recursal/Fanatic-Fandom huggingface dataset:
Who’s the Boss?

**Who's the Boss?** is the sixth episode of the eighth season and the 179th episode overall.

## Plot

One hot day, during the construction of the Cronk Abbey Community Centre, Patrick is pouring concrete for a new platform and boasts that he is the most important because he is a concrete mixer. Thomas thinks Patrick is being cheeky, but this makes Jack and Alfie curious about who really is the most important. Jack asks Byron, who claims that he is, as he levels the site. Nelson tells him that he is the most important, as he is the main source of transportation. Alfie asks Oliver, who tells him that digging the foundation is the most important. Whilst Ned explains that their banksmen are the most important, as they are in charge of safety. Feeling confused, Jack and Alfie give up in their search.

However, when Thomas returns with his empty trucks, all the other machines are still in a commotion over it. Even Max and Monty decide to outdo each other by seeing who can collect the bigger load. Once loaded, Max and Monty speed out of the site, much to the concern of Kelly and Thomas. Racing each other side by side, Max and Monty are still arguing until they realise that Patrick is coming towards them. Patrick veers off the road, flies off the edge and accidentally falls into his own wet concrete, and splatters Thomas.

Miss Jenny hears about the news and scolds Max and Monty for causing a lot of trouble, especially since Thomas is covered in concrete. Max and Monty explain about the commotion, only for Miss Jenny to explain that, as they are all part of a team, there is no such thing as "Most Important". When Jack mentions Patrick, Miss Jenny scolds him for bragging about concrete *again*.

## Characters

* Thomas
* Nelson
* Jack
* Alfie
* Oliver the Excavator
* Max and Monty
* Kelly
* Byron
* Ned
* Patrick the Cement Mixer
* Miss Jenny
* The Fat Controller *(mentioned)*

## Locations

* Abbey Bridge
* Cronk Abbey Community Centre Construction Site

## Trivia

* This episode marks the first appearance of Nelson and Patrick in an episode.
* The title of the episode, **Who's the Boss?**, is a reference to the 1984 sitcom with the same name.
The Fat Clergyman

**The Reverend Edwin "Teddy" Boston** was the former Rector of the Parish of Cadeby in Leicestershire. He was a good friend of the Rev. Wilbert Awdry and in the *Railway Series* was known as **The Fat Clergyman**.

## Biography

The Fat Clergyman is a happy and optimistic man who is good friends with his thin counterpart and enjoys capturing the railways of Sodor on film.

## Attire

The Fat Clergyman wears glasses with a white sweater, a black shirt, a black suit and grey shoes.

## Trivia

* When the Thin and Fat Clergymen visited the Arlesdale Railway, they drove a purple car with the number plate "040 BMC".
The Impatient Bus

**The Impatient Bus** is the eighteenth episode of the sixteenth season, the 371st episode overall and the eighteenth episode of the Original Stories Era of the series.

## Plot

The roads along The Little Western Line are old and are being paved with new tarmac. But that means Bulgy’s services are very limited during this time, making him more angry about the railway taking his passengers.

## Characters

* Duck
* Oliver
* Bulgy
* Thomas (mentioned)
* Annie and Clarabel (mentioned)
* Jack (mentioned)
* Oliver the Excavator (mentioned)
* The Fat Controller (mentioned)
* Jenny Packard (mentioned)

Daisy, Toad and Patrick are likely to also appear.

## Locations

* Ffarquhar Branch Line
* The Little Western Line
* Bluff’s Cove

## Trivia

* This story began its writing stages in 23rd November 2020, but it hasn’t finished yet.

## References to Other Stories

* The beginning of the story recalls the events of Unscheduled Stops, where Bulgy was refitted from a mobile vegetable stand, since Bulgy Rides Again, to a double-decker passenger bus again. And when Bertie was repaired, Bulgy was sent back to work on The Little Western.
* At one point, the story explains that Bulgy’s Bridge has had a dip in the road under the bridge, so that the incident from Bulgy wouldn’t happen again.
Vinnie

**Vinnie** is a streamlined North American tender engine who competed in the Great Railway Show for the Strongest Engine competition.

## Biography

Vinnie is very rude and competitive, with a reputation for being a bully, and will do anything to win a competition, including cheating. He views smaller engines such as Thomas and Philip as inferior to him, often calling them derogatory names such as "Shrimp" (Thomas) and "Shortie" (Philip), and often takes pleasure in bumping them around. Because of his vile behavior, hardly any of the engines get along with him.

## Basis

Vinnie is based on the Canadian National Railway's U-4-a 6400 class.

## Livery

Vinnie is painted navy blue with a grey boiler with yellow lining along with red trimming around his cab windows. He carries his number and name on plates on his smokebox and the sides of his footplate.

## Trivia

* Vinnie is the first and only engine to have a Vanderbilt tender in the series.
* Vinnie is only partially modified to work on British railways; his tender is given buffers, yet he still retains his buckeye coupler, which has a small pin for Vinnie to couple up to British rolling stocks.
The Spotless Record

**The Spotless Record** is the fifth episode of the seventh season and the 156th episode overall.

## Plot

A new tank engine named Arthur has arrived. The Fat Controller explains that he is to shunt trucks and pull freight, and that he was chosen because he has a spotless record. Percy is confused, so Thomas explains that it means Arthur has never been naughty or had an accident.

Later, Thomas and Percy are bumping trucks around. They know this made them naughty, but the engines are having fun. Thomas asks Arthur to join in, but he declines. Arthur's first job is to take a train of fruit to market. The trucks sing at him, which he thinks is very rude. This gives Thomas an idea; he tells Arthur that the Fat Controller does not like the trucks singing, and that he should tell them to stop. Arthur is convinced that he can keep the trucks in order and sets off while Thomas chuckles at his little joke.

