Thomas in Trouble

Thomas in Trouble, retitled Thomas Breaks the Rules in North American releases, is the twenty-second episode of the first series. It is based on the story of the same name from the Railway Series book Toby the Tram Engine.

Plot
One day, Thomas is leaving the quarry at the end of his branch line with some trucks and his coaches. The rails here run alongside the road, so Thomas is always careful at this point in his run and whistles to make sure no one is in his way. Thomas sees a new policeman by the crossing and, having been friends with the previous constable who has just retired, he whistles to him in greeting. Unfortunately, the policeman is not in the mood to be friendly.

The policeman first complains about engines whistling after stating he did not get any sleep the night before, and then claims to Thomas that he is breaking the law by not having any cowcatchers or sideplates fitted. Thomas' driver protests that they have been along this road hundreds of times before without an accident, but the policeman retorts that it makes things worse and brands Thomas a "Regular Law Breaker" in his notebook. Thomas then continues sadly back to the station.

In his dining room, the Fat Controller is having breakfast with his wife when he is phoned about Thomas' incident with the police. He grabs his hat and hurries to the junction. Thomas' driver explains the problem to the Fat Controller; and they both try to reason with the policeman, who refuses to give in, saying that the law must be upheld. The Fat Controller decides that there is no use in arguing and that they will have to make cowcatchers for Thomas. Thomas is distressed by this, worrying that people will say he looks like a tram. This comment reminds the Fat Controller of Toby, the tram engine he met while on holiday. Knowing that the tram engine's line has lost its business to buses and lorries, the Fat Controller writes to Toby's controller, asking to send him to his railway.

A few days later, Toby arrives and is greeted by the Fat Controller, who notices that he has brought Henrietta, who was going to be turned into a henhouse, and allows her to stay as well. Toby proves to be exceptional at handling trucks, and although Thomas is jealous at first, they become good friends when Toby uses his bell to frighten the policeman.

Characters

 * Thomas
 * Toby
 * Sir Topham Hatt
 * The New Ffarquhar Constable
 * The First Butler
 * Troublesome Trucks
 * Henrietta
 * Lady Hatt
 * James
 * Annie and Clarabel
 * Earnest
 * The Retired Ffarquhar Constable
 * Toby's Controller

Locations

 * The Quarry Tramroad
 * Topham Hall
 * Elsbridge
 * Rail Under Road Bridge and Signalbox
 * Lower Tidmouth
 * Old Quarry

Trivia

 * A portrait of Earnest, a Victorian-style steam engine with a moustache, can be seen in Topham Hall.
 * In the scene where the Fat Controller is talking on the phone, the voice on the other end is actually a sped-up snippet of dialogue from a later scene in the episode, specifically, the one where the Fat Controller argues with the policeman. This was used again in Off the Rails, along with several other quotes from this episode.
 * Stock footage from the original version of Thomas' Train was used in the original version. The restored version uses a different shot where Thomas has a different happy face, presumably unused footage from said episode. A deleted scene from Coal is used as well.
 * The shot of Thomas puffing away sadly was used in the intro for Storytime with Thomas, albeit with Thomas' happy face edited over his sad one.
 * This was the last first series episode introduced by Matthew Kelly before his departure from Children's ITV. However, Matthew would later introduce the entire second series in 1986.
 * This episode was never released on VHS and DVD in South Korea.
 * The scene where Thomas gets angry with the policeman has become a popular meme.

