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“Whatever next?! Those aren't coaches, they're cattle trucks!"
"OOH!! What a horrid engine!"
"It's not what I'm used to!”
― Sir Handel insulting the coaches

A Bad Day for Sir Handel is the sixth episode of the fourth series. It is based on the story simply titled Sir Handel from the Railway Series book, Four Little Engines.

Plot

Skarloey and Rheneas enjoy working on their railway that weaves around the lakes and along mountainsides. Their coaches are filled with visitors and the engines are proud to run the line come rain or shine. They will never let their passengers down but, due to their old age, they tire more easily. Their drivers understand this and tell them that the Manager is sending two more engines to help run the line since there is more than enough work for the two of them on the railway. Both Skarloey and Rheneas are pleased with the news and they promise that they will give the new engines a big welcome.

The newcomers, who are named Sir Handel and Peter Sam, arrive one day. Sir Handel is rude, complaining about the sheds and insulting Skarloey. Peter Sam is much friendlier, explaining to a sympathetic Skarloey that Sir Handel is a quite nice engine but is simply upset at the moment. Sir Handel's fireman comes to get him ready for a passenger train to the Top Station. Sir Handel initially refuses, stating that he is tired, and asks if Peter Sam can do it instead. But the fireman firmly tells Sir Handel he will go first. When Sir Handel picks up the coaches, he insults them by calling them cattle trucks. The coaches are hurt, with Sir Handel simply saying that they are not the sort of coaches he is used to.

Sir Handel arrives at Crovan's Gate and meets Gordon, who brings some passengers who board Sir Handel's train. The two engines introduce themselves and Sir Handel recognises Gordon as a fellow express engine. He goes on to say that he is used to smart coaches and praises Gordon's own but quickly heads off, leaving Gordon speechless. When Sir Handel reaches the Top Station, he is very cross when he hopes for a rest but his driver tells him that he is expected to collect trucks at the quarry. He refuses to do so and punctuates his point by deliberately derailing himself. By the time Peter Sam arrives with workmen to put Sir Handel back on the rails, Sir Handel starts to feel rather silly. The Fat Controller, who is also on board, sternly tells Sir Handel he will talk to him later. Then, the Fat Controller leaves aboard Peter Sam.

That evening, Sir Handel returns to the sheds to find the Fat Controller waiting for him. He scolds Sir Handel for his naughty behaviour and shuts him up in the sheds until he can be trusted to behave.

Characters

Locations

Trivia

  • Some TUGS models can be seen in this episode at Lakeside, notably Lakesider III, which is actually a modified O.J. model.
  • From this episode throughout the rest of the fourth series, Gordon has Duck's whistle sound. However, his normal whistle sound can only be heard in certain episodes where other engines were whistling.
  • Many whistle sounds are missing in the US dub.
  • In the original UK dub and US dub, a wheeshing sound effect can be heard when Sir Handel blows steam as he goes on the Mountain Line but not in the later UK dub and most international dubs.
  • This episode marks:
  • Two small rocks were placed between the two sets of the track to derail Sir Handel.
  • This was one of few Thomas episodes featured on the Captain Kangaroo spin-off series Mister Moose's Fun Time on Fox Family Channel as a promo to advertise the show.
  • This episode was also paired alongside Four Little Engines in an airing of Storytime with Thomas.
  • Both UK dubs are the same, although the early one lacks some sound effects.
  • Gordon's smiling face gains modified eyebrows from this episode.

Goofs

  • One broadcast of this episode on JimJam in Romania in 2011 had no narration and only included the music and sound effects.
  • At the beginning, Skarloey has Duke's original whistle sound and Rheneas has Peter Sam's.
  • In the UK dub:
    • Sir Handel has Rheneas' original whistle sound.
    • When Sir Handel backs onto his coaches, he can still be heard puffing for another four seconds after he stops.
  • The red coach Sir Handel backs onto has a face. However, at Crovan's Gate, the coach's face disappears.
  • Gordon is missing his brake pipe.
  • When Sir Handel goes off-camera on the mountain ledge, the steam platform blows steam too late.
  • When the Fat Controller scolds at Sir Handel, a fly crawls on the workbench next to Sir Handel.

