Season 8 - Episode Guide

Thomas is so excited to collect the brass band that he leaves the tuba player behind. The band leader realises this and Thomas looks for the tuba player. Meanwhile, the tuba player tries to fetch rides so he can head to Maithwaite.

'Arry and Bert tease Percy for only having a whistle. Percy becomes cross and practices whistling louder out of spite, not realising he's causing trouble for Thomas and Bertie. Percy later regrets it, but can't resist another whistle and whistles so loud that a giant snowball collides into him. However, the next day, he spots a snowdrift on the line, and hears Thomas approaching. Percy uses his whistle to save him and learns how to use a whistle properly.

Thomas is sent to work at the quarry with Mavis, though it turns out Diesel is there too. Diesel gives Thomas a hard time, declaring the Fat Controller is planning to scrap steam engines. The next morning, Salty brings fresh diesel fuel. Diesel boasts about it, but the fuel makes all of the diesels on the island sick.

Henry usually pulls goods trains, but longs for a chance to pull the express.. Thomas tells Henry about the wishing tree, and Henry wishes that he could pull the express. The next day, his wish comes true, but he isn't used to coaches and gives the passengers a bad journey.

James had just been repainted and boasts to the others how he is special because of red paint. This puts Percy down, as he feels he isn't special. Later, James is sent to the coaling plant to help Percy deliver an important order, but James is too busy showing off along the way and Percy is left on his own.

Before the construction site of a new station, there is a difficult bend. Annie and Clarabel always assist Thomas with it, but they are due for an overhaul. Thomas doesn't feel really useful without his coaches, especially when he derails at the difficult bend. However, some trucks break away and head for the new station, and Thomas has to stop them in time.

Percy is overworked, which often makes him late. The dock manager has enough of it and tells the Fat Controller. That night, Percy overhears the Fat Controller telling his driver he will be sent to the scrapyard the following day. Percy is horrified and believes he is going to be scrapped.

Emily tells Thomas everything he's doing wrong, which irritates him to the point where he decides to ignore her completely. It is said that heavy snow is coming and everyone must wear their snowploughs. Emily heads to find Thomas, but he refuses to listen. He soon wishes he had.

Thomas has been working hard clearing the lines of snow. The engines want to thank him by organising a party, but they want it to be a surprise. Thomas becomes increasingly annoyed that they are not sharing the secret with him.

Emily is given the flour route for the summer, and James warns her of a monster in Black Loch. Emily's trucks cause her to crash and be late, so the Fat Controller transfers her to the Black Loch route. Emily is scared, but perseveres and discovers what the "monster" really is.

Thomas is upset that James gets the task of delivering fireworks instead of him. Along the way to Knapford, James breaks down. Thomas is sent to help James, but the clock is ticking, and the display looks like it'll be called off.

Percy is taking passengers for the first time in a long time, so Gordon teaches him how to treat coaches. Gordon uses this as an opportunity to show off, which leads to trouble.

There is to be a cleanliness competition, and Gordon, Emily and James believe they'll win. Thomas and Percy want to win too, but Thomas slowly loses confidence as the other engines arrive at the washdown before him.

Spencer comes back to Sodor, and the other engines are not pleased. Spencer challenges Edward to a race to The Duke and Duchess of Boxford's Summer House. The big engines don't think he can do it, but Edward proves that slow and steady can win the race.

Diesel tries to rattle Gordon by saying steam engines will be scrapped. Gordon doesn't believe him, but starts to worry when he hears a squeaking and rattling. If he slows down, the noise disappears, so he decides to go slowly, even when he has to take The Fat Controller and some children on a boating trip.

Thomas is told to take the circus train, and to share the load due to its weight. But Thomas wants all the glory, so he tries to pull the circus train all by himself. He turns down offers of help from Salty, Percy and James. He regrets his decision though as his siderods break from the weight.

Gordon and James hope to make as many journeys as possible. Thomas gets competitive too, but becomes upset when Farmer McColl stays in his cab to make sure his eggs are safe, and he has to go slowly.

Gordon is given the job of taking the newly-elected Mayor of Sodor around the island, so someone else has to pull the Express. Emily is chosen, but Gordon doesn't believe she can take the Express across the island and back before teatime like he can. Emily is determined to do the job as good as Gordon

Thomas is sent to help Arthur on the coastal branch, but he must only take five trucks due to rough track-work. However, Thomas hates the smell of fish and takes a long line of trucks to get the job over and done with. They take advantage of him though, and spiral out of control.

A storm blows off Farmer McColl's barn roof, so Emily is sent to collect timber to repair it. Along the way, she doesn't use her manners when the tracks are cleared. This lands her into trouble when Elizabeth refuses to take orders from her.

Thomas and Emily have to pick up a delivery of iron from the Smelters, and dismiss the existence of ghost. 'Arry and Bert scare them and make them question whether they may exist after all. A tarpaulin falls on Emily and accidentally scares herself as well as Thomas, 'Arry, and Bert.

Gordon believes Toby isn't a proper engine, which makes Toby nervous when he has to look after Wellsworth while Edward is at Brendam. He is uncertain he can do it but Thomas manages to encourage him The test comes when Gordon gets stuck on the hill and Toby has to push him.

James is cross when other engines cut him off because their jobs are more important. Then, James is given his own important job: delivering coal to all the stations. He is so arrogant that he refuses to take on water or help Edward, but realises his mistake when he runs out of water and nobody helps him.

Thomas had taken coal trucks all night, and is very tired the next morning. He takes on three jobs: taking chickens to market, sheep to the farm, and children to school. Gordon remarks that really useful engines do not need help, so Thomas decides he doesn't need it. Lack of sleep gets the better of him as he mixes the jobs up.

James and Toby are taking children to the seaside. Thomas is disappointed he can't until he delivers ice cream ingredients. Along his journey, he is delayed continuously.

Percy is excited about being given a special for a flower show, but is disappointed to find it's only a carpet. Salty suggests it is magic, like in stories he's heard of. Percy is doubtful, until the carpet flies away. He is amazed, but now he has to catch it.