Rheneas and the Roller Coaster

"Oh, no! This line is closed for repairs! Bust my buffers!"

- Rheneas

Rheneas and the Roller Coaster is the twelfth episode of the seventh series.

Plot
The Fat Controller has given Rheneas the task of taking some school children to the mountains, but Rheneas is worried that he might not be able to make the trip memorable. Rheneas arrives at the station asking Rusty how he can make the children's day special. Rusty tells him that he knows the mountains better, but Rheneas is not sure his best would be exciting.

Rheneas' driver shows the children the Castle, the Valley and the Viaduct during the trip. The children are surprised, but Rheneas considers the locations boring and longs for more excitement. Meanwhile, Rusty is inspecting some track on the Rocky Ridge Line after heavy rain washed the ground and made the track bumpy.

While Rheneas is still trying to think of something that would make the children's trip special, he does not know the linesman has forgotten to switch the points. This leads to him being diverted onto the dangerous line, sending him on a roller coaster-like ride down the mountain. The children are very excited and have a wonderful time, completely oblivious to the fact that Rheneas is a runaway. The teacher does not share their enthusiasm and finds herself nauseated. Rheneas makes it to the station safely in time for the children's tea, but is worried that the Fat Controller would be cross. The children have had an exciting ride after all, and the Fat Controller is pleased with Rheneas and calls him a Really Useful Engine.

Characters

 * Rheneas
 * Rusty
 * Sir Topham Hatt
 * The Teacher
 * Peter Sam
 * Skarloey
 * Duncan
 * Stephen Hatt
 * Bridget Hatt
 * Jem Cole
 * Headmaster Hastings

Locations

 * Sodor Castle
 * West Lakeside Junction
 * Rocky Ridge Line
 * The Depot
 * Tea Room Station
 * Valley View
 * Rheneas Viaduct
 * The Old Wooden Bridge
 * Maura
 * The Old Trestle Bridge
 * River Hoo
 * Whispering Waterfall
 * Skarloey Bridge
 * Strawberry Grove

Trivia

 * Going by production order, this is the thirteenth episode of the seventh series.
 * According to a SiF interview with Robert Gauld-Galliers and his storyboards, Peter Sam was originally meant to be the main character. Instead of wanting the children's trip to be special, he would have wanted to get it over with so he could return to doing more important work. Open coaches (similar to Ada, Jane and Mabel from the Railway Series) were also set to appear.
 * The second shot of the episode features unused stock footage from the sixth series episode Dunkin Duncan.
 * The teacher is really the storyteller dressed up.
 * This episode marks Rheneas Viaduct's only physical appearance in the seventh series.
 * This is the first appearance of Rheneas' chuckling face from the sixth series and his horrified, shocked and wincing faces from the fifth series.
 * This is the third episode to use a rendition of the William Tell Overture (Finale); the first being the fifth series episode, Busy Going Backwards, and the second being the sixth series episode, Thomas the Jet Engine. However, this is only in the UK dub with Mike O'Donnell and Junior Campbell's music and the international dubs.
 * When released on home video in the UK for the first time, the version used is the UK dub with Robert Hartshorne's music. This was also exclusive, as this dub had never aired in any of the Nick Jr. airings of the eighth and ninth series. The UK dub with Mike O'Donnell and Junior Campbell's music did not come out on home video until The Complete Series 7 DVD was released in 2008. This also applies with What's the Matter with Henry?, another episode from the seventh series.

Goofs

 * At the beginning of the episode, Rheneas' eyes are wonky.
 * Throughout the episode, the Fat Controller's hat is covered in dust.
 * Before Rheneas leaves the sheds, his dome is dented.
 * When Rheneas talks to Rusty, his eyes are wonky, and at one point, they did not move at the same time.
 * In the close-up shot of the points switched the wrong way, a steam platform is visible.
 * When Rheneas passes the points, both he and his carriage bounce.
 * Despite saying the tracks were bumpy, Rheneas hardly even makes a single bump.
 * When the teacher says "Just in time for tea," her hair is stained.

Quotes

 * Rheneas: How can/am I (going to) make the children's day really special?
 * Rusty: You know the mountains better than any engine.




 * Children: [after Rheneas has stopped from his wild ride] It was the best school trip ever!
 * The Fat Controller: You gave the children a wonderful trip. You really are a very useful engine.
 * Rheneas: Oh, thank you, sir!

Merchandise

 * Wooden Railway
 * My Thomas Story Library - Rheneas

Home Media Releases
{{Scroll box|

UK

 * Bumper Party Collection!
 * The Complete Series 7

DVD Packs

 * Classic Collection
 * Bumper Party Collection!/Truck Loads of Fun Double Pack

US

 * Hooray for Thomas and Other Adventures
 * Thomas & Friends Classic Volume 7

CAN

 * Hooray for Thomas and Other Adventures

DVD Boxsets

 * On-the-Go Pack
 * Totally Thomas Volume 5

AUS

 * The Complete Series 7

DVD Packs

 * Complete Series 1-10
 * Series Seven and Series Eight Double Pack

JPN

 * Thomas the Tank Engine Series 7 Vol.1
 * Whole Sodor Island Adventure

KOR

 * A Story That Builds Confidence

DK

 * Hip Hooray for Thomas and Other Stories

DVD Boxsets

 * Danish DVD Boxset

TWN

 * Confident Brave Little Engine
 * Thomas and Friends Volume 6

MYS

 * The Spotless Record and Other Adventures
 * Emily's New Coaches and Other Adventures

SWE

 * Hooray for Thomas!

ITA

 * The Queen of Sodor

THA

 * Thomas and Friends - Volume 24

HK
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 * Thomas and Friends Volume 17
 * Thomas and Friends Volume 6

Rheneas y la Montaña Rusa רנייאס ורכבת ההרים レニアスのジェットコースター Radek i Kolejka Górska Ренеас и американские горки