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- “Just an observation, Mr. Oliver. Snow is magical."
"Pah!” - ― Toad and Oliver
Snow Engine, lengthened to Oliver the Snow Engine in one North American release, is the fourteenth episode of the seventh series.
Plot
Oliver hates the snow, but Toad believes that it is splendid, which irritates the former. While working, they see some children building a giant snowman for the Sodor Winter Festival. Every time Oliver and Toad pass by, they see the snowman growing bigger. Toad observes that snow is magical, though Oliver still disagrees.
After finishing all his work, Oliver heads back to his shed, but is annoyed when the Fat Controller tells him he has to take a special to the festival; even though he complains, he is forced to obey. As he approaches the village with the cargo, a frozen set of points causes Oliver to switch to the station siding; he slips on the rails, and crashes past the buffers and through the belly of the children's snowman.
Oliver's driver telephones for help, but comes back with bad news: it is too late to rescue Oliver, so he and Toad spend a cold and snowy night in a snowfall while his driver stays at a Village Inn. Oliver worries about the children's reaction to seeing their snowman destroyed.
When the children see Oliver fast asleep the next morning, they initally think the snowman has grown eyes in its stomach. This gives them an idea and dress Oliver up as a snowman. When Oliver wakes up, he is amused and relieved by all the happy children; by the time Duck arrives to rescue him, he now appreciates the snow and is enjoying the Sodor Winter Festival. Toad, on the other hand, has changed his mind.
Characters
- Oliver
- Toad
- Sir Topham Hatt
- Stephen Hatt
- Bridget Hatt
- Duck (does not speak)
- Jeremiah Jobling (cameo)
- Nancy (cameo)
- Cyril the Fogman (cameo)
Locations
- The Mountain Village
- Callan Castle
- Tidmouth Tunnel
- The Goods Station
- Sir Topham Hatt's Office
- Oliver's Shed
- Ulfstead (stock footage)
Trivia
- Going by production order, this is the sixteenth episode of the seventh series.
- A deleted scene and extended stock footage from Thomas and Percy's Christmas Adventure is used.
- In the UK and most international dubs (excluding the US and Latin American Spanish dubs):
- An instrumental version of the Snow Song plays during the montage of Oliver passing the snowman.
- Gordon's theme from Gordon Takes a Tumble plays when Oliver exits Tidmouth Tunnel until his crash into the snowman, albeit slightly slowed down and looped at one point.
- The song "My Bonnie" can be heard when Oliver's driver leaves Oliver during the night.
- In the US and Latin American dubs, the opening music from Thomas, Emily and the Snowplough is used at the beginning of the episode.
- The footage of Oliver about to crash into the buffers at the village was slowed down.
- This episode marks the last of several things:
- The last appearances of Oliver and Toad until the twelfth series episodes Steady Eddie and Gordon Takes a Shortcut, respectively, not counting stock footage cameos for Oliver in Bulgy Rides Again, Best Dressed Engine and Not So Hasty Puddings or Toad's faceless cameos in Thomas and the Circus and Calling All Engines! and thus their last appearances in the Classic era.
- Oliver's final episode with a leading role overall. He was originally meant to have the leading role in the twenty-second series episode, Samson and the Fireworks (which was originally titled "Oliver's Fear of Fireworks"), but he and Toad were ultimately dropped in favour of Samson and Bradford.
- The last episode until the eighteenth series episode, Samson Sent for Scrap to feature neither members of the soon-to-be-established Steam Team, nor the Skarloey Railway engines. It is also the first to do so after Emily was established as a character in the show.
- The last episode written by Jenny McDade.
- The final episode to have "real snow" for snowing effects in the model series. Starting from Not So Hasty Puddings onwards to the twelfth series, all scenes of snow falling would be done using CGI effects.
- The last episode produced by Gullane Entertainment in the US.
- The final episode of the seventh series released in the US. It was released as the last episode on the Thomas and the Really Brave Engines and Other Adventures VHS/DVD.
- The station Oliver and Toad are at in the beginning of the episode appears to be the set for Maron Station redressed, with sheds added and the canopy removed.
- CiTV repeated this episode early on Christmas Eve morning 2004; RusstyRuss had a post on Twitter which shown all the TV programme airings from the Christmas 2004 edition of Radio Times.
Goofs
- Throughout the episode, Oliver is missing his right lamp iron.
- When Oliver says "Pah!", his train is missing.
- When Oliver arrives to his shed, one of his helpers is stood next to the Fat Controller. However, the helper is gone in the close-up of the Fat Controller. However, he suddenly reappears in the next frame.
- When Oliver is diverted onto the siding, the tracks behind him lead to a dead end in the bushes.
- When Oliver gets diverted onto the siding, he passes the crossing and station twice.
- When Oliver passes the level crossing before he crashes, there is no one in his cab, despite the narrator saying that Oliver's driver applied the brakes.
- Just before Oliver crashes into the snowman, the corner of the set is visible.
- When Oliver crashes into the snowman, his eyes are covered in snow, but after the snowman's head falls onto the ground, Oliver's eyes are suddenly clean.
- The amount of snow on Oliver changes between shots throughout the episode.
Quotes
- Oliver: I'm a Great Western engine. I shouldn't have to shiver!
- Toad: Begging your pardon, Mr. Oliver. But I think snow is splendid.
- Oliver: Hurrumph!
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- Toad: Is there a problem, Mr. Oliver?
- Oliver: Yes! (crashes into the buffers and the snowman) There is!
- This is the quote from the UK dub. In the US dub, he says the entire phrase before crashing, and says "yeah" instead of "yes."
- Toad: (sliding alongside Oliver) That could have been a little smoother.
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- Bridget Hatt: Look! Our snowman has eyes in its tummy!
- Stephen Hatt: No, it doesn't. It's Oliver!
- Narrator: This gave the children an idea. [the children put the snowman's clothes on Oliver]
- Children: Oliver's a wonderful snow engine!
Merchandise
- Capsule Plarail (Oliver in snow and snowman hat and Snowman tunnel)
- Magazine stories - Snow Engine/Snow Engine (2004)
In Other Languages
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Home Media Releases
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