A Bad Day for Sir Handel

"Whatever next?! Those aren't coaches, they're cattle trucks!/cars!" "OOH!! What a horrid engine!" "It's not what I'm used to!"

- Sir Handel insulting the coaches

A Bad Day for Sir Handel is the sixth episode of the fourth series. It is based on the story Sir Handel from the Railway Series book, Four Little Engines.

Plot
Skarloey and Rheneas enjoy working on the railway that weaves around the lakes and along mountainsides. Their coaches are filled with visitors and both engines are proud to run the line, no matter the weather. They will never let their passengers down, but they are old, however, and they tire themselves out easily. Their drivers understand this and tell them that there is more than enough work for the two of them on the railway, so the manager is sending two more engines to help run the line. Both Skarloey and Rheneas are pleased with the news and they promise that they will give them a big welcome.

The new engines, named Peter Sam and Sir Handel soon arrive. Sir Handel is rude, complaining about the sheds and insulting Skarloey. Peter Sam is much friendlier, explaining to a sympathetic Skarloey that Sir Handel is really a nice engine but is just upset at the moment. Sir Handel's fireman comes to get Sir Handel ready to pull a passenger train to the top station. He initially refuses - stating that he is tired - and asks if Peter Sam can do it instead, but the fireman does not care, telling Sir Handel he will go first. When Sir Handel picks up his coaches, he insults them by calling them cattle trucks. The coaches are hurt, with Sir Handel simply saying that they are not the sort of coaches he is used to.

Sir Handel arrives at Crovan's Gate and meets Gordon, who brings the passengers to Sir Handel's train. The two engines introduce themselves, and Sir Handel recognises Gordon as a fellow express engine. He goes on to say that he is used to smart coaches and praises Gordon's own, but soon has to leave, with Gordon left speechless. When Sir Handel reaches the top station, he is very cross when he hopes for a rest, but discovers by his driver that he is expected at the quarry to collect trucks. He refuses to do so and punctuates his point by somehow deliberately derailing himself. By the time Peter Sam arrives with workmen to put Sir Handel back on the rails, Sir Handel starts to feel rather silly. The Fat Controller - who is also on board - sternly tells Sir Handel he will talk to him later when he comes home to the sheds making Sir Handel feel sillier still. He and Peter Sam leave the works train to put Sir Handel back onto the rails.

That evening, Sir Handel returns to the sheds to find the Fat Controller waiting for him. He scolds Sir Handel for his naughty behaviour and shuts him up in the shed until he can be trusted to behave.

Characters

 * Gordon
 * Sir Handel
 * Peter Sam
 * Narrow Gauge Coaches
 * Sir Topham Hatt
 * Skarloey
 * Rheneas
 * Thomas
 * Percy
 * Mr. Hugh
 * The Injured Sailor
 * Bertie

Locations

 * Lakeside
 * Lakeside Bridge
 * Lakeside Junction
 * Neptune Refreshments
 * Hawin Doorey
 * Sodor Castle
 * Skarloey
 * The Mountain Line
 * Skarloey Bridge
 * Skarloey Slate Quarry
 * Crovan's Gate
 * Crovan's Gate Yards
 * Skarloey Engine Sheds

Trivia

 * Some Tugs models can be seen in this episode at Lakeside, notably Lakesider III, which is actually a modified O.J. model.
 * When broadcast on Minimax in Romania, this episode had no narration.
 * From this episode throughout the rest of the series, Gordon has Duck's whistle sound. However, his normal whistle sound can only be heard in certain episodes where other engines were whistling.
 * In the original UK dub and US dub, a wheeshing sound effect can be heard when Sir Handel blows steam as he goes on the Mountain Line.
 * This episode marks the last appearance of The Injured Sailor.
 * Two small rocks were placed between the two sets of the track to derail Sir Handel.
 * This was one of few Thomas episodes to be featured on the Captain Kangaroo spin-off series Mister Moose's Fun Time on Fox Family Channel although it was used as a promo to advertise the show.
 * This episode was also paired alongside Four Little Engines in an airing of Storytime with Thomas.
 * Both UK dubs are the same, although the early one lacks some sound effects.
 * This is the last time the phrase "You're a very naughty engine!" is said until the twentieth series episode, Tit for Tat.
 * This episode marks the only appearance of Sir Handel's furious face with teeth. Also, this episode marks the first on-screen appearance of Gordon's surprised face since the second series episode, Wrong Road. Also, Gordon's smiling face gains modified eyebrows from this episode.

Goofs

 * At the beginning, Skarloey has Duke's original whistle sound and Rheneas has Peter Sam's.
 * Gordon is missing his brake pipe.
 * In the UK dub, when Sir Handel backs onto his coaches and stops, he can still be heard puffing for another four seconds.
 * Throughout the UK dub of this episode, Sir Handel uses Rheneas' original whistle sound.
 * The red coach Sir Handel backs onto has a face. But when Sir Handel arrives at Crovan's Gate, the coach's face disappears.
 * When Sir Handel goes off-camera on the mountain ledge, the steam platform blows steam too late.
 * When the Fat Controller scolds at Sir Handel, a fly crawls on the workbench next to Sir Handel.
 * In a picture of Sir Handel at Skarloey, part of the lining on his saddle tank is missing.

