Season 4 Episode 23: Paint Pots and Queen

Gordon and Thomas are heading back home after Thomas had his accident. This episode takes place back in time after Down In The Mine. It is confusing. The two discuss their own going teasing each other. They both wish to be in the good graces of The Fat Controller once again. 

They arrive at the sheds to see that a clown has exploded on it. 

So long Bozo

The Fat Controller announces that The Queen is arriving to have a visit with the engines. The engines debate on who is going to pull her train. 

Edward immediately assumes that he is too old. (Hey Edward, I like old men) Gordon declares he is in disgrace. James pipes in with, it will be him. Henry steams James and states that it will not be James due to him not being able to climb hills. (I never noticed that Henry and James seem to have a little rivalry.)  

That's a pretty sad Edward.

The day turns into a rainy one. Henry is sitting at the big station, while a painter paints above him. Henry steams and blinds the painter. He begins to fall. The painter and paint fall on Henry. 

That's pretty funny.

The Fat Controller declares that Henry looks like an iced cake and that Henry is out of the running to pull the train.

The Fat Controller goes on to speak to Gordon and Thomas. 

Gordon looks a little funny.

Gordon asks if, "Thomas can go back to his branch line? "

The Fat Controller doesn't really answer the question. He does see that both look sorry and awards them. The Fat Controller is going let Gordon pull the train and let Edward go ahead and clear the line, while Thomas is going to mind the coaches. 

The day arrives. Edward runs in shouting, "The Queen is here!"

Gordon follows with the Queen's train. 

Now I'm lady bait.

The Queen exits the coaches and asks to see the other engines. They all begin to whistle for the Queen.

The Queen later takes the time to speak with Thomas, Edward, and Gordon. She thanks them for being rocking engines. 

Watch out, he bites!

She leaves on Gordon after speaking to them. All the other engines are proud to be on The Fat Controller's Railway.

Season 4 Episode 16: Thomas and Stepney

I have expectations for this one. I am expecting Thomas to be a jerk. (Crosses fingers)

Thomas is an unusually cheery mood this day. He stops to speak with Percy for a moment. Thomas immediately goes into how wonderful his branch line is. And the look on Percy's face is priceless.

Oh please, scrap me!

Percy bursts Thomas' bubble with information of another branch line that is just as awesome. It just so happens to be Stepney's BlueBell Railway. And even better, Stepney may come visit The Fat Controller's engines.

This turns Thomas into a jealous rage. (YES!) 

Build it up, buttercup.

Meanwhile with Thomas' new enemy, Stepney, we find that he growing bored on his line. It is a little short for him. He speaks to Rusty about his problem. Rusty pops out the idea to tell his driver about it and heads off. Stepney does just that and the driver agrees. 

Later that night, his driver breaks the news that they have been invited to visit the North Western Railway.  

I hope the driver models his scarf.

The next day, they set off on the long ride to see the other engines. 

The build up of Stepney visiting is the word on the street with the other engines. They talk all about him making Thomas' jealously grow bigger. Thomas grumbles and heads off to fetch his coaches.

As soon as Thomas leaves, Stepney arrives through the junction and at Knapford. The engines all cheer for him. Total Hottie Edward mentions he should met Thomas. (I wonder if Edward was an evil streak in him like me?)

Stepney heads over to help Duck shunt some coaches for the day. 

Later that evening, Thomas arrives and totally snubs Stepney. And rushes to do his last train.

I think Duck was waiting for it too.

Shortly after Thomas to take his last train, the alarm sounds to stop all trains. A special is coming and they need Thomas shunted off so it can pass through. Thomas grows angry at this and gripes. 

And low and behold it's Stepney!

I love it!

Morning arrives and Thomas still has a bug in his ass over Stepney. His sits in a siding, complaining like a teenager who has their phone taken away. Stepney pulls up along side and apologizes. (Why are you apologizing? It is hilarious!)

Stepney then explains that a special passenger approached them right after Thomas had left. He demanded a special train and Duck gave it to him. (Yeah, I am pretty sure that is not how it works.) Stepney then pads Thomas' ego by telling him he was nervous. 

Aw, thank you. And one day you, little Stepney, can be one a million little boy's t-shirts.

So with that, Thomas and Stepney became frenemies. 

Season 2 Episode 23: Edward's Exploit

Bertie has been off tooting around giving tours of Sodor. Today is the last afternoon of the tourists' visit and total hottie Edward is scheduled to take them to the China Clay Works to met Bill And Ben. But, Edward is having old man issues to today. He is struggling to start his train.

