(upbeat music)
(train tooting)
- [Conductor] The engines
on the island of Sodor
are good at different things.
(train tooting)
Gordon is a very good express.
Percy is good at
carrying the mail,
and when Edward is not
hauling freight cars,
he is very good at
being a back engine.
When engines have heavy loads,
Edward buffers up behind and
helps push, but Edward is old.
Some engines think this
makes him unreliable.
"Edward is a useless
old steampot,"
Gordon sniffed.
"He should be retired."
"But he doesn't have tires,"
Percy said.
"Retired,"
said Thomas,
"means taken out of service."
"And not a moment too soon,"
said Gordon,
and the other big
engines agreed with him,
but Percy was very upset.
(playful music)
Later his driver asked
him why he looked so glum.
Percy told him about Edward.
"The big engines don't
think he's useful anymore,"
he said.
(serious music)
(whistling)
Percy's driver saw
Sir Topham Hatt
and told him what
Percy had said.
"I will attend to the
matter immediately,"
said Sir Topham Hatt.
Sir Topham Hatt had a plan.
"The new loop line
is completed,"
he said to Edward.
"I want you to teach Stepney
how to run it properly."
"But sir,"
he asked,
"who will look after
the freight cars?"
"Duck will do your work,"
Sir Topham Hatt replied.
(whistling)
(train chugging)
When the other
engines heard Duck was
going to help them,
they were pleased.
"Duck is very reliable,"
said Henry.
"It makes no difference to me,"
said Gordon pompously.
"I don't need a back engine,"
(whistling)
and he wheeshed away.
(train tooting)
(jazzy music)
(train chugging)
Edward enjoyed
working with Stepney.
It was great fun
delivering passengers
to stations in the
beautiful countryside,
(cheery music)
but Duck was not happy.
The trucks were playing
their silly games.
"Duck should play
with other ducks,
"'cause he's no good
at pulling trucks
"Quack, quack, quack, quack
"Hold back, hold back,"
they giggled.
(giggling)
Duck found himself going
slower and slower and slower.
Halfway up Gordon's Hill, his
wheels stopped altogether.
Duck was stuck.
"Oh no,"
said his driver.
"This is Gordon's line."
Duck's guard phoned the
signalman to warn him.
"It's too late to switch
Gordon to the middle line,"
said the signalman.
"You'll have to flag him down."
Gordon saw the guard.
"If I stop on this hill, I'll
never get started again,"
he said crossly, and
he buffered up to Duck.
Gordon tried to set off again,
but his wheels spun and spun.
"It's no use.
"We need a back engine,"
said the driver.
"I'll send for Edward."
Gordon was cross.
Edward was excited.
He was going to be the
back engine for two trains.
(cheery music)
(train chugging)
Edward cheerfully buffered up
and the strange train set off.
(triumphant music)
(train tooting)
They chuffed gently
into the station.
(triumphant music)
"Look at that,"
laughed a boy.
"The back engine must be
the strongest and the best."
Gordon was embarrassed.
Sir Topham Hatt spoke
severely to Gordon.
"You have said rude
things about Edward.
"He proved today that
he is useful, reliable,
"and very helpful."
Gordon felt very ashamed.
(train chugging)
The next morning,
Gordon apologized.
"Thank you for
helping me, Edward,"
puffed Gordon.
"You really are
a useful engine."
"It's good to be back,"
Edward chuffed happily.
Sir Topham Hatt's
plan had worked.
There was no more talk
about Edward retiring.
(upbeat music)
06x23 - Edward the Very Useful Engine
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British series Based on The Railway Series books that follows the adventures of Thomas, an anthropomorphised blue steam locomotive on the fictional North Western Railway on the Island of Sodor, and several other friends Edward, Henry, Gordon, James, Percy, and Toby.
British series Based on The Railway Series books that follows the adventures of Thomas, an anthropomorphised blue steam locomotive on the fictional North Western Railway on the Island of Sodor, and several other friends Edward, Henry, Gordon, James, Percy, and Toby.