Thomas and Stepney

"He runs a famous branch line. Did you know that?" "Huh! It may be famous, but my branch is first on the line. Everyone knows that too!"

- Percy and Thomas

Thomas and Stepney is the sixteenth episode of the fourth series. It is based on the stories Bluebells of England and Stepney's Special from the Railway Series book, Stepney the "Bluebell" Engine.

Plot
Thomas has been running his branch line like clockwork and shares his confidence to Percy, who doubtfully agrees and tells him that there is an engine with a branch line as famous as his and that the engine is proposing to visit. The engine is Stepney, who is far away, but the Fat Controller says that he will visit the North Western Railway someday.

Meanwhile, Stepney has been running the Bluebell Railway smoothly. However, he is disappointed that it is not very long. He later sees Rusty, who saved him from scrap. Stepney tells Rusty that he is bored with the railway and is longing for a long journey. Rusty suggests talking to his driver, who agrees with Stepney and tells him that evening that he has been invited to visit the Fat Controller's railway, and Stepney heads off the following morning.

By now, the engines have heard the news and begin to talk about Stepney. However, Thomas is a bit jealous about how Stepney's branch line is as famous as his own and leaves to fetch his coaches. Percy looks at the passengers at Knapford on Track 5 and claims they are stranded with no train, but he is wrong; the signal drops and before long, an engine's whistle is heard from a distance. Douglas tells the engines that it is Stepney, who arrives through the junction where the engines whistle a big welcome. Edward hopes that Stepney will meet Thomas, as they both have branch lines. Stepney then goes off to work with Duck to shunt coaches in the yard all afternoon.

Later that evening, Thomas sees Stepney and Duck, but continues with his final branch line train. But then, the two tank engines hear shouting at the station and a sound of a ringing alarm. The alarm turns out to be the telephone, which the signalman answers and finds that one of the trains is a special. Thomas is furious when he finds out that he has to be shunted to let another train pass and is frustrated to find Stepney pulling the special.

Thomas continues to grumble about it the next morning, but Stepney explains the situation; he took an important passenger who chartered a special train which Duck let him take. He also states that he was nervous since he did not know the line and flatters Thomas by calling him an expert. Thomas is no longer jealous and cross, and he proceeds to tell Stepney all about his branch line.

Characters

 * Thomas
 * Edward
 * Percy
 * Douglas
 * Stepney
 * Rusty
 * The Important Passenger
 * Duck
 * Annie and Clarabel
 * Henry
 * Gordon
 * James
 * Charlie Sand
 * Sidney Hever
 * The Vicar of Wellsworth
 * Farmer Trotter
 * Mrs. Last
 * Two members of the Railway Society
 * Mr. Walsh
 * One Little Boy
 * The Boy with His Father
 * Sir Topham Hatt
 * Stepney's Controller

Locations

 * The First Seaside Station
 * Stepney's Branch Line
 * Bluebell Valley
 * Tidmouth Sheds
 * Knapford
 * Knapford Yards
 * Sodor Shipping Company

Trivia

 * A deleted scene from the previous episode is used.
 * In the UK and international dubs, when the special is ordered, music and the guard's whistle is heard. The music is absent in the US dub and the guard’s whistle was replaced with a station bell ringing. Towards the end of the episode, the background shunting noise is cut off, and some whistle sounds are also missing and barely audible in the US dub.
 * In the US, this episode aired before Trucks meaning the American audience may not know who Rusty is.
 * On PBS Kids Sprout airings, this episode used the unrestored opening credits.
 * The area where Thomas travels in the first scene is the same set Sir Handel and George had their altercation in Steam Roller, but with standard gauge track added.
 * A grey warehouse from Tugs appears at the shunting yards.
 * This is the third episode that Douglas gets a speaking role, but without Donald.
 * Douglas' line from the original book was replaced by Thomas in the beginning of the episode.
 * This is the last episode to have three dubs in South Korea until Paint Pots and Queens.
 * The alarm sound in this episode was later reused for Fireman Sam.

Goofs

 * When Thomas puffs past the field at the beginning, studio equipment is visible in the top-right corner. In addition, Clarabel appears to be facing forwards.
 * While Percy is telling Thomas about Stepney, as the camera is on Thomas, Percy's right lamp iron is bent, but when the camera is on Percy, it is normal.
 * While the engines wait for Stepney, a tar wagon (perched on another tar wagon) is visible behind Gordon and Henry.
 * Stepney has Smudger's whistle sound in most of the US dub; his usual one is heard once. In the UK dub, Stepney has Duke's whistle sound when he is working with Duck.
 * In the US dub, when Percy finishes talking about Stepney, his whistle sound is a higher pitched version of Thomas' whistle.
 * When Thomas says "Why are we waiting? My passengers are being delayed," a black box is attached to his cab.
 * In the close-up of Thomas' driver, Annie is facing the wrong way.
 * In the US dub, George Carlin mistakenly says "Stop all train!" instead of "Stop all trains!"
 * Douglas's eyes are misaligned when he says "Here he comes!"
 * When Thomas sets off for his last train, something with black wires can be seen attached to Annie.
 * Duck's lamp is slightly facing to the left (viewers' right) and the wire used to operate it is visible.
 * When Thomas is still fuming the next morning, Stepney's train can be seen waiting in the background.
 * Annie and Clarabel's roofs are crooked at the end of the episode.

