Edward’s Exploit

**Edward's Exploit** is the twenty-sixth episode of the second season and the 56th episode overall. It is based on the story of the same name from the twenty-first Railway Series book, Main Line Engines.

## Plot

Bertie has been giving several railway enthusiasts a tour across the Island of Sodor and on their last afternoon, Edward prepares to take them to visit Bill and Ben, but has trouble starting due to the packed coaches and is made fun of by Henry and James for how much he is struggling, while Gordon grumbles that it is time for Edward to retire. Duck and BoCo take exception to this and defend him, telling the big engines that Edward is superior to all of them, 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 enthusiasts meet Bill and Ben, who enjoy the attention and having their photos taken. The visitors then board the twins' brake vans and travel to the China Clay Pits. The visitors have a wonderful day, being very impressed with the place as well as the twins. Afterwards, the twins with 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 on the running board and manually sand the rails by hand. But there is worse to come; without warning, Edward's wheels suddenly slip fiercely, which leads to something breaking with a shrieking crack and forces him to stop. Edward's crew examine him and find a broken crankpin, forcing them to remove his side rods. His driver reminds Edward 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 his train and the slippery rails prevent him from moving. The passengers become anxious, so Edward's crew and the guard make more adjustments; they loosen the couplings between the carriages 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 Director angrily points to the clock, but he is swept aside by the cheerful passengers who 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)*
* The Fat Director *(does not speak)*
* Bertie *(does not speak)*
* Jeremiah Jobling *(cameo)*

## Locations

* Hackenbeck Tunnel
* Knapford Station
* Wellsworth Station
* Brendam Docks
* The Drain
* Sodor China Clay Company
* Suddery Hill
* Crosby
	+ C&B Barber
* Tidmouth Sheds

## Trivia

* This episode is based on a real event of what happened to the crosshead assembly of a BR Standard Class 7 (No. 70052 Firth of Tay to be exact), who was pulling an express train near Settle, North Yorkshire on the 21st of January 1960.
* Unlike the official TV Series version of the episode, the Sodor Stories version does feature Edward’s splashers severely battered when his crankpin breaks. This is to make Edward’s situation all the more difficult for him and therefore, all the more impactful when he makes it home.