Stepney Gets Lost

"Saving you from scrap is getting to be a habit, Stepney. Please stop it." "Yes, Sir; but I have learned something." "What's that?" "There's no place like home." "And that's exactly where you're going now!" "Bluebells Forever!"

- The Fat Controller and Stepney

Stepney Gets Lost is the thirteenth episode of the fifth series. In the US, it aired with Rusty and the Boulder in an episode of Storytime with Thomas.

Plot
One morning, the Fat Controller comes to Stepney's shed to tell him that Rusty has stated that he is in need of change. Because of this, he is having Stepney help Toby and Mavis at the quarry for the day. The Fat Controller warns Stepney that it is easy to get lost and to be back before dark. Stepney arrives at the quarry and is really enjoying himself and Mavis and Toby are impressed with his hard work, no matter how dusty he becomes. The quarry foreman asks Stepney's crew if they would like to take the night special to a building section of a new branch line. The driver agrees to take the train, but Stepney thinks that they should have asked the Fat Controller first.

As night falls, Toby and Mavis warn Stepney to be careful and Stepney leaves the quarry with the special train. He arrives on time with his delivery and then sets off for home, only for the fog to soon come down and make everything look spooky. Stepney's driver notices a signal at green and thinks that someone has been expecting them, except no-one has. The points ahead are set in the wrong direction, but Stepney does not realise this and makes a wrong turn, ending up in an unknown area. The driver decides to rest until the fog clears. Stepney hears strange sounds and soon the fog slowly lifts revealing that they are in the scrapyards again. Stepney's crew go for help and leave Stepney all alone, but not for long as two diesel engines called 'Arry and Bert approach him saying that he will make very fine scrap indeed. Bert buffers up to him and they take Stepney to a large smelter's shed and leave him alone, intending to scrap him.

Stepney looks up and above him is a huge grabber. Stepney pleads he is not for scrapping, but the grabber slowly lowers to grab Stepney. But just as it is about to grab hold of him, it suddenly stops. The Fat Controller appears with Stepney's crew and the yard master on a nearby platform, having come to visit the scrapyards and he jokingly tells Stepney that saving him from scrap is becoming a habit. Stepney then tells the Fat Controller that he learned that there is no place like home, which is where he is going now. Stepney then leaves the scrapyards, while declaring "Bluebells Forever!"

Characters

 * Toby
 * Stepney
 * Mavis
 * Sir Topham Hatt
 * 'Arry
 * Bert
 * Rusty
 * Butch
 * Troublesome Trucks
 * BoCo
 * Thomas
 * Gordon
 * Donald or Douglas
 * City of Truro
 * Märklin Engine

Locations

 * Stepney's Shed
 * Stepney's Branch Line
 * Ffarquhar Quarry
 * Old Stone Bridge
 * Tower Windmill
 * Sodor Ironworks
 * Sodor China Clay Company
 * Bluebell Valley

Trivia

 * According to a film slate:
 * The scenes at the Sodor Ironworks outside of the smelter shed with the grabber were filmed from 30th September to 1st October 1997.
 * The close-up shot of Stepney's driver leaning out of Stepney's cab was filmed on the 8th of October 1997.
 * The interior scenes of the smelter shed with the grabber were filmed on the 9th of October 1997, with the close-up shots of Sir Topham Hatt being filmed on the 16th.
 * The quarry was filmed from the 5th to 6th of January 1998. The daytime scenes were filmed on the 5th, while the nighttime scenes were filmed on the 6th.
 * The Old Stone Bridge was filmed on the 9th of January 1998.
 * The close-up shots of the human figurines at the quarry were filmed on the 15th of January 1998.
 * Stepney puffing through the mist was filmed on the 5th of February 1998.
 * The scenes at the building site were filmed on the 6th of February 1998.
 * The remaining close-up shots of Stepney's driver and fireman in Stepney's cab were filmed on the 9th of February 1998.
 * Stepney's Shed was filmed on the 16th of February 1998, while the close-up shots of the human figurines were filmed the following day.
 * Stock footage from Rusty to the Rescue and the previous episode is used, as well as a deleted scene from the fourth series.
 * This episode marks 'Arry and Bert's first appearance. However, 'Arry is not referred to by name and Bert does not have a speaking role for the first time until the sixth series episode, Middle Engine.
 * This episode marks the only episode of a few things:
 * Mavis' only speaking role in the fifth series.
 * Stepney, 'Arry and Bert's only appearances in the fifth series.
 * The only series to feature Stepney's concerned and shocked face from the previous series, although his concerned face was in the sixth series song, Boo! Boo! Choo-Choo.
 * This episode marks the last of a few things for Stepney:
 * His last speaking role in the US dub until the twelfth series episode, Rosie's Funfair Special.
 * His last speaking role in the UK dub.
 * His last leading role.
 * The load that Cranky drops on Percy from Cranky Bugs is seen at the building site when Stepney drops off his trucks.
 * CGI smoke is added in the shot looking down over a beam when Stepney enters the scrapyards.
 * Scrap models of Thomas, Gordon, Donald/Douglas, City of Truro, Märklin Engine and Little Owl from TUGS are seen at the scrapyard.
 * There are a few scenes that were not in the final cut of the episode, including:
 * A deleted scene of the Fat Controller pointing to Stepney.
 * A deleted scene of Stepney arriving at the quarry.
 * An extended shot of Toby and Mavis chatting before Stepney arrives.
 * A deleted scene of Stepney pushing the quarry trucks while Toby watches from as siding.
 * An extended shot of Mavis before Stepney arrives with the quarry trucks.
 * An extended shot of Stepney and Toby shunting the quarry trucks together.
 * An extended scene of Mavis pushing the quarry trucks while The Quarry Forman speaks with Stepney's driver.

