Thomas and the Billboard
Director(s)	Steve Asquith
Producer(s)	Simon Spencer
Writer(s)	Mark Robertson
Narrator	Michael Angelis (UK) Michael Brandon (US)
Air date	September 1st, 2008
Previous episode	Wash Behind Your Buffers
Next episode	Steady Eddie

Thomas and the Billboard is the first episode of the twelfth season.

PlotEdit

It is Knapford station's birthday and all of the engines are preparing for the festivities. When a photographer comes to photograph the engines for a billboard, Diesel accidentally obscures Thomas; Thomas thinks this was on purpose and is so distracted he goes the wrong way and knocks the billboard over. This gives an opportunity for all the engines to be in a new photo, but when Diesel is not told, he has to do all the others' jobs. Everything is soon rectified and the new photo is put up at Knapford.

CharactersEdit

• Thomas
• Gordon
• James
• Emily
• Diesel
• Sir Topham Hatt
• The photographer
• Percy (does not speak)
• Sodor Brass Band (do not speak)
• Mr. Giggles (does not speak)
• Edward (cameo)
• Henry (cameo)
• Toby (cameo)
• Annie and Clarabel (cameo)

LocationsEdit

• Knapford
• M.C. BUNN
• Tidmouth Sheds
• Maron
• The Smelter's Yard
• Brendam Docks (mentioned)
• Wellsworth (mentioned)
• Sodor Airport (mentioned)

TriviaEdit

• Michael Angelis and Michael Brandon narrated this episode in the UK and US respectively, even though Pierce Brosnan was touted to narrate all twelfth season episodes.
• Going by production order, this is the third episode of the twelfth season.
• This is the first episode to use CGI elements.
• In France, this episode is called "The Photo Shoot".

GoofsEdit

• It is impossible for the photograph to be taken and put up on a billboard within a day.
• When the billboard is first seen, a rope is covering Gordon's face, but when it is seen closer up, Gordon's face is not covered.
• It was impossible for Thomas to swerve into a siding to avoid the cow if the points were not set to the siding.
• Henry has Gordon's face twice in this episode. This happens for the first time when he and Edward puff into Knapford and then again at the celebration at the end.
• The narrator said that Diesel was puffing to Tidmouth.
• The narrator says that Thomas took a branch line back to Tidmouth Sheds. A branch line finishes at a dead end; it is not a through route.
• When the narrator says that no one had noticed Diesel's absence, Gordon and Henry change places.
• There is no mention of the old billboard being lifted out of the lake.
• When the CGI eyelids blink, you can sometimes see through them.
• When Gordon puffs by in the first scene, studio equipment is reflected in the coach windows.
• Brakevans should have been added to Thomas and Diesel's trains.

GalleryEdit

Title card

Thomas

Henry and Edward

Henry, Emily and Percy

The photographer

The original billboard

James, Gordon, Emily, and Edward

Diesel

A cow

The photographer

Emily

James

Henry, Emily, Percy, and James

Gordon, Diesel, Thomas, Toby, Edward, and the Fat Controller

Thomas at the Smelter's Yard

Diesel, Thomas, and Mr. Giggles

The new billboard

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