Thomas and the Special Letter

"Dear Thomas and all the engines, please, can I meet you? My friends say they would like to meet you, too. You could come to my house for tea, but my mummy says there aren't any railway tracks to my house. Can you come to the station instead? Thank you very much!"

- The little girl's letter

Thomas and the Special Letter is the twenty-second episode of the fourth series and the 100th episode of Thomas & Friends. It is based on the story The Fat Controller's Engines from the Railway Series book The Eight Famous Engines.

Plot
After taking his last train of the day, Thomas meets up with Percy and Toby and it turns out that all three engines have been asked to report to the big station after the day's work is done. Thomas thinks something is happening and is surprised to see BoCo, Mavis, Oliver, the Scottish engines, and the Tank Engine twins all travel past, also heading for the station; Thomas, Percy and Toby are now very curious and follow the others.

At Tidmouth Sheds, the Fat Controller silences his engines whistling excitedly to tell them he recently received a letter from a little girl who lives in a Big City on the Mainland. She writes that she and her friends would like to meet Thomas and his friends and invites them to their local station. The Fat Controller tells the engines that a lot of children would like to meet them, so he will be taking his eight main engines to the Big City and putting them on display. The Fat Controller's engines blow their whistles excitedly again, prompting the Fat Controller to command silence again and he states that while the eight engines are gone, the rest will all be running the line and asks to show them what to do.

Oliver is due to take charge of Thomas' Branch Line and Thomas shows him what to do using some other coaches, as Annie and Clarabel will be going with Thomas to the city. Thomas gets overexcited and boasts about his race with Bertie to Oliver. But when he tries to demonstrate how he stopped just short of the buffers, he accidentally smashes through them and a fence, rolls down a slope and crashes through a brick wall, much to Oliver's surprise. No one is hurt, but Thomas' front end is badly damaged from the impact. The Fat Controller is called and sends some workmen to repair Thomas, but warns them that, unless he can be repaired in time, they will have to go to the city without him. While the other engines see Thomas being rescued, he is very sad and worried that he will miss out on the trip.

The next morning at 8:00 AM, the other engines are all ready to leave (with Percy and Toby traveling on flatbeds) but there is still no sign of Thomas yet. The Fat Controller agrees to wait one more minute for Thomas before they must leave. Finally repaired, Thomas puffs in just in time with Annie and Clarabel and the cavalcade of engines leave for their trip to the Big City. After having arrived at the city safely, the engines and coaches are lined up in a special shed, where many children come to meet them. Thomas tells Percy how glad he is that the little girl wrote to the Fat Controller, citing that pure happiness can come from nothing more than a letter.

Characters

 * Thomas
 * Edward
 * Henry
 * Gordon
 * James
 * Percy
 * Toby
 * Duck
 * Donald and Douglas
 * Oliver
 * Bill and Ben
 * BoCo
 * Mavis
 * Annie and Clarabel
 * Sir Topham Hatt
 * Henrietta
 * Mrs. Kyndley
 * The Vicar of Wellsworth
 * Sir Topham Hatt's Assistants
 * The Crovan's Gate Policeman
 * The Little Boys
 * The Boy with His Father
 * The Elephant Keeper
 * One of the stone-dropping boys
 * Elizabeth II
 * Mr. Walsh
 * Mrs. Last
 * Nancy
 * The Painter
 * Prince Philip
 * The Queen Mother
 * The Elsbridge Cricket Club
 * Three Members of the Railway Society
 * The Ffarquhar Stationmaster's Wife
 * Tom Tipper
 * The Portly Man
 * Duke
 * Stepney
 * Bertie

Locations

 * Island of Sodor
 * Elsbridge
 * Tidmouth Sheds
 * Tidmouth Yards
 * Thomas' Ramp
 * Sir Topham Hatt's Office
 * Hackenbeck Tunnel
 * Knapford
 * The Big City
 * The Big Airy Shed

