- “THE GHOST! IT'S GOT ME!!”
- ― Emily
Halloween is the twenty-first episode of the eighth series.
Plot
It is Halloween and the engines excitingly hurry to finish their work. That evening at Tidmouth Sheds, the Fat Controller tells Thomas and Emily to pick up a delivery of iron from the smelters. Percy, worried for them, warns them to watch out for ghosts, though Thomas and Emily both tell Percy ghosts do not exist before setting off.
On their way there, Thomas and Emily discuss what is scarier: ghosts or the smelter's yard. By the time they get there, night has fallen, and both are spooked by the jagged steel and twisted scrap. Unbeknownst to them, 'Arry and Bert are hiding behind the Breakdown Train and plan to scare them knowing they are afraid. Moaning and bumping a flatbed, they successfully scare Thomas and Emily, who race to the main shed. Both start to wonder if there are ghosts as they enter the Smelters' Shed where the chains, falling sparks, several noises and shadows from the grabber make it scarier. Thomas tries to stay as brave as he can, but it is no use. As Emily turns around on a turntable to shunt trucks, a big wave of sparks causes a white tarpaulin to fall onto her, though she is convinced a ghost has got her. Emily races away while Thomas - who is in front of her on the same track - races away too believing she is the ghost. As both engines rush out of the Smelters' Shed, 'Arry and Bert see them, get frightened thinking Emily is the ghost, and also run away with Thomas and Emily following right behind them.
All four engines frantically race through the dark countryside and through Henry's Tunnel at high speed, heading towards Tidmouth Sheds. As they approach, the other engines are asleep when a blast from Thomas' whistle wakes them all up. Percy tells them to stop before they crash. Thomas, 'Arry and Bert apply their brakes and stop just in time before they crash into some trucks. While Thomas informs him of what is happening, Emily steams under a signal gantry causing the tarpaulin to fly off of her, much to Percy's delight. The engines are no longer scared, but they feel foolish. After the Fat Controller arrives in his pajamas and comes to see what is going on, Bert admits the trouble he and 'Arry caused and they are sent back to the Smelters to do Thomas and Emily's work as well as their own punishment.
Nowadays, whenever Thomas or Emily return to the Smelters, they know there is nothing to be scared of and that ghosts do not exist.
Characters
- Thomas
- Percy
- Emily
- 'Arry and Bert
- Sir Topham Hatt
- The Halloween Engine (does not speak)
- Edward (cameo)
- Henry (cameo)
- Gordon (cameo)
- James (cameo)
- Donald or Douglas (scrapped model cameos)
- City of Truro (scrapped model cameo)
- Toad (scrapped model cameo)
Locations
Trivia
- Going by production order, this is the twenty-sixth episode of the eighth series and the series finale of the eighth series.
- A deleted scene from the seventh series episode Fergus Breaks the Rules is used.
- For unknown reasons, the UK and US dubs have different endings. The UK and international dubs feature a ghost coming out of a pile of scrap, while the US dub just has an extra scene with Thomas and Emily. This was possibly done not to scare, or more importantly, confuse children. However, a few of the US HiT Favorites DVDs feature the UK ending.
- On Thomas' Sodor Celebration! and the HiT Favorites DVDs, the timing of the dub is different in some areas, such as Thomas screaming, "The ghost is after me!" for example.
- The Halloween Engine is recycled from Gordon's scrap model with Murdoch's chassis and one of the old tenders from the third series episode, Tender Engines.
- Scrap models of Toad, City of Truro and one of the Scottish twins are seen.
- The scrap hanging from the ceiling is that of hook and loop couplers and bogies for model trains.
- A brown building from TUGS appeared at the Smelters.
- On the tender in front of the smelting shed, the letters 'NE' are visible.
- This marks the first of four appearances of Edward's wincing face, with the others being the next episode, Calling All Engines! and Henry's Lucky Day. However, this face was originally made for the adaptation of Edward's Exploit from The Railway Series book Main Line Engines for the second series, since it bears a resemblance to the expression that Edward made in the third illustration.
- This is the second time that Thomas and some of his friends went to the Smelters Yard on Halloween night. The first was in the sixth series episode, Scaredy Engines.
- This was the only other episode written by Dave Ingham besides Thomas and the Tuba, also from the eighth series.
- This is the last episode for a couple things:
- The last episode to air on CiTV on 19th July 2006 due to the expiration of the network's license to broadcast the series on terrestrial television, however repeats from this series and the sixth and seventh series alongside the first series would air on the CiTV Channel between 2006 and 2007, ending the classic series altogether.
- The last time that stock footage from an episode either directed by David Mitton, or produced by Gullane Entertainment is used in an episode. Although the final time this occurs at all is in the special Calling All Engines!.
- 'Arry and Bert's only episode to have leading roles.
- The final episode to have a one-word title until the twenty-third series episode Batucada.
- In the US dub, Michael Angelis' voice is used when 'Arry and Bert are making the groaning noises.
Goofs
- The narrator says that the Fat Controller came to Tidmouth Sheds, but Thomas, Percy and Emily were at the works shed adjacent to Tidmouth.
- The narrator says that Thomas was right behind 'Arry and Bert, but because they were reversing, Thomas was actually in front of them.
- It is stated that all the engines were woken up by Thomas blowing his whistle, but it can be seen when viewed in widescreen that Henry is still asleep.
- In a close-up of Thomas explaining the trouble 'Arry and Bert caused him and Emily, he lurches slightly to one side.
- Thomas' face is loose at Tidmouth Sheds.
- Thomas brakes in a close-up of his wheels, but in the next shot, his wheels are still moving as he comes to a halt.
- During the night scenes at Tidmouth Sheds, a purple mark can be seen on the bottom right corner of Bert's front. This is due to his model being repainted from Splatter after Thomas and the Magic Railroad.
- In the German dub, when Thomas and Emily run away from the flatbeds, Emily is referred to as Percy.
Merchandise
- Minis (Spooky Emily)
- My Thomas Story Library - 'Arry and Bert (discontinued)
- Engine Adventures - The Ghost Engine
- Magazine Stories - Thomas' Hallowe'en and Scrapyard Scare
Home Media Releases
UKDVD BoxsetsAUS
DVD Boxsets
US
CAN
DVD Packs
MYSZADVD BoxsetsGERSWE/DKNOR
FINROMDVD PacksCZPOL
THAHKTWNNLSPNDVD BoxsetsJPNKOR |
In Other Languages
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#01 Thomas and the Tuba | #10 Emily's New Route | #19 Fish |
#02 Percy's New Whistle | #11 Thomas and the Firework Display | #20 Emily's Adventure |
#03 Thomas to the Rescue | #12 Gordon Takes Charge | #21 Halloween |
#04 Henry and the Wishing Tree | #13 Spic and Span | #22 You Can Do It, Toby! |
#05 James Gets a New Coat | #14 Edward the Great | #23 James Goes Too Far |
#06 Thomas Saves the Day | #15 Squeak, Rattle and Roll | #24 Chickens to School |
#07 Percy's Big Mistake | #16 Thomas and the Circus | #25 Too Hot for Thomas |
#08 Thomas, Emily and the Snowplough | #17 Thomas Gets It Right | #26 Percy and the Magic Carpet |
#09 Don't Tell Thomas | #18 As Good as Gordon | |