I should have took my multi vitamins. 

Of course, Henry, James, and Gordon are there to mock him. They are really into tearing down old men. They visit the Sodor Senior Home just to practice on them before the make fun of Edward. 

Duck points out the obvious that Edward is better then any of them. Boco agrees. With the extra encouragement Edward starts to pull out of the station, minus his eyebrows. 

Edward if you don't stop keeping your eyebrows on, you are going to loose your status as Total Hottie.

Edward arrives at the Clay Works to let the passengers see Bill and Ben. We find that Bill and Ben love the paparazzi. They love the flash of cameras in their faces and the glamour of it. They even like every good celebrity engine should, take the tourists on a break van special. 

Bill tipped them off.

We have a montage of Bill and Ben touring around their adoring fans. Everyone seems to be having a great time. Bill and Ben head back to give the tourists back to Edward.

On the way home, the weather began to turn rainy and stormy. Well, they are near England. Edward's sanding gear failed. His fireman had to ride up front sanding the line.

No fair, I want to stand there!

Edward's wheels began to slip and he breaks something. I vote broken hip!  Edward needs a walker in his advice age. He is still a cutie though. I like them old.

Edward's crew gets out to examine the damage. Edward has broken his crank pin. They take his side rods off and explain he'll have to run like an old fashioned engine. Edward promises to try to get them home.

Edward old boy, you're getting Life Alert for Christmas.

Edward struggles to start again. Edward's crew gets out and starts to make adjustments on the coaches to help Eddie out. They loosen the couplings so Edward can pick his coaches up one by one. 

Edward starts up again and he slowly gets his train moving. Edward being a cute old man/engine, chants, "He's done it!"

You go Edward!

Edward arrives at night in Knapford. Understandably, he is exhausted. Henry is waiting for him to gather the visitors. The Fat Controller is angry that Edward is late. Geez, cut him a break he is a golden oldie. The passengers cheer and thank the crew.

At the sheds that night, Duck and Boco made sure Edward was treated like the gem he is. 

James looks like he's been sniffing glue.

Season 2 Episode 22: Wrong Road

Today we learn that mainline engines are not allowed to run on branch lines. They are far too heavy for what the tracks can support. Well, that just gave away the plot to this episode. 

Total hottie Edward and Gordon start off a discussion. Gordon is butt hurt about branch line diesels pulling mainline coaches. Edward suggests that Boco would let Gordon pull his coaches. This highly disturbs Gordon. Gordon claims the rule for mainline engines not being on branch lines is because they're vulgar. Gordon then puffs away and Edward follows him to the station.

I love how Gordon is the biggest jag off and Edward just smiles. 

In the evening time, Edward and Gordon pull trains from the station. Gordon leave first with the mainline train and Edward comes in five minutes later with his branch line. Of course tonight, there will be TROUBLE!

A lady on the platform with a obnoxious green hat was saying her goodbyes to her lover boy.  

Thank you darling for the pearl necklace.

Time was near for Gordon to start. The Fireman looked back at the guard van and saw something green waving. Naturally, he assumed it was his flag. Oh no it wasn't, just the floppy obnoxious hat. Gordon sets off leaving his passengers, luggage, and guard at the station.

And Edward looses his eyebrows again.

Gordon backs slowly back in the station once they stopped him down the line. Edward was now running late heads off first. Oh the shenanigans, that will follow.

Gordon looks so lovely in blush.

The Signal Man down the line, doesn't realize that it was not Gordon coming down the line and does not switch the line. Edward heads down the mainline and Gordon goes down the branch. Gordon stops in a siding at the harbor.

The next morning, Bill and Ben arrive at the harbor. They have no trucks waiting for them but, they have Gordon. They begin to tease Gordon. 

You have awful wrinkles!

Gordon pretends that he does not hear the twins as they tease him about never coming down the branch lines. They then insist that it is just an old pile of iron and not Gordon. The twins debate whether to take him to the scrapyard or dump him in the sea. Gordon pleads for them to stop.

Gordon is very expressive this episode.

Boco arrives and Gordon falls in love with him. He finds him a beautiful sight. Boco threatens to take back the trucks he brought for Bill and Ben and makes them behave. 

Gordon calls the twins demons and wants to know Boco's secrets for dealing with them. Gordon also thinks Boco saved his life. Which makes Boco his knight in shining armor. Awe...

Gordon then derails.

I am still wondering what happened to the passengers?