Arthur is out on the main line when the trucks start singing again. Arthur crossly tells them to stop and that trucks should do as they are told. This leads to the trucks deciding that if they cannot sing, they will try and teach Arthur a lesson instead. When they come to the top of Gordon's hill, the trucks use their weight to pull Arthur down at high speed. But up ahead, Duck has stopped at a level crossing. Arthur tries to stop, but it is too late as he crashes into the back of Duck's train, completely destroying Arthur's trucks, damaging Duck's brake van and squashed fruit flies in all directions. Arthur is very upset now that his spotless record has been ruined.

Thomas arrives with the Fat Controller on board. Arthur tells him how he told the trucks to stop singing, but they pulled him down the hill. Thomas feels ashamed and admits to the Fat Controller that it was his fault since he told Arthur to stand up to the trucks. Therefore, The Fat Controller orders Thomas to help clean up the mess. Soon, Harvey arrives with the breakdown train and everyone works hard to clean up the mess.

That evening, Arthur is being cleaned when Thomas arrives. He apologises for tricking Arthur, and he is grateful that Thomas owned up. The two engines decide that spotless records can be broken, but then mended again, just like friendship.

## Characters

* Thomas
* Percy
* Arthur
* Troublesome Trucks
* The Fat Controller
* Duck *(does not speak)*
* Harvey *(does not speak)*
* BoCo *(cameo)*
* Gordon *(cameo)*
* James *(cameo)*
* Butch *(cameo)*

## Locations

* Vicarstown Bridge
* Henry’s Tunnel
* Tidmouth
* Tidmouth Yards
* New Harbour Bridge
* Crosby Tunnel
* Reagh Viaduct
* Gordon's Hill
* Sodor Steamworks

## Trivia

* This episode marks the first appearance of Arthur in the series.
Too Much Work for Duncan

**Too Much Work for Duncan** is the sixteenth episode of the sixteenth season, the 369th episode overall and the sixteenth episode of the Original Stories Era of the series.

## Plot

Duncan always thinks he’s being overworked and when, one day, Rusty has to be sent to the Works to get his engine repaired, he more angry than ever. He grumpily rushes through his new job with the Maintenance Train to get his other work done, but this will cause some problems with the other engines.

## Characters

* Emily
* Skarloey
* Peter Sam
* Duncan
* The Thin Controller
* Sir Handel (mentioned)
* Rusty (mentioned)
* Victor (mentioned)

Rheneas and Mighty Mac are likely to also appear.

## Locations

* Crovan’s Gate
* Crovan’s Gate Sheds
* Blue Mountain Quarry

## Trivia

* This story began its writing stages in 31st January 2020, but it hasn’t finished yet.
Thomas Gets Bumped

**Thomas Gets Bumped** is the fourth episode of the third season and the 64th episode overall. It is based on the magazine stories Hello, Thomas! and A Bump on the Line.

## Plot

Every afternoon, Thomas puffs along his branch line with Annie and Clarabel. They pass Terence’s Field, then come to a big farm and then, a bridge with a village nestled on either side of it. Whenever children hear Thomas coming, they stand on the bridge to wave at him. One day, Thomas is waiting at a signal to talk to some children. Percy is waiting too and teases Thomas that if he is late, the Fat Director will substitute him. Thomas scoffs at Percy but is secretly concerned.

The next day, Thomas sees an inspector waving a red flag as he approaches the station. He sees some children waving at him on the bridge too, and he becomes concerned as Toryreck is a goods station. The children ask Thomas to take them home, and the stationmaster explains to the driver that the school bus broke down. The children climb on board Annie and Clarabel, and Thomas takes them to the next station where Bertie is waiting to take them home. When Thomas finishes his job, he is very late and worries that the Fat Director will be cross with him, which Percy knew would happen and told James he warned Thomas.

The next morning, Thomas is relieved that the Fat Director is nowhere to be seen at the station, but his fears worsen when the rails on the branch line buckle from the hot temperature. He tries to stop in time, but it's too late and he derails on the buckled tracks. Thomas is concerned for his passengers, but his driver assures him that they will be looked after. Later, he is sent to shunt trucks in the yard while the workmen repair the line. Bertie takes Thomas' passengers for him, but he makes more stops to let passengers off closer to their homes, and Thomas worries that he lost his passengers, and that Bertie will replace him.

However, after the line is repaired, the Fat Director announces to Thomas that his timetable will be changed so he and Bertie can work together more often. To Thomas' relief, the passengers say that while Bertie is a nice bus, they missed Thomas and are glad to have him back, and he thanks Bertie for taking care of them while the line was repaired. Bertie prefers that while he likes making new friends, he likes sharing them with him. Thomas then tells Bertie that he is a good friend.

## Characters

* Thomas
* Percy
* Bertie
* The Fat Director
* James *(does not speak)*
* Annie and Clarabel *(do not speak)*
* Terence *(does not speak)*

## Locations

* Hackenbeck Tunnel
* Terence’s Field
* Farmer McColl’s Farm
* Toryreck
* Elsbridge
* Knapford
* Tidmouth Yards
* Hackenbeck
* Ffarquhar

## Trivia

* During the week when Thomas’ branch line is being repaired and inspected, Thomas was sent to shunt trains in Tidmouth and Knapford Yards, Percy worked with Duck at Brendam Docks, as seen in Diesel Does It Again and All At Sea, Toby stayed with Mavis at Ffarquhar Quarry and Daisy pulled local trains along the Main Line.
Thomas Goes Fishing

**Thomas Goes Fishing** is the twelfth episode of the first season. It is based on the story of the same name from the fourth Railway Series book, Tank Engine Thomas Again.