Quotes

Skarloey and Rheneas' drivers: There's more than enough work for you both on this railway. The manager is sending two more engines to help us run the line.

Sir Handel: What a small shed! This won't do at all! We're much too smart for this old shack!
Peter Sam: I think it's nice.
Sir Handel: Huh! [to Skarloey] What's that rubbish?
(Skarloey gives a rather insulted look)
Peter Sam: Shh! That's Skarloey! He's famous! [whispers to Skarloey] I'm sorry, Skarloey. Sir Handel's upset now but he's quite nice really.
Narrator: Skarloey felt sorry for Peter Sam.
Fireman: Now, Sir Handel, I will get you ready for work.
Sir Handel: I'm tired! Let Peter Sam go! He'd love it!
Fireman: No. You're first.

Sir Handel: Whatever next?! Those aren't coaches, they're cattle trucks!
Coaches: OOH!! What a horrid engine!
Sir Handel: It's not what I'm used to.

Sir Handel: Hello. Who are you?
Gordon: I'm Gordon. Who are you?
Sir Handel: I'm Sir Handel. I've heard of you. You're an express engine! So am I but I'm used to smart coaches, not these cattle trucks. Do you have smart coaches? [observes Gordon's train] I see you do. We must have a chat. Sorry I can't stop. We must keep time, you know.
Narrator: Gordon was speechless!

(after Sir Handel reaches the top station and hopes for a rest, he ends up being angered by his driver, who tells him that they will leave the coaches now and fetch some trucks from the quarry)
Driver: We'll leave the coaches now and fetch some trucks from the quarry.
Sir Handel: Trucks?! Trucks?! I won't, so there!
Narrator: Sir Handel was about to cause a great deal of trouble.
(he leaves the station in disgust and deliberately derails himself)
Sir Handel: Told you!

The Fat Controller: (to Sir Handel) I shall talk to you later!
Narrator: Then, he and the fireman left with Peter Sam. Sir Handel felt sillier still.
(Peter Sam (with the Fat Controller on board) leaves the breakdown train)
Sir Handel's Driver: Come on, let's get you back on the rails.

The Fat Controller: (to Sir Handel, after having heard of his issues earlier in the day) You're a very naughty engine! I hope I can trust you to behave when you next come out of this shed.
Narrator: After hearing that, I'm sure Sir Handel will. Aren't you?

In Other Languages

View content
Language Title
Albanian Një ditë e keqe për Ser Hendel
Brazilian Portuguese Um dia ruim para o Sir Handel
Chinese Mandarin 汉德尔先生糟糕的一天
Czech Handelův špatný den
Danish En dårlig dag for Sir Handel
Dutch Een slechte dag voor Meneer Hendel
German Ein schlechter Tag für Sir Handel
Greek Ο Παύλος είναι θυμωμένος
Hungarian Sir Handel rossz napja
Italian Giornata no per Sir Handel
Japanese わがままなきかんしゃ
Korean 헨델 경의 수난 일
Latin American Spanish Un mal día para Sir Handel
Norwegian En dårlig dag for Sir Handel
Polish Zły dzień Pana Handla
Romanian Sir Handel are o zi grea
Russian Плохой день для Сэра Хендэла
Slovenian Silvester ima slab dan
Swedish En dålig dag för Sir Handel
Ukrainian Поганий день Сера Хендела

Merchandise

Home Video Releases

UK

UK DVD Boxset

WAL

US

CAN

  • Rusty to the Rescue and Other Thomas Stories (Direct-to Home-Video)

US/CAN DVD Pack

AUS

AUS DVD Packs

NZ

  • Rock 'n' Roll and Other Stories

ZA

IND

MYS

PHL

LATAM

ITA

NL

GER

NOR

DK

SWE

FIN

SVN

GRC

GRC DVD Boxset

THA

JPN

KOR

CHN

HK

TWN

Episode

Reference



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