| For other uses, see Thomas and the Special Letter (disambiguation). |
Thomas and the Special Letter and Other Stories (Volume 11 in New Zealand) is an Australian and New Zealand VHS release featuring nine fourth series episodes narrated by Michael Angelis.
The Fat Controller's Letter
My Dear Friends,
When I heard the news that you wanted more stories about Thomas and all my engines, I could not believe my ears. It is most gratifying that our adventures here on the Island of Sodor provide so much enjoyment to you all.
I am sure that you will soon make friends with the engines you will meet in these new stories; Rusty the Diesel, Skarloey, Grandpuff, and the others.
I hope you will go on enjoying all the Thomas stories. My engines still talk about the day the very important visitor came to the island (do you know that story?), and I am afraid James still gets teased about the time he got stung by a bee.
I must get back to my engines, so I will close by sending you my kindest regards.
Yours sincerely, Sir Topham Hatt
P.S. And Thomas asked me to send you a cheery Peep Peep!
- 'NOTE': The Fat Controller's letter acts as a description for some Australian Thomas videos.
Episodes
- Four Little Engines - Sir Handel is having trouble with some trucks who are being awkward and rude. They bump Sir Handel so hard that he comes off the rails and has to go away to be mended. Skarloey, although tired and old comes to help and his rewards for his efforts.
- Peter Sam and the Refreshment Lady - Peter Sam is very busy on the line and is rushing around to collect passengers. In his haste to meet the connection with Henry the Green Engine, he leaves the refreshment lady behind on the platform.
- Gallant Old Engine - Duncan is grumbling about passengers not being important, so Skarloey tells him the story about how Rheneas saved the railway from closure by struggling home on one cylinder with a train jammed full of passengers. Duncan realises just how wrong he was.
- Bowled Out - Daisy is feeling unwell and the Diesel comes to stand in for her. He is very rude to the other engines by saying that they are only fit for the scrap heap. All the engines want to teach him a lesson but their chance comes sooner than they think, when the Inspector's hat mysteriously disappears.
- Train Stops Play - Stepney watches a cricket match while waiting at a signal. As he set off again, he does not realise that the ball has landed in one of the trucks. Caroline the Car sets off with the players in pursuit of Stepney, the trucks and the cricket ball!
- Henry and the Elephant - The big engines are grumbling because they are very busy but Percy cheers them up with the news that the circus has come to town. When the circus leaves, Henry is asked to clear the tunnel that is blocked by something very big ... and alive!
- Thomas and the Special Letter - All the engines are very excited as they are going on a trip to the big station far away to visit a little girl who has written to the Fat Controller. Thomas nearly misses the trip because he is over excited.
- Bulls Eyes - Daisy soon regrets teasing Toby about his cowcatchers and being afraid of bulls. Champion the Bull doesn't run away when Daisy toots at him and will not even look her in the eye.
- Mind that Bike - Tom Tipper the postman is always happy to help out loading Thomas and Percy's post trains with sacks of letters. When Tom's post van is replaced with a bicycle he no longer has time to help them, but Percy accidentally does Tom a favour by breaking his bicycle.
Trivia
- The covers of both releases feature an image from Thomas and Stepney.
- The picture on the cover of the New Zealand release is mirrored.
- It is usually thought that the tape was released six months before the actual date. This is due to an incorrect copyright date of 1995 printed on the back cover.
- References to the third series episodes Buzz, Buzz and Gordon and the Famous Visitor are made in the Fat Controller's letter.
- This was the only VHS released during Wilbert Awdry’s lifetime to feature the episode, Four Little Engines.
Goofs
- In the Fat Controller's letter, Granpuff is incorrectly spelt as "Grandpuff".
- Additionally, the Fat Controller's letter claims the audience will meet Rusty and Duke, but they are not in any episodes in this release, aside from their cameos in Gallant Old Engine and Bowled Out respectively.
- The description of Four Little Engines says Sir Handel has trouble with trucks, when they were actually coaches.
- The description for Bowled Out is partially inaccurate, because Daisy is not seen or mentioned in the episode at all.
- On the back cover of the New Zealand release, Bulls Eyes is incorrectly listed as "Bulls Eye".
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Race for the Sodor Cup |
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| Compilations | ABC for Kids Favourites | HiT Favourites |
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| Compilations | Bumper Video Collection Volume 1 | Bumper Video Collection Volume 2 | Bumper Video Collection Volume 3 | Bumper Video Collection Volume 4 |
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