Chickens to School

"Sheep to market, children to the farm, chickens to school."

- Thomas getting into a muddle

Chickens to School is the twenty-fourth episode of the eighth series.

Plot
One summer night, Thomas is busy taking coal trucks to the Coaling Plant and is very tired by the time he arrives back at Tidmouth Sheds in the morning. Thomas wishes that he had some assistance with the coal delivery, but Gordon tells Thomas that a Really Useful Engine does not need help. Just then, the Fat Controller arrives as he requires an engine to carry out three jobs. Thomas decides to carry out the three jobs, despite being tired. His three jobs are to take the chickens to the market, the sheep to the farm and the children to the school. Gordon remarks that three jobs is too much for Thomas and he will need assistance, but Thomas tells him that tank engines do not need help at all.

So Thomas sets off with Annie, Clarabel and a couple vans. He collects the chickens from the farm, the sheep from the valley and the children from the station. Thomas carries on with his journey up and over Gordon's Hill and through Henry's Tunnel. Throughout the journey, he reminds himself where he is going. However, the tiredness starts getting the better of him and he gets confused.

At the station where the market is being held, Thomas orders the lorry drivers to unload the sheep, instead of the chickens. Then Emily arrives and sees Thomas looking tired, so she offers to help. But Thomas declines her offer, though he is very sleepy. After the market, Thomas goes onto Farmer McColl's and tells the children it is their stop. Finally at the school, Thomas delivers the chickens, much to the confusion of the school teachers.

Thomas heads off for home, but not before the Fat Controller receives phone calls about the sheep making a mess at the market, the children getting muddy at the farm and the chickens messing up the classrooms. The Fat Controller tells Thomas what happened and that he needs to put everything right, but this time with help. Thomas then tells the Fat Controller what Gordon said earlier about how a Really Useful Engine never needs help. Edward remarks that he is always helping Gordon up the hill, which makes the latter blushed with embarrassment.

Thomas sets off with Edward and Percy helping him. Edward takes the chickens from the school to the market, Percy takes the sheep from the market to the farm and Thomas takes the children from the farm to the school. Thomas apologises to the children for bringing them to the wrong place, but they reassure him that they were learning about the farm, after having seen all of the animals. That night, Thomas finally gets some much needed sleep in Tidmouth Sheds, and has good dreams about sheep, children and chickens.

Characters

 * Thomas
 * Edward
 * Gordon
 * Emily
 * Sir Topham Hatt
 * Percy
 * Henry
 * Annie and Clarabel
 * James
 * Caroline
 * Stephen Hatt
 * Farmer Trotter
 * Farmer Collett
 * The Lighthouse Keeper
 * Mr. Jolly
 * The Captain
 * Farmer McColl

Locations

 * Tidmouth Sheds
 * Dryaw School
 * McColl Farm
 * Henry's Tunnel
 * Gordon's Hill
 * Wellsworth
 * Wellsworth Bridge
 * The Windmill
 * Maron
 * Sir Topham Hatt's Office
 * The Sheep Field
 * Mr. Jolly's Chocolate Factory
 * The Coaling Plant

Trivia

 * Going by production order, this is the eighteenth episode of the eighth series and the 200th episode of the show.
 * Stock footage from Thomas and the Circus is used.
 * For a while, it was unknown who the sheep farmer was, but from a magazine poster, it turned out to be Farmer Collett, who also appeared in several magazine stories.
 * The book, Thomas' Busy Day, shows that Percy was originally going to have a larger role as he saw Thomas was tired while waiting at a junction and asked him if he needed any help, only for Thomas to decline.
 * In the individual version of this episode, the last bit of music is omitted at the end.
 * This episode marks the last appearance of the Captain.
 * In the UK dub, the narrator says that Thomas gets muddled up while feeling tired. In the US dub, the narrator says that Thomas became confused while feeling tired.
 * This episode marks the last appearance of Henry's Tunnel in completely original footage until The Great Discovery, as it appears in stock footage from Edward the Great in Calling All Engines!
 * This episode also marks the first time since the second series episode, Thomas Comes to Breakfast, and last appearance of Thomas' unwell face mask is used.

Goofs

 * In the stop-motion animation sequence of the teachers unloading the chickens, the rear van moves.
 * In the scene where the teacher looks up from under the desk, his hands are facing the wrong way.
 * After the close up of the children when Thomas picks them up, some of the children disappear.
 * In the scene with Thomas and Emily, Thomas' eyes are misaligned.
 * Thomas's whistle is crooked in many scenes.
 * Gordon's lamp irons are crooked.
 * In most scenes, Clarabel's roof is damaged.

Merchandise

 * Books - Thomas' Busy Day
 * Magazine Stories - Chickens to School

Home Media Releases
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UK/AUS

 * Peep! Peep! Hurray! Three Cheers for Thomas
 * The Complete Series 8

UK DVD Boxsets

 * Classic Collection
 * 5 Adventurous DVDs
 * Triple Pack
 * The Ultimate Collection

AUS DVD Boxsets

 * 60th Anniversary - Limited Edition Boxset
 * Trainloads of Thomas Fun
 * HiT Favourites 2 - 3 Disc Collection
 * Complete Series 1-10
 * The Essential Collection
 * Series Seven and Series Eight Double Pack

US/CAN

 * Thomas' Sodor Celebration!

DVD Boxsets

 * Celebrate with Thomas
 * 60th Anniversary DVD
 * Steamies vs. Diesels and Other Thomas Adventures/Thomas' Sodor Celebration!
 * Fun Pack
 * All-Aboard for Adventure!

MYS

 * Back to School Compilation
 * Don't Tell Thomas and Other Adventures
 * Emily's New Route and Other Adventures

POL

 * Thomas and Circus

SPN

 * Thomas and Friends - Volume 3

DVD Boxsets

 * First Season

FIN

 * Thomas Saves the Day

SWE/DK

 * Thomas the Hero

NOR

 * Thomas the Hero
 * Play and Learn

CZ

 * Hip! Hip! Hurrah! Thomas and the Circus

HUN

 * Thomas the Tank Engine 4 - Gordon, the Role Model

DVD Boxsets

 * Thomas the Tank Engine & Gift Keys extension box

THA

 * Thomas and Friends - Volume 37

HK

 * Thomas and Friends Volume 22

TWN

 * Thomas and Friends Volume 10

ROM

 * Beep! Beep! Hooray!
 * Thomas and Friends - Vol. 4

DVD Packs

 * Triple Pack 3
 * Six DVD Set

ZA

 * Peep! Peep! Hurray! Three Cheers for Thomas

DVD Boxsets

 * 5 DVD Boxset

JPN

 * Thomas the Tank Engine Series 8 Vol.5

KOR
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 * Thomas the Little Engine and Friends Season 3 Vol. 2

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