Train Stops Play

Train Stops Play is the seventeenth episode of the fourth season and the ninty-fifth episode of the series. In the US, it aired in the Mr. Conductor's Thomas Tales episode, Missing Whistles in 1996. In this episode, Stepney "catches" a cricket ball in a truck, prompting a chase along the branch line.

Plot
Stepney is enjoying his visit to the North Western Railway and offers to help Percy with his goods trains. After delivering loaded trucks to the harbour, Stepney goes past a cricket field with some "empties" when a batter hits a "six" and their only ball lands in a truck. Stepney doesn't realize this and when his driver sees Caroline chasing after them with the desperate cricketers inside, he mistakes them for joyriders and speeds up, much to Caroline's annoyance as she easily overheats when travelling at high speed. At last after being forced over a hill, Caroline arrives at the station and the men get their ball back, but Stepney's driver notes Caroline looks exhausted and suggests that she be rolled onto a flatbed so she can rest during the return journey. The cricketers ride back in a brake van and Stepney, his crew and Caroline watch the end of the game.

Characters

 * Percy
 * Stepney
 * Caroline
 * The Elsbridge Cricket Club
 * Thomas (does not speak)
 * Toby (does not speak)
 * Henry (cameo)
 * James (cameo)
 * Duck (cameo)
 * Donald (cameo)
 * Bulgy (cameo)
 * Jem Cole (cameo)
 * The Vicar of Wellsworth (cameo)
 * Farmer Trotter (cameo)