## Plot

Along his branch line, Thomas often looks forward to the sight of the river, and the people that fish there. He often wants to stay and watch, but his driver will not let him, wondering what the Fat Director would say if they fell behind schedule. Whenever Thomas meets another engine, he shares with them his longing to fish, but they all say that "Engines don't go fishing," which he does not take seriously.

One day, Thomas arrives at the junction to find the water tower is out of order, to his annoyance. Thomas is thirsty, so his crew decides to fetch water from the river instead. The crew finds an old bucket and rope and they hurry to the bridge. Once there, they lower the bucket down to the river. Unfortunately, the bucket has five holes and the water leaks out fast, so they have to hurry and pour it into Thomas' tank before it drains out. They repeat this several times until at last Thomas' thirst is quenched.

Before long, Thomas develops a sudden pain in his boiler. Steam rushes from his safety valve, and Thomas is alarmed that he may burst. The crew dampens the fire and they struggle on to Ffarquhar. Annie and Clarabel are uncoupled and Thomas, still aching, limps onto a siding while the guard phones an inspector and the Fat Director. Workmen put signs saying "DANGER KEEP AWAY" all around Thomas. The Fat Director and the inspector arrive and console Thomas over the situation. The driver explains what happened, and the inspector determines that the feed pipe is blocked.

When the inspector looks inside Thomas' tank, he notices something then climbs down and asks the Fat Director to take a look in the tank as well. The Fat Director is shocked at what he sees; they both agree that it was fish and the driver deduces that they were collected in the process of filling the tank. The Fat Director jokes that Thomas got to go fishing after all, but as fish do not suit him they must be removed at once. Thomas' crew and the inspector carefully fish them out with instructions from the Fat Director and afterwards they have a meal of fish and chips. The Fat Director hopes that Thomas has learned his lesson, to which Thomas replies that he now understands why engines do not go fishing; it is too uncomfortable.

## Characters

* Thomas
* James
* The Fat Director
* Annie and Clarabel *(do not speak)*

## Locations

* Elsbridge
	+ Viaduct
* Terence's Field
* Ffarquhar
	+ Ffarquhar Yards

## Trivia

* This story is Wilbert and Christopher Awdry's favourite.
* This episode is based on a real event which occurred on the Glasgow and South Western Railway (GSWR), when the driver kept fish in the engine's water tank "to keep the water clean."
* The events were referenced in the fourth season episode, Fish.
* This is the first episode where an engine suffers from pain, as well as the first episode to feature a serious dreadful experience for an engine.
Tenders and Turntables

**Tenders and Turntables** is the fifteenth episode of the first season. It is based on the story of the same name from the fifth Railway Series book, Troublesome Engines.

## Plot

Life in the yard has been harder ever since Thomas left to run his own branch line. Without a station pilot, the big engines must shunt in sidings and fetch their own coaches much to their annoyance. causing the Fat Director a great deal of trouble. While Thomas, being a tank engine, does not need a turntable, the tender engines do, as it is dangerous for them to run fast backwards. However, Gordon soon starts acting as though his tender is a symbol of his importance.

One windy afternoon, after conversing with Thomas, Gordon heads for the turntable at the end of the line. The turntable is by the sea, so the wind is very strong, and unless an engine is perfectly balanced on the turntable, it becomes difficult to turn. Gordon is in a bad mood and cannot balance, and neither his driver nor fireman can get him to cooperate. After several attempts, they give up and Gordon is forced to pull his next train tender first.

When Gordon arrives at the junction, a group of schoolboys mock him by calling him a tank engine. Thomas, who is waiting at the junction, laughs and advises Gordon to scrap his tender and get a bunker instead. James passes by with his train and laughs at Gordon as well. Gordon warns him that he may also stick on the turntable, but James claims that he will not because he is "not so fat" like him.

When James gets to the sheds; he carefully lines up on the turntable, allowing it to move very easily. But the strong wind begins to spin James around like a top, making his face turn green. Gordon arrives and sees the whole thing. When the turntable finally stops spinning, Gordon laughs as James silently backs into the shed feeling dizzy and completly humiliated.

That night, Gordon, James, and Henry hold an indignation meeting. They decide it would be best, after the day's events, to go on strike.

## Characters

* Thomas
* Henry
* Gordon
* James
* Green Express Coaches
* Orange Coaches
* Old Coaches
* The Fat Director *(do not speak)*
* Annie and Clarabel *(do not speak)*
* Bertie *(cameo)*

## Locations

* Knapford *(mentioned)*
	+ Yards
* Tidmouth Sheds
	+ The Works
	+ Goods Station
* Elsbridge
* Vicarstown
	+ Yards

## Trivia

* This episode's opening exposition is taken from the story, Henry and the Elephant, which was not adapted until the fourth season.
* The ditch that Gordon later fell into is briefly seen when he tries to balanced himself onto the turntable.
* James' incident with the turntable is inspired by an event that occurred in 1900 at a railway station in Garsdale Head, Cumbria, England.
* This is the first episode where a character's name is not in the title.
Yong Bao

**Yong Bao** is a Chinese tender engine who took part in the Great Railway Show, competing in the Best Decorated Engine parade.

