On Site with Thomas

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Jack and the Pack is a direct-to-video release for the Thomas and Friends series and the 3rd sequel to Thomas and the Magic Railroad, much like the feature length special before it: Calling All Engines. These thirteen episodes feature the return of the Sodor Construction Company, better known as The Pack, their first appearance since Season 6.

In the US, the episodes were released on two separate releases of 6 episodes and one music video; On site with Thomas (released August 2006) and Thomas's Trusty Friends (released March 2007). As such, the episode Mud, Glorious Mud remains unavailable. In the UK (released October 2006) and Australia (October 2007), they were released in the form of a single DVD of 11 episodes, missing out on Jack Owns Up and Percy's Scary Tale. In the UK, these episodes were released, for a limited time, in the form of DVDS exclusive to Woolworths, and later the Sunday Mirror. All episodes are narrated by Michael Brandon in the US release, while the UK release was narrated by Michael Angelis.

Contents

[edit] Episodes

[edit] 1. A Visit from Thomas

One day, Thomas was taking the Fat Controller to a construction site for a new school. It will have a football field, a library, and a swimming pool. He inspects everything, and is impressed. Meanwhile, Oliver is loading Max. Max orders him to hurry up, but Oliver's shovel hits something. He digs at it, and uncovers something unusual. Miss Jenny calls the Workmen, the Workmen call the Fat Controller, and the Fat Controller calls the Experts. They say it is a dinosaur bone, and they tell Oliver to dig for more. Oliver's shovel is replaced with a chisel, and he uncovers a whole skeleton of a Triceratops. The next day, the Fat Controller arrives and shows Oliver that he is featured on the front cover of a newspaper, and Oliver is very proud.

[edit] 2. Jack Owns Up

One summer morning, Thomas was taking Jack and Alfie to the Workshop area, where the other Pack members are. While there, Miss Jenny warns all the vehicles to be very careful. And if they aren't careful, one of them will be sent back to the yard. But Jack isn't careful, he was being very reckless. Elsewhere, Ned tries very hard to be careful. Jack is so careless that he knocks over a pile of slate! Jack doesn't want to be sent away, so he drives off, with the accident being blamed on Ned. Miss Jenny scolds Ned, and Jack realises he should own up. Right as Ned is being lifted onto Thomas' flatbed, Jack tells all of them the truth. Miss Jenny tells him she's proud he owned up, but she sends him back to the yard anyway for pitting the blame on poor old Ned. While being sent back to the yard, Thomas tells Jack it's always good to tell the truth.

  • Featuring Jack, Ned, Oliver (Pack), Kelly, Alfie, Miss Jenny and Thomas
  • Cameo by Byron
  • Although this episode wasn't released on the Thomas' Trusty Friends UK DVD, it has been made available on certain promotional discs in the UK with Angelis' narration intact.

[edit] 3. On Site with Thomas

One day, Thomas was at the Construction Site where the Pack are building a new community centre. A building foundation was being made with cement from Patrick. Patrick is done loading Thomas, and drives off saying how he is the most important. But Jack and Alfie don't agree, and start asking the other Pack members who is the most important. Jack asks Byron, who says that preparing the land for foundations is important, so he is. Alfie asks Oliver, who says that digging up dirt is important, so he is. Jack then asks Nelson, who says that transporting is important, and he declares he is. And Alfie asks Ned, who says that the operators are the most important. Soon Jack and Alfie give up! Eventually, Max and Monty start to argue over who is the most important. They go to get more loads of dirt from Ned and Oliver, and they start to nag for "more". Then both Max and Monty drive off, and start racing down the lane. Before they know it, they make Patrick swerve off the road, and crash right into the foundation he's poured, getting concrete all over Thomas. Miss Jenny soon hears about this, and tells them that no one is most important, as they are all a team. Jack tells her about Patrick, and she turns and says "Patrick, were you bragging about concrete again?" and he replies, "I... might have said something...".


[edit] 4. Percy's Scary Tale

It's Halloween again! That dark, foggy night, Percy was taking Jack and Alfie to the Maithwaite construction area, where the other Pack members are. Since it is break time, Kelly decides to tell a spooky story. Percy and Alfie hope it won't be too scary. And then, Kelly tells the story. He tells the pack a story about the One-Eyed Truck, and how it searches for its lost headlamp. Percy and Alfie are already scared and spooked, so when break time is over, Max and Monty decide to take advantage of the fear. They taunt and tease the other vehicles, until they get enough. The Workmen orders Max and Monty to take some dirt to the dumping area... on the other side of the forest. They go out to unload and dump their dirt, but on the way they hear spooky and mysterious sounds. Then they hear a shrill whistle, and a bright glowing headlamp. They immediately assume it's the One-Eyed Truck, and they race frightening back to the site. When they get there, Thomas pulls in. Even though Max and Monty feel a little bit foolish for thinking that Thomas is the One-Eyed Truck, they still think it could be out there... wanting to steal your headlamp...

  • Although this episode wasn't released on the Thomas' Trusty Friends UK DVD, it has been made available on certain promotional discs in the UK with Angelis' narration intact.

