Bluebells and Batsmen is the third episode of Season 3, and the twenty-first episode overall.
Plot
One morning, Percy is shunting trucks at Tidmouth. While singing "The Bluebells Are Coming", he annoys Douglas, who asks about Percy's song. Percy tells him that bluebells are also engines, as well as flowers, because one of the steam engines is coming to the Island of Sodor for a few days. Percy explains the Bluebell Railway is a place for obsolete engines to remain in service. Suddenly, Stepney comes past the engines after a long journey.
At Tidmouth Sheds, Stepney has a long drink, and is introduced to The Fat Controller. He also meets Diesel, who asks about one of his brothers, Dave, who is now safe. The Fat Controller tells Stepney there is a goods train waiting for him at Arlesburgh.
On the journey back, Stepney passes a cricket game. Unfortunately for the cricketers, their one and only ball lands in the last truck in Stepney's train. The cricket team captains catch up to Stepney in their car, Caroline. At a level crossing, Stepney is finally stopped and the two cricketers explain what happened. Donald arrives and allows the cricketers to travel back in his brake van, and Stepney takes Caroline back on a flatbed. Later on, Stepney meets the rest of the engines in Tidmouth Sheds, where a storm begins.
Characters
- Henry
- Gordon
- James
- Percy
- Duck
- Donald and Douglas
- Stepney
- Diesel
- Caroline
- Sir Charles Topham Hatt
- Stepney's Controller
- Troublesome Trucks (do not speak)
- Alfred (does not speak)
- Fenchurch (does not speak)
- Dave (does not speak)
- Bertie (does not speak)
- Thomas (cameo)
- Edward (cameo)
- Toby (cameo)
- Oliver (cameo)
- Isabel and Dulcie (cameo)
- Alice and Mirabel (cameo)
- Terence (mentioned)
Trivia
- This episode marks the first appearance of Stepney and Caroline.
- This episode is based on the book, Stepney the Bluebell Engine by the Reverend W. Awdry.
Goofs
- James' sad face is tilted to the left in the end scene at Knapford Sheds.
Voice Cast
- WildNorWester as Narrator, The Fat Controller, Henry, James, Gordon, Donald and Douglas, Percy, Duck, Stepney, Stepney's Controller and Diesel
- ANB as Caroline
Gallery
Episode