Goofs

 * In the restored version:
 * During the first close-up of Thomas, his wheels do not move for the first two seconds of the shot.
 * The note featured in the first-shot in the policeman's notebook is no longer blurred.
 * When Thomas stops and talks to policeman, the top right corner of his tank has a chip in it.
 * When Thomas' driver says, "Rubbish! We've been along here hundreds of times and never had an accident," the brim of his cap is coming off and there is a hole in his chin.
 * The words "regular law breaker" are already written in the policeman's notebook before Thomas' driver says that they had travelled along the line before.
 * Clarabel is facing the wrong way when Thomas puffs away from the policeman and when Toby passes Elsbridge at the end.
 * In the first shot of Elsbridge Station, one of the stairs is crooked.
 * When the Fat Controller talks to the policeman, the brim of his top hat has several chips in it.
 * When Thomas says, "They'll say I'll look like a tram," the bush beside him moves slightly and his smokebox saddle is cracked, and gap between his right eye (viewer's left) and face, and his eyebrows are peeling off.
 * Before Toby passes Thomas, the track in front of him wobbles.
 * In the Serbian dub, Ringo Starr's narration can be heard clearly in the background.
 * When Thomas puffs away from the policeman, the studio equipment is visible at top left.

Merchandise

 * Buzz Books - Thomas in Trouble
 * Magazine Stories - Thomas in Trouble
 * Ladybird Books - Toby and the Stout Gentleman and Thomas in Trouble

Home Media Releases
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UK

 * Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends Cassette 2
 * Coal and other stories
 * Troublesome Trucks, Coal and other stories
 * Thomas and the Breakdown Train and Other Stories
 * Bumper Special
 * Thomas Gets Bumped and 17 Other Stories
 * Playtime
 * The Complete Series 1
 * My Little Thomas and Toby Adventures
 * Thomas in Trouble

DVD Boxsets

 * Classic Collection

US

 * Thomas Breaks the Rules and Other Stories
 * Thomas and His Friends Help Out
 * A Big Day for Thomas
 * Thomas' Useful Stories
 * The Early Years
 * Quarry Adventures On Sodor
 * Thomas and Friends Classic Volume 1

CAN

 * Thomas Breaks the Rules and Other Stories
 * Thomas and His Friends Help Out
 * A Big Day for Thomas
 * The Early Years

VHS/DVD Packs

 * Special Video Collector's Set
 * Thomas' Useful Stories
 * Totally Thomas Volume 3
 * Totally Thomas Volume 4
 * Trust Thomas and Other Stories/A Big Day for Thomas Double Feature
 * Thomas' Trackside Tunes and Other Thomas Adventures/Thomas and His Friends Help Out Double Feature
 * Ultimate Thomas Collection

AUS

 * Coal and other stories
 * Playtime
 * The Complete Series 1
 * My First Thomas with Toby and Edward

DVD Boxsets

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

NZ

 * Coal and other stories
 * Percy Runs Away and Other Stories
 * Playtime
 * Bumper Video Collection Volume 2
 * Thomas Train Set Compilation Video Volume 2

JPN

 * Thomas the Tank Engine Volume 5
 * The Complete Works of Thomas the Tank Engine 1 Vol.1
 * Toby and Edward the Little Engines
 * Startled in Spite of Oneself
 * The Complete DVD Box 1

PHL

 * The Flying Kipper

FRA

 * The Talkative Trains
 * The Magic of Sodor

SWE

 * Thomas in Trouble

GER

 * Toby and the Elegant Men and 4 Other Adventures
 * Thomas and His Friends Vol. 3
 * Thomas in Trouble

NOR

 * Thomas-Festival
 * Thomas the Tank Engine 2

FIN/ISL

 * Thomas the Tank Engine 2

BRA

 * Helping the Friends

DNK

 * Thomas in Trouble and Other Stories

ITA

 * The Grumpy Locomotive

UKR

 * A Train Thomas and Friends

NL

 * The Great Race!
 * The Greatest Stories: The Adventures of Thomas

ROM

 * Thomas and Percy

DVD Packs

 * Triple Pack 1

SER

 * Thomas the Tank Engine 2

IND

 * Thomas and Bertie Adventures

HRV

 * Thomas in Trouble

WAL

 * Letting Off Steam and 8 Other Stories

CHN

 * Thomas and Friends Season 1-4

THA

 * Thomas and Friends - Volume 4

HK

 * Thomas and Friends Volume 3
 * Thomas and Friends Volume 12

MYS
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 * Toby and the Stout Gentleman and Other Thomas Adventures
 * Tenders and Turntables and Other Adventures

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