Bulldog

**Bulldog** is the third episode of the fourth season and the 86th episode overall. It is based on the story of the same name from the twenty-fifth Railway Series book, Duke the Lost Engine.

## Plot

One morning, Percy is feeling very impatient. He has a new coat of paint and is very eager to show it off and complains that his driver is late. Gordon, Henry and James remind him the driver is not late, rather Percy is awake early. Thomas assures Percy it will soon be time for work, but warns him not to be impatient; otherwise, he may run into danger and Duke will not be there to save him. The other engines are surprised to hear their hero mentioned and Thomas decides to tell them a story his driver told him.

Long ago on the Mid Sodor Railway, back when Peter Sam and Sir Handel were still originally called Stuart and Falcon, they worked alongside Duke. One day, the manager came along and told Falcon - who was still new and had a lot to learn - that he was pleased with his work but now wanted the engine to learn about the Mountain Road, which was a difficult part of the line. The next day, Falcon would get a new coat of paint, then go on the Mountain Road with Duke to double-head a train. Falcon was not impressed that he was having to work with Duke, who he considered a fusspot.

The next day, Duke told Falcon he would head the train since the Mountain Road was tricky to travel over. Falcon refused and insisted on going in front, since he needed to learn the line and Duke would block the view. Duke warned Falcon not to admire the view since he needed to watch the track and also tried to slow them down to keep them safe, but Falcon ignored Duke and thought he was fussing over nothing.

Soon, the engines approached a curved tunnel, which Falcon disliked. He rushed through the tunnel and while everything initially seemed normal, he suddenly derailed and dangled precariously over the edge of a cliff. Duke held on to Falcon for dear life, as their crews quickly worked to anchor the two engines to the line. However, Duke's fireman found another problem; Duke was low on water. Luckily for them, a workman's cottage was nearby and all the passengers assisted in fetching water. Duke's tank was soon refilled, and he managed to build up enough steam to pull Falcon clear off the edge and back onto the track.

The manager was waiting for the train at the top station, and when Duke and Falcon arrived, the passengers told him that Duke was a hero who stood firm like a bulldog and would not let go of Falcon, who thanked Duke for saving him, especially as he had been so rude to him. Duke was modest and told Falcon that it would have been a shame if his new coat of paint had been spoilt.

## Characters

* Thomas
* Henry
* Gordon
* James
* Percy
* Duke
* Falcon/Sir Handel
* The Mid Sodor Railway Manager
* Duck *(cameo)*
* Peter Sam/Stuart *(does not speak)*

## Locations

* Tidmouth Sheds
* Arlesdale
	+ Arlesdale Shed
	+ River Arle
* The Mountain Road
* Ulfstead Road

## Trivia

* This episode is based on what happened on the Ffestiniog Railway when Duke's counterpart Prince double-headed with an 0-4-0 tank engine (now a 2-4-0 tender engine) named Linda who derailed at what is now known as Linda's Leap.
* The scenes in which the passengers fill up Duke's tank with water using pots and pans from a nearby cottage is possibly inspired by the 1953 film, *The Titfield Thunderbolt*, in which they do the same.
* The title is a reference to the symbolic dog breed of the United Kingdom. Even the quote "[Duke] stood firm like a Bulldog and wouldn't let go" comes from the stereotype of the type of dogs called bull breeds in which they are said not to let go of something they bite.