## Biography

Yong Bao is a kind and faithful tender engine from China, who pulls passenger coaches. He may not be the biggest tender engine or the strongest, but he once cleverly diverted an accident saving hundreds of passengers. Yong Bao was decorated for his bravery and painted bright red, which is a colour that symbolises celebration and happiness. Painted on his tender is a tiger which incites a sense of awe and admiration. Like Yong Bao, the tiger is full of life and embodies the spirit of being driven to achieve and make progress. These qualities make Yong Bao a Really Useful Engine. Despite being brave and a good example for many Chinese engines, he isn't above having fun.

## Basis

Yong Bao is based on a Chinese Railways RM class 4-6-2 Pacific, which was built by CSR Sifang Co Ltd between 1958 and 1966.

## Livery

Yong Bao is painted Chinese red with yellow stripes on his boiler, cylinders and smoke deflectors and a green running board and buffer beam. His wheels are painted an identical red with white rims. His name is painted on the sides of his cab in Simplified Chinese and the design of a tiger is painted on his tender. He also has a dragon face on the front top of his funnel.

Before he was repainted to honor his bravery, Yong Bao was painted plain navy blue with a grey running board and grey lining. His smoke deflectors were also blank. His wheels were also painted red with white rims similar to his present day livery.

## Trivia

* Yong Bao's name means 'embrace' in Chinese and 'brave treasure' in Mandarin.
* Yong Bao's red livery symbolises celebration and happiness, while the tiger painted on his tender stands for awe and strength.
* Yong Bao has been partially modified to work on British railways; he has been given buffers and a rear screw coupler.
* Yong Bao was originally going to have a number but instead he asked The Chinese Railway Inspector that he wanted to have an emblem on his tender.
The Missing Elephant

**The Missing Elephant** is the thirteenth episode of the sixteenth season, the 366th episode overall and the thirteenth episode of the Original Stories Era of the series.

## Plot

The Vicar raising money at his latest annual fete to build extensions to Wellsworth Hospital. Nia has delivered one of the bigger attractions to the fete: an elephant for paid rides. But after some reckless kids cause trouble, the elephant is on the loose and must be found.

## Characters

* Edward
* Nia
* Trevor
* The Vicar of Wellsworth

## Locations

* St. Tibba’s Hospital
* Wellsworth
* Vicarage Orchard

## Trivia

* This story began its writing stages in 19th November 2020, but it hasn’t been finished yet.
Ulfstead Branch Line

The Ulfstead Branch Line is a line that splits from the North Western Railway's main line at Maron and runs north towards Ulfstead, where it connects with the Skarloey Railway at Ulfstead Castle.

## Route

The line starts at Maron and travels up to The Duke and Duchess of Boxford's Summer House, where there is a small station. The line then splits into a small branch line going to Hiro's Hideout and then, a centre line continuing onto Ulfstead Mine, where Stephen was once trapped in, then Ulfstead Castle, where it joins up with the Skarloey and Estate Railways.
Trucks

**Trucks** is the eighth episode of the fourth season and the 91st episode overall. It is based on the story from the same name from the fourteenth Railway Series book, The Little Old Engine.

## Plot

While returning from a daily inspection, Harold the Helicopter spots a little diesel coming round the mountain. The diesel is Rusty, who has come to help on the Skarloey Railway. Despite Harold's friendliness, Rusty has little time to chat and regards Harold as being cheeky after he says "Well done, cheers, and keep up the good work!" Peter Sam and Sir Handel are glad to see Rusty, but the latter remains his usual grumpy self. The trucks dislike Sir Handel, and relentlessly play tricks on him. This makes him dislike working with them, and has finally become fed up of dealing with trucks. One day, Gordon advises Sir Handel to pretend to be ill; if he was, then he could not shunt trucks.

Sir Handel takes the hint from Gordon of lying about being ill, and he readily does so the next day. With no time to examine Sir Handel, Peter Sam and Rusty are allocated to his trucks. However, Peter Sam does not mind the extra work. They take the trucks to the slate quarry and the incline, a contraption that winches loaded trucks down a steep hill, the leverage pulling empty ones up, ready to be loaded with slate tiles. Peter Sam waits for his full ones at the bottom of the hill. But the loaded trucks mistake him for Sir Handel (despite the empty ones' warning) and break their coupling, zooming down the slope and crashing head-on into Peter Sam. Rusty helps Peter Sam out of the mess, but the damage Peter Sam sustained has cracked his funnel and dented his boiler.

After Sir Handel apologises for the accident, the Thin Controller scolds him for malingering and not warning Peter Sam to stand well back since trucks hate him. He then forces him to do Peter Sam's work and his own as punishment, and Sir Handel then plots his revenge on Gordon.

After the wreckage has been cleared away, Rusty heads back home, spotting Harold again. This time, Rusty mimics Harold from their previous meeting by using his phrase once more, "Well done, cheers, and keep up the good work!"

## Characters

* Gordon
* Sir Handel
* Peter Sam
* Rusty
* Troublesome Trucks
* Harold
* The Thin Controller
* Duke *(cameo)*

## Locations

* Skarloey
* Rheneas Viaduct
* Trestle Bridge
* Crovan's Gate Yards
* Crovan's Gate Sheds
* Rheneas
* Rheneas Slate Quarry

## Trivia

* This episode marks the first appearance of Rusty and Rheneas Slate Quarry in the series, although the slate quarry was mentioned in A Bad Day for Sir Handel.
Too Hot for James

**Too Hot for James** is the seventh episode of the eighth season and the 180th episode overall.

## Plot

It is a hot summer day and Thomas and Toby are taking children to the beach. While James wishes to take children as well, he becomes stuck with the job of helping the ice cream factory produce more ice cream to meet the high demand. At Norramby Beach, it is very hot and the ice cream vendor has quickly run out of ice cream. James is disappointed, but his driver assures him that if they work quickly, there might still be children to take. So after delivering a tanker of raspberry syrup, he rushes off to collect the ingredients.

