Race to the Rescue

"You look like a big, red wobble on wheels!"

- Charlie teasing Flynn

Race to the Rescue is the first episode of the sixteenth series.

Plot
One morning, Flynn is in the Sodor Steamworks having his road wheels fixed when Thomas arrives to see him. Flynn is worried so Thomas tries to cheer his friend up. Flynn tells Thomas that he has not travelled on roads for quite some time, and he is worried that his wheels will wobble. Soon, his wheels are fixed, and he rolls away.

Later on, Flynn, thinking no one is around, decides to try out his road wheels. As Flynn expected, he wobbles and swerves all over the road. Suddenly Charlie puffs by and laughs at Flynn, calling him a "big, red wobble on wheels." This makes Flynn feel very silly. Charlie goes on to tell Flynn that he is needed urgently at the Sodor Search and Rescue Centre. Flynn returns to the rails and heads to the Search and Rescue Centre. Once there, Rocky informs Flynn of an emergency; the Fat Controller's shed is on fire. He tells Flynn that the road is the fastest way, but Flynn does not want to look silly and decides to stay on the rails.

On his way, Flynn meets Butch, who has broken down. Butch asks Flynn to tow him to the Search and Rescue Centre, but this means Flynn will have to go onto the roads. Flynn tells Butch that he is on his way to an emergency and leaves Butch stranded. It is not long before Flynn is held up again. This time, he has to wait at a level crossing, where Bertie has overheated. Bertie asks for help and, although he wants to help, Flynn still does not want to roll onto the road. Flynn tells Bertie that the Fat Controller's shed is on fire, and he races away.

At last, Flynn arrives at the Fat Controller's burning shed. A crowd of people are helping to extinguish the fire and the Fat Controller is very cross. The Fat Controller orders Flynn to go onto the road. Flynn is still hesitant as he thinks the crowd of people will laugh at him until he hears some people cheer for him. This gives Flynn the courage he needs to go onto the roads. Flynn soon extinguishes the fire and the Fat Controller thanks Flynn. Flynn then heads off to save his friends he had ignored earlier.

First, Flynn goes back to Bertie. He pumps water into Bertie's engine to cool it down when Charlie arrives. He teases Flynn again, but this time, Flynn does not mind Charlie's joke. Bertie thanks Flynn and the fire engine drives away. Next, he goes to see Butch and happily agrees to tow a thankful Butch to the Search and Rescue Centre. At the Rescue Centre, Flynn is happy when Thomas assures him that he is not a "big, red wobble on wheels," he is a "big, red hero on wheels." Flynn's wheels wobble, but this time, they wobble with pride.

Characters

 * Thomas
 * Charlie
 * Flynn
 * Victor
 * Rocky
 * Bertie
 * Butch
 * Sir Topham Hatt
 * A Schoolboy
 * Gordon
 * James
 * Emily
 * Rosie
 * Hiro
 * Scruff
 * Mavis
 * Kevin
 * Harold
 * Captain
 * Jem Cole
 * Farmer Trotter
 * Farmer McColl
 * The Photographer
 * Sir Topham Hatt's Assistants
 * The Blond-haired Engineer
 * The Fireman
 * The Tree Specialists
 * The Teacher
 * The Fat Baker
 * The Search and Rescue Manager
 * One of Dowager Hatt's Friends
 * The Welsh Bird Watcher
 * The Blond-haired Boy

Locations

 * Wellsworth
 * Crosby Washdown
 * Sodor Slate Quarry
 * Rail Under Road Bridge and Signalbox
 * Sodor Steamworks
 * Victor's Shed
 * Road, Rail and Level Crossing Interchange
 * Sodor Search and Rescue Centre
 * The High Bridge
 * Misty Island Tunnel
 * Three-Track Level Crossing
 * Sir Topham Hatt's Shed

UK

 * Ben Small as Thomas
 * Keith Wickham as the Fat Controller and the Man at the Fire
 * Matt Wilkinson as Charlie, Victor, Rocky and Butch
 * Rupert Degas as Flynn and Bertie
 * Teresa Gallagher as the School Boy

US

 * Martin Sherman as Thomas
 * Kerry Shale as Sir Topham Hatt
 * Ben Small as Charlie
 * Rupert Degas as Flynn and Bertie
 * Glenn Wrage as Butch
 * David Bedella as Victor
 * William Hope as Rocky and the Man at the Fire
 * Jules de Jongh as the School Boy

Trivia

 * Charlie's voice changes in the US version, as Ben Small takes over the role, and Matt Wilkinson takes over the role of Butch in the UK version of this episode.
 * This is the first episode for several things:
 * The first episode produced by Ian McCue.
 * The first episode dubbed by Philippe Catoire in France and French speaking Canada. However, Blanche Ravalec would still be the narrator in home video releases until the seventeenth series.
 * The first episode imported, produced and dubbed by KBS Media since fourth series episode, Mind that Bike in South Korea.
 * The first episode to have Baek Kyung-hoon and Lee Je-in as part of the voice cast in South Korea.
 * The first episode recorded and mixed by An Ho-sung in South Korea.
 * The first episode translated by Kim Hye-yeon in South Korea.
 * The first episode directed by Lee Won-hee in South Korea.
 * This is the last episode to feature Rupert Degas as Bertie while marking Bertie's only appearance in the sixteenth series.

Goofs

 * When Flynn goes onto the road for the first time, his front wheels are not steering as he turns from left to right.
 * The episode was incorrectly titled Fiery Flynn in the end credits of the original UK airing.

Merchandise

 * Wooden Railway - Race to the Rescue 2-pack
 * TrackMaster - Flynn's Fiery Rescue Set
 * Books - Race to the Rescue!
 * Engine Adventures - Flynn

Home Media Releases
{{Scroll box|

UK

 * Go Go Thomas!
 * The Complete Series 16

DVD Packs

 * 10 DVD Boxset
 * 10 DVD Boxset

US

 * Go Go Thomas!
 * Go, Go Thomas!
 * Season 16

AUS

 * Go Go Thomas!

MYS

 * Happy Birthday Sir!

GER

 * Bust My Buffers!

CHN

 * Race to the Rescue

THA

 * Ol' Wheezy Wobbles

JPN
}}
 * Thomas the Tank Engine Series 16 Vol.1

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