Snow

"It's a snowball!" "It's a snow house!" "It's an engine!"

- Workmen speculating over Skarloey's "igloo"

Snow is the twenty-sixth and final episode of the fifth series. In the US, it aired with A Surprise for Percy in an episode of Storytime with Thomas.

Plot
One winter day on the Island of Sodor, a thick layer of snow has fallen and all engines have gone to work except Percy, who is stuck in a snowdrift. Thomas finds Percy and tells him that there is no time for resting, but is told that Percy's crew have just left to seek help. Thomas scoffs at this but continues his journey to clear the rest of the snowed in railway lines. Later, he has to clear snow from a tunnel but the snow is deep enough for him to get stuck, much to Thomas' annoyance. Rusty is working close by, so to pass the time, he tells Thomas a story.

One snowy day, Skarloey was traveling up to the slate mine when he passed through a ravine. Whenever snow came, work became difficult in the slate mines and snow was used as a "double buffer zone" to stop trucks from falling into the ravine below. One day, Skarloey was traveling to the mines with empty trucks, while at the mine, the winch that hauls the trucks up and down the incline was not working properly. When Skarloey reached the ravine, his driver was concerned that any noise could cause an avalanche, so he set an emergency cap. When Skarloey ran over it, the bang echoed around the gorge but nothing happened, so his crew decided to make a cup of cocoa before going on their way. However, up in the slate mines a long line of full trucks were to be winched down the slope, but the winch became jammed when some empty trucks derailed. A coupling on the full trucks snapped and they ran down the slope. A workman thought the snowbank and buffers would stop the runaway, but he was wrong. The trucks instead broke through the buffers, plowed through the snowbank and plunged into the ravine, and all the noise from the trucks caused an avalanche which buried Skarloey deep inside. When Rusty came to the rescue, they discovered that Skarloey's heat had created an igloo, and inside they found Skarloey's crew nonchalantly sipping cocoa.

Thomas uses this as an example about how trucks can be so troublesome while Rusty states the same for snow. The workmen finally clear the snow from behind Thomas, but Gordon then arrives with his snow machine to clear away drifts. Gordon loudly blows steam and causes an avalanche, burying him in snow. Gordon cries for help, and Thomas jokes that if Skarloey could emerge from an avalanche laughing, Gordon could do the same. In reply, Gordon just scoffs and falls silent as the snow.

Characters

 * Thomas
 * Gordon
 * Percy
 * Skarloey
 * Rusty
 * Troublesome Trucks
 * Peter Sam
 * Duncan

Locations

 * Tower Windmill
 * Standard and Narrow Gauge Tunnel Runby
 * Echo Pass Ravine
 * Skarloey Slate Quarry
 * The Windmill
 * Bridge Signal Box

