Thomas and the Rainbow

"The old story was right, there is something magical at the end of the rainbow - my friends! (Friends are the most wonderful thing of all!)"

- Thomas seeing the end of the rainbow

Thomas and the Rainbow is the second episode of the ninth series.

Plot
After an overnight summer storm knocks the telephone poles down, the Fat Controller tasks Thomas to take engineers to fix them. Thomas goes to Brendam Docks with Annie and Clarabel and whilst the engineers climb aboard his train, he sees a rainbow in the sky. Edward, who is shunting flatbeds nearby, tells Thomas that according to legend "you will find something magical at the end of a rainbow." This prompts Thomas to find the end of the rainbow.

During his journey, Thomas meets Percy at a junction, but does not have time to talk to him as he wants to find the end of the rainbow. Climbing up Gordon's Hill, the end of the rainbow seems to be at the summit; but when Thomas gets there, the rainbow has moved. After dropping off some engineers by a bridge, Thomas ignores some children's calls of "hello" as he carries on finding the rainbow. Unfortunately, Thomas gets so carried away trying to find the end of the rainbow that he ignores Henry's call for assistance with his trucks and Toby's warning that something is blocking the track ahead. It turns out to be a broken telephone pole, which Thomas runs into and he, Annie and Clarabel derail.

Now Thomas cannot finish his job and as all the telephone poles are not fixed, his driver cannot call for help. However, Thomas sees Percy passing by on another line and whistles for help to him, but Percy does not respond; Thomas thinks Percy is giving him the silent treatment because he did not have time to talk to Percy. But Percy does hear Thomas' call for help and sends the message down the line. The message eventually reaches Harvey, who sets off to the rescue.

Finally Harvey arrives and gets Thomas, Annie and Clarabel back on the rails; he also tells Thomas that all of his friends worked together to rescue him. Thomas carries on with his work, but now ignores the rainbow. Once all the telephone poles are fixed, Thomas goes home to Tidmouth Sheds to find the end of the rainbow; the something magical are his friends.

Characters

 * Thomas
 * Edward
 * Percy
 * Toby
 * Harvey
 * Sir Topham Hatt
 * Henry
 * Gordon
 * James
 * Annie and Clarabel
 * Bertie
 * Harold
 * Emily
 * Salty
 * Trevor
 * Tiger Moth
 * Cranky
 * Stephen Hatt
 * Big Mickey

Locations

 * Tidmouth Sheds
 * Tidmouth Goods Station
 * Brendam Docks
 * Sodor Shipping Company
 * Kirk Ronan Junction
 * Gordon's Hill
 * Three-Track Road Bridge
 * Norramby Beach
 * Neville's Bridge
 * Shen Valley
 * Kellsthorpe Castle
 * Dryaw
 * Dryaw Airfield
 * McColl Farm
 * Three-Track Hay Field
 * Knapford Yards

Trivia

 * Going by production order, this is the first episode of the ninth series.
 * This episode marks Harvey's only speaking role in the ninth series.
 * This episode aired before the special Calling All Engines! was released, meaning that the audience would not know about the newly rebuilt Tidmouth Sheds with the seventh berth for Emily.
 * This episode was nominated for a British Academy of Film and Television Arts award.
 * Abi Grant stated on her website that this was one of her favourite episodes centred around Thomas himself.
 * Stock footage from the Learning Segment, Helping One Another is used.

Goofs

 * At the beginning of the episode, Henry has Gordon's whistle sound.
 * In the shot of the workman getting into Annie, a wire can be seen through her window.
 * When Thomas passes Henry, all three signals are up, but Thomas passes the signal at danger.

Merchandise

 * Tomica

Home Media Releases
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UK/IRL

 * The Spirit of Sodor
 * The Complete Series 9

DVD Packs

 * Classic Collection

AUS

 * The Complete Series 9

DVD Boxsets

 * Complete Series 1-10
 * The Essential Collection
 * Series Nine and Series Ten Double Pack
 * Series Nine and The Great Discovery Double Pack

US/CAN

 * Thomas and the Toy Workshop
 * Summertime Fun
 * Engine Friends

DVD Packs

 * Thomas and the Toy Workshop/Thomas and the Really Brave Engines and Other Adventures Double Feature
 * Playtime Pals and Summertime Fun Double Feature
 * Sodor Friends Holiday Collection
 * Ultimate Thomas Collection
 * Thomas' Holiday Collection

JPN

 * Thomas the Tank Engine Series 9 Vol.1
 * Tell Me About A Fun Day
 * Thomas and the Rainbow
 * 75th Anniversary Edition: Thank You as Always! Thomas & Friends Masterpieces

MYS

 * Thomas and the Rainbow and Other Adventures
 * James Gets a New Coat and Other Adventures
 * Magical Collection
 * Thomas & Friends - 65 Years - Making Tracks to Great Destinations
 * Best of Thomas Collection

ZA/NOR/SWE/DK/FIN

 * Thomas and the Rainbow

NL

 * Thomas and the Rainbow

GER

 * Thomas and the Rainbow

HK

 * Thomas and Friends Volume 24
 * Thomas & Friends - 65 Years - Making Tracks to Great Destinations

CHN

 * Thomas & Friends - 65 Years - Making Tracks to Great Destinations

SPN

 * Thomas and Friends - Volume 8

DVD Boxsets

 * First Season

THA

 * Thomas and Friends - Volume 27
 * Thomas & Friends - 65 Years - Making Tracks to Great Destinations

HUN

 * Thomas and the Rainbow

KOR

 * Thomas the Little Engine and Friends Season 4 Vol. 1

TWN
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 * Thomas and Friends Volume 12

Thomas y el Arcoiris תומס והקשת בענן トーマスとにじ Tomek i Tęcza Томас и радуга