Quotes

 * Thomas: Peep, peep! Good morning, Percy. My branch is the pride of the line. Wouldn't you agree?
 * Percy: Uh yes, Thomas, of course, but...
 * Thomas: But what, Percy? Out with it.
 * Percy: Well there is another engine with the famous branch line too.
 * Thomas: Who? Where?
 * Percy: His name's Stepney. He's faraway, but the Fat Controller says he may visit us.
 * Thomas: When?
 * Percy: Oh someday.




 * Stepney: Everyone's been so kind, but my railway is so short and I do miss a good long run.
 * Rusty: I think you should tell driver, too. I'm sure he'll understand.




 * Percy: He runs a famous branch line. Did you know that?
 * Thomas: [jealous] Huh! It may be famous but my branch is the first on the line. Everyone knows that too. [leaves to fetch his coaches]
 * Percy: Look! Why have they all come? There's no train yet.
 * [but Percy is wrong, as the signal drops, and an unfamiliar whistle is heard]
 * Douglas: Here he comes!
 * [Stepney arrives and whistles]
 * Edward: I hope you'll meet Thomas too. You both have branch lines to be proud of.




 * Thomas: Shunted, and on my own branch too! It's a disgrace!
 * Stepney: I'm sorry I was a special.
 * Thomas: Why?
 * Stepney: An important passenger arrived just as you left, he ordered a special train and Duck let me take it. We had a splendid run, but...
 * Thomas: But it can make an engine nervous not to know the line.
 * Stepney: Exactly. You're such an expert.
 * Narrator: Thomas felt much better. He couldn't be cross anymore and began telling Stepney all about his branch line.

Home Media Releases
{{Scroll box|

UK

 * Thomas and Stepney and other Stories
 * The Complete Series 4

DVD Boxsets

 * Classic Collection

WAL

 * Thomas the Tank Engine: Bumper Special 2

US

 * Rusty to the Rescue and Other Thomas Stories
 * Best of Thomas
 * Thomas & Friends Classic Volume 4

CAN

 * Rusty to the Rescue and Other Thomas Stories
 * Best of Thomas

DVD Boxsets

 * Adventure On the Tracks
 * Best Tales on the Tracks
 * Best of Thomas, Percy and James Platinum Edition
 * Best of James/Best of Thomas Double Feature
 * Ultimate Thomas Collection
 * Best of Collection

JPN

 * New Thomas the Tank Engine Vol.5
 * The Complete Works of Thomas the Tank Engine 2 Vol.4
 * Try to Get Along

AUS

 * Thomas and Stepney and other Stories
 * The Complete Series 4
 * The Best of Thomas and Friends - Volume 1

DVD Boxsets

 * Complete Series 1-10
 * Classic Collection
 * Series Three and Series Four Double Pack

NZ

 * Thomas and Stepney and other Stories

NOR

 * Favourites From Thomas and Friends
 * Thomas and Stepney

ITA

 * Here Comes the Queen

GER

 * On High Polish for the Passengers and 4 Other Adventures
 * Thomas and His Friends Vol. 8

MYS

 * Passengers and Polish and Other Thomas Adventures
 * Peter Sam and the Refreshment Lady and Other Adventures

DK

 * The Brave Engine and Other Stories

NL

 * Rock 'n Roll
 * The Greatest Stories: The Adventures of Thomas

PHL

 * Paint Pots and Queens

GRC

 * Adventures at the Railway Station

DVD Boxsets

 * 3 DVD Boxset 2

SVN

 * Thomas and Stepney

UKR

 * A Train Thomas and Friends
 * Thomas and Friends - Series 4

IN

 * Trucks and Other Stories

CHN

 * Thomas & Friends Seasons 1-4

KOR

 * Thomas and Friends Volume 5

THA

 * Thomas and Friends - Volume 14

HK

 * Thomas and Friends Volume 10
 * Thomas and Friends Volume 2

TWN

 * Thomas and Friends Volume 12
 * }}

Thomas y Stepney תומס וסטפני トーマスとステップニー Tomek i Stefcio Томас и Степни