Diesel Does it Again

**Diesel Does it Again** is the fifth episode of the third season and the 65th episode overall. It is based on the magazines stories Trouble in the Harbour Yard and Bumps.

## Plot

Duck and Percy enjoy their work at the dock yards pulling trucks to and from the quay, but the docks is becoming busier than usual and the engines feel exhausted. The Fat Director understands this and promises that another engine will come and help out. Percy and Duck are very glad to hear this and wait, but their relief turns to shock when the engine sent to help turns out to be Diesel. The two engines ask him what he is doing at the Docks, to which Diesel tells them that he is to shunt some dreadfully tiresome trucks and to make himself clear, he bumps some trucks hard.

Percy and Duck do not trust Diesel and refuse to work with him, not leaving their shed. The Fat Director is in his office enjoying his tea and iced bun when he gets a call on the telephone from the dock manager saying that there is trouble at the dock yard. Diesel is working alone, and as a result, the work starts to pile up as the cargo and passengers are delayed on the quay. People soon start complaining about the railway.

The Fat Director arrives and demands an explanation from Percy and Duck and they explain that they will not work with Diesel. Duck added that he thought he sent Diesel packing after their rivalry and when Diesel told lies about him. The Fat Director tells the two that he has to give Diesel a second chance as he was the only engine available and is trying to help Percy and Duck out by bringing him to the docks, demanding that the two go back to work. With no choice, Percy and Duck do as they are told.

Next morning, things are no better. Diesel's driver did not properly put his brakes on the night before and he bumps straight into Percy, frightening him and doesn't apologise. Later, Diesel bumps some trucks so hard that the loads spill everywhere. Percy and Duck are worried as to what the Fat Director will say, but they do not tell him after Diesel threatens to brand them as telltales if they do.

The following day, Diesel (thinking he can get away with anything) becomes increasingly rude while he shunts some China Clay Trucks. He accidentally bangs the trucks through a set of unsecured buffers, sinking them into the sea. Though dock workers safely recover the empty trucks from the ocean later that night, the china clay is unfortunately gone, and the Fat Director is furious with Diesel upon hearing the news. He tells Diesel that he will be expelled for good, before he tells Duck and Percy that they will have to handle all the work by themselves again. Knowing that extra work is preferable to working with Diesel, Percy and Duck gladly go back to work as Diesel slinks away in disgrace.

## Characters

* Percy
* Duck
* Diesel
* Troublesome Trucks
* The Fat Director
* Edward *(cameo)*
* James *(cameo)*

## Locations

* Brendam Docks
* Sir Topham Hatt's Office

## Trivia

* The reason Percy is working with Duck at Brendam is that this episode and the next one, All At Sea, take place during the week when Thomas’ branch line is being repaired and inspected, in the previous episode Thomas Gets Bumped.
* A flashback of the scene where Diesel pushes the trucks into the water was later made for Diesel's Ghostly Christmas and the events were also mentioned by Salty.