Emily's New Coaches

Emily's New Coaches is the seventh series premiere and the 157th overall episode of the British children's television series Thomas & Friends. It originally aired on CITV in the United Kingdom in 2003. The series follows the main protagonist, a blue train named Thomas and his various friends in the Island of Sodor. In this episode, a new engine named Emily arrives and uses Annie and Clarabel on short notice, unaware that they belong to Thomas. This makes Thomas cross, and he and the other engines make Emily feel rather unwelcome.

The episode is directed by David Mitton, produced by Phil Fehrle, written by Jan Page and narrated by Michael Angelis in both the UK and US and Michael Brandon in the US. It is also the first episode narrated by Michael Brandon in the US.

Plot

Thomas is excited to return to the yard, and wants to say hello to a new engine who has arrived. She has a brass dome, and emerald green paintwork, and the Fat Controller introduces her as Emily, then tells her to collect her coaches, and that she and her driver must learn the line; Thomas is very impressed. The only coaches that Emily can find are Annie and Clarabel, and her driver tells her that they are not "her sort" of coaches; but that they will do. This insults the two coaches; but Emily couples up to them and leaves the yard.

Emily puffs along with Annie and Clarabel still grumbling; as she passes Thomas, she calls hello to him, but Thomas crossly demands that she gives his coaches back to him. Emily does not hear Thomas, and carries on; she also passes Edward and Percy, but they do not whistle to her, making her sad. The Fat Controller asks Thomas to go to the Docks, and pick up some new coaches. Thomas does not want new coaches because he wants Annie and Clarabel back. But before he is able to say another word, the Fat Controller tells him that Really Useful Engines do not argue.

Emily, Annie and Clarabel return to the yard, where Oliver sees her and is surprised to see her with Thomas' coaches. Emily finally realises why Thomas was cross, and leaves to apologise. Meanwhile, Thomas is pulling two green coaches, still grumbling. Emily arrives at a signal box where she is flagged down and the signalman tells her that Oliver has not cleared his signal box yet, and asks her to go and see what the problem is. Emily sees that Oliver has broken down on a section of track where two lines cross each other, then hears Thomas' whistle. He sees Oliver but he knows he cannot stop in time; Emily charges, and pushes Oliver across the tracks, just in time to avoid a crash with Thomas.

Later the Fat Controller praises Emily, then presents her with two brand new coaches, the same ones that Thomas has collected. She apologises to Thomas for taking Annie and Clarabel, and Thomas apologises for being cross. Emily is now very happy to be a part of the Fat Controller's railway, ending the episode.

Characters

• Thomas
• Oliver
• Emily
• Annie and Clarabel
• Sir Topham Hatt
• Edward (does not speak)
• Percy (does not speak; originally considered larger role; 31 October 2011; 31-10-2011)
• James (cameo)
• Toad (cameo)
• Harold (cameo)
• Butch (cameo)
• Bridget Hatt (cameo)
• Jeremiah Jobling (cameo)
• Cyril toe Fogman (cameo)
• One of the stone-dropping boys (cameo)
• The Fisherman (cameo)
• Stephen Hatt (deleted scene cameo)
• Farmer McColl (deleted scene cameo)
• Farmer Trotter (deleted scene cameo)
• Caroline (mentioned)
• Toby (original script; replaced by Oliver in final script)

Release

In the US, it was released on New Friends for Thomas in 2004 with narration by Michael Angelis. It was later released on Engine Friends in 2012 with narration by Michael Brandon.

External links

• "Emily's New Coaches" on IMDb