Trivia

 * Going by production order, this is the twenty-first episode of the fourth series.
 * At the sheds, the audio of the engines (notably Henry, Gordon, James, Percy, Duck and the Scottish Twins) whistling was reused from the second series episode, The Deputation.
 * Behind the scenes footage for this episode was filmed for the 1995 documentary The Thomas the Tank Engine Man and it was revealed by David Mitton on the set that the engines were still heading to London like in the book that this episode originated from.
 * The opening scene at Elsbridge was filmed on the 31st October 1994.
 * A reference to the first series episode, Thomas and Bertie is made in this episode.
 * The picture of Duke from the fourth series episode Bulldog can be seen in the Fat Controller's office.
 * According to a post on Britt Allcroft's Facebook page, this episode partially inspired the film, Thomas and the Magic Railroad.
 * In the behind the scenes footage, it shows Donald passing by Thomas, Percy and Toby, but for unknown reasons, he was replaced by Douglas. The narrator even refers to Douglas as Donald in the actual episode. Additionally, Stepney can be seen in the Big City shed in a deleted scene.
 * The Mainland is referred to as the "Big City" in this episode.
 * The ending scene is used in the 1998-2005 ABC For Kids Video Promo.
 * This is the 100th episode of the series.
 * This episode marks the first of a few things:
 * The first episode where the North Western Railway engines numbered 1-11 have appeared and/or spoken all together in an episode.
 * The first onscreen appearance of Oliver's speechless face that was unused from the third series.
 * The first fourth series episode released in Canada.
 * Additionally, this was the only time until the special, Sodor's Legend of the Lost Treasure to do so.
 * Despite their appearances in the episode, Edward and Duck do not appear in the nameboard sequence at the end of the episode in the Japanese dub.
 * This episode marks the last appearances of two things:
 * The last appearance of Thomas' sad face until the sixth series episode, Elizabeth the Vintage Lorry.
 * The last appearance of the Elephant Keeper.
 * This episode marks the only appearances of a few things:
 * The only episode in the US dub that George Carlin refers to a flatbed as a truck. However, this is the first time in the US dub that said term is mentioned.
 * The only time where Thomas has an accident in the fourth series.
 * The only appearance of Bill and Ben in the fourth series.
 * The only appearance of Thomas' Ramp in the television series.
 * Thomas' accident is similar to a crash when an LB&SCR E4 0-6-2T tank engine No. 32493 also crashed into a wall, but the tank engine ran off from the turntable and crashed into the wall at Southern Region sheds.
 * BoCo regains his horn sound from the second series after when Daisy reused it in the previous episode.
 * The three-berth garage from TUGS appears at Tidmouth Sheds.
 * The events of this episode are mentioned by Thomas in the special, The Great Race and Gordon in the special, Big World! Big Adventures! during the song, Where in the World is Thomas?
 * Nearly all the engines on the North Western Railway introduced so far are together in this episode, except for Diesel and Daisy. The latter is due to Daisy and BoCo sharing the same chassis in the model era.

Goofs

 * When Toby says "How can something be up when it's down?" his face is slightly loose, and he appear to a bit more closer to the buffers.
 * Douglas is mistakenly referred as Donald when whistling, "Good evening, you three! Aren't we all a fine sight?".
 * When Douglas passes through Elsbridge, he is missing his brake pipe.
 * When the engines parade past Thomas, Percy and Toby, there are a couple of incorrect whistle/horn sounds:
 * Mavis has Class 40's horn sound.
 * Donald has Duck's whistle sound.
 * Oliver has Ben's whistle sound.
 * Douglas has Thomas' whistle 10 steps lower pitched.
 * In the close-up of Thomas' driver, Thomas appears to be pulling a red coach instead of Annie, and his cab is also very dirty when it was previously clean.
 * In the Dutch dub, the audio is out of sync.
 * When Thomas and Percy first leave Elsbridge, Toby is not in his siding, but Henrietta is still there, and his bell can be heard. In addition, they went the opposite way when they went to the station, rather than follow the other engines.
 * In the UK dub, when the Fat Controller calls, "Silence!" he sounds muffled both times.
 * In the close-ups of the Fat Controller giving the announcement, Duck's funnel is a different shape and his face is missing.
 * Some of the engines' eyes are misaligned in the horizontal scan of Tidmouth Sheds.
 * In the close-up of Thomas at Tidmouth Sheds, Percy's right lamp iron is bent.
 * In the Danish dub, when Thomas and Oliver are shunting coaches, the narrator mistakes Oliver for Percy.
 * When Thomas starts talking to Oliver, some of the steam from his funnel disappears, indicating a film cut.
 * The buffers Thomas destroys are placed quite a distance ahead of where the track actually ends, this was most likely done so that Thomas could fall off to the slope easier.
 * Due to portions of the script being taken directly from the book, Thomas states that he stopped inches from the buffers at Ffarquhar, when in reality, none of the Ffarquhar sets had a buffer stop beside its station.
 * When Thomas goes through the buffers they go underneath his wheels, but in the next shot, they are on top of his running board. Both pieces of the buffers fall off when Thomas rolls down the embankment, but when he crashes through the wall, the piece on the left side of his running board (viewer's right) has reappeared.
 * Henry's lamp is not on the lamp iron.
 * As Henry leaves Elsbridge, one of his bogie wheels is loose.
 * When James leaves Elsbridge, his eyes are misaligned.
 * The overhead shot of the engines in the Big City shed appears to be mirrored, as indicated by the fact that Thomas, Henry and Duck's lamps are on the wrong sides of their fronts and that Toby's bell is on the wrong side of his roof.
 * At Elsbridge, and the Big City shed, Percy's cab roof is lifted slightly.
 * The Red Branchline Coaches have crooked roofs.
 * When the engines look down at Thomas, their eyes are wonky.

