Class 40 and the Elephant

***Class 40 and The Elephant*** is the fourth episode from the fourth series.

## Plot

One morning, Diesel arrived at the junction. The Fat Controller was there and, after checking his watch, he tells Diesel he was right on time and really reliable, making Diesel and his coaches happy. However, Diesel 10, Class 40 and D199 were in a bad mood. Dennis was nowhere to be found and so they were forced to collect their own coaches. D199 decides to take out his anger on Class 40 and mocks him about his fear of the rain. Class 40 retorts that D199 looked silly enough to be a clown and that he belongs in a circus, which leads Dennis - who has just arrived - to believe the engines have heard about how the circus has come to town. He explains that he had been helping to shunt the special trucks and coaches on the Fat Controller's request and that the bigger engines are needed too. The big engines soon forget to be tired and cross and eagerly help out. When it is time for the circus to leave, D199 was given the task of pulling the train away, making Diesel 10 & Class 40 cross once again.

Later that day, the Fat Controller informs Class 40 that a tunnel was blocked and asks him to take some workmen to investigate. Class 40 arrives at the tunnel - grumbling all the way - and the workmen enter to examine the blockage. A few moments later, they quickly run out in horror. One explains to the foreman that the blockage is alive and they refused to go back inside. The foreman does not believe them and decides to ride in the trucks and have Class 40 push it out. Class 40 - horrified of the idea of being stuck in a tunnel with something big and alive - protests this decision; his driver agrees, but the line had to be cleared.

Class 40 reluctantly and fearfully enters the tunnel with the trucks he brought the workmen in, only for the blockage to push him back out again. Both Class 40 and the foreman are surprised to discover the "blockage" is a large, cross elephant that had escaped from the circus. The workmen offer the elephant some cake and water to calm him down. However, Class 40 accidentally startles the elephant by letting off black smoke, causing him to spray Class 40 with water. The elephant was soon reunited with his keeper, but Class 40 is humiliated by what happened.

That evening, Class 40 tells the other engines what happened. Although Diesel 10 and D199 felt sorry for Class 40, they continue to tease him. Diesel however, praises Class 40 for his bravery and how well he handled the situation.

## Characters

* Diesel
* Class 40
* Diesel 10
* Diesel 199
* Dennis
* Express Coaches
* Sir Topham Hatt
* The Elephant Keeper (*cameo*)
* Class 08 (*cameo*)
* Mrs. Kyndley (*cameo*)
* One Little Boy (*cameo*)
* Cranky (*cameo*)

## Trivia

* The episode is based off the nineteenth episode of the fourth series from *Thomas & Friends*, Henry and the Elephant.
* A reference to the first series episode, The Sad Story of Class 40 is made.
* The models of Izzy Gomez and S.S. Vienna from TUGS appear.
* This episode marks Brendam Docks' first and final appearance without Big Mickey, as he would be introduced in the next series premiere, Big Mickey Bugs.