Edward's Exploit

**"Edward's Exploit"** is the twenty-third episode from season two.

Gordon, Henry and James think that Edward should give up and be preserved, but Edward proves how really useful he is when he takes visitors home during a storm.

*“Did you see him straining?"
"Positively painful."
"Just pathetic. He should give up and be preserved before it's too late."
"Shut up! You're all jealous. Edward's better than any of you."
"You're right, Duck. Edward's old but he'll surprise us all.”*
―Henry, James, Gordon, Duck, and BoCo arguing about Edward

## Plot

Bertie gives several visitors a tour across the Island of Sodor and on their last afternoon, Edward prepares them to visit Bill and Ben at the China Clay Works but has trouble starting due to the packed coaches. Henry and James remark on how much Edward is struggling, while Gordon grumbles that it is time for Edward to retire. Duck and BoCo take exception to this and defend him, knowing that Edward is capable of far more than he seems. Finally, Edward manages to start and leaves the station.

When Edward arrives at the junction, the passengers meet Bill and Ben, who enjoy the attention and having their photos taken. The passengers then board the twins' brake vans and travel to the China Clay Works. The visitors have a wonderful day, being very impressed with the clay works as well as Bill and Ben. Afterwards, the passengers return to the junction and board Edward's coaches to head home.

On the way back, the weather turns bad and begins to rain hard. As Edward fights the elements, his sanding gear fails, which forces his fireman to ride out front to manually sand the rails. Then there is worse to come, and as Edward's wheels slip fiercely, something breaks with a shrieking cracking noise and causes him to stop. Edward's crew examine him and find that a crank pin broke, forcing them to remove his siderods. Edward's driver reminds him that they must get the visitors back to the station as soon as possible since they must leave tonight. Edward promises to try.

Edward tries to start, but the heavy coaches and slippery rails prevent him from moving. The passengers become anxious, so Edward's crew make adjustments to the coaches, loosening the couplings so that Edward will be able to pick them up one by one as he does with trucks. Edward cautiously makes another attempt to start, and this time it works. Edward is forced to go slowly, but keeps steady and finally makes it back to the station, where Henry is waiting for him.

The Fat Controller angrily points to the clock, but the passengers are very grateful they made it on time and thank Edward and his crew for all their hard work. Afterwards, Edward wearily returns to the shed. Duck and BoCo make sure Edward is left in peace as Gordon and James remain silent out of respect.

## Characters

* Edward
* Henry
* Gordon
* James
* Duck
* BoCo
* Bill and Ben (*do not speak*)
* Bertie (*stock footage; does not speak*)
* Sir Topham Hatt (*does not speak*)
* The Enthusiasts (*do not speak*)
* Jeremiah Jobling (*cameo*)
* One Little Boy (*cameo*)
* The Ffarquhar Stationmaster and his Wife (*cameos*)
* One of the stone-dropping boys (*cameo*)
* One Naughty Boy (*cameo*)
* Jem Cole (*cameo*)

## Locations

* Knapford
* Tidmouth Sheds
* Lower Suddery
* Knapford Harbour
* Sodor China Clay Company
* Crosby
* C&B Barber
* The Drain
* Hackenbeck Tunnel (*stock footage*)

## Trivia

* This episode is based on the story of the same name from The Railway Series book, Main Line Engines.
* Stock footage from Thomas and Bertie and Bertie's Chase is used.
* A deleted scene shows Henry in the sheds instead of James. In addition, Henry was wearing his surprised or spooked face that was not used on-screen until the fourth season episode, Fish.
* When this episode appeared on the Thomas, Percy and the Dragon and Other Stories DVD, the last scene of the episode was cut. Instead, as this episode was the last one featured, the scene is used as a still image while the credits play.
* In the US, this episode aired before The Diseasel; this means that American viewers would not have known who Bill, Ben, and BoCo were, despite the twins first being seen and not named in Percy Takes the Plunge.
* In the television adaptation, James is smiling when he sees Edward struggling, but in the Random House book, he is cross.
* Mrs. Kyndley's Cottage appears at Suddery.
* In the original story, Edward's left side was severely battered during the return run. This was not done in the adaptation, most likely to keep Edward's model from being damaged.
* This episode marks the last of several things:
	+ The last appearance of the orange branch line coaches that are not Annie and Clarabel to date.
	+ The last appearance of the Enthusiants to date.
	+ The last second season episode not narrated by Ringo Starr in the US.
	+ The last episode to have a character say "Shut up!" as opposed to "Be quiet!" until Thomas and the Magic Railroad.
	+ The last appearance of Crosby until the fifth season episode Bye George!
* This episode marks Bill and Ben's only non-speaking roles in the second season.
* Going by release order, this is the first second season episode that is not re-narrated by Ringo Starr for Shining Time Station in the US, as well as the first series two episode narrated by George Carlin in said show.
* This episode aired individually on 20th August 1991 when shown for the 1991 repeats on Children’s ITV
* Every episode between this one and Thomas and the Missing Christmas Tree were not included for the 1989 double bills as the series was discontinued after The Diseasel/Wrong Road.

