Something in the Air

"Engines don't swim, Henry. You were meant to deliver fish, not swim with them. You should know that by now."

- The Fat Controller scolding Henry for taking the Coastal Run

Something in the Air, is the fifteenth episode of the fifth series. It is loosely based on the magazine stories A Fishy Smell and Erosion. In the US, it aired with Oliver's Find in an episode of Storytime with Thomas.

Plot
Thomas is at the quayside and is about to take vans full of fish to Knapford Docks for Henry's train, The Flying Kipper. The fishermen, however, are using old equipment and Thomas is beginning to worry about being late when a loose crate of fish drops onto his boiler, spilling fish all over him. His driver and fireman find it very funny, but Thomas is less than impressed and sniffs at the odour.

Later, Thomas is traveling along Tidmouth Beach when he is further delayed by a man waving a red flag; the man informs him and his crew about some tracks that have been eroded from high tides and he has marked the spot. Thomas' driver decides to go inspect and they soon arrive at the unsafe area. The driver determines that the tracks are safe enough for a smaller engine like Thomas, but not a heavy engine like Henry. The guard erects a red lamp post by the damaged track as a warning spot to engines and states that he will tell the signalman at the docks to close the line.

It is already dark once Thomas arrives at Knapford Harbour, with Henry waiting for him. He is cross with Thomas for being late and smelly. Thomas attempts to warn Henry of the danger, but Henry scoffs off the warning and orders him to have his trucks hitched to the train. Finally, the Flying Kipper sets off.

Inside the yardmaster's office, the yardmaster tells Thomas' crew that Henry is taking the Coastal Run; this shocks the driver, as he has already stated about how dangerous it is to big engines. The yardmaster quickly phones the signalman to reroute Henry, but Henry is anxious to make up for lost time and passes the signal box. This ends up with the signalman unable to hear the warning and only does so when Henry is far away. Once Henry reaches the Coastal Track, his hopes for a fast run are dashed as heavy fog rolls in and neither he nor his driver can see the track ahead. The damaged track has soon been completely submerged and Henry derails and plunges into the sea with his train, coming to a stop offshore and spits out a mouthful of seawater.

The next day, when the tide is high enough, Henry and his fish are craned out of the water. He ends up in a barge full of fish with a seagull perched on his funnel, where the Fat Controller sternly tells him that engines are supposed to deliver fish, not swim with them, which he should know by now. Henry is towed back to the docks in the barge to be lifted back onto dry tracks. Cranky teases Henry that he will have some "fishy" tales to tell, much to his annoyance. Then some children laugh at Henry and call him a green whale, while others insist that he is a monster. Henry does not find the jokes funny and is very upset.

Finally, Henry is back on the rails and Thomas feels sorry for him and comes to take him away for a wash down. After being cleaned, Henry apologises to Thomas for being rude to him. Thomas accepts Henry's apology, then jokes with Henry about smelling something - fresh air.

Characters

 * Thomas
 * Henry
 * Cranky
 * Sir Topham Hatt
 * The Upper Brendam Yardmaster
 * The Little Boys
 * The Lighthouse Keeper
 * James
 * Bridget Hatt
 * Bulstrode
 * Big Mickey
 * The Fisherman

Locations

 * Norramby Fishing Village
 * The Sodor Inn
 * Tidmouth Beach
 * Tidmouth Lighthouse
 * Knapford Harbour
 * The Seaside Village
 * Brendam Docks

Trivia

 * According to a film slate:
 * The children teasing Henry was filmed on the 8th of October 1997.
 * The Coastal Run shots and Henry's accident was filmed on the 28th of January 1998.
 * The Coastal Run shots were also the filmed the same day as the ones for Oliver's Find.
 * In this episode, the set for Brendam Docks is modified to resemble its setup as Knapford Harbour from the fourth series episode, Fish.
 * An extract from this episode was put on the Planet Gullane website though was played at a faster speed.
 * This episode is referenced in Tale of the Brave after James crashes into a river while pulling the Flying Kipper, Henry says: "You were meant to deliver the fish, not throw them back in the water!" referencing the Fat Controller's line.
 * Big Mickey, Izzy Gomez, two schooners, the LT building and the steel company from TUGS appear in the episode. One of the schooners is seen with the wheelhouse of the shrimper named Jacqueline.
 * Bulstrode can be seen on the beach, albeit without his face mask.
 * Stephen Hatt makes a cameo as the boy who jokingly calls Henry a monster.
 * The barrel the children and workmen stand near is the Best Quality Diesel Oil barrel from the fourth series episode, Bowled Out.
 * Actual sardines were used for the fish that appear in the episode. This can be seen more clearly in a rare picture.
 * This episode marks the first of a few things:
 * The first time an engine is seen with something in their mouth; in this case, Henry spat out water. The face had a hole drilled in its mouth to achieve the spitting effect, while the model was modified to fit a pump system to force water out. This technique was also used for the Tugs character Grampus.
 * This exact face mask is now owned by Twitter user. ThomasTankMerch.
 * The first appearance of Henry's ill face since the first series episode, The Flying Kipper.
 * The first time an engine ignores another engine's advice and derails into water, the second is the twelfth series episode, Excellent Emily.
 * Clips from this episode were used in "The 100 Greatest Kids TV Shows" on Channel 4 in 2001 during the Thomas segment when it was listed as #26. The caption lists the show as having lasted from 1984 to 1992, referencing the show's original run on terrestrial network ITV.
 * This is one of the three episodes to feature Thomas' unused jolly face from the third series, the others being the fifth series episodes, Snow and Rusty and the Boulder.
 * This and Bye George! were the only fifth series episodes not to be released on VHS in New Zealand at all. However, both episodes would appear on The Complete Series 5 DVD.
 * The title used in the Welsh dub is the same title used in the Welsh dub of the seventh series episode, Something Fishy.
 * This is the second time an engine falls into the sea and has to wait until the tide is high enough to be rescued, the first being the second series episode, Percy Takes the Plunge.
 * This episode aired in the US before Cranky Bugs, meaning that the American audience may not have known who Cranky was unless they had already seen said episode on the VHS, Cranky Bugs and Other Thomas Stories.
 * This was the only episode to be featured on both the UK and Australian versions of the VHS, Rescues on the Railway.
 * Two deleted scenes show the crate of fish hovering above Thomas before it crashes onto him, and in the scene of Thomas covered in fish looking stunned, he looks back and forth instead of his eyes spinning.