James collects the cream tanker from the dairy and makes his way to Farmer McColl's farm to collect strawberries. Along the way, he has to stop at the junction of Elsbridge to let Percy's passenger train by (to James' dismay). He soon arrives at the farm, where one of his trucks are loaded with strawberries with a cover to protect them. He thanks the workmen and sets off for Mr. Jolly's Chocolate Factory.

Determined to get his jobs done, James puffs as fast as he can, but he goes too fast and does not give the signalman time to change the points. The points send him onto another line, much to his frustration. Now he must wait for Daisy to pass by, pulling even more children. This makes James cross and more determined than ever. The signalman finally changes the points and James reverses, sending him to the correct line.

At the chocolate factory, the workmen load the other truck with sacks of cocoa powder. James is ready, but the shunter has yet to release the truck's brakes. James puffs so hard that he breaks the coupling, sending cocoa powder everywhere. James is upset; he is sure that he will not be able to take the children. It takes even longer to clear up the mess, and once the shunter releases the brakes, James sets off.

At the ice cream factory, James is dismayed when the manager asks him to take the ice cream once it is ready. However, when he arrives at the beach, everyone cheers at his arrival. James is very confused, and Arthur explains that they have been waiting for their ice cream. Soon, all the children have their ice cream, bringing a smile to James' smokebox, despite him missing out on the job he originally wanted to do. The Fat Controller is there, too, and congratulates James for being really useful.

## Characters

* James
* Arthur
* Daisy
* The Fat Controller
* Thomas *(does not speak)*
* Percy *(does not speak)*
* Farmer McColl *(does not speak)*

## Locations

* Norramby
* Norramby Fishing Village
* Norramby Beach
* Sodor Ice Cream Factory
* Elsbridge
* Crosby Tunnel
* Elsbridge Dairy
* Gordon's Hill
* McColl Farm
* Kellsthorpe Road
* Mr. Jolly's Chocolate Factory
* Ballahoo Beach
* Ballahoo Lighthouse

## Trivia

* This episode originally had Thomas as the lead role. However, the Sodor Stories take on this episode has James as the lead character instead of Thomas. Unlike the official TV Series version of the episode, the goods are covered up to prevent them being contaminated by smoke and ashes.
The World’s Strongest Engine

**The World's Strongest Engine** is the first episode of the sixth season and the 133rd episode overall.

## Plot

Henry ends up having an accident pulling a goods train thanks to some Troublesome Trucks and is sent to the Steamworks to be mended, and the Fat Controller tells the engines that Diesel is the only spare engine available. The engines are not very happy about this, knowing how much trouble Diesel is. Percy and Thomas both hope that Henry is mended soon, claiming Henry moves more trucks than three diesels put together, while Gordon declares that trucks are no one's friends.

The next day, as Diesel is working at the Brendam Docks, he brags to the trucks that the Fat Controller will get rid of steam engines completely once he sees how good Diesel is at shunting trucks. The Troublesome Trucks suddenly have an idea; they begin to tease Diesel, saying how Henry can move more trucks than he can shunt. This makes Diesel cross, so he decides that he will push them all at the same time, claiming himself as the world's strongest engine.

Diesel soon arranges a huge line of ***20*** trucks and couples up to them. But unbeknownst to him, a shunter has put the brakes on the trucks which they know, but still encourage Diesel to push them anyway. But with his efforts to move them, the trucks do not move, so he decides to pull them instead. As he pulls, the trucks sing at him, making Diesel very cross. He pulls even harder, but he pulls so hard that he breaks his coupling from the strain and he runs out of control, falling off the quay and landing onto an empty barge. Diesel is humiliated by the predicament, as all the trucks laugh at him.

Henry (who is now repaired) arrives at the docks with the Fat Controller, who is very cross with Diesel and sends him home in disgrace. He asks Henry to make up for lost time, and Henry reverses to the trucks. After the shunter releases the brakes, Henry pulls away from the docks, pulling the line of trucks easily, and the engines all cheer. Thomas and Percy agree that even trucks can be helpful to the engines sometimes, such as helping to get rid of Diesel.

## Characters

* Thomas
* Henry
* Gordon
* Percy
* Diesel
* Troublesome Trucks
* The Fat Controller
* Toby *(cameo)*
* Duck *(cameo)*
* Donald *(cameo)*
* Oliver *(cameo)*

## Locations

* Arlesburgh West
* Ffarquhar
* Gordon's Hill
* Tidmouth Sheds
* Brendam Docks

## Trivia

* This episode marks Diesel's first appearance since the third season episode, Tender Engines, and the final time he'll be sent away to the Mainland. In the next season, he'll be a permanent resident on the island.
* Diesel mentions the episode's title when he says "That's me. **The world's strongest engine.**"
Two Shovels are Better Than One

**Two Shovels are Better Than One** is the seventh episode of the sixteenth season, the 360th episode overall and the seventh episode of the Original Stories Era of the series.

## Plot

An overnight rain storm had made the Clay Pit walls unstable and had created loads of rockslides. The Pack have been sent over to help clear the lines, where Marion and Ned meet each other for the first time and smile over their similarities and differences.

