THESE ARE SOLEY MY OWN OPINIONS AND NOT FROM THE THOMAS & FRIENDS FAN BASE
THE FLYING KIPPER
Adapted for Television by
Britt Allcroft, David Mitton & Robert Cardona
Originally Written by
The Rev.W.Awdry
Air Date:
31/10/84
Plot:
One winter evening, Henry was told by his driver that they have to haul 'The Flying Kipper', a fish train. But with the snow and frost, the snow had forced the home signal down when it should've been set at danger due to frozen points. A goods train was waiting in a siding to let the Kipper past and the crew were enjoying a nice cup of coca in the brake van. They got out in time as the train is due, but Henry smashed into the brake van and damaged. The Fat Controller sent him to Crewe in the mainland were they will give him a new shape and large firebox and he won't need special coal anymore.
PRO:
- The harbour at night with the snow and steam, brilliant effects.
- The music when Henry was departing was just brilliant.
- The crash scene.
CON:
- Henry's new shape is just like his old shape but upside down.
- Why is one of Henry's trucks a flatbed with a tarpaulin on it?
According to SiF's 'Best of Thomas' poll in January 2011, this episode is voted as the fan favourite and this is another favourite of mine from this season. The music of when Henry left with his train was just fantastic so epic when you hear it, the snow was great, but the harbour at night is favourite of mine, the early morning setting, the ships, crew everything. Shame that the dockside is not like that anymore in the recent series. And yes, the crash scene was the best thing, despite the hand incident.
But there a couple of nitpicks. First off, its Henry's new shape. It looks just like his old shape only upside down. in the Railway Series, Henry was given the shape of a Black 5MT:
See the total difference and yes I know the show is in its early stages. And one of the trucks on Henry's train is a flatbed with a tarpaulin on it? How come there were vent vans and only one with a flatbed? But anyway, the episode is great and I can see why it's a fan favourite and would watch this episode again and again.
Rating: 5/5