[edit] 5. Kelly's Windy Day

It was a very windy day on the Island. Thomas was taking Kelly to the construction site, where the other Pack members are. Miss Jenny warns all the vehicles that high winds can be dangerous, and tells them to be careful. Soon all of the vehicles are working very hard, and Kelly is unloading steel pylons. Soon his crane arm starts to wobble, and the high wind makes him tip over, and crashing into an empty shed! Luckily no one was hurt, but Kelly's wheels and crane arm were damaged. Later, he has to spend the night at the workshop getting his wheels and crane arm repaired. The next day, Miss Jenny tells Kelly that Isabella has come off the road near the track! But Kelly is so shaken by his experience, he doesn't want to come out anymore. But he knows he must rescue his friend. Meanwhile, Isabella is dangling over the edge of the road that overlooks the track. When Kelly gets there, he unloads the piano from Isabella's truck bed, and starts to pull Isabella back on the road. But he soon remembers his accident, so he stops. Then he remembers he must help Isabella, so he tries again to pull Isabella back up. Soon he has saved Isabella, and Miss Jenny and Thomas are very proud.

[edit] 6. A Happy Day for Percy

One overcast and wet day, Percy was taking Jack and Alfie to the construction site, where the other Pack members are. While there, Miss Jenny tells the vehicles to be careful in the mud, as it could be dangerous. But Max and Monty don't listen, and they begin to be very mischievous. Meanwhile, Byron tries to show how careful he is, but no one is paying attention. Not even Oliver! Elsewhere, Alfie is enjoying the mud, but Max and Monty race by, kick up mud onto Percy, and hit a water stand-pipe. The stand-pipe spews out water onto the mud where Alfie is, and it gets into it, and causes him to start sinking! The workmen turn off the water, but its too late for Alfie, who is sinking deeper and deeper into a mud hole. But Byron has an idea. He has Alfie grab onto his blade, and he starts to pull him out. His plan starts failing, but Byron struggles and pulls and strains with all his strength, and finally pulls Alfie safe out of the mud. Later that day, Miss Jenny scolds Max and Monty, and praises Byron. Meanwhile, Percy is glad to have all the mud washed off.

  • The only time Thomas is absent.

[edit] 7. A Tale for Thomas

A very rare, old tree has been struck by lightning, so the Pack have to prop it up before it falls over. But Max and Monty cause trouble, and end up running into the tree, greatly increasing it's danger of collapsing. Immediately Alfie, Oliver and Kelly try to prop up the tree, but are failing. Jack hurries to get the props from Thomas to hold it up. Will all the machines be able to pull together and help to repair the tree before it falls over?

[edit] 8. Thomas and the Moles

Buster feels left out when a big storm makes lots of damage on the Island of Sodor because there is nothing for a steamroller to do! When Miss Jenny discovers the Dryaw FC Football ground is covered in molehills she immediately calls for Buster!

[edit] 9. Percy Helps Out

When Miss Jenny sends Nelson to carry Thomas for repairs, he confides in Thomas that he'd like to be carried by someone else. He is delighted when the Fat Controller instructs Percy to carry him all the way back to the yard.

[edit] 10. The Tortoise and the Hare

Working on the Sodor Rally Track, Buster dreams of being the fastest steamroller. Max and Monty tease him for being slow but when they are all asked to test the track Max and Monty are so busy arguing that Buster rolls over the finish line first!

[edit] 11. Thomas' Trusty Friends

Ned is disappointed that his only job on demolishing a building is to clear up the rubble. When Oliver's wrecking ball won't knock down the building, Ned comes to the rescue-by accident!

[edit] 12. Alfie Has Kittens

Alfie the Excavator is sent to help demolish a building, but the other machines tease him for being small. Later when a mother cat and her kittens are discovered in the building only Alfie is small enough to rescue them.

[edit] 13. Mud Glorious Mud

Isabella does not like getting dirty, but when all the machines run out of diesel she has to get some more - by driving across some very muddy fields!


[edit] Featured Characters

[edit] Places/Things Introduced

  • The Warehouse
  • Old Brick Works
  • Dryaw FC Football Field
  • Sodor Race Track
  • Community Centre
  • New School Grounds
  • Lightning Tree
  • Repair Yards
  • Prop Trolley/Trailer
  • Miss Jenny's Van

[edit] Trivia

  • Apart from his excavating scoop, we learn that Oliver can change between a chisel, scissor claw and a variety of wrecking balls.
  • Gordon, Henry, James, Toby, Salty make cameo appearances, although they never actually saw The Pack themselves. A large scale model of Trevor can also be seen in a barn in 'Mud Glorious Mud'
  • Ned appears to have had modifications since Season 6, in the form of his darker-colored wheels, and now wearing 'Sodor Construction Company' on his sides, rather than 'Packard & Co.'
  • First appearances of Pack members: Monty (Max's twin brother), Nelson, Buster, Patrick.
  • Songs featured are 'The Work Song' and 'One Friendly Family'
  • This series was filmed with the 'classic' 35mm film, although some shots were filmed using the new digital cameras.
  • The Yard where the Pack live is finally revealed more, as numerous sheds with a railway line running on one side, and surrounded by a brick wall, with a gate, featuring a 'Sodor Construction Company' sign above.
  • Thomas is in all the Pack episodes except for A Happy Day for Percy.
  • This is the second time that Edward is absent. the first was Thomas and the Magic Railroad
  • The Japanese, Chinese, and Korean versions of this season use the original Thomas the Tank Engine theme tune and have music composed by Mike O'Donnell and Junior Campbell, just like the British version of Season 7, and use 35mm film, like the seasons 1-7. Patrick, Nelson, Monty and Buster are voiced by individual voice actors.


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