## Characters

* Bill and Ben
* Timothy
* Marion
* Jack
* Oliver the Excavator
* Ned
* Jenny Packard
* Nelson (does not speak)
* Alfie (does not speak)
* Max and Monty (does not speak)
* Byron (does not speak)
* Porter (mentioned)
* Salty (mentioned)
* Isobella (mentioned)

## Locations

* Sodor China Clay Company
* Sodor Construction Company Yard (mentioned)

## Voice Cast

* James A Williams as The Narrator, the Clay Pits Manager, Bill, Ben, Timothy, Ned, Jack, Oliver and the Foreman,
* Spo0derGlen as Marion
* Liz Productions5974 as Jenny Packard

## Trivia

* Spo0derGlen joins the voice cast.
* This story began its writing stages in 28th June 2020, but wasn’t finished until 1st September 2020.

## References to Other Stories

* This story takes place at the same time as the previous story, A New Job for Isobella. The end scene of this story happens after the end scene of that story.
* Ned tells Marion the events of Mucking About, while Marion tells him the events of Wrong Road.
* When Marion sees Bill and Ben in their milk mess, she says that “ghosts are much scarier than dinosaurs”. This is referencing the time she was scared by giant dinosaur statues in Marion and the Dinosaurs.

## Transcript

Two Shovels Are Better Than One Transcript

## Link to the Story

https://www.deviantart.com/jamesawilliams1996/art/Two-Shovels-Are-Better-Than-One-853870543
Tracy

**Tracy** is an electric tram who works on the Neuchâtel tramway in Switzerland.

## Basis

Tracy is based on Neuchâtel heritage tram Ce 2/2 No. 76.

## Livery

Tracy is painted green with a cream top half and lining. She has white advertising boards on her sides and the number 76 on her front.

## Trivia

* Unlike her basis, which had a single headlamp on its front, Tracy has two headlamps on both sides.
The Search & Rescue Loop Line

The Search & Rescue Line is a loop line that goes south from Killdane, hugging the coast at Killaban and rejoins with the Main Line, west of Kellsthorpe Road.

## History

This line started off as a small branch line for the Sodor Cement Works, but in Season 10, when Sir Bertram Topham Hatt planned on building a Search and Rescue Centre, the line from the Cement Works was extended as a loop line, connecting to Killdane. This was so Belle and Rocky can easily travel west and east of the Railway when necessary.

## Route

The loop line starts as one of the junctions branching off from Killdane. The line goes south of the station, then south-west past the town of Killaban, then it hugs the coast and goes south-east. The Sodor Search and Rescue Centre and it’s boathouse are located further down, until going up north-east, through the Cement Works and reconnects with the Main Line, west of Kellsthorpe Road.
Toby Takes the Road

**Toby Takes the Road** is the twenty-fifth episode of the fourth season and the 108th episode overall. It is based on the story of the same name from the thirty-second Railway Series book, Toby, Trucks and Trouble.

## Plot

Terence takes care of the shunting for Percy while he is at Knapford Harbour, and brags about how he can "go anywhere and do anything". Then one day, Toby is going to the quarry one frosty morning. At the crossing, the earth has swelled over the rails, derailing Toby and creating two long ruts in the road nearby. With some quick thinking on the fireman's part Toby gets back on the rails, and his crew spread some of his ashes to prevent that incident from happening again. The Fat Controller soon finds out, but all he says is that Toby should stick to the railway. Toby happily agrees.

## Characters

* Percy
* Toby
* Terence
* The Fat Controller
* Mavis *(does not speak)*
* Trevor *(mentioned)*

## Locations

* Ffarquhar Yards
* Ffarquhar Sheds
* Ffarquhar Quarry
* The Quarry Tramroad

## Trivia

* The events of this episode was based on a real event on the Wisbech and Upwell Tramway.
Timothy

**Timothy** is a little oil-burning saddle tank engine. After the Clay Pits was hit by a landslide in the fifth season episode, Heroes, The Fat Controller bought Marion to dig the fallen clay into trucks and Timothy to shunt them away to the Docks. Timothy continues to work there after the landslides were cleared and Bill and Ben returned from Ffarquhar Quarry.

## Biography

Timothy is friendly, helpful, and loves being really useful, but can also be naïve and gullible. This can lead him to fall victim to Bill and Ben's tricks. He is also strong-willed and determined, and can be surprisingly witty when he puts his mind to something.

Timothy loves to work at the China Clay Pits with Bill and Ben, but his naivety can sometimes lead to the twins playing tricks on him. Despite this, Timothy just dismisses them as silly and gets on with his job.

Bill and Ben tricked Thomas into taking a train of trucks, unaware that Timothy was on the other end which Timothy claimed was a bit of a funny trick. He gave Thomas some advice about the dangerous crumbling clay pit walls and he also told him not to mind Bill and Ben's tricks so much. Thomas accepted Timothy's advice to be cautious.

Bill and Ben once teased Timothy for being an oil-burning engine instead of a regular coal-burning engine. Timothy started to get upset by this, but ended up having the last laugh when the clay pits ran out of coal. Timothy collected some coal from Brendam Docks and the twins finally apologised for their teasing. Sometime later, the twins sent him on a wild goose chase to Brendam Docks to find them a multi-coloured truck which they claimed that they wanted for doing something important which was one of their usual tricks, causing Timothy to run around the island until he came across a waste truck covered in red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo and violet paint. Salty claimed it to be a "rainbow truck". Timothy took the truck back to the China Clay Pits where Bill and Ben could smell the rubbish inside the truck.

## Basis

Timothy is based on an open cab oil-burning steam engine built by Bell Locomotive Works, Inc. of New York City.

## Livery

Timothy is painted dark blue with red lining and brass fittings. The initials "SCC" are painted on the sides of his water tank in yellow. He also has brass nameplates with his name painted in black on the sides of his oil tank and red curtains in his cab.