Trivia

 * According to the film state, the Runby Tunnel Scene was filmed on 25th February 1998.
 * Going by production order, this is the twenty-fifth episode of the fifth series.
 * Stock footage from the Thomas and Percy's Christmas Adventure is used.
 * This episode premiered before Thomas and the Magic Railroad.
 * This is the first series finale episode where James and Annie and Clarabel do not appear.
 * During most of the flashback, Skarloey's large scale model was used; but during the scene where the narrator says "When the snow came..." his small scale model is used. The same goes for Rusty: When interacting with Thomas, Rusty's small scale model is used; but when he appears during the flashback, his large scale model was used.
 * When the trucks plunge into the ravine, the runaway theme is heard in the US and international dubs, but not in the UK dub. And this is the second time that the trucks break away from the incline, the first being the fourth series episode, Trucks.
 * This episode was also paired with the first series episode, Thomas' Christmas Party on another airing of Storytime with Thomas.
 * This is the only fifth series episode where the snow appears.
 * This episode marks the last of many things:
 * Britt Allcroft's last episode as producer and writer before becoming an executive producer in the sixth series.
 * David Mitton's last episode as producer.
 * Angus Wright's final episode as executive producer.
 * David Maidment's last episode as railway consultant.
 * The last episode to credit Gullane Entertainment by its original name, The Britt Allcroft Company, before it was changed to its official name.
 * The last episode in the UK to use the original opening credits until the seventh series episode, Emily's New Coaches.
 * The last time Thomas' whistle seating and valve stems are unpainted brass.
 * The last episode narrated by Manfred Steffen in Germany, Gro Solemdal in Norway, Gérard Boucaron in France, Angelo Maggi in Italy and Grzegorz Fedorowski in Poland, and the last episode narrated by Tatá Guarnieri in Brazil until Hero of the Rails.
 * The last episode made in the 1990s.
 * The last episode to feature Thomas' angry face with distinct angry eyebrows. From the sixth series onwards, almost all of his faces would have triangular eyebrows only.
 * The last episode to air before the release of Thomas and the Magic Railroad.
 * The last episode to have a one-word title until the eighth series episode, Fish.
 * The last appearance of the Standard and Narrow Gauge Tunnel Runby.
 * The last appearance of Rusty's small scale model in an episode. He would briefly appear in his small scale model in the special, Calling all Engines, in Thomas' dream.
 * The last episode until the ninth series episode, Mighty Mac, where the standard gauge engines interact with the narrow gauge engines.
 * The last episode dubbed in German until Thomas and the Tuba (not counting Jack and the Sodor Construction Company).
 * The last appearance of Thomas's original snowplough until the seventh series episode, Not So Hasty Puddings.
 * When the trucks charge towards the buffers, both of the Skarloey Engine Sheds from the fourth series can be seen, albeit repainted grey.
 * This episode is titled Skarloey Snowed Under on The Roku Channel and the Philippine DVD, Happy Ever After.
 * This is one of the three fifth series episodes to feature Thomas' unused third series excited face, the others being Something in the Air and Rusty and the Boulder.
 * There were some scenes that were left unused in the final cut of the episode:
 * A deleted alternate version of Percy smiling and Thomas looking confused instead of annoyed, hinting that Percy thought Thomas had come to rescue him, when he is actually not.
 * An alternate shot of Thomas puffing away when Percy got stuck in the snow.
 * A deleted scene of Skarloey pulling slate trucks in the opposite direction.
 * A deleted scene of Gordon clearing away the snow with his snow machine.
 * Alternate shots of snow getting on Thomas when Gordon puffs in with his snow machine.
 * A deleted close-up of Gordon.
 * A deleted and alternate scene of the slate trucks crashing through the snow before they fall into the ravine.
 * An alternate shot of the slate trucks falling into the ravine.
 * An alternate scene of the snow and the slate trucks falling on Skarloey when he looked up.
 * A deleted shot of Gordon letting off steam.
 * A deleted scene of Gordon happy before he looks up.
 * An alternate shot of Skarloey puffing through the snow.

Goofs

 * In various scenes, part of Skarloey's cab roof is snapped.
 * When the trucks race down the incline, the middle truck derails.
 * When the trucks crash through the snow bank and buffers, they are coupled, but they fall off separately, one by one. Additionally, a truck is missing when they fall into the ravine.
 * When the trucks are on the incline, the front truck has a narrow-gauge truck face, but when it races down the incline, it has a standard-gauge truck face. Both are due to the fact that different scale models were used.
 * When Thomas talks to Percy, his eyes are wonky.
 * Rusty's face changes size during the scene of Skarloey being rescued due to his large scale model being used.
 * A wire can be seen between Rusty and his coach after the workmen have removed the ice from Skarloey.
 * In the first shot of Skarloey going through the ravine, he jerks a little.
 * In the scene where the empty trucks derail, string can be seen pulling those trucks.
 * When Rusty says "Or snow," he is covered in snow before Gordon comes by.

Quotes

 * Thomas: Come on, Percy, this is no time to have a rest.
 * Percy: I'm stuck, and my funnel's freezing up. Driver's gone for help.
 * Thomas: [scoffs] Hah!




 * Thomas: Snow is nothing but trouble.




