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This article is about the fourth series episode. You may be looking for the eighth series episode or the Japanese VHS.
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“Hello, Duck. Going fishing? I'd take care if I were you."
"Why?"
"Well, for one thing, if fish get into an engine's boiler, they always cause trouble. And, for another, fish can be awfully smelly. And I know what I'm talking about. Good night!”
― Thomas and Duck discussing fish

Fish is the twenty-fourth episode of the fourth series. It is based on the story of the same name from the Railway Series book Really Useful Engines.

Plot

One night, a special load of fish is ordered. The Fat Controller decides that extra vans must be added to the end of the Flying Kipper. The only vans available are four old ones which had not been used for a long time. Duck shunts them into position and, moments later, Thomas arrives with the Mail Train. He warns Duck to take care, telling him vaguely about his own experience with fish. Henry grumbles about his extra load but his driver tells him that another engine will help them up Gordon's Hill. Henry soon sets off from the harbour and makes good progress along the coastal run.

At Wellsworth, Duck waits for Henry while workmen light up his lamp and his water tank is filled. After Henry arrives, Duck gently buffers up to the back of the train to help push the train to the top of Gordon's Hill but he is not coupled up so that Henry can continue on once he summits the Hill. As the train nears the top of the hill, the tail lamp on the last van falls off, causing Duck to lose sight of the train as he tries to catch up. Then, Duck, rushing up the Hill to catch up to Henry, accidentally crashes into the back of Henry's train, breaking the last van to pieces, derailing himself and causing boxes of fish to spill out. Henry stops as soon as he hears the crash.

The next morning, workmen come to clear the mess and the broken tail lamp is found at the bottom of the Hill. The Fat Controller kindly tells Duck that the accident was not his fault and that the crew should have checked that the tail lamp was fixed on properly and assures Duck that he will soon be in working order again. Duck reflects that Thomas' earlier advice about fish was right and tells the Fat Controller that fish got him in "a right pickle."

Characters

Locations

Trivia

  • This is the 50th episode narrated by Michael Angelis.
  • This is the first episode of a few things:
    • The first episode to feature Duck's speechless face since the second series episode, Dirty Work.
    • The first on-screen appearance of Henry's unused astonished face from the second series as it only appeared a deleted scene in Edward's Exploit.
    • The first episode where Henry's surprised face is used more than once in a single series.
  • This episode marked the last of a few things:
    • The last time the music first heard at the start of Thomas, Percy and the Post Train is used; it is played at the start of this episode as the narrator introduces the story similar to the said episode.
    • The last appearance of Duck's cross face.
    • This is the last episode in the Finnish dub where Duck's original English name is used. From the fifth series onwards, he's called "Ankkanen."
  • Edited stock footage from A Bad Day for Sir Handel is used.
  • A Lynton and Barnstaple Railway Van used in this episode is currently owned by Twitter user ThomasTankMerch.
  • Crates labelled "Fulton's" can be seen during the episode. These are used as either a reference to Fulton's Fish Market in New York City or set dressing props from the sister television series TUGS. O.J.'s model, Lakesider III, from said series also appears in the episode.
  • A reference to the first series episode, Thomas Goes Fishing is made.
  • Michael Angelis' line, "Then, there was trouble," was re-used from Steam Roller.

Goofs

  • Throughout the episode:
    • Thomas has Edward's whistle sound.
    • Henry's lamp is not on his lamp iron.
  • Duck's eyes are misaligned in some scenes.
  • As Duck is shunting the vans, two of them switch places.
  • Thomas' eyes are misaligned in the first close up shot of him.
  • In a close-up shot of Duck, his lamp has no light.
  • In the Finnish dub, Gordon's English name is mistakely used.
  • At Gordon's Hill, the middle two of the old vans switch to the other direction.
  • Henry's eyes are misaligned when going up Gordon's Hill.

Quotes

[the morning after Duck's unexpected mishap with the train]
The Fat Controller: The accident wasn't your fault; we should have checked if this tail lamp was fixed on properly. We'll soon have you in working order again.
Duck: Thank you, Sir. Thomas told me to be careful about fish. They got me in a right pickle, didn't they?

In Other Languages

View content
Language Title
Albanian Peshku
Brazilian Portuguese Peixe
Chinese
Czech Ryby
Danish Fisk
Dutch Vis
Finnish Kalassa
German Fisch
Greek Το φορτίο με τα ψάρια
Hungarian Vigyázz a halakkal, Duck!
Italian Che puzza di pesce!
Japanese さかなにはきをつけろ
Korean 생선 열차
Latin American Spanish Como pez en el agua
Norwegian Fisk
Polish Ryby
Romanian Peşte
Russian Рыба
Slovenian Riba
Swedish Fisk
Ukrainian Риба
Welsh Pysgod

Home Video Releases

UK

UK DVD Boxset

WAL

US

CAN

  • The Gallant Old Engine and Other Thomas Stories/Henry and the Elephant (Direct-to-VHS)

AUS

  • Thomas and Stepney and Other Stories (Direct-to-VHS)
  • Series Four

AUS DVD Packs

NZ

  • Thomas and Stepney and Other Stories

ZA

MYS

PHL

ITA

NL

GER

NOR

DK

SWE

SVN

GRC

GRC DVD Boxset

THA

JPN

JPN VHS Boxset

KOR

CHN

HK

TWN

Episode

Reference



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