## Appearances

### Season 12

* Tale of the Brave
* Timothy and the Rainbow Truck
* No Steam Without Coal
* Spencer’s VIP

### Season 13

* Salty All At Sea (cameo)
* No Help At All

## Trivia

* Timothy has been modified for use on Sodor with screw link couplings, added buffers and brake pipes.
* Timothy is the second oil-burning steam engine to be introduced, following Victor.
The Voice from the Undergrowth

**The Voice from the Undergrowth** is the nineteenth episode of the sixteenth season, the 372nd episode overall and the nineteenth episode of the Original Stories Era of the series.

## Plot

Mike gets into serious trouble, when he rudely rammed himself straight into a cow who was sleeping on the line. As punishment, The Small Controller assigned him to pull passenger trains until he can be trusted again. While waiting at Arlesdale Station, he heard a voice behind some abandoned sheds. Underneath the shrubbery sits an old steam engine-turned-generator, who tells Mike what happens when you become too careless.

## Characters

* Smudger
* Mike
* The Small Controller
* Rex (mentioned)
* Bert (mentioned)

Duke, Stuart, Falcon and Freddie are also lkely to appear.

## Locations

* Arlesdale Railway
* Arlesburgh West
* Arlesdale
* Mid-Sodor Railway
* Arlesdale Sheds

## Trivia

* This story began its writing stages in 22nd June 2020, but wasn’t finished until 23rd November 2020.

## References to Other Stories

* Smudger tells Mike all about how reckless and careless he was on the Mid-Sodor Railway, as displayed in Granpuff, as a warning.
Tender Engines

**Tender Engines** is the seventeenth episode of the third season and the 77th episode overall. It is based on the story Tenders for Henry from the twenty-third Railway Series book, Enterprising Engines.

## Plot

Gordon grows agitated when James and Duck criticise him for taking on too much coal and water. He claims that big engines have big needs and little engines are just annoying. Gordon is impressed when he sees a visitor with two tenders, but soon becomes depressed when Diesel gloats about the diesels' victory over steam engines on the Mainland.

Gordon's mood worsens when Duck and Henry tease him about boiler-ache the next day, but he perks up when the Fat Director assures him that steam engines will never become obsolete on his railway. The Fat Director also mentions that the visitor had two tenders due to the lack of coal and water in between stations on the Mainland; while Gordon feels much better after hearing this, Henry is cross and says that he deserves two tenders for his hard work.

Duck decides to play a trick on Henry with Donald's help and coerces Henry into pulling some spare tenders. Henry is initially delighted, but when he comes to claim them at the end of the day, he finds out that they are old, dirty and filled with boiler sludge. As the other engines watch Henry grudgingly pull his tenders through the station, Gordon teases him with the same joke Henry used earlier.

## Characters

* Henry
* Gordon
* James
* Duck
* Donald
* Diesel
* The Fat Director
* Flying Scotsman *(not named, tenders only, does not speak)*
* Thomas (cameo)
* Edward (cameo)
* Percy (cameo)
* Annie and Clarabel (cameos)
* Bertie (cameo)
* Jem Cole (cameo)
* Big Mickey (faceless, cameo)

## Locations

* Tidmouth
	+ Tidmouth Sheds
	+ Tidmouth Yards
* Vicarstown Yards
* Vicarstown Bridge *(mentioned)*
* The Mainland *(mentioned)*

## Trivia

* Most of Henry's old tenders have "NE" on the sides, indicating that they are North Eastern Railway 4,200 gallon tenders.
* The Flying Scotsman makes an obscured appearance. He is not fully shown until the fifteenth season special, The Great Race.
* This is the first episode where Donald appears without Douglas, and well as the first episode where either of the Scottish twins appears without the other.
The Fogman

**The Fogman** is the eighteenth episode of the sixth season and the 150th episode overall.

## Plot

Misty Valley lies along a branch line, which is often very misty. This is why Cyril (a friendly fog signalman who lives in Misty Valley) earns his keep by putting detonators on the rails to warn the engines of fog and landslides. Thomas enjoys seeing Cyril, and puffing over the blasting caps due to that they make his axles tingle. That evening, the Fat Controller visits the engines at Tidmouth Sheds to tell them that he has acquired an electric foghorn. Once he tries to test it, the ground shakes and the rumble makes a few slates of the sheds' roof fall off. He also says that Cyril will not be needed anymore, and will be given a much needed rest. None of the engines are impressed and Thomas is very disappointed rather than unimpressed to hear this, especially because it sounds very loud and to them, sounds like a tugboat horn.

The foghorn is put on the hillside in Misty Valley, and while Percy is puffing through the valley the following day, the foghorn is sounded (to his displeasure). Ironically, after Percy is out of sight, the vibrations from the foghorn create a landslide, which sweeps onto the track and destroys it in the process. Thomas comes along with a train of building supplies to Callan Castle, and because the horn is broken, he has no idea about the landslide until too late by derailing and stranding himself on the landslide. With Toby and Henrietta soon coming along with some workmen, there is no way of stopping them until Cyril comes to the rescue. He puts down a detonator to warn them, just in the nick of time, or Toby would've crash into Thomas and his wreck otherwise. Once the mess is cleared up and Thomas is safely back on the rails, Cyril is reinstated as Misty Valley's fogman.

