Stories

VHS/DVD Packs

 * Best of Thomas, Percy and James Platinum Edition
 * Thomas' Fan Favorite Adventures
 * Best Tales on the Tracks
 * Totally Thomas Volume 7
 * Adventure On the Tracks
 * Ultimate Thomas Collection
 * Best of Collection
 * Percy's Ghostly Trick/Spills and Chills Double Pack
 * Percy's Ghostly Trick/Thomas' Halloween Adventures Double Feature
 * Thomas Gets Tricked/Percy's Ghostly Trick Double Feature
 * Thomas Gets Tricked and Other Stories/Thomas' Halloween Adventures Double Feature
 * 3 DVD Lunchbox Set

AUS

 * The Deputation and Other Stories
 * The Complete Series 2
 * The Very Best of Thomas and Friends
 * The Best of Thomas and Friends - Volume 1

DVD Boxsets

 * 60th Anniversary - Limited Edition Boxset
 * Essential Collection
 * Complete Series 1-10
 * Classic Collection
 * Series One and Series Two Double Pack

NZ

 * The Deputation and Other Stories
 * Bumper Video Collection Volume 3

FRE

 * The Talkative Trains

NOR

 * Ghost Train

KOR

 * For the Story of Determination

NL

 * The Ghost Train
 * The Greatest Stories: The Adventures of Thomas, Percy and Gordon

SER

 * Thomas the Tank Engine 5

HRV

 * Better Late Than Never

GRC

 * A Lively Companionship

GER

 * Percy's Predicament and 4 Other Adventures
 * Thomas and His Friends Vol. 5
 * Heroes on Rails
 * A World-Famous Locomotive

DVD Boxsets

 * Thomas and His Friends Box Set 1

UKR

 * A Train Thomas and Friends

PHL

 * Edward's Exploit

JPN

 * Thomas the Tank Engine Vol.11
 * The Complete Works of Thomas the Tank Engine 1 Vol.6
 * Strange Story of Thomas the Tank Engine
 * Thomas and Percy and the Dragon

DVD Boxsets

 * The Complete DVD Box 1

MYS

 * Edward's Exploit and Other Thomas Adventures
 * The Deputation and Other Adventures

ZA

 * Volume 4

ITA

 * The Brave Locomotive

IND

 * Ghost Train and Other Stories

ROM

 * Thomas Comes to Breakfast

DVD Packs

 * Triple Pack 2

CHN

 * Thomas and Friends Season 1-4

HK

 * Thomas and Friends Volume 5
 * Thomas and Friends Volume 10

THA
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 * Thomas and Friends - Volume 8

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