The Story of Adam is the fourth episode of Season 1 of Thomas: The Trainz Adventures. It was remastered for Halloween 2023.
Plot[]
2014 version[]
Thomas returns to the sheds after having a small accident on his branch line. The bigger engines tease him about it, but Edward and Toby put an end to it. Toby comments that it reminds him of a story, which is that of an engine named Adam. Edward also recalls it and is given the honour of telling it.
Adam was an engine that once worked on what was to become Edward's Branch Line. One day he was shunting coaches for a mainland engine named Patriot, who had been struggling to build up steam. Adam volunteers to take his train when his driver concludes they won't be able to depart on time. Arrangements are made and Adam refills on coal and water before coupling up to the coaches. Being inexperienced with coaches, he accidentally bumps them, much to Patriot's annoyance. Adam became impatient as the guard was late, having forgotten his lunch box in the station brake room. Shortly after, they depart, but the weather had become worse by then.
Adam's route was originally meant to take him past a signal box which would have sent him down another line. However, the signalman was distracted reading the newspaper and by the sound of the rain. As Adam approached and whistled as per procedure, lightning struck down concurrently, drowning out his whistle. By the time Adam and his crew realise they're headed down the wrong track, they reach a sharp bend by a bridge and derail into the sea. Adam, his crew and the passengers in the first coach perished, while passengers in the coaches still on land survived.
Once he realises what has happened, the guard phones for help. An ambulance is dispatched and Neil arrives to retrieve the remaining coaches. While he does so, he witnesses Adam's ghost on the bridge, whistling before disappearing. Neil takes the coaches back to Kirk Ronan, where Patriot takes over and returns to Barrow-in-Furness. Reporters hamper him with questions of the accident, but he remains adamant about it, having not been present at the scene himself.
In the present, Edward finishes his story, but the reactions are mostly negative. The big engines remember Patriot and Adam, and Patriot himself arrives at the sheds, stopping over after taking a train to Sodor. He denounces that Adam is dead, clarifying that he is alive and works on the mainland. He does however admit that the part about his brother is true, which he is reluctant to discuss.
As the other engines fall asleep and Percy departs to take his mail train, Patriot reflects on his brother before being visited by his spirit, who assures him that he has always been with him in spirit form. As he departs again, Patriot wishes him a good night.
2023 version[]
One day as Thomas and Bertie race along the branch line, Thomas crashes into Percy's train stopped on the line due to him breaking down. Sir Topham Hatt reprimands him for his actions and has him work at Whiff's waste dump and Toby taking over his passenger duties. Edward then recounts a story after the big engines tease Thomas, to serve as a reminder of being careful.
Before the NWR was formed, several different railways existed on the island. Adam worked for one of them and was a good and reliable engine. One day, his controller, Mr. Crosby, asked him to assist Neil at the Kirk Ronan harbour, standing in for Clive who was being repaired.
Arriving at the harbour, Adam learned from Neil that a tourist train was delayed because its engine, Patriot, was unable to steam up properly. As he shunted his coaches, Adam took offence to his comments about being a "real engine". He challenged Patriot with that he could pull the coaches better than him.
With the day passing on and Patriot still unable to steam up, Adam volunteered to take his train, much to both Patriot and Neil's surprise. The arrangements were made and Adam was waiting for the guard, who missed his lunch box in the waiting room. Shortly after, they departed, but the weather was getting worse. As Adam departed, Patriot was secretly impressed.
Adam attempted to pick up speed, making up for lost time. At a signal box, two signalman talked together, and as Adam arrived, a lightning strike happened concurrently with him whistling. Only too late did the signalmen notice his arrival. At first, Adam and his crew didn't notice anything unusual and picked up speed. But Adam eventually realised their mistake, but it came too late, as he and the train derailed at a bend near a bridge. The surviving passengers asked the guard to call for immediate help.
The stationmaster at Kirk Ronan harbour was notified and dispatched Neil to fetch the breakdown train. Taking in the severity of the accident, Neil put the blame on Patriot, who also started to believe it himself.
