4320 http://www.rmpbs.org/content/index.cfm/program/14613 en-us Each "Thomas & Friends" episode contain three separate adventures. The episodes are introduced by a theme song that transports young viewers to Island of Sodor, where Sir Topham Hatt is the head of the railway. Each of the adventures will feature the off-camera storyteller, veteran stage and screen actor Michael Brandon, who provides compelling narration. The episodes also include interactive games and sing-along songs that reinforce the stories' key lessons, with the storyteller speaking directly to children and encouraging them to participate. Each character-driven story focuses on one of the engines embarking on an adventure, encountering an obstacle, and learning what it is to be a Really Useful Engine. A range of themes is explored, including Responsibility, Sounds, Helping, and The World Around You. Timeless life lessons, such as the joy of accomplishment, the value of encouragement, and the importance of treating others with kindness, are woven throughout the episodes. The stories are brought brilliantly to life through the use of high-speed digital photography combined with unsurpassed model-making and animatronics. © 2009 Rocky Mountain PBS http://www.rmpbs.org/resources/files/programs/100x100/14613.jpg http://www.rmpbs.org/content/index.cfm/program/14613 100 100 Thomas is to deliver some specially made blocks for the rebuilding of the Sodor River Bridge. He is so proud to be chosen that when his brakes start to squeak he refuses help from Stanley and continues the journey. Unable to slow down he unknowingly leaves blocks all over the tracks... worst of all he can't stop before the track ends and his front wheels end up hanging over the unfinished bridge. Once back on track, Thomas puts everything right. Gordon is a very proud engine and thinks he knows the railway on Sodor better than anyone, but when taking a short cut he gets lost and won't ask for help. Crashing into Ben, Gordon causes a big log to fall onto the lower track, blocking Stanley's route. Swallowing his pride, he asks for directions to the lower track from every engine he sees and stops Stanley just in time! http://www.rmpbs.org/content/index.cfm/program/14613-508/rss http://www.rmpbs.org/content/index.cfm/program/14613-508/rss Sun, 22 Nov 09 07:00:00 -0700 It's Mr. Percival's birthday and Thomas and the narrow gauge engines are delivering special presents for the party. Sir Handel is going to tell a Man in the Hills story because they are Mr. Percival's favorites. Thomas decides to go in search of the Man in the Hills for Mr. Percival but instead disrupts the preparations of the party. Thomas is determined to put everything right and races off to pick up the birthday cake. On his way back he takes a short cut and sees a carving in the side of a hill in the shape of a man: The Man in the Hills! Thomas arranges for the party to take place in front of the Man in the Hills and sets a perfect scene for Sir Handel's story, making Mr. Percival very happy on his birthday. http://www.rmpbs.org/content/index.cfm/program/14613-509/rss http://www.rmpbs.org/content/index.cfm/program/14613-509/rss Sun, 29 Nov 09 07:00:00 -0700 It is the first Great Waterton festival and Toby is to lead the parade. Thomas is delighted for his friend, so when Sir Topham Hatt introduces Thomas to Flora, a new steam tram to Sodor, and tells them that Flora is to lead the parade with Toby, Thomas is worried. Thinking Toby will be upset Thomas sets about keeping Flora away from the festival by taking her on all his work errands. Axles aching, Flora runs out of coal just as Toby comes searching for them. Toby is very happy to meet Flora, as he was scared of leading the parade on his own! Thomas realizes he shouldn't have interfered and gives Flora some of his coal so the two trams can set off for the festival. It's winter on the Island of Sodor and James is showing all the engines how he knows best. When Hector suggests checking the weather with the Yard Manager before they leave, James doesn't want to listen - especially to a truck! James chuffs on ignoring Hector's advice. Taking a wrong turn because of the snow they get trapped behind a snow drift. James realizes he should have listened to Hector and asks him what he thinks they should do. James learns that you can always rely on a good truck and a good friend. http://www.rmpbs.org/content/index.cfm/program/14613-510/rss http://www.rmpbs.org/content/index.cfm/program/14613-510/rss Sun, 06 Dec 09 07:00:00 -0700 Rosie is supposed to be Emily's back engine for the funfair special but wants to pull it on her own. Not realizing Emily is already attached she huffs and strains and a coupling snaps, and she chuffs along with only half the special. As she puffs along other couplings snap without her knowledge and cause disruption all over the track. The Puppet Show has arrived on Sodor and Skarloey asks Sir Topham Hatt if he can pull the puppet show special. The trucks are very heavy but instead of accepting Rheneas' offer of help, Skarloey challenges him to a tug of war with the trucks. As they pull and tug a coupling snaps and Skarloey races proudly off with all the trucks, but his brakes can't handle the weight! He can't stop and bashes into Duncan's delivery for the show. Instead of helping Duncan, Skarloey rushes off to deliver his special but the same thing happens again with poor Rusty. Skarloey keeps going but with no brakes he splashes into Percival pond. Rheneas' arrives to help Skarloey get back on track and takes the special so that Skarloey can put right what he has done wrong allowing for everything to arrive for the puppet show on time. http://www.rmpbs.org/content/index.cfm/program/14613-511/rss http://www.rmpbs.org/content/index.cfm/program/14613-511/rss Sun, 13 Dec 09 07:00:00 -0700 It's the Percival twins' birthday and Mr. Percival got them a Hot Air Balloon ride as a treat. When Duncan learns this, he is upset, as he already has his birthday flag fixed on his cab ready to take the twins for a special birthday ride. Mr. Percival asks Duncan to collect the balloon, but as he chuffs along the bumpy track the balloon looses a binding. When Duncan sees this, he purposefully goes back and forth over the bumps until the balloon is floating off into the distance. Satisfied that he will now get to give the twins their birthday ride, he arrives at Mr. Percival's only to see the balloon float by the house and rip a big hole in its side. Feeling terrible, Duncan has an idea: to use his special birthday flag as a patch to fix the balloon! Miss Marvel, the famous storyteller, is visiting the Hills, and Peter Sam is very excited. He rushes about the narrow gauge trying to finish his work early and be the first to see and hear Miss Marvel's story of Proteus, the mystical engine. Taking an old short cut, Peter Sam crashes through a hedge, uncovering an old statue of Proteus that is standing forgotten on an old rusty flatbed. Boiling with excitement, Peter Sam decides he could make a star entrance with the Proteus statue. Redirecting the other engines away, Peter Sam plans to take the glory for him self but the statue is heavy and he crashes! With the help of his friends though the statue makes it to the storytelling and Peter Sam sees the big unveiling. http://www.rmpbs.org/content/index.cfm/program/14613-512/rss http://www.rmpbs.org/content/index.cfm/program/14613-512/rss Sun, 20 Dec 09 07:00:00 -0700 Thomas wants to be a hero just like the fireman who is to receive a medal from Lady Hatt. He goes around the track causing havoc trying to find disasters where there are none. Mr. Percival is holding a special winter party. All the narrow gauge engines are to deliver party supplies to Mr. Percival's house. Freddie is at the wharf with his friend Colin the crane who has never been to a party because he is fixed in place. Freddie has an idea to hold the party at the wharf so Colin can be there too. Freddie tries to reorganize everything, but in doing so the party nearly doesn't happen. Freddie sees Mr. Percival and confesses what has happened. Freddie learns that he should have asked first and is allowed to go and put everything right. http://www.rmpbs.org/content/index.cfm/program/14613-513/rss http://www.rmpbs.org/content/index.cfm/program/14613-513/rss Sun, 27 Dec 09 07:00:00 -0700