## Characters

* Thomas
* Gordon
* James
* Percy
* Toby
* The Fat Controller
* Annie and Clarabel *(do not speak)*
* Henrietta *(does not speak)*
* Henry *(cameo)*

## Locations

* Haultraugh Lighthouse
* Brendam Docks
* Misty Valley
* Tidmouth Sheds
* Callan Castle *(mentioned)*

## Trivia

* This is the 150th episode of the Sodor Stories series.
Three Cheers for Thomas

**Three Cheers for Thomas** is the twenty second and final episode of the seventh season and the 173rd episode overall.

## Plot

Thomas has taken some schoolchildren to Dryaw FC, getting ready for their annual sports day. When they arrive, a boy tells Thomas that he hopes he is number one and wins a medal. Thomas agrees it is magnificent to win a medal and later imagines himself with one around his funnel.

The next morning, Thomas and Bertie are at Ffarquhar Station, when Percy arrives. He tells them he is taking the Fat Controller and the schoolchildren to the venue. Thomas tells him he may have time to see the egg and spoon race there, where children race with eggs balanced on spoons and the winner gets a medal. Thomas tells Percy and Bertie he wishes he could have a medal, and Percy tells him he would have to win a race. Bertie challenges Thomas to a race to the Tidmouth Station, a challenge which Thomas accepts and the race begins.

Bertie edges in front at first, but manages to get stuck behind a parked post van, while Tom Tipper is collecting mailbags at Hackenbeck Station. Thomas then takes the lead. However, he does not keep the lead for long, as he has to stop at Elsbridge to pick up passengers. Bertie regains the lead as he rumbles overhead. Then, Bertie has to stop at some traffic lights near Toryreck and Thomas takes the lead once more.

Thomas is almost at the Tidmouth, when he spots the Dryaw stationmaster waving a red flag and the Fat Controller. He explains that the medals were left behind in his office and asks Thomas to retrieve them. Thomas, no longer caring about the race, puffs away to retrieve the medals.

Down the line, Bertie arrives at Tidmouth having won the race. He waits keenly for Thomas, but he never comes. Thomas is steaming back for the medals. He arrives at Knapford, where the stationmaster gives Thomas' driver the medals. Thomas turns around and arrives at the venue, just in time for the medals to be handed out.

The next day, Thomas is at Ffarquhar Sheds being steamed up, when the Fat Controller and Bertie arrive with a surprise for Thomas; despite him not winning the race this time, a boy gives Thomas his own medal and wraps it around his funnel. The Fat Controller and the boy express their gratitude for Thomas' hard work during sports day and they thought Thomas deserved a medal all for himself. Thomas thanks them for the medal and all the children give him three cheers.

## Characters

* Thomas
* Percy
* Bertie
* Harold
* The Fat Controller
* Tom Tipper *(mentioned)*
* Gordon *(cameo)*
* James *(cameo)*
* Toby *(cameo)*

## Locations

* Knapford
* Dryaw Airfield
* Toby’s Windmill
* Dryaw FC
* Dryaw
* Elsbridge Viaduct
* Ffarquhar
* Hackenbeck
* Elsbridge
* Toryreck
* Tidmouth
* Valley Bridge
* Knapford Bus Depot
* Ffarquhar Sheds

## Trivia

* This is the second time Thomas and Bertie are seen racing, the first being Thomas and Bertie.
Thomas the Jet Engine

**Thomas the Jet Engine** is the tenth episode of the sixth season and the 142nd episode overall.

## Plot

Gordon is boasting about how fast he can go, which none of the other engines care about, when The Fat Controller needs Thomas to deliver a jet engine to Dryaw. So, Thomas now wishes he could go faster than Gordon.

Thomas is very excited when he arrives at Brendam Docks and sees Cranky lowering the jet engine onto the rails. He is soon ready to leave, but Cranky is taking his time. Thomas tells him to hurry up, worried that he would not be able to deliver it on time, but Cranky gets cross because he does not like to be told what to do by an engine when a load needs to be delivered in a hurry. Suddenly, Cranky carelessly turns the jet engine on with his hook. The jet engine starts to whine loudly, and is soon rocketing Thomas along the track. Thomas' driver tries to apply the brakes, but Thomas cannot stop.

Signals are changed and points are switched for the runaway Thomas, who is very excited and soon flies by James, BoCo and Edward, who are all very amazed by the high speed action. When Bertie sees Thomas, he asks him if he would like to have a race, but when Thomas whooshes past him, Bertie quickly reconsiders. Gordon, who is pulling the Express, does not know Thomas is racing on the main line. Soon Thomas whooshes past Gordon, who is very surprised.

At last, the jet engine runs out of fuel and Thomas is back to his normal speed. Still on his way to the jet engine's destination, he steams gently into Knapford and teases Gordon by saying that he is the fastest engine. Henry and James agree, but Percy feels sorry for Gordon and tells the engines that he does not have to go as fast as a jet engine, even though James says that Gordon is full of hot air, and Gordon fumes away.

## Characters

* Thomas
* Henry
* Gordon
* James
* Percy
* Bertie
* Cranky
* The Fat Controller
* Edward *(does not speak)*
* BoCo *(does not speak)*

## Locations

* Knapford
* Brendam Docks
* Brendam School
* Crock’s Scrap Yard
* Suddery
* Wellsworth Vicarage Orchard
* Suddery Junction
* Wellsworth
* Reagh Viaduct
* Crosby
* Crosby Tunnel
* Dryaw *(mentioned)*

## Trivia

* Inspiration for this episode could have come from the rocket-powered rail-sleds used by the United States Air Force.
* This is the first time that Knapford Station is referred to by name rather than "the big station". Also, this marks Knapford's first appearance since the fourth season since it didn't appear in the previous season as it was replaced by Kirk Ronan.