At the crash site, Neil learned that Adam and his crew were still missing and aided with the rescue operation. Once all the coaches were retrieved, he met Adam's ghost, who apologised before disappearing. Back at the harbour, Neil shared the bad news with Patriot. He also forgave him and assured him that Adam wouldn't want them to blame each other. Neil also confided in him about Adam's ghost, who he thought also apologised to himself. Patriot explained that when his brother had an accident, he also saw his ghost, smiling at him. The stationmaster then came and asked if Patriot could take the remaining coaches on the return trip, which Patriot accepted.
Along the way back to the mainland, he passed Adam's crash site and apologised too. As he passed the junction to the crash site, Adam's ghost appeared and expressed that he forgave Patriot. At the station, reporters hampered him with questions about the accident. He confirmed he was meant to take the train, but also praised Adam for his initiative and bravery. Reporters also questioned him about another accident involving a Sodor engine, but with little knowledge of it, Patriot couldn't say much and left shortly thereafter.
In the present, Thomas accepts that there is a lesson to be learned. Gordon questions why Patriot never mentioned the events regarding Adam before. Edward expresses that he might not have wanted to talk about it.
In a shed somewhere, Patriot rolls in to sleep for the night. Before he does, he reminisces about his brother. His ghost then appears, much to Patriot's surprise. When he questions how he is present, his brother assures him that he always has and always will be with him in spirit form before disappearing. Patriot then goes to sleep, additionally wishing his brother a good night.
Characters[]
2014 version[]
- Thomas
- Edward
- Henry
- Gordon
- James
- Percy
- Toby
- Duck
- Donald
- Adam
- Patriot
- Neil
- Sigmund
- Patriot's Driver
- Adam's Driver
- Neil's Driver
- Matthew (does not speak)
- Annie and Clarabel (cameo)
- Oliver (mentioned)
- Colin (mentioned)
- Emily (deleted scene)
Some reporters and passengers also speak
2023 version[]
- Thomas
- Edward
- Henry
- Gordon
- James
- Percy
- Toby
- Adam
- Neil
- Patriot
- Sigmund
- Annie and Clarabel
- Bertie
- Trevor
- Sir Topham Hatt
- Mr. Crosby
- Adam's Driver
- Patriot's Driver
- Adam's Fireman
- Patriot's Fireman
- Percy's Guard
- Adam's Guard
- The First Signalman
- The Second Signalman
- The Kirk Ronan Harbour Stationmaster
- Shen (does not speak)
- Clive (does not speak)
- Emily (cameo)
- Connor (cameo)
- Logan (cameo)
- Colin (cameo)
- Lily (cameo)
- Matthew (cameo)
- Glynn (cameo)
- Melvin (cameo)
- Evie (cameo)
- Izzy (cameo)
- The Blue Tender Engine (cameo)
- The Black Tender Engine (cameo)
- Pip and Emma (cameo)
- Proteus (cameo)
- Brian (cameo)
- Jem Cole (cameo)
- Sir Topham Hatt's Assistants (cameo)
- Oliver (music video; cameo)
- Bill and Ben (music video; cameo)
- Stepney (music video; cameo)
- Billy (music video; cameo)
- Charlie (music video; cameo)
- Porter (music video; cameo)
- Timothy (music video; cameo)
- Vinnie (music video; cameo)
- Sonny (music video; cameo)
- Dudley (music video; cameo)
- BoCo (music video; cameo)
- Bear (music video; cameo)
- Mavis (music video; cameo)
- Derek (music video; cameo)
- 'Arry and Bert (music video; cameo)
- Diesel 10 (music video; cameo)
- Salty (music video; cameo)
- Dart (music video; cameo)
- Philip (music video; cameo)
- Abigail (music video; cameo)
- Reginald (music video; cameo)
- Skiff (music video; cameo)
- Skarloey (music video; cameo)
- Rheneas (music video; cameo)
- Sir Handel (music video; cameo)
- Peter Sam (music video; cameo)
- Rusty (music video; cameo)
- Duncan (music video; cameo)
- Ivo Hugh (music video; cameo)
- Fred (music video; cameo)
- Zach (music video; cameo)
- Mark V (music video; cameo)
- Bertram (deleted scene; music video cameo)
- Mike (music video; cameo)
- Rex (music video; cameo)
- Bert (music video; cameo)
- George (music video; cameo)
- Colin the Crane (music video; cameo)
- Captain Joe (music video; cameo)
- Spencer (mentioned)
- Whiff (mentioned)
Several Passengers and Reporters also speak.
