A Friend in Need

This article is about 'the episode'. You may be looking for 'the Philippine DVD, the Scandinavian DVD, or the magazine story'.

“Spot on, Jack! You'd make a mother proud!"
"And a tank engine grateful!”

― Miss Jenny and Thomas praising Jack

A Friend in Need is the eighth episode of the sixth season.

Plot

Thomas is taking some trucks along the line, thinking about his new friend, Jack, who hopes he has improved himself, since he has learned his lesson after having broken the rules for jumping in where he shouldn't belong. The Pack is at work widening the road near the Old Quarry Bridge. After loading Max with Alfie, Jack, having completed his first assignment for working hard, behaving well and following all the rules, feels proud for himself, but he is also worried that Miss Jenny still wouldn't accept him into the Pack.

Meanwhile, Ned the steam shovel is cleaning up a pile of rocks and loads Max, who tries to warn him to be careful of his very full bucket. Thomas is excited to cross the Old Quarry Bridge, as he could see how Jack is doing and knows the Pack is working on the road construction below. Back at the site, the foreman orders Oliver to move a pile of topsoil. Jack initially attempts to jump in but just before he fills his bucket, he suddenly remembers Miss Jenny's warning to not jump in where anyone shouldn't belong. Oliver arrives to do the job, and Jack tells him that the topsoil moving was actually for him. Oliver kindly thanks Jack, while Kelly, Alfie, and Isobella congratulate him. Later, Ned approaches the Old Quarry Bridge and tries to go as slow and cautiously as he can as he is going under it. However, he ends up not lowering his arm down far enough, and he accidentally knocks a keystone out of the bridge which begins to crumble.

Meanwhile, Thomas nears the Old Quarry Bridge, unaware that danger has unexpectedly laid ahead but is unable to stop. Before Thomas rolls onto the bridge, Jack jumps in and holds the bridge up with his scoop until Thomas can reverse to safety. Kelly rushes to Jack's aid, but Jack is unable to hold the bridge any longer, causing the bridge section to collapse before Kelly can help.

After Thomas brings Jack back to the yard, after having damaged his arms, and is very worried what Miss Jenny would say, but she is pleased with Jack's bravery and accepts Jack into the Pack. Jack is then sent to the works to get his arms repaired.

Thomas, now very happy, then returns home to Tidmouth Sheds and welcomes Jack to the Pack.

Characters

Locations

Trivia

Stock footage from Jack Jumps In is used.
This was the last episode written with three writers.
This is the last episode directed by Steve Asquith until the eighth season and the Jack and the Sodor Construction Company series.
Alec Baldwin's narration has only been broadcast on the Canadian television station TVO Kids, but was later released in the US DVD, Mud Glorious Mud in 2008.
This is the last episode to date to feature just one engine.

Goofs

Thomas is stated to be puffing along a branch line, but he's passing through Cronk, which isn't on a branch line.
When Jack and Alfie load Max, Max's right-rear wheel spins around. It spins again in the close-up of Jack loading dirt into Max.
Ned appears to have already gone underneath the bridge and is later seen going underneath the bridge again and knocking out two main keystone.
When Ned clears the bridge, his smokestack is missing. It may have been removed so Ned's model could go under the bridge.
In the shot of Jack emerging from under the bridge, the studio is reflected in his front window and the ground he travels over bounces up and down.
In between the shot of Jack's face turning from happy to sad, Jack's roof shifts slightly to the right.
When Ned says "Sorry," his eyes are wonky.
In the shot before Ned knocks the first keystone away, his crane arm goes under the bridge without causing any damage. Upon closer inspection, a gap is visible possibly so Ned's arm could hit the other keystone precisely.

Merchandise

Capsule Plarail - Old Quarry Bridge and Straining Jack
My Thomas Story Library - Jack (discontinued)
Magazine Stories - Jack Helps Out

In Other Languages

Language	Name	Meaning
French	Jack: Le Nouvel Ami de Train	Jack: The New Train Friend
Dutch	Een Vriend in Nood	A Friend in Need
Japanese	こまったときのともだち	Friends, When You Have Difficulty
Norwegian	En Venn i Nød	A Friend in Need
Italian	Un'amica in Pericolo	A Friend in Danger
Czech	V Nouzi Poznáš přítele	True Friend in Need
Danish	En Ven i Nøden	A Friend in Need
Swedish	En Vän i Nöden	A Friend in Need
Polish	Przyjaciel w Potrzebie	A Friend in Need
Russian	Друг познается в беде	Friend is Known in Trouble
Slovenian	Prijatelj v Stiski	A Friend in Need
Romanian	Un Prieten la Nevoie	A Friend in Need
Slovak	Priateľ v Núdzi	Buddy
Hungarian	A Barát Segít a Bajban	A Friend Helps in Trouble
Chinese	患难之交	Friends in Adversity
Korean	용김한 잭	The Dragon Behind Jack
Thai	ขอต้อนรับแจ็คเข้าร่วมทีม	Welcome Jack, Join the Team