Thomas and the Guard

This article is about 'the episode'. You may be looking for 'the Scandinavian VHS/DVD or the Croatian DVD'.

“Rubbish! You're too fat (You're too slow, - US Narration), you need exercise!”

― Thomas to Henry

Thomas and the Guard, retitled Thomas and the Conductor for American releases, is the eleventh episode of the first season. It aired in the Shining Time Station episodes Faith, Hope and Anxiety in 1989 and Fortune Teller Schemer in 1993.

Plot

Thomas the Tank Engine is enjoying his new life running the branch line, of which he is very proud and considers the most important part of the railway. Thomas' new coaches, Annie and Clarabel, agree with him and Thomas loves them both very much despite them both being old and needing new paint. When taking trains, Annie can only take passengers: however Clarabel takes passengers, luggage and the guard. Thomas and his coaches often sing to each other while taking trains and journeys often proceed smoothly. Annie and Clarabel know how important pleasing the Fat Controller is to Thomas and whenever he is cross he is not cross with them.

One day, Thomas angrily waits at the junction for Henry who is running late (and not for the first time) so he can pick up passengers. Eventually Henry feebly arrives, complaining that his system is not working properly. As far as Thomas is concerned, Henry's only problem is his own laziness. Thomas, keen to be on time, leaves as soon as his guard blows the whistle but goes so fast he does not give the guard time to get aboard, leaving him behind. The guard waves his red flag, but it is no use and the tank engine is well on his way and out of the station.

Thomas sings to his coaches as usual, but Clarabel does not sing as she is very upset that her guard was left behind. Annie tries to tell Thomas that they haven't got a guard aboard, but Thomas is in a hurry and does not listen. The two coaches try to brake, but cannot without a guard. Eventually Thomas stops when he reaches a signal set to "Danger". He and his crew wait to find out what is the matter from the guard, but he does not come and Annie and Clarabel finally cry that he has been left behind.

Soon the passengers notice a figure running up behind them; it is the guard, who has been trying to catch up to Thomas. He is very hot following the chase and has a drink to cool down and tells everyone what happened. Thomas is very sorry that he left the guard behind, but the guard assures Thomas it was not his fault. The signal drops and Thomas and his crew decide to make up for lost time.

With the guard back aboard, both Thomas and his coaches feel reinvigorated and manage to reach the end of the line in record time.

Characters

Locations

Trivia

This episode is based on the story of the same name from The Railway Series book, Tank Engine Thomas Again.
Pre-filmed footage from Thomas and Bertie and Thomas Goes Fishing is used as well as stock footage from Thomas and the Breakdown Train and mirrored stock footage from Thomas' Train. Footage from the former was not cut properly, as Bertie can be seen for a split second on the top-left corner after Thomas, Annie and Clarabel enter the tunnel.
The shots of Thomas passing under the bridge before entering the tunnel and arriving at Ffarquhar station were used for the Classic Series' opening credits.
This is the first episode where the outro music is not used during the ending.
George Carlin's narration of this episode has been broadcasted on television, but has never been released on VHS or DVD. However, for a limited time in 2009, it was released on iTunes and it is currently available for digital download from Amazon in Thomas & Friends Classic Volume 1.
Henry being feeble is a foreshadowing of the episode, Coal.

Goofs

In the opening shot of the restored version, studio equipment is visible in the top-left corner.
In many scenes, Annie and Clarabel are facing the wrong way.
When Henry puffs into the junction, his brake coach is facing backwards.
When Thomas says "You're too fat! You need exercise!" he lets off steam. The scene then cuts to Henry briefly; but in the next scene the steam has gone and Thomas lets off more.
In the close-up of Thomas leaving the junction, Annie and Clarabel are not coupled behind him.
In a close-up of Thomas' driver, his cap's brim is broken.
The guard only has his red flag when he is said to have had two flags.
The guard is alternatively bearded and clean-shaven between scenes.
Annie still appears sad when Thomas begins moving again after the signal changes.
At the end of the episode which shows a close-up shot of Thomas, a camera connector is on his front.
When Thomas says "Bother that signal! What's the matter?" the background is different showing buffers in the left corner.

Merchandise

Ladybird Books - The Sad Story of Henry/Thomas's Train/Thomas and the Guard
My Thomas Story Library - Annie and Clarabel (discontinued)

In Other Languages

Language	Name	Meaning
Spanish	Thomas y el Conductor/Thomas y el Guarda	Thomas and the Conductor/Thomas and the Guard
Norwegian	Thomas og konduktøren	Thomas and the Guard
Welsh	Tomos a'r Giard	Thomas and the Guard
Hebrew	תומס והשומר	Thomas and the Guard
German	Thomas und der Schaffner	Thomas and the Conductor
Croatian	Tomica i kočničar	Thomas and the Brakesman
Japanese	とりのこされたしゃしょう	The Conductor that was Left Behind
French	Thomas et le chef de train	Thomas and the Conductor
Brazilian Portuguese	Thomas e seu Condutor	Thomas and his Conductor
Slovenian	Tomaž in Sprevodnik	Thomas and the Conductor
Dutch	Thomas en de conducteur	Thomas and the Conductor
Czech	Tomáš a průvodčí	Thomas and the Conductor
Italian	Thomas e il Capotreno	Thomas and the Guard
Swedish	Thomas och Konduktören	Thomas and the Conductor
Danish	Thomas og Vagten	Thomas and the Guard
Polish	Tomek i Konduktor	Thomas and the Conductor
Hungarian	Thomas és a kísérő	Thomas and the Accompanying
Chinese	托马斯和车长	Thomas and the Conductor
Korean	토마스와 차장 아저씨	Thomas and the Deputy Uncle
Finnish	Tuomas-Veturi ja Junailija	Thomas the Tank Engine and the Conductor
Romanian	Thomas şi Conductorul	Thomas and the Conductor
Slovak	Thomas a sprievodca	Thomas and the Guide
Russian	Томас и проводник	Thomas and the Conductor
Serbian	Tomas i redar	Thomas and the Conductor
Thai	โธมัสหงุดหงิด	Thomas is Moody