## Goofs

* When the engines watch Edward struggle, Edward, Gordon, and BoCo's eyebrows are missing. Also, the back roof of Knapford is missing.
* In the close-up of Gordon, the man next to him has blu-tack under his feet.
* When BoCo says "You're right, Duck!" his face mask moves a little.
* In a close-up of Edward struggling to pull his train, his second front wheel is derailed.
* When Edward leaves Knapford, the last coach's paint is peeling up.
* When Duck says, "Edward's better than any of you," a steam platform is visible underneath Edward.
* The first coach of Edward's train has a loose running board.
* In one shot, BoCo's angry face is missing the eyebrows.
* Fingerprints are visible in the dust on top of Bill and Ben's brake vans.
* When Bill and Ben arrive at the quarry, someone on the back of Bill's brake van wobbles.
* In the close-up of Edward's driving wheels without the siderods, some of the stickers used for Edward's lining are badly torn up.
* In the shot of inside Edward's cab when his driver says "Well done, boy. You've got them! You've Got them!" you can see the reflection of a crew member's face and beard in the window.
* When Edward enters his berth at Tidmouth Sheds, BoCo's shed doors are hanging off. In the same shot, Gordon's eyes are wonky.
* When Edward pulls into Knapford alongside Henry, blue wires are visible on his and Henry's running board, near their headlamps. Also, blu-tack is visible under Sir Topham Hatt.
* Edward mysteriously gains headlamps when he reaches Knapford.
* In the close-up of Edward's fireman sanding the track, Edward is not moving.
* When Edward says "I'll try, sir," the end of the set can be seen behind him.
* As Edward begins to the visitors back home and the weather changes, it is still sunny while thunder sound effects are heard.
* In the shots of Edward arriving at Knapford at night and later backing into his berth at Tidmouth Sheds, his siderods are back on.

## Quotes

* *[Edward struggles to pull his train]*
* **Henry**: Did you see him straining?
* **James**: Positively painful.
* **Gordon**: Just pathetic! He should give up and be preserved before it's too late!
* **Duck**: Shut up! You're all jealous. Edward's better than any of you!
* **BoCo**: You're right, Duck. Edward's old but he'll surprise us all.
* **Edward**: *[finally puffs out of Knapford]* I've done it! We're off! I've done it! We're off!

\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_

* *(after hearing a nasty cracking noise, Edward's crew inspect and repair the suspected damage)*
* **Driver:** One of your crankpins broke, Edward. We've taken your siderods off. Now you're like an old-fashioned engine. Can you get these people home? They must start back tonight.
* **Edward:** I'll try, sir.
* *(Edward tries to start but his wheels slip and the train does not move; the passengers get anxious so Edward's crew adjust the coaches' couplings)*
* **Driver**: We've loosened the couplings, Edward. Now you can pick up your coaches one by one, just as you do with trucks/freight cars.
* **Edward**: That'll be much easier. *(starts moving slowly)* Come on!
* *(he moves cautiously forward, with the first coach moving helped to start the second, and then the third)*
* **Edward:** *(finally resumes at his regular speed)* I've done it, I've done it!
* **Driver:** Steady boy! Well done, boy! You've got them, you've got them!
* **Narrator:** And he listened happily to Edward's steady beat, as he forced slowly but surely ahead.

## Home Media Releases

UK
* The Deputation and Other Stories
* The Best of Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends
* Thomas Gets Bumped and 17 Other Stories
* Ghost Train and other stories/Time for Trouble and other stories
* The Complete Series 2
* Fun Time Favourites
* Chad Valley Video
* Edward's Exploit

DVD Boxsets
* Classic Collection

US
* Thomas, Percy and the Dragon and Other Stories
* Thomas & Friends Classic Volume 2

DVD Packs
* Thomas and the Treasure/Thomas, Percy and the Dragon and Other Stories **Double Feature**
* On-the-Go Pack
* Totally Thomas Volume 7

JPN
* Thomas the Tank Engine Volume 11
* Best of James and Edward
* The Complete Works of Thomas the Tank Engine 1 Vol.5
* Toby and Edward the Little Engines
* The Best Collection
* The Complete DVD Box 1

AUS
* The Deputation and other Stories
* The Complete Series 2
* My First Thomas with Toby and Edward

DVD Boxsets
* Complete Series 1-10
* Classic Collection
* Series One and Series Two **Double Pack**

NZ
* The Deputation and Other Stories
* Bumper Video Collection Volume 3

NOR
* Anniversary
* Ghost Train

IND
* Pop Goes the Diesel and Other Stories

SER
* Thomas the Tank Engine 5

HRV
* Better Late than Never

MYS
* Edward's Exploit and Other Thomas Adventures
* The Deputation and Other Adventures

SA
* Volume 4 (VHS)

GER
* Thomas and His Friends Vol. 5
* It's Great to be a Locomotive!

DVD Boxsets
* Thomas and His Friends Box Set 1

PHL
* Edward's Exploit

MYS
* The Deputation and Other Adventures

UKR
* A Train Thomas and Friends

ITA
* The Brave Locomotive

ROM
* Thomas Comes to Breakfast

DVD Packs
* Triple Pack 2

CHN
* Thomas and Friends Season 1-4

HK
* Thomas and Friends Volume 5 (VCD)
* Thomas and Friends Volume 12 (DVD)

THA
* Thomas and Friends 7