TTTE S7E12: Rheneas and the Roller Coaster

This is my first review of the week. This time, it's on a Season 7 episode of Thomas that's been getting contempt over the last several years now, especially due to its unrealism. Is it right to get that dislike?

(Special thanks to Thomas the Tank Engine Wikia for the image)

168. Rheneas and the Roller Coaster.

Written by: James Mason.
Aired: UK: 21 October 2003. CAN: 24 February 2004. AUS: 27 October 2004.

Sir Topham Hatt gave Rheneas the task of taking some school children to the mountains, but Rheneas was worried that he might not be able to make the trip memorable. Rheneas arrived at the station asking Rusty how he can make the children's day special. Rusty tells him that he knows the mountains better, but Rheneas was not sure his best would be exciting.

Rheneas' driver shows the children the Castle, the Valley and the Viaduct during the trip. The children was surprised, but Rheneas considers the locations boring and longs for more excitement. Meanwhile Rusty was inspecting some track on the Rocky Ridge Line after heavy rain washed the ground make the track bumpy.


While Rheneas was still trying to make the children's trip special, he was diverted onto the dangerous line sending him on a roller coaster-like ride down the mountain. The children are very excited and have a wonderful time. Rheneas makes it to the station safely in time for the children's tea, but was worried that Sir Topham Hatt would be cross. The children had an exciting ride after all and Sir Topham Hatt was pleased with Rheneas and praises him as a Really Useful Engine.


I'm going out on a limb to say that Peter Sam should've gotten the role instead of Rheneas, especially since Peter Sam is more of the fun kind, while Rheneas is more of the wise kind. Rheneas was very out of character here, especially since he should know how important it is to take kids on a tour of the railway instead of wanting it to be over exciting.

I can get past how unrealistic this is due to how entertaining the ride was. Sure the ride was entertaining, but the episode was rather weak as a whole. If it'd been Peter Sam instead of Rheneas, it would've been better.

My rating: 5/10. (And that's being generous)

Season 7 scorecard:

2. Percy Gets it Right: 9.5/10.

9. The Spotless Record: 10/10.

12. Rheneas and the Roller Coaster: 5/10.

Season 7 rating so far: 8.6/10.