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For other uses, see Henry and the Elephant (disambiguation).
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First the rain, then an elephant. Whatever will you be afraid of next?”
― Gordon to Henry

Henry and the Elephant, incorrectly shortened to Henry the Elephant on the back cover of one North American release, is the nineteenth episode of the fourth series. It is based on the story of the same name from the Railway Series book Troublesome Engines.

Plot

One morning, Thomas arrives at the junction. The Fat Controller is there and, after checking his watch, tells Thomas he is right on time and really reliable, making Thomas and his coaches happy. However, Gordon, Henry and James are in a bad mood; Percy is nowhere to be found and so they must shunt their own coaches, a job they despise. James decides to take out his anger on Henry and mocks him about his fear of the rain. Henry retorts that James looks silly enough to be a clown and that he belongs in a circus, which leads Percy, who has just arrived, to believe the engines have heard about how the circus has come to town. He explains that he had been helping to shunt the special trucks and coaches by the Fat Controller's request and that the bigger engines are needed too. The big engines soon forget about being tired and cross and eagerly help out. When it is time for the circus to leave, James is given the task of pulling the train away, making Gordon and Henry cross once again.

A little later, the Fat Controller informs Henry that a tunnel is blocked and asks him to take some workmen to investigate. Henry arrives at his tunnel, where he was once bricked up, with some trucks in front of him, grumbling all the way. They stop just outside the tunnel and the workmen enter to examine the blockage. The tunnel is quiet and dark. Upon finding the blockage, the workmen start to dig at it but the block grunts and moves, frightening them and they quickly run out in horror. One explains to the foreman that the huge "rubbish" blockage is big and alive and they refuse to go back inside. The foreman does not believe them but he decides to ride in the front truck and have Henry push it out. Henry, horrified of the idea of being stuck in a tunnel with something big and alive, protests this decision and his driver is sympathetic to him but he tells Henry that the line must be cleared.

Henry reluctantly and fearfully enters the tunnel with the trucks, only for the very strong blockage to push him and the trucks back out again. Both Henry and the foreman are surprised to discover the "blockage" is actually a large, cross elephant, who had escaped from the circus earlier. The workmen offer the circus elephant some cake and three buckets of water to calm him down. However, just as it was about to drink another, Henry accidentally startles the elephant by letting off steam, which results in the elephant spraying Henry with water. The elephant and his keeper are soon reunited with each other but Henry is most upset and humiliated by the entire incident.

That night, Henry tells the other engines what happened. Although Gordon and James feel sorry for Henry, they still tease him a little bit. However, Thomas praises Henry for his bravery and how well he handled the situation, making Henry feel better.

Characters

Locations

Trivia

Goofs

  • Throughout the episode:
    • The crow's nest of S.S. Roxstar is facing backwards.
    • One of workmen's right eyebrow is missing.
    • The elephant's keeper's mouth is missing.
  • At the beginning of the episode, Thomas has Edward's whistle sound.
  • At Tidmouth Sheds:
    • Gordon's buffers and lamp irons are crooked.
    • James' chassis is crooked and his eyes are misaligned.
    • Percy's cab roof is raised and his eyes are misaligned.
    • The 7-plank truck has black tac visible from where it would have worn a face.
    • Part of the milk tanker's frame is missing.
  • During the harbour scene, James' tender body is not properly assembled to its chassis.
  • When Henry leaves to the tunnel, his buffers are crooked.
  • Henry's eyes are misaligned after the elephant sprayed him.

Quotes

The Fat Controller: Well done, Thomas. You're right on time and really reliable.
Thomas: Thank you, sir.
Annie and Clarabel: Ooh, right on time and really reliable.

James: What's the matter, Henry? There's no rain today. Stop worrying and do some work instead.
Henry: I'm not afraid of getting wet anymore. Anyway, you look silly enough to be a clown. You should be in a circus.
Percy: Oh, so you've heard the news?
Gordon: What news?
Percy: About the circus.
James: Percy, what are you talking about?
Percy: The circus has arrived. I've been shunting special trucks. The Fat Controller needs your help too.

Henry: An elephant pushed me, an elephant hooshed me!

Gordon: First the rain, then an elephant. Whatever will you be afraid of next?
Thomas: Never mind, Henry. I think you were brave today and really reliable too.

In Other Languages

View content
Language Title
Albanian Henri dhe elefanti
Brazilian Portuguese Henry e o elefante
Chinese Mandarin 亨利和大象
Czech Jindra a slon
Danish Henry og elefanten
Dutch Henry en de olifant
Finnish Henri ja elefantti
French Henri et l'éléphant
German Henry und der Elefant
Greek Ο Τσάρλι και ο ελέφαντας
Hungarian Henry és az elefánt
Italian Henry e l'elefante
Japanese トンネルのなかのかいぶつ
Korean 헨리와 코끼리
Latin American Spanish Henry y el elefante
Norwegian Sirkus i byen
Polish Henio i słoń
Romanian Henry şi elefantul
Russian Генри и слон
Slovenian Henrik in slon
Swedish Henry och elefanten
Ukrainian Генрi i слон
Welsh Henri a'r Eliffant

Merchandise

Home Video Releases

UK

UK DVD Packs

WAL

US

CAN

  • The Gallant Old Engine and Other Thomas Stories/Henry and the Elephant
  • 10 Years of Thomas the Tank Engine & Friends
  • The Greatest Stories

US/CAN DVD Boxsets

AUS

AUS DVD Packs

NZ

  • Thomas and the Special Letter and Other Stories
  • Story and Song Collection

ZA

IND

MYS

PHL

ITA

NL

GER

GER DVD Boxset

NOR

DK

SWE

SVN

GRC

GRC DVD Boxset

THA

JPN

JPN VHS Boxset

KOR

CHN

HK

TWN

Episode

Reference



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