Top of the Class

**Top of the Class** is the seventh episode of Season 3 and twenty-eighth overall.

## Synopsis

The disgraced Class 40 returns to Sodor after being purchased by Sir Robert Norramby, much to his chagrin. However, he starts to grow overconfident when he is much more reliable than his first visit and begins getting an even larger ego than before about being a “champion of diesel-kind”.

## Characters

* Thomas
* Henry
* Gordon
* James
* Duck
* Emily
* Murdoch
* Molly
* Neville
* Hiro
* Charlie
* Stephen
* Connor
* Caitlin
* Porter
* Diesel
* Class 40
* 'Arry and Bert
* Diesel 10
* Salty
* Den
* Dart
* Paxton
* Sidney
* Norman
* Annie and Clarabel
* Troublesome Trucks
* Sir Topham Hatt
* Sir Robert Norramby
* Stepney (*does not speak*)
* The Inspector (*does not speak*)
* Percy (*cameo*)
* Donald (*cameo*)
* Oliver (*cameo*)
* Harvey (*cameo*)
* Ryan (*cameo*)
* Merlin (*cameo*)
* The Mainland Diesels (*cameo*)
* Frankie (*cameo*)
* D199 (*cameo*)
* Winston (*cameo*)
* Toad (*cameo*)
* Cranky (*cameo*)
* Carly (*cameo*)
* Big Mickey (*cameo*)
* Larry (*post-credits scene; cameo*)
* Dennis (*deleted scene*)
* Millie (*deleted scene, cameo*)

## Cast

* EpicLafiteau as Thomas, Charlie, Sidney and Troublesome Trucks
* OvalFrankie as Henry
* Fantastic Mr. S as Gordon and Den
* MainlandStudios as James, Stephen and Troublesome Trucks
* Chase the Ferroequinologist as Duck, Diesel, ‘Arry, Bert, Norman and Troublesome Trucks
* ButterflyCoffee as Emily and Caitlin
* Simple as Murdoch and Hiro
* Rosiethecutie1995 as Molly
* FizzledFirebox as Neville
* TheEngineShed as Connor
* Steven Garcia118 as Porter
* Joey Turner as Class 40
* SilverBand7 as Diesel 10
* Elliot KW as Salty and Dart
* Jonathan Asiamah as Paxton
* Liz Productions5784 as Annie and Clarabel
* Papa Mainland as Sir Topham Hatt
* Crane Engine Studios as Sir Robert Norramby

## Trivia

* The original version of the story was written back on January 11th, 2016. The new version was finished on July 20th, 2022.
* Despite releasing after How Diesel 10 Stole Christmas, this story was meant to take place before it. The stories were swapped to allow How Diesel 10 Stole Christmas to release during the holiday season.
* With thirty-one characters having speaking roles, this episode has the single largest speaking cast of any non-special Thomas episode.
* Joey Turner and FizzledFirebox join the voice cast.
* The Inspector reuses Mr. Renchmore's model.
* The Al Oft blimp from *Cars* can be heard in the Dieselworks scene saying "Oh yeah! Woo!" while the diesels cheer.
* Sound effects used in *Ed, Edd & Eddy* can be heard during Class 40's runaway.
* Class 40 says "I think I can, I think I can" from *The Little Engine Who Could* as he strains up the hill.
* Several characters were cut from the episode:
	+ Dennis was originally intended to be included as a part of the crowd in the first Dieselworks scene, and his lines were even recorded. However, there was no room to put him on the set so he was cut from the episode.
	+ Millie appeared in the 2023 Channel Trailer video alongside Class 40 in test footage before the actual episode was filmed. This test shot was not replicated in the final episode, and Millie did not end up appearing outside of it.
* Class 40's theme throughout the episode is a rearrangement of "Out of the Woods (Day)" from *Wario Land 3,* originally composed by Kozue Ishikawa.
* Title drops: Diesel 10 tells Class 40 that he is "top of the class". Class 40 then calls himself that throughout the rest of the episode.

## Goofs

* Class 40's tankers change from fuel to oil in one scene.
* Some of the trucks move around or change loads in several scenes.
* Class 40's air vent cover is seen removed in a few scenes.

## References to the Official Show

* Class 40 is nicknamed "Bowler" throughout the episode and several references to his incident in *Bowled Out* with the inspector's bowler hat are mentioned.
* Class 40 sings a rendition of "Somebody Has to be the Favorite" after he cuts off Emily.

## Story Impact

* It is revealed that the Earl has obtained joint-ownership of Connor and Caitlin for passenger services some time in the past, and he now owns Class 40 for goods work.
* Merlin, Duck and Hiro are seen bringing supplies such as rails, steel beams, electric poles and cable reels. Construction at Killdane (for *Basil & The Electric Railway*) is starting.