Cast[]
2014 version[]
- Terrier55Stepney as Thomas and a Reporter
- Supermariokyle100 as Edward
- Ilovetrains323 as Henry
- CalicobonEsterphon as Gordon
- 10leigh10 as James and Neil
- Steamteam3211 as Percy and Toby
- JD41796 as Duck
- EpicLafiteau as Donald
- Vienna as Adam
- Terrier672Fenchurch as Patriot
- Skarlouie as Sigmund
- Mallardfan62 as Patriot's Driver
- KnapfordMaster98 as Adam's Driver and Guard.
- RightOnTracks as Neil's Driver and a Reporter
- TramEngineStudios as a Reporter
- Rosiethecutie1995 as a passenger
2023 version[]
- EpicLafiteau as Thomas and a Passenger
- Supermariokyle100 as Edward
- OvalFrankie as Henry and Adam’s Fireman
- SteamTeam3211 as Gordon and The Kirk Ronan Harbour Stationmaster
- Joel Hunter as James and Patriot
- ilovetrains323 as Percy, Percy's Guard, a Workman and a Reporter
- Chase The Ferroequinologist as Toby
- Elliot Killick-Ward as Adam
- Tom Allmark as Neil
- PieceOfJayVA as Sigmund
- Spo0derGlen as Annie, Clarabel, and a Passenger
- FizzledFirebox as Bertie
- KnapfordMaster98 as Trevor and Adam’s Guard
- Papa Mainland as Sir Topham Hatt
- Jonathan Asiamah as Mr. Crosby
- TheEngineShed as Adam’s Driver and a Passenger
- FantasticMrS as The First Signalman and a Reporter
- TramEngineStudios as The Second Signalman
- MainlandStudios as a Passenger and a Reporter
- LittleOwlVA as Patriot’s Driver
- Joey Turner As Patriot’s Fireman and a Passenger
- TheGermanofSodor as Signalman and a Passenger
- Jacob Hayes as a Passenger
- Edward's Branchline Productions as a Passenger
- Andre85 as a Passenger
- Harperman as a Passenger
- CadenceandAuntArcticFan as a Passenger
- Andy Snoopy as a Passenger
- ZacZstack as a Passenger
Trivia[]
2014 version[]
- Steamteam3211, KnapfordMaster98, CalicobonEsterphon, Vienna, Skarlouie, EpicLafiteau and Terrier672Fenchurch make their debuts in this episode.
- Terrier55Stepney takes over as narrator in this episode.
- This episode is the first to be split up into two parts.
- Sigmund's accident was based on a real event.
- References to Terrier55Stepney's episode, Curse of the Tunnel and The Railway Series story, Gordon Goes Foreign are made.
- This episode was intended to be a standalone special, but was changed for unknown reasons.
- All episodes between this episode and A Close Shave, were filmed in Trainz Mac.
2023 version[]
- LittleOwlVA, Jacob Hayes, Edward's Branchline Productions, Andre85, Harperman, CandenceandAuntArcticFan, Andy Snoopy, and ZacZstack join the cast in this episode.
- Ilovetrains323 has said that the script for the remaster was completely rewritten from the original.
- This episodes features the first appearance of the other Coffee Pot engines on the Tidmouth, Elsbridge & Knapford Light Railway.
- Unlike the 2014 version, Edward actually narrates the story rather than the normal narrator.
- It is confirmed in the remaster that Adam and Shen's accidents happened on the same night. This is hinted at throughout the episode.
- The phone conversation heard when the Kirk Ronan Stationmaster is on the phone, is actually the beginning narration of original 2014 version, sped up.
- Before Adam's ghost disappears after the accident, Proteus can be seen behind Adam, hidden in a bush.
- Gordon makes a comment that he has never had an accident while racing Spencer. This is a slight bit of foreshadowing to Henry the Private Engine, when Spencer does, in fact, have an accident while racing.
References to the Original Series[]
2023 Version[]
- Ilovetrains323 has confirmed the remaster takes place (at least the non-flashback sequences) between the seventeenth and eighteenth series of the official show, as well as before Tale of the Brave.