Spic and Span

**Spic and Span** is the twelfth episode of the eighth season and the 185th episode overall.

## Plot

The railway staff are busy preparing for the arrival of the Railway Inspector, checking signals, scrubbing platforms and making sure the railway looks its best. Eventually, the day of his arrival comes. Percy asks what a Railway "Inspectacles" does, to which Gordon corrects him as Railway *Inspector*. Thomas explains that the Railway Inspector comes every year to make sure everything looks "spic and span." The Fat Controller tells his engines that the inspector will give a special prize to the best turned out engine this year, so he wants his engines to look their best. Thomas and Percy become excited and wonder if they can win, but Gordon, Henry and James are very confident that they will win first prize instead, since Gordon is an Express engine, Henry has green wheels and James is a splendid red engine. Thomas tells Percy not to listen to them, and that a really useful engine can look as grand as any engine.

That afternoon, Thomas and Percy are working at Ffarquhar Quarry, collecting stone to take to Knapford Harbour. However, Thomas gets covered in stone dust. Percy is worried that Thomas will not win first prize, but Thomas knows he just needs a good washdown, so he sets off to get cleaned. Henry is already at the washdown, so Thomas asks him to hurry up so he can be cleaned, too. Henry tells him that there is no need for him to be cleaned; he will be the grandest at the inspection. Thomas is cross, so he leaves to help Percy with the stone trucks, still confident in winning first prize.

Thomas and Percy deliver the stone trucks to the docks, where Thomas sees the Fat Controller with the Railway Inspector examining Knapford Harbour. Realizing he is still dirty, Thomas rushes back to the washdown, only to find James there ahead of him. Like Henry, James boasts to Thomas that there is no point in him being clean; he will be the shiniest at the inspection. Thomas begins to lose confidence, but he still wants to win first prize, so he heads off to finish his job with Percy.

Back at the docks, Thomas helps Percy with shunting the stone trucks into the sidings; by now, Percy is also dirty, and Thomas is dirtier than ever, so they both head for the washdown. This time, Gordon is there, having just finished being cleaned. Thomas notices how splendid Gordon looks, and then James and Henry arrive. Henry's wheels are shinier than ever, and James' paint sparkles in the sun. Seeing how splendid all three bigger engines look, Thomas is sure he will never win now and gives up hope. Percy knows that with a good washdown, they still have a chance. In no time, Thomas and Percy are being cleaned. Percy is happy, but Thomas is sad, as he now believes that the bigger engines were right; he will never look as splendid as they do.

James, Henry, and Gordon arrive at the Kirk Ronan Coal Mine, where the Fat Controller and the Railway Inspector will meet them. They complement how the sunlight makes them sparkle, shine and glimmer. Trying to find the sunniest place in the yard, James reverses, only to bump into a flatbed. The flatbed accidentally knocks into a lever, releasing the hatch on the coal hopper. James did not realize his mistake until it is too late. Suddenly, coal begins pouring onto the tracks and coal dust spreads all over Gordon, James, and Henry. Now, they are not gleaming and shiny anymore.

The Fat Controller and the Railway Inspector soon arrive, but they are shocked and cross to see the three engines so dirty. Gordon attempts to clean out his funnel, only to send coal shooting out into the air which lands all over the Fat Controller, his assistants and the Railway Inspector. Just then, Thomas and Percy arrive, now looking spic and span. The Railway Inspector is so impressed with Thomas and Percy's appearance, saying they are just what engines should look like. The two little engines both win first prize, having each received special rosettes. Thomas tells Percy he is glad he convinced him to come to the inspection, and Percy tells Thomas that he was right; a really useful engine can look as grand as any engine.

## Characters

* Thomas
* Henry
* Gordon
* James
* Percy
* The Fat Controller
* Railway Inspector

## Locations

* Tidmouth Sheds
* Crosby
* Knapford Yards
* Maron
* Hackenbeck
* Ffarquhar Quarry
* Elsbridge Road Viaduct
* Knapford Harbour
* Kirk Ronan Coal Mine

## Trivia

* The official TV series version had originally had Emily a role in the episode as she was seen with Gordon and James as one of the tender engines that wanted to be splendid for the inspector's arrival. However, in the Sodor Stories take on this episode, Henry has the role instead of Emily.