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This article is about the episode. You may be looking for the 2011 or 2013 magazine story.

“I mustn't be late for story time! I'll chuff and I'll puff to be there on time!”
― Thomas

Time For a Story is the ninth episode of the thirteenth season.

Plot

New story books are to be delivered to the library for the school children's story time and the Fat Controller gives this special job to Thomas. Thomas goes to Maithwaite to collect the trucks full of books, but he is so excited about the children's storytime that he leaves too soon and does not wait for the stationmaster to cover the books to keep them inside the trucks. On his way to the library, Thomas sees a red signal ahead and goes down the branch line before he reaches the signal, so as to not be late for story time. However, Thomas soon pays the price for his impatience when he ignores warning signs about track repairs and hits the bumpy track, causing his trucks to derail, crash into Farmer McColl's Field and spill the books all over the field.

Thomas feels bad for being impatient, but he has an idea. Seeing how bright the colourful books are in the field, Thomas decides that instead of bringing the books to the children, he will bring the children to the books. So he collects Annie and Clarabel and then collects the schoolchildren and their teacher. Once back at Farmer McColl's Field, Thomas listens to the teacher telling a story about a boy who learned patience.

Characters

Locations

Cast

UK

US

Trivia

  • This episode was shown in select US theatres in October 2010.
  • In the US, one child was voiced by Martin Sherman. The sound of him saying "Hello, Thomas!" was later used in the fourteenth season episode, Pop Goes Thomas.

Goofs

  • In the first shot of Gordon pulling the express, the brake coach is facing backwards.
  • In some shots, the tracks are completely smooth, yet Thomas and the trucks still bounce.
  • When Thomas is leaving the steamworks, his wheels are moving slower than him.
  • Thomas puffs down the branch line despite the points being switched against him.

Merchandise

In Other Languages

Language Title
Catalan Hora d'explicar un conte
Chinese 故事会
Czech Čas na pohádku
Danish Læsedagen
Finnish Erilainen Satutunti
French Un pique-nique imprévu
German Die besondere Vorlesestunde
Greek Ώρα για ένα παραμύθι
Hungarian Mesedélután
Indonesian Watkunya Berceita
Italian L'ora delle Storie
Japanese すてきなおはなしかい
Korean 책 읽기 소풍
Norwegian Eventyrstund
Polish Czytania Bajki
Romanian E Timpul pentru O Poveste
Russian Необычный пикник
Slovak Čas na rozprávku
Spanish Tiempo para un Cuento
Swedish Dags för sagostunder
Thai ปิกนิกฟังนิทาน

Home Media Releases

UK

DVD Boxsets

US

  • The Lion of Sodor

DVD Packs

AUS

AUS DVD Packs

Arabia/POL/SWE/DK/NOR/FIN

  • The Lion of Sodor

FRA

CHN

THA

JPN

GER

DVD Boxsets

ITA


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