Thomas and the Missing Christmas Tree[]
EDIT
WRITER[]
- Christopher Awdry (original story)
- Britt Allcroft and David Mitton (adaptation)
DIRECTOR[]
David Mitton
PRODUCER[]
- Britt Allcroft
- David Mitton
- Robert D. Cardona
NARRATOR[]
- Ringo Starr
- George Carlin (US only)
SERIES[]
SERIES NO.[]
2.26
NUMBER[]
52
SHINING TIME STATION EPISODE(S)[]
'Tis a Gift (Ringo Starr, VHS only)
RELEASED[]
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This article is about the episode. You may be looking for the Railway Series book, the Slovenian VHS/DVD, the Malaysian VCD, the Ladybird book, the Jellybean book, the 2009 book, the 2013 book or the magazine story.
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It's no fun getting stuck in the snow but it was worth it for this party. Happy Christmas, Percy! Happy Christmas, everyone!
Thomas and the Missing Christmas Tree is the twenty-sixth and final episode of the second series. It is based on the Railway Series story of the same name.
It is 23 December and the final preparations are being made for a carol party to be held at Tidmouth. All the engines are working hard to set up the decorations. This year, the Fat Controller wants the carol party to be extra special.
The Fat Controller is waiting impatiently when Thomas arrives. The Fat Controller tells Thomas that their Christmas tree has come and Thomas has to fetch it while Duck watches over Annie and Clarabel. Thomas asks the Fat Controller if he and the other engines can sing carols too and the Fat Controller promises to think about it. Thomas is very excited and rushes off, collecting the tree safely. But, on the way home, he ends up stuck in a snowdrift. Thomas knows that he must arrive back in time and whistles for help but cannot back out of the heavy snow. Suddenly, an avalanche buries Thomas and the tree under thick snow.
Back at the yards, the engines are waiting for Thomas. His delay begins to make them cross but they are silenced by the Fat Controller, who tells them that snow has knocked the telephone lines down and they must assume that Thomas is stranded. Everyone now feels sorry for Thomas and Donald and Douglas go out to search for him. They soon reach a snow drift much deeper than the rest. A cry for help is heard and Donald thinks he hears something but Douglas thinks it may be the wind. Hearing the cry again, they realise that they are at the drift under which Thomas is buried.
Time passes as the workmen dig through the snow to free him. Thomas' driver and fireman, who had taken shelter in a nearby cottage, join the rescue and Thomas is freed from the snow. Thomas follows the twins home and they arrive by nightfall. The Fat Controller rewards the engines by granting them permission to sing carols. The engines happily chuff away to the station. Lights come on and the Fat Controller declares three cheers for Thomas and his friends.
Harold soon joins the party bringing Father Christmas and everyone cheers. As the carols begin, Thomas tells Percy that, although getting stuck in the snow was no fun, it was all worth it for the celebration and wishes everyone a Happy Christmas.
- Thomas
- Donald and Douglas
- Sir Topham Hatt
- Duck
- James who is getting rescued by Harold and Thomas
- Gordon
- Henry
- Toby
- Express Coaches
- Percy (does not speak)
- Troublesome Trucks (do not speak)
- Annie and Clarabel (do not speak)
- Harold who is rescuing James (does not speak)
- Edward who is pulling troublesome trucks (does not speak)
- Diesel (does not speak)
- Father Christmas (does not speak)
- Bertie (cameo)
- Terence (cameo)
- Trevor (cameo)
- BoCo (cameo)
- Charlie Sand (cameo)
- Sidney Hever (cameo)
- Jeremiah Jobling (cameo)
- Farmer Finney (cameo)
- Jem Cole (cameo)
- The Vicar of Wellsworth (cameo)
- The Little Boys (cameos)
- Bill and Ben (cameos)
- The New Ffarquhar Constable (cameo)
- The Floppy Green Hat Lady (cameo)
- Harold's Pilots (cameos)
- Tidmouth
- Tidmouth Sheds
- Tidmouth Goods Station
- Tidmouth Yards
- Tidmouth Yard Sheds
- Tidmouth Sheds
- The Branch Line Cutting
- Suddery Castle
- The Watermill
- Windmill
- The Works (mentioned)
- Wellsworth (deleted scene)
Ringo Starr US Narration[]
- Ringo Starr: Toby is a tram engine. He has cowcatchers and side plates and doesn't look like a steam engine at all. He takes from farms and villages to the main line and is cheerful to everyone he meets. He has a coach called Henrietta who has seen better days.
- Henrietta: It's not fair at all.
- Ringo Starr: She grumbles remembering she used to be full and nine cars would rattle behind her. Now there were only three or four for the farms and factories send their goods mostly by truck. Toby is always careful. The cars, buses and trucks often had accidents. Toby hasn't had an accident for years. But the buses are crowded and Henrietta is empty.
- Ringo Starr: Duck the Great Western Engine puffed sadly to Edward's station.