Goofs

 * In the US dub, Alec Baldwin accidentally uses the term "guard" when the man leaves a red oil lamp by the damaged track.
 * When Thomas says, "I can't help it, it's the fish!" the steam appears forward, then is played backwards, then played forwards again, meaning that the film was cut, but edited.
 * When the guard leaves the oil lamps, the red flag wraps around the pole, but when Thomas puffs away, the flag is attached to the side.
 * After Henry reaches the fog, he loses two vans. In addition, one of the Salt Vans change colour from cream to white.
 * In every version except the UK dub, when Henry says, "I can't see!" the first horn sound is barely audible.
 * When Henry reaches the track marked for danger, the track closest to the rocks cuts off.
 * Before Henry falls into the sea, his brakes are applied, and his wheels stop moving. But when he runs into the sea, his wheels are moving again, despite the braking sound effects still being audible.
 * In an overhead shot of Henry being towed in the barge, a seagull is seen nestled in his funnel. When Thomas buffers up to Henry to take him to get washed, the seagull is still there.
 * When Thomas puffs away with Henry at the end of the episode, the puffing noise starts long before Thomas moves.
 * When Thomas stops in front of the man with the flag, studio equipment can be seen on the top right corner.
 * Right before Henry plunges into the sea, the shadow of a studio worker can be seen.

Quotes

 * Henry: Pah/Why, you're late! And that smell is making me ill.
 * Thomas: (I can't help it.) It's the fish, and there's danger on the rails! That's why we're late.
 * Henry: Huh/Ha! You're the only danger on the rails, Thomas. Now, stop wasting time, and get your trucks/cars hitched to my train.




 * [Henry is out of the water just after the accident the night before]
 * The Fat Controller: Engines don't swim, Henry. You were meant to deliver fish, not swim with them. You should know that by now.
 * Henry: Yes, Sir. I'm sorry, Sir.




 * Henry: I'm sorry I was rude to you Thomas.
 * Thomas: Oh, that's alright. But can you smell something?
 * Henry: What?
 * (Narrator: Asked Henry nervously.)
 * Thomas: Fresh Air!
 * Henry: Oh Yes!
 * (Narrator: Replied Henry (happily).)

Merchandise

 * Magazine Stories - A Fishy Adventure
 * Wooden Railway

Home Media Releases
{{Scroll box|

UK

 * Rescues on the Railways
 * 5 Episode Video
 * The Complete Series 5

DVD Boxsets

 * Classic Collection

US

 * Races, Rescues and Runaways and Other Thomas Adventures
 * Thomas & Friends Classic Volume 5

CAN

 * Races, Rescues and Runaways and Other Thomas Adventures

DVD Boxsets

 * Totally Thomas Volume 2
 * On Site with Thomas and Other Adventures/Races, Rescues and Runaways and Other Thomas Adventures Double Feature
 * Sodor Friends Holiday Collection
 * 3 DVD Lunchbox Set

AUS

 * ABC For Kids - Playbox
 * Rescues on the Railways
 * The Complete Series 5

DVD Boxsets

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

ZA

 * Thomas and the Rumours

NOR

 * Fleas and 15 and other Stories
 * The Old Coach

SWE

 * Little Engines Help Out

GRC

 * The Trains Have Fun

JPN

 * New Thomas the Tank Engine 2 Vol.4
 * The Complete Works of Thomas the Tank Engine 2 Vol.2
 * To Transport a Lot Today

KOR

 * The Stories that Gives Enlightenment
 * Character Special Edition Series Vol. 5

DK

 * Forward and Backward and Other Stories

MYS

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

ITA

 * Back All!

GER

 * Thomas Animal Adventure

PHL

 * Oliver's Great Adventure

WAL

 * Fleas and 15 other Stories

HK

 * Thomas and Friends Volume 12
 * Thomas and Friends Volume 6

THA

 * Thomas and Friends - Volume 17

TWN
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 * Thomas and Friends Volume 3

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