Thomas in Charge

"Thomas! you are a really useful engine! I am very proud of you." "And I am very pleased to see such a busy engine. I wasn't sure. But now I know. The Fat Controller's Railway is the best!"

- The Fat Controller and the Railway Inspector

Thomas in Charge is the tenth episode of the fourteenth series.

Plot
One beautiful morning, Thomas puffs into the docks where he meets Gordon with the express. He tells Thomas that he is to take a railway inspector on a tour of the Island with the Fat Controller. The tour is to end at the docks and the Fat Controller tells Thomas to be very busy shunting coal trucks when they arrive. Then, Thomas has an idea; he thinks if he gets more of his friends to help, the inspector would be impressed with the busy engines.

Thomas chuffs to Maron where he meets Percy, who is waiting for his mail trucks to be loaded. He asks Percy to come to the docks to shunt trucks, which Percy is unsure at first. However, when he hears it will please the inspector, he agrees and leaves his empty mail trucks at Maron. Just as the two friends leave, Gordon arrives with the Fat Controller and the railway inspector. Unfortunately, the inspector is not impressed by the quiet station.

Meanwhile, Thomas and Percy puff through the Slate Quarry and Thomas asks Mavis to come and shunt at the docks too. Mavis is also reluctant as she is busy, but also agrees when she hears that it will please the inspector. Just as Thomas and Mavis leave, Gordon arrives with the Fat Controller and the inspector. They expect to see Mavis busily working, but, instead, the quarry is almost deserted.

At the docks, Thomas, Mavis and Percy are shunting coal trucks when Thomas hears Gordon's whistle and Percy and Mavis both push the coal trucks to impress the inspector. Unfortunately, they collide and send coal dust flying all over the Fat Controller and the inspector. The coal dust also goes down Gordon's funnel and he cannot puff. Thomas is very apologetic and promises to get Gordon fixed so that the inspector can tour the Island again.

Gordon is soon fixed and Thomas heads back to the docks. At the docks, Thomas busily sets to work shunting trucks and does not see Gordon arrive with the Fat Controller and the inspector. The inspector is very impressed to see such a busy engine and deems the Fat Controller's Railway to be the best, which leaves both Thomas and the Fat Controller very proud.

Characters

 * Thomas
 * Gordon
 * Percy
 * Mavis
 * Victor
 * Sir Topham Hatt
 * The Railway Inspector
 * Edward
 * Emily
 * Diesel
 * 'Arry and Bert
 * Kevin
 * Cranky
 * Sir Topham Hatt's Assistants
 * Big Mickey

Locations

 * Three-Track Level Crossing
 * Brendam Docks
 * Sodor Shipping Company
 * Brendam Warehouse
 * Maron
 * Sodor Slate Quarry
 * Sodor Steamworks
 * Victor's Shed
 * The Coal Hopper
 * Great Waterton
 * Knapford

UK

 * Ben Small as Thomas
 * Teresa Gallagher as Mavis
 * Keith Wickham as Gordon, Percy and the Fat Controller
 * Matt Wilkinson as Victor and the Railway Inspector

US and CAN

 * Martin Sherman as Thomas and Percy
 * David Bedella as Victor
 * William Hope as the Railroad Inspector
 * Jules de Jongh as Mavis
 * Kerry Shale as Gordon and Sir Topham Hatt

Trivia

 * Going by production order, this is the eleventh episode of the fourteenth series.
 * Stock footage from Toby's New Whistle is used.
 * This is the only episode written by Mark Daydy.
 * This episode marks the first appearance of a pump trolley in CGI.

Goofs

 * In the first shot of Brendam Docks, there is a siding but no switches lead to the track.
 * In the US dub, when Gordon says "I'm waiting for Sir Topham Hatt," his mouth moves to say "The Fat Controller." This also happens when Thomas says "Sir Topham Hatt isn't proud."
 * Even though the Railway Inspector is called "the Railroad Inspector" in the US, every time someone mentions him onscreen the characters' mouth moves to say "Railway Inspector."
 * During the last few moments of the episode, in one shot Gordon has two express coaches, but in the next shot there is another coach added.

Merchandise

 * Books - Busy Engines and Thomas in Charge/Sodor's Steamworks
 * Magazine Stories - Thomas in Charge/Thomas in Charge

Home Media Releases
{{Scroll box|

UK

 * Thomas in Charge!
 * The Complete Series 14

DVD Boxsets

 * Really Useful Collection

US/AUS

 * Thomas in Charge

CHN

 * Pop Goes Thomas

NOR/SWE/DK/FIN

 * Curious Cargo

GER

 * The Funny Noise

JPN

 * The Exciting New Adventures of Thomas

MYS

 * Thomas in Charge

THA

 * Victor Says Yes

SVN
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 * Pop Goes Thomas

Thomas el Encargado תומס אחראי Tomek Dowodzi Лучшая железная дорога