Air date: September 4th, 2007 (UK), September 15th, 2007 (US)
To the dismay of the other engines, Spencer is visiting the Island of Sodor. Upon steaming brashly into the yard, Spencer infuriates Thomas by ordering the tank engine to shunt his coaches. Thomas is cross and determined to show that he is better than Spencer. All of Thomas' attempts to outdo Spencer fail, but when the Duke of Boxford urgently needs to return to the mainland and Spencer's fire is slow to start, Thomas gets the job of pulling the Duke to the airport.
This episode contains examples of:
- An Aesop: You don't have to prove you're better than someone else; just be yourself.
- Break the Haughty: Spencer spends the whole episode acting haughty and putting Thomas down, only to get a reality check when his fire doesn't start quickly and even more when Thomas teases him about it.
- Jerkass: Spencer, who demands Thomas shunt his coaches for him and acts like he's better than the tank engine.
- Just a Kid: Spencer mocks Thomas for being a little tank engine.
- "The Reason You Suck" Speech: Thomas gives this to Spencer after his fire won't start:Thomas: You might be the fastest, shiniest, and strongest engine, but you're the slowest to get fired up.
- Rule of Three: Thomas tries to prove he can be faster, shinier, and stronger than Spencer, which all fall flat.
- Titled After the Song: The episode's title comes from an Aerosmith song.
