Air Date: November 25th, 1990
Thomas Stories: Terence the Tractor (broadcast), Thomas & the Missing Christmas Tree (VHS release), Thomas' Christmas Party
It is Christmas holiday time at Shining Time Station, and the place is bustling with activity as people are rushing to catch trains to take them to see their families. Even Schemer is in a good mood, as he reveals to the kids, Matt and Tanya, that the Indian Valley Christmas Committee is putting on a Christmas pageant and will pick one lucky contestant to play the role of Santa's Helper. Schemer is confident that he will get the role.
J.B. King arrives at the station and meets a new engineer, who introduces himself as Harry's cousin, Tucker Cooper. He has come to help out following Harry's transfer to Twiddly Junction. Mr. King welcomes Tucker to Shining Time Station and asks if he's met Mr. Conductor. Tucker had not, and is a bit skeptical due to Mr. King's description.Stacy tells the kids that Christmas is her favorite time of the year because the sight of the passengers hurrying through the station shows everyone's desire to get together for the holidays. When the kids mention having nothing to do, Stacy suggests that they write letters to Santa Claus.
Having finished their letters, the kids take them to Stacy to figure out how to address them to Santa, but Mayor Flopdinger rushes in to inform Stacy that the Christmas Committee has no place to meet that night, so they've decided to hold the meeting to elect Santa's Helper at Shining Time Station, much to her frustration. The kids still don't know Santa Claus' exact address, but fortunately, they are aided by Mr. Conductor, who has written to Santa before. He suggests the kids go outside and build a snowman to pass the time waiting for Santa, and they begin to go outside with only their coats on, claiming that they don't need their hats and mittens.
Mr. Conductor tells Matt and Tanya that everyone has something special to offer the world, but they don't always know it. He then magically sends off their letters for them and disappears. The kids then overhear that Vickie will be spending the afternoon at the station with them. They both protest, knowing that Vickie is difficult to get along with, but Stacy encourages them to try to be nice to her and think of her good traits. Tanya notes that Vickie, however, does have a good singing voice.
Meanwhile, Schemer is binge eating, as he hopes to be fat enough to look the part for Santa's Helper. He also reveals his own costume for the role with an advertisement that reads "Santa says: Give Your Money to Schemer!" Stacy tries to explain to Schemer the true qualities to be Santa's Helper, only for Schemer to dismiss them with contempt. He also laughs at the idea of Stacy being Santa's Helper, provoking Stacy enough to compete for the role against him.
Tucker arrives at the station with a Christmas tree, aided by an elderly man named Mr. Nicholas. This visitor soon proves to be no ordinary passenger, as he knows several things about Stacy from when she was a child. Mr. Nicholas says he has come to Shining Time Station to catch The Northern Star. Stacy informs him that no train by that name runs on the Indian Valley Railroad, but Mr. Nicholas is confident it will come. Meanwhile, Vickie is dropped off at the station by her mother Claire, who has to leave to do her Christmas shopping. She quickly turns out to be rude and selfish as Matt and Tanya feared.
Mr. King returns to tell Stacy the weather is turning bad and if it gets any worse, the trains will have to be stopped. He takes notice of Mr. Nicholas and tries to tell him there is no train called the Northern Star. Mr. Nicholas insists that the Northern Star has never been late yet and distracts Mr. King with some memories from his childhood. Schemer, who has begun his campaign against Stacy by hanging posters all over the station, tells Mr. King, as well as Midge Smoot and the Mayor, untrue things about her. However, his words only encourage them to compete for the role as well.
Meanwhile, Vickie is still being difficult and Matt and Tanya finally tell her to go away. Sulking on the bench, she meets Mr. Nicholas who suggests she smile more. Encouraged, she returns to try again, and the kids accept her help on decorating the Christmas tree. Her helpfulness ends in disaster when she accidentally knocks over the Christmas tree while attempting to put an angel figurine on the top. The kids blame her for it, and Vickie runs off in shame. Mr. King then comes to announce that he's had to stop all of the trains due to the weather. He tells Mr. Nicholas, but he's still adamant that the Northern Star will arrive.
Vickie learns that some people are alone on Christmas and Mr. Nicholas also teaches her that some presents don't come in decorated boxes or cost money. Vickie then expresses her desire to see Santa Claus, as she wishes for him to bring a present for her mother. Mr. Nicholas counsels that the best present comes from the heart, and Vickie realizes that her gift of song is what her mother likes best about her.
The Christmas tree is upright again, but unfortunately, the lights have stopped working, so Matt and Tanya still blame Vickie. However, Mr. Conductor tells them that sometimes accidents happen and it's really no one person's fault. Matt and Tanya decide to forgive Vickie.
Stacy offers to help Mr. Nicholas spend the night at the station, but to her surprise, the Northern Star arrives as he had predicted. Meanwhile, the Christmas Committee meeting has started. To everyone's surprise, the Mayor declares himself the winner of the Santa's Helper contest, and a loud argument breaks out. When Vickie asks Mr. Nicholas for help, he tells her to use her gift. Vickie does so, singing a song that not only stops the argument but reminds them all of the true spirit of Christmas. It even touches her mother, who has just returned to pick her up. Later Schemer calls his mother to report that everyone will play Santa's Helper in the pageant.
Knowing his work is done, Mr. Nicholas leaves the station to board his train, but not before meeting Mr. Conductor and magically repairing the Christmas tree lights. The story ends as all gather around the Christmas Tree, and Vickie, with a little help from the adults, places the angel figurine on the tree successfully.
This episode contains examples of:
- Big Eater: Schemer's subplot has him binge eating his way through various foods to fatten himself up for the role of Santa's helper.
- Christmas Special
- Re-Cut: "Terrence the Tractor" was replaced with "Thomas' Christmas Party" in the VHS release of this special. However, Mr. Conductor still makes reference to Terrence, even though he doesn't appear in that episode.
- Mythology Gag: Mr. Conductor states that he tried staying up to see Santa Claus. He said he couldn't remember if he saw him, but was certain that he came. Given that Santa Claus actually exists in the Thomas universe, that's not too unbelievable.
- The Scrooge: Vickie. She states that she finds Christmas boring, and the only fun thing about it is getting presents. Of course, she changes her tune by the end of the episode.
- Santa Claus: It's made pretty clear that Mr. Nicholas is, Santa Claus. What with his name being a reference to "Saint Nicholas", and his general demeanor.
- Special Edition Title: Different lettering is used in the opening for this episode, and instead uses footage of the Lake Superior and Ishpeming 18 traveling through the snow, matching the Christmas theme.
- This Is Going to Suck: Mr. Conductor's reaction after hearing Vickie wants to help decorate the tree, and mistakes him for an ornament.
- Toy Disguise: When the children decorate the Christmas tree, Mr. Conductor holds still when Vickie finds him. Vickie mistakes him for an ornament, and asks Matt and Tanya if she can put him in the tree. Not wanting her to find out about him, they tell her she can. Mr. Conductor continues to keep up the act until Vickie accidentally knocks down the tree trying to put the angel on top. After he climbs out of the fallen tree, Mr. Conductor expresses his gratitude that he no longer has to pose as an ornament towards Tanya and Matt.
