Air date: December 4th, 1984
Adapted from: Troublesome Engines, "Percy Runs Away"
After several days of being shut up in the shed, the Fat Controller visits Gordon, James and Henry. He tells the three that he hopes they've learned they're not as important as they thought. He informs them that there's a new tank engine named Percy and that Edward and Thomas ran the main line well by themselves. However, he's willing to let them out and return to work on the condition that they be good and don't complain about shunting anymore. All three agree and they quickly resume their duties.
The Fat Controller then speaks to Thomas, Edward and Percy and, as a reward for their hard work, allows them to play on the branch line for a few days. Thomas happily collects Annie and Clarabel while Edward and Percy go and play with trucks in the yard. Edward and Thomas leave and Percy is left alone where he enjoys watching the larger engines go by. He also enjoys being cheeky to them.
Later, after doing some more shunting, Percy heads back to the yard, but the points are against him. Percy is so eager to work, he becomes careless and forgets that Edward had told him to whistle when he got to the signalbox so that the signalman would know he was there. Suddenly he sees something that does make him whistle, in panic; Gordon, on the same line, heading towards him full speed with the express. Percy is horrified, but can't do anything and closes his eyes as Gordon gets closer. Luckily Gordon applies his brakes and stops just in time. However, by now a frightened Percy has begun to move and, intending to run away, begins running backwards.
Percy runs straight through Edward's station and is so frightened he runs straight up Gordon's Hill without stopping. After he descends the hill, Percy quickly becomes tired, but, as his crew had jumped out when they saw Gordon, can't stop. Finally a signalman sees that Percy is in trouble and sets the points into a siding, where Percy lands in a big bank of earth. By now, Percy is so tired he doesn't care where he stops.
Gordon arrives and congratulates Percy on starting quickly and stopping a potential accident. Percy apologizes for his previous cheekiness and Gordon pulls Percy out from the bank.
Percy quickly settles into his new role as station pilot. Although he never loses his penchant for cheekiness, he now knows to always be careful when he goes on the main line.
Tropes featured in the episode:
- Bowdlerise:
- When The Fat Controller was scolding Gordon, Henry, and James in the UK version, he says that he hopes they are sorry and they understand they aren't so important after all; he also tells them he will let them out if they promise to be good. In the US version, he says that he hopes they are sorry and they understand that every job on the railway is important; he then tells them he will let them out if they promise to work hard.
- The UK narration states that Percy is still cheeky, but learns to be careful when going on the main line. In the US version, the narration states that Gordon and Percy became good friends and that Percy learns to be careful going on the main line.
- Bratty Half-Pint: Percy much to the other engines' displeasure, but he learns not to be so cheeky when on the main line.
- A Day in the Limelight: Percy gets his first proper focus episode.
- Jerk with a Heart of Gold: Gordon, who was previously in disgrace after the strike, comes to Percy's aid after his runaway and praises him for preventing the accident. The US dub mentions that he and Percy are now good friends.
- Nothing Is Scarier: A surprisingly effective example plays out before the runaway begins. Percy waits at the signal box, we hear birds chirping...and then the chuffing sound of an engine approaching at top speed slowly becomes audible. This happens before Percy even notices Gordon and can only be heard on instrumental tracks, but it’s a chilling effect nonetheless.
- Oh, Crap!: Both Percy and Gordon when they realize they are on the same line, with Gordon about to charge into Percy.Gordon: OOHHHHHH!!!! Get out of my way!!!
- Runaway Train: Percy himself after being frightened of causing an accident.
- Series Continuity Error: In the rest of season 1, Maron is on the other side of Gordon's Hill, but in this episode Percy reverses over it and into Lower Suddery.
- Stock Footage: Footage from "Trouble in the Shed" is used for the beginning of the episode.
- A Tragedy of Impulsiveness: Percy didn't pay attention to Edward's warning and almost collided into Gordon after forgetting to whistle to the signalman, causing him to panic and reverse without his driver and fireman.
