Spic and Span

***Spic and Span*** is the ninth episode of the eighth series.

## Plot

The railway staff were busy preparing for the arrival of the Railway Inspector, checking signals, scrubbing platforms, and making sure the railway looked it’s best. Eventually, the day of his arrival came. Dennis asked what a Railway "Inspectacles" was, to which Diesel 10 corrects him as the Railway Inspector. Diesel explains that the Railway Inspector comes every year to make sure everything looked "spic and span." The Fat Controller tells the engines that the inspector would give a special prize to the best clean engine this year, so he wanted his engines to look their best. Diesel and Dennis become excited and wonder if they could win, but Diesel 10, Daisy and D199 were very confident that they would win first prize instead, since Diesel 10 was an Express Diesel, Daisy being a diesel railcar, and D199 was a splendid blue and yellow diesel. Diesel tells Dennis not to listen to them and that a really useful engine could look as grand as any engine.

That afternoon, Diesel and Dennis were working at the quarry collecting stone to take to Brendam Docks. However, Diesel gets covered in stone dust. Dennis was worried that Diesel won’t win first prize, but Diesel knew he just needed a good washdown, so he sets off to get cleaned. But as he got there, Daisy was already at the washdown, so Diesel asked her to hurry up so he could be cleaned too. Daisy told him that there was no need for him to be cleaned, as she would be the grandest at the inspection. Diesel was cross, so he leaves to help Dennis with the stone trucks, still confident in winning first prize.

Diesel and Dennis delivered the stone trucks to the docks, where Diesel saw the Fat Controller with the Railway Inspector examining the Docks. Realizing he was still dirty, Diesel rushed back to the washdown, only to find D199 there ahead of him. Like Daisy, D199 boasted to Diesel that there was no point in him being clean as he would be the shiniest at the inspection. Diesel began to lose confidence, but he still wanted to win first prize, so he heads off to finish his job with Dennis.

Back at the docks, Diesel helped Dennis shunt the stone trucks into the sidings. By now, Dennis was also dirty, and Diesel was more dirtier than ever, so they both headed for the washdown. This time, Diesel 10 was there, having just finished being cleaned. Diesel noticed how splendid Diesel 10 looked, and then D199 and Daisy arrived. Daisy’s Windows were shinier than ever, and D199's paint sparkled in the sun. Seeing how splendid all three big diesels looked, Diesel was sure he would never win now and gives up hope. Dennis knew that with a good washdown, they would still have a chance. In no time, Dennis and Diesel were being cleaned. Dennis was happy, but Diesel was sad, as he now believed that the bigger diesels were right: He would never look as splendid as they did.

D199, Daisy and Diesel 10 arrived at the coaling plant, where the Fat Controller and the Railway Inspector would be meeting them. They complemented how the sunlight made them sparkle, shine, and glimmer. Trying to find the sunniest place in the yard, D199 reverses, only to accidentally bump into a flatbed. Then flatbed accidentally knocked into a lever, releasing the hatch on the coal hopper. D199 realized his mistake, but it was too late. Suddenly, coal began pouring onto the tracks and coal dust spread all over Daisy, D199 and Diesel 10. Now, they weren’t gleamy and shiny anymore.

The Fat Controller and the Railway Inspector soon arrived, but they were shocked and cross to see the three engines so dirty. When Diesel 10 tried to clean out his vents, sends coal shooting out into the air, which landed all over the Fat Controller, his bodyguards, and the Railway Inspector. Just then, Dennis and Diesel arrived, now looking spic and span. The Railway Inspector was impressed with Diesel and Dennis' appearances, saying they were just what engines should look like. The two little diesels both won first prize, having each received special rosettes. Diesel told Dennis he was glad he convinced him to come to the inspection, and Dennis told Diesel that he was right; a really useful engine could look as grand as any engine.

## Characters

* Diesel
* Diesel 10
* Diesel 199
* Dennis
* Sir Topham Hatt
* The Black Suited Railway Inspector
* Class 40 (*cameo*)
* Express Coaches (*cameos*)
* Allicia Botti (*cameo*)

## Trivia

* This episode has a similarly to the thirteenth episode from the eighth series of *Thomas & Friends* with the same name.