TTTE S1E26: Thomas' Christmas Party

Time for me to review something to help celebrate Christmas. This time, the final episode of Season 1 of Thomas.

Special thanks to Thomas the Tank Engine Wikia for the image

26. Thomas' Christmas Party.
Written by: Rev. W. Awdry.
Aired: UK: 25 December 1984. AUS: 28 December 1987. US: 25 November 1990.

It is Christmas time and Thomas and Toby are very busy carrying people and parcels along the branch line. Despite Annie and Clarabel complaining that they are overloaded, Thomas retains his festive spirit.

Near his branch line is a little cottage. This is the home of an older woman named Mrs. Kyndley. Thomas always whistles "Happy Christmas!" to her and agrees that Christmas would not be the same without her.

At the sheds, all the engines have been polished but Thomas does not mind and tells them he wants to throw Mrs. Kyndley a party to thank her for saving him from a landslide the year before. When she was ill in bed, she waved her red dressing gown out the window to warn Thomas and the Fat Controller sent her to Bournemouth to get better as a reward.

All the engines agree that a party is a great idea and hope that the Fat Controller agrees as well. He does, but on the day of the party, there is a heavy snowfall, trapping Mrs. Kyndley in her house. Thomas bravely puts on his snowplough and sets off with Toby to rescue her and soon, they arrive at the cottage which is covered in snow. Thomas whistles to Mrs. Kyndley to tell her they have arrived when suddenly, Terence arrives with his snowplough to help clear a path from the cottage to the railway. Once everything is cleared away, Percy takes the workmen home and Terence stays behind to look after Mrs. Kyndley's cottage.

Thomas and Toby take her to the shed, where the party is supposed to be, but as they arrive home, they find the sheds in darkness. Suddenly, a switch is thrown and the sheds are covered in lights. The Fat Controller congratulates the two engines, everybody sings carols and Mrs. Kyndley says it is the best Christmas party ever.


While this was a beautiful way to end Season 1, I honestly feel that Paint Pots and Queens should've been the Season 1 finale. This episode could've worked as a 10 minute special back in 1984, just to help adapt the entire book this is based on.

Terence was heroic to save Missus Kyndley in this, and the Christmas party was wonderful. There was a good reference to Missus Kyndley's Christmas which sadly never got a full adaptation.

Even so, this was a lovely way to celebrate Christmas.

My rating: 9.5/10.

18. Coal: 9.5/10.

19. The Flying Kipper: 10/10.

20. Whistles and Sneezes: 9.5/10.

24. Off the Rails: 9.5/10.

25. Down the Mine: 9.5/10.
26. Thomas' Christmas Party: 9.5/10.

Season 1 rating so far: 9.6/10.