The Deputation

The Deputation is the seventeenth episode of the second series. It is based on the story of the same name from the Railway Series book The Twin Engines.

Plot
Snow has fallen on the Island of Sodor, and while most of the engines hate it, Donald and Douglas are used to these conditions and do a good job of clearing the lines. They soon encounter one snow drift which is deeper than the rest and hear a whistle; it turns out to be Henry, who is nearly buried. The twins promise to get him out. Henry is rescued and soon returns to the shed, but both Donald and Douglas are upset. The Fat Controller will be returning soon, and after their previous mistakes, they are worried that he will send them back to Scotland. The other engines agree that Donald and Douglas both deserve to stay, and something has to be done, but no one knows what. Percy talks to Edward, who suggests that the engines nominate someone to be a "deputation" and talk to the Fat Controller. Percy returns to tell the others, and they all agree to this, even though they do not really know what a deputation is. Since Percy told the engines, Gordon nominates him to do the job, to his horror.

The Fat Controller returns and a nervous Percy stammers through his speech about allowing the twins to stay, saying that they are likely to be scrapped if they are sent back to Scotland. Even though Percy is nervous, Sir Topham Hatt understands this and sends Percy away. Later in the sheds, the Fat Controller responds to the engines' request. He begins by telling them that although he understands their feelings, he does not appreciate them interfering with his plans. He then surprises everyone by giving Donald and Douglas new coats of paint as a reward for their good work in the snow, and announces that their names will be painted on them so as to avoid any further mistakes. The engines realise that the Fat Controller is allowing both of them to stay and drown out the rest of his speech with cheers and happy whistles.

Characters

 * Edward
 * Henry
 * Gordon
 * James
 * Percy
 * Duck
 * Donald and Douglas
 * Sir Topham Hatt
 * Bertie
 * The Spiteful Brake Van

Locations

 * The Branch Line Cutting
 * The Dual Bends
 * Tidmouth
 * Tidmouth Sheds
 * The Works
 * Tidmouth Goods Station
 * Tidmouth Yards
 * Ffarquhar Sheds
 * Suddery Castle
 * Wellsworth
 * Wellsworth Yards
 * The Watermill

Trivia

 * This episode may have been filmed alongside Thomas and the Missing Christmas Tree. In the first shot, greenery can be seen within the snow in the top left corner, and when Percy talks to the Fat Controller, some Christmas decorations can be seen at Tidmouth Station.
 * This episode marks the first time with a few things:
 * The first time the works unit coach is seen without the Breakdown Train.
 * The first on-screen appearances of Percy's smug and suspicious faces. The former would later be used again in the fifth series episode, Happy Ever After, as well as for promotional images for the third series episode, Thomas, Percy and the Post Train.
 * The chorus of whistles at the end of the episode was later reused in the fourth series episodes, Bowled Out, Thomas and the Special Letter, and Paint Pots and Queens.

Goofs

 * In the opening scene, Donald does not have his snowplough on and there is no steam coming out of him.
 * There is also green grass that is not covered in snow to the left of the watermill
 * Donald and Douglas have their nameplates in some scenes when they're shown clearing snow.
 * The narrator says that Donald and Douglas had a van between their tenders, but there is actually a work coach.
 * In the same scene an LBSC van appears to be derailed in the background.
 * From the scene at Suddery Castle to before the twins find Henry, the twins have their nameplates on.
 * When the twins find Henry buried in the snow, the one that says "Losh sakes, Donald! It's Henry!" is actually Donald himself.
 * When Gordon says "A lot of nonsense about a broken signal box," his right buffer is bent.
 * When James is talking about the spiteful brake van, there appears to be a spot of paint above his right eye.
 * When Percy reverses to talk to the engines, the track in front of him bounces upwards.
 * After the narrator says "There was a long silence," Douglas' tender is derailed and Percy's cab roof is lifted.
 * The Fat Controller says that the twins' names are to be painted on, but they instead receive nameplates.
 * When the engines whistle, Douglas is missing his left eyebrow. James also mysteriously stops moving his eyes.
 * In the Finnish dub, Douglas' English name is used by accident twice.
 * Throughout the episode, many of the engines have wonky eyes.
 * When Henry says "Rubbish Percy!" at one point, his eyes do not move at the same time.
 * Percy's left cylinder (viewers' right) is crooked in this episode.
 * When Percy talks to the Fat Controller, some glue holding his middle lamp iron can be seen.

Merchandise

 * Motor Road and Rail - Donald and Douglas Snowplough set
 * My Thomas Story Library - Donald and Douglas

Home Media Releases
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UK

 * The Deputation and Other Stories
 * The Best of Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends
 * Ghost Train and other stories/Time for Trouble and other stories
 * Thomas' Christmas Party and 17 other stories
 * The Complete Series 2
 * A Close Shave

UK DVD Boxset

 * Classic Collection

US

 * Thomas, Percy and the Dragon and Other Stories
 * TV Teddy: Shining Time Station: Sweet and Sour
 * Thomas & Friends Classic Volume 2

CAN

 * Thomas, Percy and the Dragon and Other Stories

US/CAN DVD Packs

 * Totally Thomas Volume 7
 * Thomas and the Treasure/Thomas, Percy and the Dragon and Other Stories Double Feature
 * On-the-Go Pack

AUS

 * The Deputation and other Stories
 * The Complete Series 2
 * My First Thomas with The Twin Engines

AUS DVD Boxsets

 * Complete Series 1-10
 * Classic Collection
 * Series One and Series Two Double Pack

NZ

 * The Deputation and Other Stories
 * Thomas Train Set Compilation Video Volume 5

ZA

 * Breakvan

IND

 * Pop Goes the Diesel and Other Stories

MYS

 * Thomas Comes to Breakfast and Other Thomas Adventures
 * The Deputation and Other Adventures

PHL

 * The Deputation

ITA

 * The Courageous Locomotive

FRE

 * The Talkative Trains

ROM

 * Thomas Comes to Breakfast

ROM DVD Pack

 * Triple Pack 2

NL

 * Percy and Harold
 * The Greatest Stories: The Adventures of Thomas, Percy and Gordon

GER

 * Better Late Than Never and 4 Other Adventures
 * Friends Help Friends
 * Thomas and His Friends Vol. 5

GER DVD Boxset

 * Thomas and His Friends Box Set 1

NOR

 * Thomas Celebrates Christmas
 * Thomas the Tank Engine 4

FIN/ISL

 * Thomas the Tank Engine 4

SVN

 * Thomas and the Christmas Tree

HRV

 * Better Late than Never

SER

 * Thomas the Tank Engine 3

GRC

 * A Lively Companionship

JPN

 * Thomas the Tank Engine Volume 9
 * The Complete Works of Thomas the Tank Engine 1 Vol.1
 * The Engine Twins
 * The Best Collection
 * Fun Stories Popped Out from Picture Book

DVD Boxsets

 * The Complete DVD Box 1

KOR

 * Stories to Raise Cooperation

CHN

 * Thomas and Friends Season 1-4

THA

 * Thomas and Friends - Volume 7

HK
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 * Thomas and Friends Volume 5
 * Thomas and Friends Volume 7

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