Quotes

 * Skarloey and Rheneas' drivers: There's more than enough work for you both on this railway. The manager is sending two more engines to help us run the line.




 * Sir Handel: What a small shed! This won't do at all! We're much too smart/good for this old shack!
 * Peter Sam: I think it's nice.
 * Sir Handel: Huh! [to Skarloey] What's that rubbish?
 * (Skarloey gives a rather insulted look)
 * Peter Sam: Shh! That's Skarloey! He's famous! [whispers to Skarloey] I'm sorry, Skarloey. Sir Handel's upset now, but he's quite nice really.
 * Narrator: Skarloey felt sorry for Peter Sam.
 * Fireman: Now, Sir Handel, I will get you ready for work.
 * Sir Handel: I'm tired! Let Peter Sam go! He'd love it!
 * Fireman: No. You're first.




 * Sir Handel: Whatever next?! Those aren't coaches, they're cattle trucks/cars!
 * Coaches: OOH!! What a horrid engine!
 * Sir Handel: It's not what I'm used to.




 * Sir Handel: Hello. Who are you?
 * Gordon: I'm Gordon. Who are you?
 * Sir Handel: I'm Sir Handel. I've heard of you. You're an express engine! So am I, but I'm used to smart/new coaches, not these cattle trucks/cars. Do you have smart/new coaches? [observes Gordon's train] I see you do. We must have a chat. Sorry I can't stop. We must keep time, you know.
 * Narrator: Gordon was speechless!




 * (after Sir Handel reaches the top station and hopes for a rest, he ends up being angered by his driver, who tells him that they will leave the coaches now and fetch some trucks from the quarry)
 * Driver: We'll leave the coaches now and fetch some trucks/cars from the quarry.
 * Sir Handel: Trucks, trucks?!/Cars, cars! I won't, so there!
 * Narrator: Sir Handel was about to cause a great deal of trouble.
 * (he leaves the station in disgust and deliberately derails himself)
 * Sir Handel: Told you!




 * The Fat Controller: (to Sir Handel) I shall talk to you later!
 * Narrator: Then he and the fireman left with Peter Sam. Sir Handel felt sillier still.
 * (Peter Sam (with the Fat Controller on board) leaves the breakdown train)
 * Sir Handel's Driver: Come on, let's get you back on the rails.




 * The Fat Controller: (to Sir Handel, after having heard of his issues earlier in the day) You're a very naughty engine! I hope I can trust you to behave when you next come out of this shed.
 * Narrator: After hearing that, I'm sure Sir Handel will. Aren't you?

Merchandise

 * My Thomas Story Library - Sir Handel

Home Media Releases
{{Scroll box|

UK

 * Rock 'n' Roll and other Stories
 * Biggest Party Video Ever!
 * The Complete Series 4

DVD Boxsets

 * Classic Collection

WAL

 * Thomas the Tank Engine: Bumper Special 2

US

 * Rusty to the Rescue and Other Thomas Stories
 * Thomas & Friends Classic Volume 4

CAN

 * Rusty to the Rescue and Other Thomas Stories

DVD Boxsets

 * Adventure On the Tracks

AUS

 * Rock 'n' Roll and other Stories
 * Rescues on the Railways
 * The Complete Series 4

DVD Packs

 * Complete Series 1-10
 * Classic Collection
 * Series Three and Series Four Double Pack

NZ

 * Rock 'n' Roll and other Stories

GER

 * Like A Rock and 4 Other Adventures
 * Thomas and His Friends Vol. 7

JPN

 * New Thomas the Tank Engine Vol.3
 * Thomas and the Mountain Railway Engines
 * The Complete Works of Thomas the Tank Engine 2 Vol.3

UKR

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

MYS

 * Four Little Engines and Other Thomas Adventures
 * One Good Turn and Other Adventures

PHL

 * Four Little Engines
 * Rock N' Roll

DK

 * Four Little Locomotives and Other Stories

GRC

 * A Day at the Station

DVD Boxsets

 * 3 DVD Boxset 2

IN

 * Oliver Owns Up and Other Stories

NL

 * Rock 'n Roll
 * The Greatest Stories: The Adventures of Thomas

NOR

 * On New Adventures

ITA

 * The Sleeping Beauty

FIN

 * Rock 'n' Roll Locomotive

CHN

 * Thomas and Friends Season 1-4

KOR

 * Thomas and Friends Volume 3

HK

 * Thomas and Friends Volume 9 (Hong Kong DVD)
 * Thomas and Friends Volume 2

TWN

 * Thomas and Friends Volume 1

THA

 * Thomas and Friends - Volume 12

LATAM
}}
 * Personajes Favoritos Vol. 6

Un Mal Día para Sir Handel יום רע לסר הנדל わがままなきかんしゃ Zły Dzień Pana Handla Плохой день для Сэра Хэндела