Air date: September 10th, 2008 (UK), November 29th, 2008 (US)
Following a terrible storm, many engines are stuck, except for Emily who is the only one to finish her jobs on time and is thus called "excellent" by the Fat Controller. The Fat Controller tells Emily that she must take Trevor from Farmer McColl's Farm to the Airport as some metal tanks are blocking the runway, making Jeremy unable to land. Just as the Fat Controller leaves, Murdoch arrives; he is going to Farmer McColl's also and he advises Emily to take the Wellsworth track due to flooding, but Emily decides to take the forest track as it is much faster. Emily goes through a flood on the forest track, but it does not stop her.
In the forest, Emily meets Thomas, who warns her about a fallen tree on her line and tells her that she must wait for Harvey, but Emily says she does not need Harvey's help, so she finds the tree herself and decides to push it uphill. Once at the summit, the tree rolls out of the way and Emily carries on.
At a junction, Emily meets Duck, who tells her that not only is Trevor waiting for her, but the tracks ahead are very muddy and she must avoid them. Once again, Emily's belief that she is "excellent" causes her to ignore him, so she carries on regardless.
However, Emily gets stuck in the mud and the track sinks beneath her weight. Emily sees Murdoch already at Farmer McColl's, realizing that she should have listened to him. Emily apologises to Murdoch, and he pulls her out of the mud. After collecting Trevor from Farmer McColl's, Emily is about to leave when she remembers to ask Murdoch about which track to take to the Airport. Murdoch tells her to take the valley route as Gordon's Hill is still being cleared of fallen trees.
Emily goes along the valley route but soon sees a telegraph pole blocking her way. Remembering Thomas' advice, Emily waits for Harvey to clear the telegraph pole. Then, at a signal box, Emily is told by the signalman that the shortcut is muddy; remembering Duck's advice, she takes the longer track. Once at the Airport, Trevor clears the runway and Jeremy can land at last. The Fat Controller praises Emily again, but Emily tells him that all of his engines are "excellent engines".
Tropes featured in the episode:
- Acquired Situational Narcissism: Emily takes the name "Excellent Emily" too fondly and begins refusing to listen to anyone's advice.
- Alliterative Title: "Excellent Emily".
- The Bus Came Back: Duck makes his first appearance since "Not So Hasty Puddings", way back in Series 7.
- Laser-Guided Karma: Emily refuses to listen to Murdoch's warning about the flooded track, and as a result only has herself to blame when she gets bogged down in the water.