Goofs

 * The camera shot looking over a beam and down at Stepney is differently configured with scattered objects when 'Arry and Bert approach.
 * In some of the shots of Stepney puffing through the fog, a black box is attached to one side of his cab. This is most likely the power source to his head lamp.
 * When Stepney puffs through the fog after dropping off the stone loads, studio equipment can be seen in the top left corner of the screen.
 * The opening music is briefly cut off in the US dub.
 * When 'Arry and Bert stops near Stepney, Bert stops right behind Stepney. However, when Bert buffers up to Stepney, he has moved backwards several yards.
 * When Bert buffers up to Stepney, there are large gaps between his eyes and his face mask. Also, Bert's engine does not hiss when he stops to buffer up Stepney.
 * When 'Arry and Bert begin taking Stepney to the smelting shed, there is a clear gap between the fog effect and the right side of the screen.
 * In the Polish dub, Rusty's English name is used by accident.
 * When Stepney is in his shed, his right lamp iron (viewers' left) has a burn mark.
 * Because stock footage is used, the line of trucks is in a different part of the quarry as Mavis is not seen next to them, and a fragment of BoCo can be seen further back.
 * Stepney's left (viewers' right) footstep is crooked.

Quotes
('Arry and Bert approach Stepney)

___________________________________________________________________________________
 * 'Arry: Got you this time, Stepney. You'll make very fine scrap indeed - buffer 'im, Bert! (Bert does so, and the two diesels take him to the smelters' shed) Bye-bye, Stepney!
 * US dub only: Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha!
 * Stepney: (looks up at the lowering grabber) This engine's not for scrapping!

___________________________________________________________________________________
 * The Fat Controller: It's a good thing I've chosen to visit/I'm visiting this yard tonight. Saving you from scrap is becoming a habit, Stepney. Please stop it.
 * Stepney: Yes, Sir; but I have learned something.
 * The Fat Controller: What's that?
 * Stepney: There's no place like home.
 * The Fat Controller: And that's exactly where you're going now!
 * Stepney: Bluebells Forever!

Merchandise

 * My Thomas Story Library - Stepney

Home Media Releases
{{Scroll box|

UK

 * Rescues on the Railways
 * Seasonal Scrapes
 * The Complete Series 5

DVD Boxsets

 * Classic Collection

US

 * Spills and Chills and Other Thomas Thrills
 * Thomas & Friends Classic Volume 5

CAN

 * Spills and Chills and Other Thomas Thrills

DVD Packs

 * Totally Thomas Volume 1
 * Spills and Chills and New Friends for Thomas Double Feature

AUS

 * Happy Holidays
 * The Complete Series 5
 * The Best of Thomas and Friends - Volume 1

DVD Packs

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

NZ

 * Spooks and Surprises

NOR

 * Stepney Gets Lost

SWE

 * Little Engines Help Out

GRC

 * The Trains Have Fun

GER

 * Heroes on Rails

DVD Boxsets

 * Thomas and His Friends Box Set 1

MYS

 * Haunted Henry and Other Thomas Adventures
 * Put Upon Percy and Other Adventures

JPN

 * Look Out! Look Out! A Great Crisis
 * The Complete Works of Thomas the Tank Engine 2 Vol.6

KOR

 * Friends Love Story

PHL

 * Toby's Discovery

DK

 * Thomas and the Ghosts and Other Stories

ITA

 * Time for James

SVN

 * Toby and the Flood

WAL

 * Fleas and 15 other Stories

HK

 * Thomas and Friends Volume 12
 * Thomas and Friends Volume 1

THA

 * Thomas and Friends - Volume 17

TWN
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 * Thomas and Friends Volume 3

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