Henry and the Elephant

"First the rain, then an elephant. Whatever will you be afraid of next?"

- Gordon to Henry

Henry and the Elephant (incorrectly titled and shorten to Henry the Elephant in one North American release as a goof) is the nineteenth episode of the fourth series. It is based on the story of the same name from the Railway Series book, Troublesome Engines.

Plot
One morning, Thomas arrives at the junction. The Fat Controller is there and, after checking his watch, tells Thomas he is right on time and really reliable, making Thomas and his coaches happy. However, Gordon, Henry and James are in a bad mood - Percy is nowhere to be found and so they are forced to collect their own coaches. James decides to take out his anger on Henry and mocks him about his fear of the rain. Henry retorts that James looks silly enough to be a clown and that he belongs in a circus, which leads Percy - who has just arrived - to believe the engines have heard about how the circus has come to town. He explains that he had been helping to shunt the special trucks and coaches on the Fat Controller's request and that the bigger engines are needed too. The big engines soon forget to be tired and cross and eagerly help out. When it is time for the circus to leave, James is given the task of pulling the train away, making Gordon and Henry cross once again.

Later that day, the Fat Controller informs Henry that a tunnel is blocked and asks him to take some workmen to investigate. Henry arrives at his tunnel, where he was bricked up, with a couple trucks in front of him - grumbling all the way - and the workmen enter to examine the blockage. A few moments later, they quickly run out in horror. One explains to the foreman that the blockage is alive and they refuse to go back inside. The foreman does not believe them, but he decides to ride in the front truck and have Henry push it out. Henry - horrified of the idea of being stuck in a tunnel with something big and alive - protests this decision and so does his driver, but the line has to be cleared.

Henry reluctantly and fearfully enters the tunnel with the trucks he brought the workmen in, only for the very strong blockage push him and the trucks back out again. Both Henry and the foreman are surprised to discover the "blockage" is actually a large and rather cross elephant who had escaped from the circus. The workmen offer the circus elephant some cake and three water buckets to calm him down. However, Henry accidentally startles the elephant by letting off steam, causing him to get sprayed with water. The elephant is soon reunited with the keeper, but Henry is humiliated by what happened.

That evening, Henry tells the other engines what happened. Although Gordon and James feel sorry for Henry, they continue to tease him. Thomas, however, praises Henry for his bravery and how well he handled the situation.

Characters

 * Thomas
 * Henry
 * Gordon
 * James
 * Percy
 * Annie and Clarabel
 * Sir Topham Hatt
 * The Elephant Keeper
 * Duck
 * Mrs. Kyndley
 * Mr. Hugh
 * One Little Boy
 * Big Mickey

Locations

 * Elsbridge
 * Tidmouth Sheds
 * Brendam Docks
 * Henry's Tunnel
 * The Ruined Castle

Trivia

 * A reference to the first series episode, The Sad Story of Henry is made.
 * Henry's incident with the elephant in the original story was one of the reasons the big engines went on strike, thus leading to Percy's arrival. While in the television series, due to the story being skipped initially, Percy and Duck appear in this adaptation.
 * On the PBS Kids Sprout airings and The Greatest Stories DVD, the original opening and end credits are used.
 * The models of Big Mickey, Izzy Gomez and S.S. Vienna from TUGS appear.
 * This is the first episode of a few things:
 * The first time that an engine has a problem with an elephant, in this case, Henry. The others later being Charlie in the seventeenth series episode, Not Now, Charlie!, Thomas in both the special, Big World! Big Adventures! and the twenty-second series episode, Trusty Trunky, and Nia in the twenty-fourth series episode, Nia and the Unfriendly Elephant.
 * The first appearance of Henry's Tunnel since the first series, excluding its appearance in a deleted scene from the previous episode, and its last appearance until the seventh series premiere.
 * This episode marks Brendam Docks' last appearance without Cranky, as he would be introduced in the next series premiere, Cranky Bugs.
 * Henry's Tunnel replaces Tidmouth Tunnel in the original story.
 * In the scenes of the circus train being arranged and James pulling the circus train, a rendition of Entry of the Gladiators by Julius Fučík remixed with the "Busy" theme song is heard.
 * George Carlin's line, "Then there was trouble," was re-used from Steam Roller.

