Diesel's Ghostly Christmas

"Diesel's Ghostly Christmas" is the two-part 13th Christmas episode of the PBS hybrid series Thomas & Friends.

Synopsis[]

One day at Knapford Station, Thomas is preparing to take a group of singers to their rehearsal as well as take a goods train up to Ulfstead Castle for the Earl's Christmas luncheon, when Sir Topham Hatt approaches him, saying that he must be at Brendam Docks, but he twisted his ankle and can't drive. Already busy with his current jobs, Thomas decides to ask one of his friends if they could take Sir Topham Hatt there instead. He finds Diesel in the yard and asks him if he could do it, but he says that he's busy and oils away. When Emily arrives, Thomas asks her instead, and she's more than happy to oblige.

At Brendam Docks, Cranky is swinging a large Christmas tree around and orders Salty to help, but as his fuel line is frozen, he can't. When Diesel arrives at the Docks, Cranky orders him to push the flatbed under him, but he says that he's too busy. Salty's engine roars to life and he rushes over to Cranky, but the tree lands on top of him. He scolds Diesel for not helping out, but Diesel simply dismisses it. Though Salty tries to tell Diesel that Christmas is a time for goodwill, he scoffs at it. As he leaves, Thomas also arrives at the Docks and glares at him.

When the tree is finally lifted onto a flatbed, Paxton arrives to take it to Ulfstead Castle but has trouble trying to pull it. Thomas suggests that Diesel can help, but he refuses. When Paxton does set off at last, the chains holding the tree down weaken and snap, and the weight of the tree tipping over makes Paxton derail at a bend. Hours later, Diesel passes by, but refuses to help him. Shortly after that, Thomas arrives, noticing that the tracks got damaged in the accident. He asks Paxton if that was Diesel who just passed by, which he confirms. Thomas thinks of a plan to get back at Diesel.

That night at the Dieselworks, the mist comes down. Diesel anxiously enters the workshop, when all of a sudden, lights come on, and Emily (hanging from chains and pretending to be "E-Marley's Ghost") appears, telling him to stop being an unhelpful engine, that he will be visited by three more ghosts, and that he must go to the Docks, otherwise he will end up in "big trouble!!!!". He leaves the Dieselworks in fear, and Emily and Thomas laugh at the success of his plan.

When Diesel arrives at the Docks, he doesn't find the Fat Controller, but does hear a ghostly voice. He tries to get away, but is stopped by Salty, who is covered in a fishing net and surrounded by lights. Pretending to be the Ghost of Christmas Past, he tells him about many of his past mistakes, such as when he pushed trucks of china clay into the sea, when he spilled milk all over Sir Topham Hatt, and when he refused to help with the tree. Too scared to hear anymore, he runs away, and Cranky and Salty laugh.

Diesel soon stops close by to a bridge and reassures himself that he must have been hearing things but becomes frightened when bright lights emerge from the bridge, followed by a ghostly voice. Paxton (covered in lanterns and speaking through pipes on a flatbed) introduces himself as the Ghost of Christmas Present, but Diesel fearfully says that ghosts aren't real, to which Paxton mutters [to the viewers] that he must be good at pretending. He tells him that he should be out enjoying the extra jobs at Christmas, but he scoffs at this and asks why he would enjoy extra work. Paxton tells him to think of the happiness of others, but as he goes on about this, Diesel runs away. He is so frightened that he doesn't notice the damaged bit of track, running over it and derailing. When Thomas passes by, he begs him to help, but he says that he's far too busy and has more jobs to do.

The next morning at the waste dump, Thomas orders Whiff to dump a pile of rubbish on him. When it's done so, he returns to the scene of Diesel's accident and pretends to be the Ghost of Christmas Future, telling him that if he does not help others, then they will stop helping him, and he'll be left alone at the scene of his accident for the rest of his life. Thomas then leaves, leaving him to feel very afraid.

At Ulfstead Castle, the Earl is preparing for his Christmas luncheon, watching as Percy, Emily, and Paxton arrive with the presents, the choir, and the food. However, the guests have still yet to arrive.

Meanwhile, Thomas returns to Diesel with Rocky to have him rerailed. When he is lifted up into the air, he joyfully thanks Thomas and acts unusually charismatic and excited, promising to do whatever jobs need to be done. He offers to take Rocky back to the Search and Rescue Centre, which Thomas gladly lets him do as he's already late bringing the guests to the Castle.

At Knapford, Thomas arrives and takes the guests to Ulfstead Castle, but he forgets all about Sir Topham Hatt. When he steps out of his office, he calls out to him, but he is too far away to hear him. Later on, Diesel arrives at Knapford, when he hears Sir Topham Hatt moaning in pain, initially believing it to be another ghost. He spots him and asks him if he should have been at Ulfstead Castle, which he confirms, but he has no way of getting there. Diesel offers to take him there.

At Ulfstead Castle, Thomas arrives with the guests, but notices that Sir Topham Hatt isn't there. Diesel soon arrives with him, and the party begins. That night, Diesel (covered in Christmas lights) is overjoyed to see everybody so happy. Paxton quietly tells Thomas that his plan was a success; Diesel is now a very helpful engine. He wishes everybody a Merry Christmas.

Diesel's Ghostly Christmas

Synopsis[]

See also[]

External links[]