Quotes

 * Percy: Are you on your way to the Big Station, Thomas?
 * Thomas: Yes I am. Why?
 * Percy: Because I'm going there too.
 * Thomas: I think something's up.
 * Toby: [looks up at the sky] Where?
 * Thomas: [laughs] Not up there, down here!
 * Toby: How can something be up when it's down?
 * Thomas: Bust my buffers! Look over there! [seess Mavis, BoCo, Bill, Ben, Donald, Oliver and Douglas parading past]
 * "Donald" (Douglas): (Good) Evening, ye three! Aren't we all a fine sight?
 * Toby: Very splendid indeed.
 * Douglas: (Uh,) Sorry we can't stop. Sir Topham Hatt/The Fat Controller wants us all together at the station.
 * Thomas: What is this about?
 * Driver: Sir Topham Hatt/The Fat Controller has a plan. Come on.
 * [the three engines follow the cavalcade to the big station at the end of the line]




 * Sir Topham Hatt: SILENCE! I have an important letter to read from a little girl who is 5 years old.
 * Girl's Letter: Dear Thomas and all the engines, please can I meet you? My friends say they would like to meet you, too. You can come to my house for tea, but my mommy/mummy says there aren't any railway tracks to my house. Can you come to the station instead? Thank you very much!
 * Sir Topham Hatt: It seems that there are many girls and boys who would like to meet you. Therefore, we are all going to the big city far away!
 * Engines: Hooray, hooray!
 * Sir Topham Hatt: Silence! Other engines will be working here while you're away, so please show them what to do.




 * Narrator: Thomas grew more and more excited... too excited for his own good!
 * Thomas: I'm glad I'm a splendid engine. Sir Topham Hatt/The Fat Controller thinks I'm really useful! I had a race with Bertie once. I whooshed through the tunnel and stopped an inch from the buffers.
 * Narrator: Then Thomas made his mistake.
 * Thomas: Just like this!
 * [Thomas smashes right through the buffers and a fence, rolls down a slope and crashes into a wall, damaging his front from the impact]
 * Narrator: No one was hurt, but Thomas' front was badly bent.
 * [The yard manager telephones the Fat Controller in his office]
 * Sir Topham Hatt: I'll send up the workmen, but if they can't mend Thomas in time, we'll have to go to the big city without him.
 * Narrator: Poor Thomas!




 * Sir Topham Hatt: I'll wait one more minute for Thomas and then we have to go.
 * [Thomas immediately shows up]
 * Thomas: Oh, thank goodness you're still here!
 * Annie and Clarabel: I hope we're not late, as it's just after 8:00.
 * Narrator: The conductor/guard blew the whistle and waved his green flag.
 * Engines: Look out big city, here we come!




 * Thomas: [to Percy] I'm glad the little girl wrote to us. Isn't it wonderful what happiness a letter can bring?

Merchandise

 * Take Along

Home Media Releases
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UK

 * Story and Song Collection
 * Children's Playschool Favourites
 * The Complete Series 4
 * The Very Best of Thomas and Friends
 * Tops of the Tots

DVD Boxsets

 * Classic Collection
 * The Fogman and The Very Best of Thomas and Friends Double Pack

AUS

 * Thomas and the Special Letter and other stories
 * Story and Song Collection
 * The Very Best of Thomas and Friends
 * The Complete Series 4
 * The Best of Thomas and Friends - Volume 1

DVD Boxsets

 * Complete Series 1-10
 * 60th Anniversary - Limited Edition Boxset
 * Essential Collection
 * Classic Collection
 * Series Three and Series Four Double Pack

US

 * Thomas and the Special Letter and Other Stories
 * Thomas and the Special Letter
 * Thomas & Friends Classic Volume 4

CAN

 * Thomas and the Special Letter and Other Stories

DVD Packs

 * James Goes Buzz Buzz/Thomas and the Special Letter Double Feature
 * Totally Thomas Volume 6

NZ

 * Thomas and the Special Letter and other stories
 * Story and Song Collection

WAL

 * Help and 15 other stories

JPN

 * New Thomas the Tank Engine Vol.2
 * Best of Thomas
 * The Complete Works of Thomas the Tank Engine 2 Vol.1
 * I Love Thomas DVD Collection
 * Fuss Today!

PHL

 * Thomas and Friends Collection
 * Thomas and the Special Letter

GER

 * No Game Without A Ball and 4 Other Adventures
 * The 9 Best Christmas Stories
 * Thomas and His Friends Vol. 9
 * It's Great to be a Locomotive!
 * Who Brings the Post?

DVD Boxsets

 * Thomas and His Friends Box Set 1

UKR

 * A Train Thomas and Friends
 * Thomas and Friends - Series 4

NL

 * The Greatest Stories: The Adventures of Thomas

ITA

 * Here Comes the Queen

DK

 * The Brave Engine and Other Stories

NOR

 * On New Adventures

MYS

 * Thomas and the Special Letter and Other Thomas Adventures
 * Thomas and the Special Letter and Other Adventures

GRC

 * Adventures at the Railway Station

DVD Boxsets

 * 3 DVD Boxset 2

SVN

 * Thomas and Stepney

CHN

 * Thomas and Friends Season 1-4

KOR

 * Thomas and Friends Volume 6

THA

 * Thomas and Friends - Volume 15

TWN

 * Help the Happiest Friends
 * Thomas and Friends Volume 2

HK
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 * Thomas and Friends Volume 10
 * Thomas and Friends Volume 5

Episode
Ein ganz spezieller Brief Thomas y una Carta muy Especial תומס והמכתב המיוחד トーマスととくべつなてがみ Tomek i Specjalny List Томас и специальное письмо