Goofs

 * At the beginning of the episode, Thomas has Edward's whistle sound.
 * When the workmen look at the elephant in the tunnel, one of them is missing his right eyebrow.
 * Gordon's buffers and lamp irons are crooked in the scenes at Tidmouth Sheds.
 * When James says "We get no rest!" and when he is turning around on the turntable, his eyes were misaligned.
 * The crow's nest of S.S. Roxstar is facing backwards.
 * During the harbour scene, James' tender body is not properly assembled to its chassis.
 * Henry is missing one of his crew members when he pushes the elephant.
 * The elephant's keeper's mouth is missing.
 * Percy's cab roof has been raised when he is at Tidmouth Sheds.
 * When Percy pushes trucks into the yard, the 7-plank truck has black tac visible from where it would have worn a face, while the milk tanker is missing part of its frame.
 * When the narrator says, "Poor Henry," Henry's eyes are wonky.
 * Henry's lamp appears out of nowhere when the elephant sprays him.
 * When Henry leaves to the tunnel, his buffers are crooked.

Quotes

 * The Fat Controller: Well done, Thomas. You're right on time and really reliable.
 * Thomas: Thank you, Sir.
 * Annie and Clarabel: Ooh, right on time and really reliable.




 * James: What's the matter, Henry? There's no rain today. Stop worrying and do some work instead.
 * Henry: I'm not afraid of getting wet anymore. Anyway, you look silly enough to be a clown you should be in/join a/the circus.
 * Percy: Oh, so you've heard the news?
 * Gordon: What news?
 * Percy: About the circus.
 * James: Percy, what are you talking about?
 * Percy: The circus has arrived. I've been shunting special trucks/cars. The Fat Controller/Sir Topham Hatt needs your help too.




 * Henry: An elephant pushed me, an elephant hooshed me!




 * Gordon: First the rain, then an elephant. Whatever will you be afraid of next?
 * Thomas: Never mind, Henry. I think you were brave today, and really reliable too.

Merchandise

 * Take Along
 * Wooden Railway
 * Thomas Engine Collection Series
 * Books - Henry and the Elephant
 * Step Into Reading Books - Henry and the Elephant
 * Magazine Stories - A Jumbo-Sized Surprise

Home Media Releases
{{Scroll box|

UK

 * Story and Song Collection
 * Fun Time Favourites
 * The Complete Series 4
 * The Best of Thomas

DVD Packs

 * Classic Collection
 * 10 DVD Boxset
 * The Best of Friends

AUS

 * Thomas and the Special Letter and other stories (Australian VHS)
 * Story and Song Collection
 * Mixy Presents TV Favourites
 * The Complete Series 4
 * Thomas and Stepney and other Stories
 * My First Thomas with Henry and Gordon

DVD Boxsets

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

US

 * The Gallant Old Engine and Other Thomas Stories/Henry and the Elephant
 * 10 Years of Thomas
 * Henry and the Elephant
 * The Greatest Stories
 * Thomas & Friends Classic Volume 4

CAN

 * The Gallant Old Engine and Other Thomas Stories/Henry and the Elephant
 * 10 Years of Thomas
 * The Greatest Stories

DVD Boxsets

 * Totally Thomas Volume 7
 * Best Tales on the Tracks
 * Ultimate Thomas Collection

NZ

 * Thomas and the Special Letter and other stories
 * Story and Song Collection

WAL

 * Help and 15 other stories

JPN

 * New Thomas the Tank Engine Vol.1
 * Best of Henry
 * Engines’ Big Success
 * Gordon and Henry the Large Engines
 * The Best Collection
 * The Complete Works of Thomas the Tank Engine 2 Vol.2

UKR

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

PHL

 * Paint Pots and Queens (Philippine DVD)

DK

 * The Brave Engine and Other Stories

MYS

 * Thomas and the Special Letter and Other Thomas Adventures
 * Peter Sam and the Refreshment Lady and Other Adventures

ITA

 * Here Comes the Queen

NOR

 * On New Adventures

NL

 * The Greatest Stories: The Adventures of Thomas, James and Henry
 * Thomas and the Special Letter

GER

 * No Game Without A Ball and 4 Other Adventures
 * Thomas and His Friends Vol. 8
 * Heroes on Rails
 * The Enigmatic Dragon

DVD Boxsets

 * Thomas and His Friends Box Set 1

GRC

 * A Day at the Station

DVD Boxsets

 * 3 DVD Boxset 2

SVN

 * Thomas and Stepney

IN

 * Trucks and Other Stories

CHN

 * Thomas and Friends Season 1-4

KOR

 * Thomas and Friends Volume 5

HK

 * Thomas and Friends Volume 10
 * Thomas and Friends Volume 6

THA

 * Thomas and Friends - Volume 14

TWN
}}
 * Thomas and Friends Volume 2

Henry y el Elefante הנרי והפיל トンネルのなかのかいぶつ Henio i Słoń Генри и слон