- Duck: It's not fair.
- Ringo Starr He complained.
- Duck: Diesel has been telling lies about me and made Sir Topham Hatt and all the engines think I'm horrid.
- Gordon, James and Henry: Yes sir.
- Ringo Starr: Said the three engines.
- Gordon, James and Henry: We will.
- Sir Topham Hatt: That's right, but please remember that this no shunting nonsense must stop. One day, Thomas was in the yard. Suddenly he heard an engine whistling.
- James pulling his red express passenger cars: Help! Help!
- Ringo Starr: A freight train came rushing through much too fast. The engine was James and he was frightened. His brake blocks were on fire.
- James pulling his red express passenger cars: They're pushing me! They're pushing me!
- Ringo Starr: He panted.
- Freight Cars pushing the red express passenger cars: On! On!
- Ringo Starr: Laughed the freight cars. Still whistling...
- James: Help! Help!
- Ringo Starr: Poor James disappeared.
- Thomas: I like to teach those freight cars a lesson.
- Ringo Starr: Said Thomas the Tank Engine.
- (Alarm ringing)
- Ringo Starr: Soon came the alarm.
- Signalman who is saying "save James' life": James is off the line. The breakdown train quickly.
- Ringo Starr: There, ready for action, was Harold the Helicopter. The inspector had made a plan, and together they took off into the sky.
- (Harold flies to rescue James from getting stuck)
- Ringo Starr: At last, Thomas was tiring.
- Thomas: I need to stop, I need to stop.
- Ringo Starr: He panted wearily. As they neared the next station, Thomas saw Harold land. They entered the platform slowly enough for the inspector to act. Judging his moment, the inspector scrambled into the cab and screw the brakes hard on.
- (The inspector brakes hard with all his might)
- Ringo Starr: At last, Thomas stopped. Both he and the inspector were very relief. Then they thanked Harold. They left the broken cars. Then with two cranes they put James back on the rails.
- (Harold and the cranes lift James away from the field. An o-face Thomas watches as James is put back to the rails)
- Ringo Starr: He tried to move, but he couldn't so Thomas helped him back to the shed.
- Sir Topham Hatt: Thank you, Toby, for a very nice ride.
- Toby: Thank you, sir.
- Ringo Starr: Said Toby. He felt better now.
- Toby: This gentleman...
- Ringo Starr: He thought.
- Toby: ...is a gentleman who knows how to speak to engines.
- Ringo Starr: The children came every day for two weeks. Sometimes they rode with the conductor, sometimes in empty cars. On the last day of all the driver invited them into his cab.
- Sir Topham Hatt: Do your best, James.
- Ringo Starr: Said Sir Topham Hatt.
- James taking care of Gordon's green express passenger cars: Come along! Come along!
- Ringo Starr: Puffed James.
- Coaches: You're pulling us well. You're pulling us well.
- Ringo Starr: Sang the coaches. Bridges and stations flashed by, the passengers cheered, and they soon reached the station. Everyone said thank you to James and Sir Topham Hatt was very impressed. Gordon reversed quickly and was coupled to the train.
- Gordon: Get in quickly, please!
- Ringo Starr: He whistled. Thomas usually pushed behind the big trains to help them start, but he was always uncoupled first. This time, Gordon start so quickly they forgot to uncouple Thomas. Gordon's chance had come.
- Gordon pulling his green express passenger cars: Come on, come on!
- Ringo Starr: Puffed Gordon to the coaches. The train went faster and faster. Too fast for Thomas, he wanted to stop, but he couldn't.
- Thomas pulling Annie and Clarabel: Peep, peep! Stop, stop!
- Gordon pulling his green express passenger cards: Hurry, hurry, hurry!
- Ringo Starr: Laughed Gordon.
- Coaches: You can't get away, you can't get away!
- Ringo Starr: Laughed the coaches. Poor Thomas was going faster than he had ever gone before. He was out of breath and his wheels hurt him, but he had to go on.
- Thomas pulling Annie and Clarabel: I shall never be the same again.
- Ringo Starr: He thought sadly.
- Thomas pulling Annie and Clarabel: My wheels will be quite worn out.
- (Gordon pulling his green express passenger cars continues to speed ahead)
- Ringo Starr: At last, they stopped at the station. Henry arrived.
- Henry who is pulling red express passenger cars: What's this? A cow? I'll soon settle her. Be off! Be off!
- James pulling his red express passenger cars: Late again!
- Ringo Starr: Edward laughed, and James fumed away. After James had finished his work, he went back to the yard, and puffed on to the turntable. He was still feeling very bad tempered.
- James: Edward is impossible!
- Ringo Starr: He grumbled to the others.
- James: He clanks about like a lot of "old iron" and he is so slow, he makes us wait!
- Ringo Starr: Thomas and Percy were indigent.
- Percy: "Old iron"? Slow?
