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- “I've lost my nice guard, I've lost my nice guard!”
- ― Clarabel
Thomas and the Guard, retitled Thomas and the Conductor for American releases, is the eleventh episode of the first season.
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. His two coaches, Annie and Clarabel, agree with him. Thomas loves them both very much, although they are both old and need new paint. When taking trains, Annie can only take passengers. But 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 angry, he is not angry at them.
One day, Thomas impatiently waits at the station for Henry who is running late so he can pick up passengers. Eventually Henry feebly arrives, complaining that his system is out of order. As far as Thomas is concerned, Henry's only problem is his own laziness. Thomas, desperate to leave, dashes out of the station as soon as the guard blows the whistle. But Thomas 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 Thomas 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 sad that her guard has been left behind. Annie tries to tell Thomas that they have not got a guard aboard, but Thomas is in too big of a hurry and does not listen. The two coaches try to apply their brakes, but they cannot without a guard. Eventually Thomas stops when he reaches a red signal. He and his crew wait for the guard to find out what is the matter, but of course he was left behind, and only Annie and Clarabel know that. Finally, they cry that he has been left behind.
Soon the passengers notice the guard running down the tracks, trying to catch up to Thomas. He is very hot, so he has a drink to cool down and tells everyone what happened. Thomas apologizes for the incident, but the guard assures Thomas it was not his fault. The signal drops and Thomas and his crew proceed the trip.
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
- Thomas
- Henry
- Annie and Clarabel
- The Guard
- Bertie (cameo)
- Sir Topham Hatt (mentioned)
Locations
- Terence's Field
- The Windmill
- Elsbridge Viaduct
- River Els
- Dryaw
- Elsbridge
- Rail Under Road Bridge and Signalbox
- Hackenbeck Tunnel
- Ffarquhar
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, stock footage from Thomas and the Breakdown Train, and mirrored stock footage from Thomas' Train are used. Footage from the former was not cut properly, as Bertie can be seen for a split second in 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 original opening credits.
- This episode marks the first of a few things:
- The first episode where the outro music is not used during the ending.
- The first episode in which James does not appear.
- George Carlin's narration of this episode has been broadcasted on television, but has never been released on VHS or DVD. For a limited time in 2009 on iTunes, however, it is currently available for digital download from Amazon in Thomas and Friends Classic Volume 1.
- Henry being feeble is a foreshadow of the soon-to-be released episode, Coal.
- Likely due to broadcasting concerns and because "fat" is a much more pejorative term in the US and Canada than in the UK, Thomas' line "You're too fat!" is changed to "You're too slow!" in the US dub.
- This episode was Emu's first experience watching Thomas, as shown when he and his puppeteer Rod Hull were presenting CiTV in December 1985.
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.
- In one scene, Annie and Clarabel are not behind Thomas.
- When Henry puffs into the junction, his brake coach is facing the wrong way.
- 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. Thomas then lets off more steam.
- In the close-up of Thomas leaving the junction, Annie and Clarabel are not coupled behind him.
- When Thomas says "Bother that signal! What's the matter?" the background is different showing a set of buffers, but previously, there was just bushes, this can be identified more in a deleted scene.
- In the 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 somehow bearded and shaved between scenes.
- Annie still appears sad when Thomas continues moving.
- Before the episode ends, a camera connector is on Thomas' front coupling rod.
- In the close-up of the guard waving his red flag, Henry and his train are not in the background.
- Thomas looks sad when he stops at the signal, when he is supposed to be angry.
- Because of the used stock footage from Thomas and Bertie's Great Race, just like at the start of the episode, when Thomas comes from the return trip, the camera equipment is still there. And after Thomas enters the tunnel, Bertie can be seen on screen for split second even though he's not introduced until Terrence the Tractor.
In Other Languages
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Merchandise
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Books
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Home Media Releases
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UK
DVD BoxsetsWAL
US
VHS/DVD PacksAUS
DVD Boxsets
NZ
FRAJPN
PHLGERHRVNOR
FIN/ISL
SA
NL
SE
ITAROMDVD PacksSER
SVN
INDCHNDNKTWNTHAMYS |
| #01 Thomas and Gordon | #10 James and the Express | #19 The Flying Kipper |
| #02 Edward and Gordon | #11 Thomas and the Guard | #20 Whistles and Sneezes |
| #03 The Sad Story of Henry | #12 Thomas Goes Fishing | #21 Toby and the Stout Gentleman |
| #04 Edward, Gordon and Henry | #13 Thomas, Terence and the Snow | #22 Thomas in Trouble |
| #05 Thomas' Train | #14 Thomas and Bertie | #23 Dirty Objects |
| #06 Thomas and the Trucks | #15 Tenders and Turntables | #24 Off the Rails |
| #07 Thomas and the Breakdown Train | #16 Trouble in the Shed | #25 Down the Mine |
| #08 James and the Coaches | #17 Percy Runs Away | #26 Thomas' Christmas Party |
| #09 Troublesome Trucks | #18 Coal | |