Henry and the Flagpole

"I didn't expect to see the flagpole down there!"

- Henry seeing the broken flagpole

Henry and the Flagpole is the sixteenth episode of the ninth series.

Plot
Henry loves going to Lord Callan's Castle, as it means that he gets to pass his favourite tree; the tall, pine tree. After Henry delivers cargo for the upcoming banquet to the castle, the Fat Controller tells him to collect a new flagpole from the Docks.

At Brendam Docks, Henry searches for the flagpole, expecting it to be standing up. However, Henry gets distracted by Cranky's tall height and does not see the new flagpole on the flatbed in front of him. Henry bumps into the flatbed, causing the flagpole to roll off and land onto the tracks. Salty is rolling by and accidentally crushes the flagpole, which makes Henry feel very silly for not seeing the flagpole. The Fat Controller arrives saying it is a disaster now that Lord Callan's Castle will not have a flagpole.

That evening, Henry meets Toby, who is looking at the tall pine tree and tells him about the broken flagpole. Toby suggests that the tall pine tree would be useful as a replacement, but Henry does not agree. The next morning, Henry is sent to the forest with workmen carrying saws and axes. Thinking that the tall pine tree is going to be cut down, Henry attempts to save it by finding a new flagpole. But all the flagpoles he can find are too short, even those at the beach and at the airfield. That night, the Fat Controller scolds Henry for delaying the workmen's job at the forest and gets Edward to take the workmen while Henry shunts coal trucks the next day.

At the Coaling Plant, Henry tells Thomas about finding a new flagpole and Thomas suggests that sometimes things can be found where one would not expect. So Henry goes off and uses Thomas' theory. After looking at a field of cows, Henry sees Trevor at the Vicarage Orchard but knows he will not make a good flagpole.

At Brendam Docks, Henry sees some tourists taking photographs of an old ship and Salty tells Henry that the old ship's mast is to be chopped up for firewood. Henry decides to use it as a new flagpole and once the old ship's mast is on a flatbed, he rushes off to the forest. At the forest, Henry pleads with the Fat Controller not to cut down the tall pine tree as he has found a new flagpole. The Fat Controller tells Henry that there was no intention to cut down the tall pine tree at all; the workmen's job is to collect firewood for the Scottish Castle banquet.

That night, Henry and Thomas see the Scottish flag hoisted up the old ship's mast and Henry thinks it looks beautiful, but not as beautiful as the tall pine tree.

Characters

 * Thomas
 * Henry
 * Toby
 * Salty
 * Trevor
 * Sir Topham Hatt
 * Cranky
 * Emily
 * Annie
 * Tiger Moth
 * Lord Callan
 * The Dockyard Manager
 * Big Mickey
 * Edward

Locations

 * Callan Castle
 * Brendam Docks
 * Brendam Warehouse
 * Sodor Shipping Company
 * Tidmouth Sheds
 * The Works
 * The Runby Bridge
 * Dryaw
 * Dryaw Airfield
 * Tidmouth Beach
 * Tidmouth Lighthouse
 * The Coaling Plant
 * Wellsworth Vicarage Orchard
 * The Headlands

Trivia

 * Going by production order, this is the thirteenth episode of the ninth series.
 * This episode marks a few things for Trevor:
 * His first speaking role since the sixth series episode, Twin Trouble.
 * His last speaking role until the twentieth series episode, Three Steam Engines Gruff.
 * His last speaking role in the model series.
 * This episode also marks:
 * The last appearance of Wellsworth Vicarage Orchard.
 * Salty and Trevor's only speaking roles in the ninth series, as well as the latter's only speaking role in the HiT Entertainment model era.

Goofs

 * At the beginning of the episode, Emily has Henry's whistle.
 * When Cranky is loading the mast, the camera is shaking vibrantly.
 * When Henry talks to Toby about the broken flagpole, he claims that he broke the flagpole, when it was actually Salty who broke the flagpole.

Merchandise

 * Books - Henry and the Flagpole and Thomas Gives the Circus

Home Media Releases
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UK

 * The Spirit of Sodor
 * The Complete Series 9

DVD Boxsets

 * Classic Collection

US/CAN

 * Thomas and the Toy Workshop

DVD Packs

 * Sodor Friends Holiday Collection
 * Thomas and the Toy Workshop/Thomas and the Really Brave Engines and Other Adventures Double Feature
 * Ultimate Thomas Collection
 * Thomas' Holiday Collection

AUS

 * The Complete Series 9

DVD Boxsets

 * Complete Series 1-10
 * The Essential Collection
 * Series Nine and Series Ten Double Pack
 * Series Nine and The Great Discovery Double Pack

ZA

 * Thomas's New Trucks

JPN

 * I Dreamed Thomas Goodnight Bedtime Stories!
 * Thomas the Tank Engine Series 9 Vol.3
 * There Are Lots Of Thomas & Friends

NL

 * Thomas and the New Locomotive

MYS

 * Flour Power and Other Adventures
 * Henry and the Flagpole and Other Adventures

HUN

 * Thomas and the New Engine

SPN

 * Thomas and Friends - Volume 8

DVD Boxsets

 * Second Season

THA

 * Thomas and Friends - Volume 30

HK

 * Thomas and Friends Volume 26
 * Thomas and Friends Volume 18

GER

 * Thomas and the Rainbow

NOR/SWE/DK/FIN

 * Thomas and the Rainbow

KOR

 * Thomas the Little Engine and Friends Season 4 Vol. 2

TWN
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 * Thomas and Friends Volume 14

Henry y el Mástil הנרי ותורן הדגל Henio i Maszt Flagowy Генри и флагшток