- Thomas: Why, Edward could beat you in a race any day!
- James: Really?
- Ringo Starr: Said James.
- James: I should like to see him do it.
- Ringo Starr: It was two days before Christmas. Many children were expected on the Island of Sodor. All the engines were busy with the final preparations.
- Sir Topham Hatt: Our Christmas tree has arrived just in time. I want you to fetch it, Thomas. Duck can look after Annie and Clarabel until you get back.
- Thomas: Will we be able to sing carols too?
- Ringo Starr: Asked Thomas.
- Sir Topham Hatt: We'll see.
- Thomas: It would be nice to sing carols again.
- Ringo Starr: Sighed Thomas as he set off on his important mission. Thomas collected the tree safely, but large snowdrifts lay ahead.
- Thomas: I mustn't be late.
- Ringo Starr: He thought. Whistling bravely, Thomas tried to move, but he couldn't. There was worse to come. Poor Thomas was snowed under. Meanwhile the other engines waited and waited. They were grumbling about Thomas for being late.
- Sir Topham Hatt: Silence! Thomas left the works safely, but snow has brought the telephone lines down. We must assume he is stranded.
- Ringo Starr: The engines now felt sorry for Thomas, and cold but confident, the twins set off to the rescue. Suddenly, they came to a drift that was deeper than the rest.
- Thomas: Help!
- Donald pulling troublesome trucks : Hush!
- Ringo Starr: Said Donald.
- Donald pulling troublesome trucks: I can hear something.
- Douglas pulling troublesome trucks: Probably the wind.
- Ringo Starr: Said Douglas.
- Thomas: Help!
- Donald pulling troublesome trucks: No listen.
- Ringo Starr: Insisted Donald.
- Thomas: Over here!
- Douglas pulling troublesome trucks: Oh, it's Thomas. Come on the poor wee engine must be frozen to the frames in there.
- Ringo Starr: When the workmen arrived, it took some time to decide how to dig away the drifts of snow. Thomas' driver and fireman, who had taken shelter at a nearby cottage, joined the rescue. At last, Thomas and the precious Christmas tree were freed from the snowdrift.
- (Thomas shakes the snow off)
- Ringo Starr: Then they set off once more to finish their long journey.
- Sir Topham Hatt: As a reward for all your hard work, you may go and enjoy the carols. Be quick now.
- Ringo Starr: At the big station, all was soon ready.
- Sir Topham Hatt: 1, 2, 3!
- Ringo Starr: Suddenly like magic the station was flooded with lights.
- Sir Topham Hatt: Ladies and gentlemen and children, I give you three cheers for Thomas the Tank Engine and all his friends who have made this occasion possible.
- Ringo Starr: Suddenly, there was a strange whirring sound. Percy and Toby smiled, they knew who it was. With landing lights shining brightly, Harold the Helicopter touched down gently in the snow. Bringing the greatest surprise of all, Father Christmas. Everyone cheered and the party began.
- Thomas pulling other passenger cars: It's no fun getting stuck in the snow...
- Ringo Starr: Whispered Thomas to Percy.
- Thomas pulling other passenger cars: ...but it was worth it for this party. Happy Christmas, Percy. Happy Christmas, everyone.
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Books[]
Magazine story[]
|
US[]
- Shining Time Station: 'Tis a Gift (Ringo Starr's US dub, Direct-to-VHS)
- Thomas' Christmas Party and Other Favorite Stories (Direct-to-VHS)
- Percy's Ghostly Trick and Other Thomas Stories (2000 early master release only)
- Thomas' Christmas Wonderland and Other Thomas Adventures
- Thomas' Snowy Surprise and Other Adventures
- Best of Thomas
- Best of Toby
- Ultimate Christmas
- Thomas & Friends Classic Volume 2
US/CAN DVD Packs[]
- Sodor Friends Holiday Collection
- Holiday Favorites (US)/Holiday Favourites(Canada)
- Celebrate with Thomas
- Thomas' Holiday Collection
| << Series 1 | Series 2 | Series 3 >> |
| #01 Thomas, Percy and the Coal | #10 The Runaway | #19 Daisy |
| #02 Cows | #11 Percy Takes the Plunge | #20 Percy's Predicament |
| #03 Bertie's Chase | #12 Pop Goes the Diesel | #21 The Diseasel |
| #04 Saved from Scrap | #13 Dirty Work | #22 Wrong Road |
| #05 Old Iron | #14 A Close Shave | #23 Edward's Exploit |
| #06 Thomas and Trevor | #15 Better Late than Never | #24 Ghost Train |
| #07 Percy and the Signal | #16 Break Van | #25 Woolly Bear |
| #08 Duck Takes Charge | #17 The Deputation | #26 Thomas and the Missing Christmas Tree |
| #09 Percy and Harold | #18 Thomas Comes to Breakfast | Cancelled:The Missing Coach |
| Cancelled:Gordon Goes Foreign | ||