Dirty Work

**Dirty Work** is the fourteenth episode of the second season and the 44th episode overall. It is based on the story of the same name from the thirteenth Railway Series book, Duck and the Diesel Engine.

## Plot

Diesel is still having a hard time since having been made to look silly in front of the trucks as they continue to laugh and sing rude songs. Duck soon overhears the singing and firmly bumps the trucks to stop them. Duck apologises for the trucks' behaviour, but Diesel, still furious, blames Duck for making them laugh at him. Henry, watching nearby with James and Gordon, objects saying that Duck would never do such a thing and adds that while he, James and Gordon have their differences with Duck, they would never tell the trucks about them.

By now, Diesel's anger toward Duck has grown to such a point that he wants to find a way to get rid of him. Inspired by the engines' words about trucks, he makes a plan to spread lies. Going into the yard the next day, Diesel tells the trucks that he laughed at their joke about him and tells them some about the bigger engines and claims that he heard them from Duck. Before leaving, he warns them not to say he told them. The trucks find these jokes hilarious and laugh at the bigger engines and tell them that they came from Duck, to get even with him for forcing them to behave.

Believing that Duck is responsible for the trucks' ridicule, the engines hold a meeting and agree that Duck needs to be taught a lesson. They decide that since he once prevented them from entering the sheds, they will do the same to him. Later, Duck returns to the shed exhausted after a long hard day's work. However, when he tries to get back inside for a rest, the bigger engines stand close together and hiss steam at him. They tell him that because he tells tales about them to the trucks, they hate him and want Diesel to replace him. Duck starts to argue with them, but before long, the Fat Director arrives to break them up and see what the commotion is. He hears the bigger engines' accusations against Duck, and (while trying not to laugh himself) gives Duck a chance to explain himself. Duck swears that he did not make those jokes and that no steam engine would be that mean. Diesel then comes forward and the Fat Director asks him what he knows. Diesel feigns shock at Duck's "actions," but claims ignorance otherwise.

The Fat Director apologizes to Duck, saying that until he gets to the bottom of the incident that he must go to work with Edward at Wellsworth for a while and kindly reassures him that Edward will be happy to see him. Believing that the Fat Director has turned against him too, Duck sadly obliges, and as Diesel watches him puff away, he gives a satisfied smirk.

## Characters

* Henry
* Gordon
* James
* Duck
* Diesel
* Troublesome Trucks
* The Fat Director
* Edward *(mentioned)*

## Locations

* Tidmouth Sheds
	+ Tidmouth Goods Station
* Knapford Yards
* Wellsworth *(mentioned)*

## Trivia

* A reference to Duck Takes Charge is made by the tender engines.
* This is the last episode, so far, an engine cries.
* "Galloping sausage" was a nickname for the experimental W1 No. 10000 streamlined engine built for the LNER by Sir Nigel Gresley. This engine was also known as the "Hush Hush".
* Gordon, James, and Henry's lines "Disgraceful!" "Disgusting!" and "Despicable!" were later said again in the fourth season episode, Bowled Out. The line "Despicable!" was also said by James in the fifth season episode, Horrid Lorry, as well as the lines "Despicable!" and "Disgusting!" by Gordon and Henry in the fifth series episode, Thomas and the Rumours and "Disgraceful!" was said by Gordon in the sixth season episode, Percy's Chocolate Crunch, he said it in the first season episodes, Tenders and Turntables and Whistles and Sneezes.

## References to Other Stories

* Henry objects to Diesel saying that Duck would never do such a thing and adds that while he, James and Gordon have their differences, despite him and Percy blocking the entrance to the sheds.