Batucada

"I was happy to be really Really Useful pulling goods and taking passengers and it was like I had my very own musical soundtrack!"

- Thomas

Batucada is the sixth episode of the twenty-third series.

Plot
People are getting ready for the carnival and its music (which is known as Batucada) is heard at the Docks where Thomas and Gabriela are working. Thomas enjoys the music and wishes he could stay to listen, but he has some vehicle parts and iron pellets to deliver. While Thomas is delivering his trucks, his loads begin making a rhythmic noise that Fernando compliments Thomas on and tells him he could do it for the carnival.

Thomas soon comes across a batucada band playing their music. Unfortunately, they have missed their train, so Thomas gives them a lift in his brakevan. This makes Thomas feel happy to be really useful and to have the music playing along with him. After Thomas drops the band off, they offer to have him be part of the carnival and start once he comes back around.

Thomas soon drops off his trucks and leaves to get to the carnival, but is dismayed that he does not have his musical trucks with him and tries to take something else. He then bumps into a tanker and thinks he can use it, but it makes a horrible clanking sound just as he arrives at the carnival. The people do not like the sound of it, and the band leader tells Thomas that they did not need his musical trucks to kickstart the carnival; they just needed his whistle. This makes Thomas happy to be part of the carnival.

Characters

 * Thomas
 * Gabriela
 * Fernando
 * Cassia
 * The Batucada Players
 * The Teacher
 * The Indian Fashion Designer
 * Gordon
 * Theo

Locations

 * Brazil
 * Guanabara Bay
 * The Brazilian Station
 * The Brazilian Goods Yard
 * Rio de Janeiro

UK

 * John Hasler as Thomas
 * Monica Lopera as Gabriela
 * Laura Cucurullo as Cassia and Female Batucada Player
 * Gabriel Porras as Fernando
 * Francisco Labbe as a Batucada Player
 * Federico Trujillo as a Batucada Player and a Workman

US and CAN

 * Joseph May as Thomas
 * Monica Lopera as Gabriela
 * Laura Cucurullo as Cassia and Female Batucada Player
 * Gabriel Porras as Fernando
 * Francisco Labbe as a Batucada Player
 * Federico Trujillo as a Batucada Player and a Workman

Trivia

 * Going by production order, this is the eighth episode of the twenty-third series.
 * During Thomas' fantasy, he plays a variation of Big World! Big Adventures!
 * This is the first time a one-word title has been used for an episode since the eighth series episode Halloween and also the last episode to feature a one-word title in the original series until the Thomas & Friends: All Engines Go episode, Blackout!.
 * This episode marks a few things for Fernando:
 * His first appearance in an episode.
 * His only speaking role in an episode.
 * His only speaking role in the twenty-third series.
 * The only time he is referred to by name.
 * His last speaking role.
 * Federico Trujillo joins the cast.
 * The top part of the calliope that was used in Thomas' fantasy was taken from the sixteenth series episode, Percy and the Calliope.
 * Amongst the parts on Thomas' flatbed are some of Theo's cogwheels and one of Gordon's cylinders painted grey.
 * On the Nick Jr. US airing of this episode, it was paired with Gordon Gets the Giggles.

Goofs

 * In the first scene of Thomas talking to Gabriela, he is sunken into the rails.

UK

 * Carnival Day!