Big Strong Henry

"Here comes Gordon!" "And here comes big strong Henry!"

- Thomas and Henry

Big Strong Henry is the thirteenth episode of the tenth series.

Plot
Winter is coming to the Island of Sodor, and all the engines are preparing for the cold weather. Farmer McColl is building a new shed for his cows, and he needs lots of bricks, iron and concrete to finish building it.

At Tidmouth Sheds, the Fat Controller declares that he needs a strong engine to fetch them. Henry volunteers immediately, but Gordon intervenes, boasting he is stronger and that he will do the job. Even though Gordon and Henry are just about the same size, after careful thinking, the Fat Controller decides that Gordon will pick up the building materials, and Henry will deliver the empty trucks for Gordon to collect. Henry is upset, but Percy, Emily and Thomas all reassure Henry they know he is big and strong. Percy says Henry could pull ten trucks of sand, Emily says he could pull twenty coal trucks and Thomas states that he could pull fifty trucks of iron and steel, calling him "Big Strong Henry." Gordon is unimpressed, but Thomas tells him that Henry will show him, and Gordon sets off.

After delivering the empty trucks, Henry sets off, wondering how he can prove that he is strong like Gordon. He meets Percy at the water tower, and Percy tells Henry to pull five heavy trucks from the nearby line. So, Henry switches tracks and couples up, and he pulls the trucks forward just as Gordon pulls up. Gordon angrily orders Henry to put the trucks back, as they are his trucks to pick up for Farmer McColl later, and he steams away. Percy still believes that Henry is stronger than Gordon, making Henry feel much better.

Further down the track, Thomas is waiting. Thomas tells Henry of the many trucks loaded with hay bales on the siding, and Henry decides to pull them. He couples up and pulls them out of the siding, but because Henry is pulling so many heavy trucks at one time, he cannot stop them from pushing him down the hill. At a bend at the bottom of the hill, Henry derails and the trucks are smashed, leaving hay bales everywhere and Henry is left very upset.

Edward brings Rocky to help lift Henry back onto the track, as well as the Fat Controller. He orders Henry to return the hay bales to where he found them, taking only one truck at a time. Henry is very miserable, as now he realises he is not as strong as he thinks he is.

Meanwhile, Gordon has delivered all the materials for Farmer McColl, and the Fat Controller tells him to go collect his cows. Gordon feels very proud of himself, boasting that he is indeed stronger than Henry, but does not realise that the cattle truck doors are improperly shut. At the signal, Gordon meets up with Henry, who is still returning hay bales. Henry notices the cows escaping from Gordon's wagons, and Gordon does not know what to do. However, Henry sees that the cows are heading towards the hay on his flatbed, and he gets an idea. Henry slowly chuffs down the track towards Farmer McColl's farm, and the cows hungrily follow him all the way. Farmer McColl is very pleased that all his cows are safely home, except for one who is blocking Gordon's path.

That night, Thomas and Percy apologise to Henry for getting him into trouble, but Henry accepts it as his fault for wanting to be "Big Strong Henry." However, Emily responds that he is something even better: "Very Helpful Henry." Henry smiles and states that even the strongest engine needs a little help sometimes, and asks Gordon if he agrees. Embarrassed, Gordon does not answer and his face simply turns red.

Characters

 * Thomas
 * Henry
 * Gordon
 * Percy
 * Emily
 * Sir Topham Hatt
 * Edward
 * Rocky
 * Farmer McColl
 * James
 * Molly
 * George
 * Jem Cole
 * Farmer Trotter
 * Cyril the Fogman
 * Sir Topham Hatt's Blond-haired Assistant

Locations

 * Tidmouth Sheds
 * Gordon's Hill
 * McColl Farm

Trivia

 * It is possible that the field where Henry derailed is the same that James and Molly pass at the beginning of the episode, just removing the tree and putting a third track in its place. A deleted version of the opening also shows this version of the field.
 * A deleted scene shows Emily being the engine who told Henry about the many trucks loaded with hay bales on the siding instead of Thomas.
 * This episode marks:
 * George's last appearance in an episode (though his last appearance overall would be in The Great Discovery) and his only appearance in the tenth series. However, he was intended to appear in the twenty-third series episode, Free the Roads.
 * The last appearances of Henry's spitting face mask and Gordon's astonished face mask.
 * The last episode written by Simon Nicholson.
 * The only episode where a brass model is used for the crash instead of the plastic model. This may be due to the plastic model having a previously loose middle left drive wheel which is visible in promotional photographs and some scenes of the episode, Henry and the Wishing Tree. The way the crash in this episode unfolded could have caused the old repair to fail.
 * A recap version of the episode was used in the Sodor's Special Places segment, Farmer McColl's Farm before the full episode aired.
 * The cow getting stuck on Gordon’s line and blocking Gordon may be a reference to the second series episode, Cows.
 * This episode was produced and aired before Edward Strikes Out, meaning that the audience would not know who Rocky is yet.

Goofs

 * In the beginning of the episode, Gordon has Henry's whistle sound.
 * The narrator says Percy collected trucks of logs, but there was only one truck.
 * Gordon's puffing sound is heard when Thomas says "Here comes Gordon," but it is not heard before or after Thomas said that.
 * The narrator says that Henry pulled the trucks out of the sidings, but the trucks were not on a siding.
 * The track where the five trucks of hay stand dead ends in the bushes.
 * In the shot of the trucks rolling Henry down the hill, a camera shadow on the top right can be seen.
 * When Henry derails, the first truck appears to already be damaged.
 * When Henry is passing by as he says "How can I show Gordon that I'm big and strong?", his eyes are very wonky.

Merchandise

 * Books - Smart Henry

Home Media Releases
{{Scroll box|

UK

 * The Complete Series 10
 * Big Strong Henry & Edward's Brass Band

DVD Boxsets

 * Classic Collection

AUS

 * The Complete Series 10

DVD Packs

 * Complete Series 1-10
 * The Essential Collection
 * Series Nine and Series Ten Double Pack
 * The Complete Series Ten and Hero of the Rails Double Pack

US/CAN

 * Thomas and the Treasure

DVD Boxsets

 * Best Tales on the Tracks
 * Thomas and the Treasure/Thomas, Percy and the Dragon and Other Stories Double Feature
 * Ultimate Thomas Collection

BRA

 * New Adventures with Thomas

THA

 * Thomas and Friends - Volume 43

ARA

 * Rocky to the Rescue

NL

 * The Great Race on Sodor

SPN

 * Thomas and Friends - Volume 10

DVD Boxsets

 * Second Season

HUN

 * Thomas the Tank Engine 13 - The Trip

JPN

 * Thomas the Tank Engine Series 10 Vol.5
 * Thomas' Surprise!

KOR

 * Thomas the Little Engine and Friends Season 5 Vol. 2

MYS

 * Big Strong Henry and Other Adventures

TWN

 * Thomas and Friends Volume 19

HK
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 * Thomas and Friends Volume 18

El Grande y Fuerte Henry הנרי הגדול והחזק おおきくてつよいヘンリー Wielki Silny Henio Большой сильный Генри