Air Date: October 10th, 2006 (UK)
"New-fangled nonsense!"
Edward doesn’t think too highly of a new rail crane who has arrived on the Island of Sodor, named Rocky. The crane does not have the ability to drive, due having no engine or the like. When Harvey is later unable to clear some pipes off the line in time that Edward spilled, Gordon ends up running right over them, thus, resulting in a terrible crash. Harvey may be a strong crane engine, but not quite strong enough to lift a big engine such as Gordon. It will now be up to Edward to inform Rocky he is needed.
Tropes featured in the episode:
- Added Alliterative Appeal: "New-fangled nonsense!"
- All of the Other Reindeer: Rocky to the tender engines, being the new fangled nonsense he is.
- Dislikes the New Guy: Save for Thomas, the blue engines hold a grudge against Rocky, Edward especially, because he's so different and doesn't seem useful. Later when pipes spill on the line and Harvey cannot pick them all up, Thomas tells Edward that only Rocky is strong enough to clear the line to prevent further accidents, thus Edward had to fetch Rocky and instantly ends his grudge.
- Gentle Giant: Rocky, who holds no grudges against the teasing engines (except Thomas) and is ever willing to help.
- Jerkass Ball: Edward grabs it again by showing rudeness towards Rocky. He loses it in the climax when Harvey cannot pick up the pipes and Edward had to fetch Rocky to save the day.
- Laser-Guided Karma: A minor one, but Gordon crashing into the spilled pipes and derailing serves as indirect karma for disliking Rocky and pulling Edward into it.
- Not So Above It All: The episode seems to exist for the sole purpose of making the usually wise and kindly Edward act arrogant and incompetent for once.
- Toxic Friend Influence: This is the only time in the series where we see Edward sharing the same pompous, discriminatory views as Gordon, and that is saying a lot because Edward otherwise wouldn't want anything to do with the other tender engines' troublemaking clique.
- The Worf Effect: Rocky's importance is established by Harvey being unable to lift Gordon (as well struggling to lift the fallen pipes individually, despite being strong enough to carry small engines in previous episodes).
