Donald’s Duck

**Donald's Duck** is the eighth episode of the third season and the 68th episode overall. It is based on the story of the same name from the 24th Railway Series book, Oliver the Western Engine.

## Plot

Duck the Great Western Engine works very hard on the Island of Sodor. Whether he is pulling coaches, taking trucks or shunting in the yard, he always does the work quickly and without complaint. One day, the Fat Director comes to see Duck to thanking him for all the hard work he has done. He then asks him if he would like to have his own branch line, which Duck happily accepts.

Taking charge of his new line, Duck is happy at being given such a big responsibility. He finds it to be quite scenic, running along the coast and into a port where ships dock. Duck very much enjoys exploring the new line as well as being close to the sea, remarking that it is just like being on holiday and is soon busier than ever before. The Fat Director is building some new sheds at Tidmouth Hault, and Duck helps out with the construction along with the other engines, while his passengers are looked after by Bertie. Although it is a long job, everyone helping means that the shed will be finished on time.

Duck is still feeling the importance of his new responsibilities and enjoys talking about them. One night in the shed, he starts telling Donald how important he is to the line now. Donald is sleepy, but when Duck carries on, Donald - at the end of his tether - mocks him by making quacking noises and saying Duck sounds like he laid an egg. Duck is offended by this joke and tells his crew about it the next day. Duck's fireman has a plan to pay Donald back, and he tells Duck and the driver. They all agree, but soon Duck is back at work and nothing else is said. That night, however, when Donald goes to sleep, Duck's crew drop something into the Scottish engine's water tank.

The next morning when Donald stops for water, his crew are astounded when a white duckling pops out of his tank. Donald sees the funny side of the joke, and the duckling is friendly towards him and the crew and is allowed to ride in his tender despite the other engines often teasing him about her. The duckling soon tires of traveling and hops off at a station which is where she ends up staying.

That night, Donald's crew decides to pay Duck back, and next morning, the driver and fireman find an egg in a nest box under the Great Western Engine's bunker. Donald jokes that Duck must have laid it in the night, and Duck agrees that Donald has won. The duckling enjoys swimming and playing in a pond near her station where she can see the engines going past. The stationmaster calls her Dilly, but to everyone else, she will always be Donald's duck.

## Characters

* Percy
* Duck
* Donald
* The Fat Director
* Bertie *(does not speak)*
* Thomas *(cameo)*
* James *(cameo)*
* Douglas *(cameo)*

## Locations

* Knapford Yards
* Tidmouth Sheds
* Tidmouth Hault
* Haultraugh Beach
* Alresburgh Harbour
* Bluff’s Cove
* Tidmouth Hault Sheds
* Haultraugh
* Dilly's Pond
* Knapford *(mentioned)*

## Trivia

* The name of this episode is based off a pun of the famous Disney character, Donald Duck.
* The narrator mentions the episode’s title when he says, "But to anyone else, she is always **Donald's duck**."
* This episode marks the first appearance of Arlesburgh Harbour, Bluff’s Cove and Haultraugh station in the series, as well as Duck’s Branch Line in general.