 * Rusty: Driver says this winter is as bad as the worse winter of all.
 * Thomas: How worse?
 * Rusty: I'll tell you.
 * Narrator: And the little engine did.
 * [he recalls of a flashback of Skarloey working in the mountains]
 * Narrator (Rusty): Skarloey was working the line to the slate mine in the mountains. When the snow came, it was difficult to work. They used the snow as a double buffer zone to help stop trucks/cars skidding through the ravine. One day, Skarloey set off to the mine with some empty trucks/cars. Meanwhile, there was trouble at the mine. The winch that hauls the trucks up and down wasn't working properly. Skarloey had reached the ravine. High above him were the mine yards.




 * Skarloey's driver: [about the ravine] That snow looks dangerous. The sound of your engine and the trucks could cause an avalanche. I'll set off an emergency cap and see what happens.
 * Narrator (Rusty): Skarloey watched as the driver prepared it. Then they ran over the cap. The bang echoed around the gorge. Nothing happened.
 * Skarloey's driver: Good. All's well. We'll have a cup of cocoa and then make our way.




 * Trucks: Break It! Snap It! (a coupling snaps) On,on,on! Faster, faster!
 * Workman: The snowbank and buffers will stop them.
 * Narrator (Rusty): But he was wrong.
 * [the trucks plunge into the ravine]




 * Skarloey and his crew: AVALANCHE!!!


 * Rusty: And then came the funny part.
 * Thomas: What's the funny part about an avalanche?
 * Rusty: Well... [cut back to the ravine] No one knew that the heat from Skarloey's engine had helped to make an igloo.
 * Workmen: It's a snowball. It's a snow house. It's an engine!
 * Rusty: They cleared away the ice, only to find Skarloey's driver and fireman drinking cocoa, as if nothing had happened!
 * Thomas: Luck(il)y for them/him, but it just goes to show you can't trust trucks/cars.
 * Rusty: Or snow.




 * Gordon: (puffs by with his snow machine) Hey, look out! There's snow about! (nears the tunnel and loudly wheeshes steam)
 * UK dub: Uh, oh!
 * US dub: Oh, no!
 * (a big pile of snow buries Gordon completely)




 * Gordon: [covered in snow] Help!
 * Thomas: If Skarloey survived a snowfall, surely, a big proud engine like you could do the same.
 * Gordon: [furiously] Pah!

Merchandise

 * Wooden Railway
 * Minis

Home Media Releases
{{Scroll box|

UK

 * Spooks and Surprises
 * Seasonal Scrapes
 * Christmas Collection
 * My Little Thomas and the Royal Visitor
 * The Complete Series 5

DVD Boxsets

 * Classic Collection

US

 * Thomas' Christmas Wonderland and Other Thomas Adventures
 * Thomas' Snowy Surprise and Other Adventures
 * Ultimate Christmas
 * Thomas & Friends Classic Volume 5

CAN

 * Thomas' Christmas Wonderland and Other Thomas Adventures
 * Thomas' Snowy Surprise and Other Adventures
 * Ultimate Christmas

DVD Boxsets

 * Celebrate with Thomas
 * Holiday Favorites
 * Sodor Friends Holiday Collection
 * Thomas' Holiday Collection

AUS

 * Spooks and Surprises
 * The Complete Series 5

DVD Packs

 * Complete Series 1-10
 * Classic Collection
 * Series Five and Series Six Double Pack

NZ

 * Spooks and Surprises

ZA

 * Thomas and the Rumours

ITA

 * Back All!

JPN

 * The Complete Works of Thomas the Tank Engine 2 Vol.4
 * Sing-Along and Stories 3
 * Sodor Tour: Surprise Happening

KOR

 * The Stories that Gives Enlightenment
 * Character Special Edition Series Vol. 4

BRA

 * Christmas in the Beautiful Land of Thomas

DK

 * Forward and Backward and Other Stories

MYS

 * Salty's Secret and Other Thomas Adventures
 * Busy Going Backwards and Other Adventures

GER

 * Lots of Little Helpers

DVD Boxsets

 * Thomas and His Friends Box Set 2

GRC

 * Time for Work

PHL

 * Happy Ever After

SWE

 * Hidden in Snow

WAL

 * Fleas and 15 other Stories

THA

 * Thomas and Friends - Volume 19

HK

 * Thomas and Friends Volume 13
 * Thomas and Friends Volume 3

TWN

 * Thomas and Friends Volume 14
 * Holiday Express
 * }}

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