Airdate: June 9th, 2017 (UK)
Adapted from: Small Railway Engines, "Tit for Tat"
One day, two visitors come to the Island of Sodor to take pictures of interesting engines. They spend the whole day on Thomas' branch line, but Thomas is jealous that they are taking pictures of Toby rather than him. He is satisfied at the end of the day, when they take a picture of him at Ffarquhar. They then tell him that they are visiting the miniature engines next, but as it is cloudy, they decide to wait until the rain stops. The next morning, the small engines' drivers are polishing them for the visitors. They tell the engines that one of the visitors (Wilbert Awdry) is an author, while the other (Teddy Boston) takes moving photographs. Bert, confused, believes that this means that he will be physically put in a book.
As Bert prepares to take a passenger train to the other end of the line, the two clergymen meet him at the station and compliment him. Bert, flattered, offers to let the visitors ride in his tender. They tell him that they would be willing to do so later, as the sun is shining brightly and they would like to take some pictures. Bert greets them when he sees them above the line later, but is offended when they do not wave. His driver tells him that the two men cannot wave and get good pictures, which alleviates Bert's annoyance.
There are still large amounts of muddy puddles on the ground from the storm the night prior. As the two clergymen pass Bert in their car, they run over a mud puddle and splash him with muddy water. Bert is infuriated, believing they did this on purpose, and becomes even more angry when they take a picture of him with mud on his face.
Even after Bert's driver cleans his face off, he is still dirty. Bert decides to pay the visitors back. As the fat clergyman asks Bert if he can have the previously-offered ride in his tender, Bert is about to refuse, but his driver quickly intervenes and allows the visitor to get in the tender.
As they are travelling along the line, Bert decides to make his move and pay the visitor out. He slows down on his way up a hill, then blows out a cloud of steam from his funnel which causes the water on the leaves to shower his driver and the fat clergyman.
The Small Controller is furious when he hears about this and tells Bert that he is a naughty engine and sends him to his shed. The visitors, feeling sorry for him, apologize for splashing him, and tell him that they were overly excited about getting pictures of him. Bert apologises for his actions as well, and the clergymen decide to make it up to him by cleaning him up.
When Mike and Rex return to the sheds, having heard that he had an argument with the two visitors, Bert tells them that the visitors were actually rather nice. He also informs the two engines that the visitors told him that they plan to write about him in a book and show him off on television. Mike and Rex, on the other hand, are both doubtful.
This episode contains examples of:
- Adaptation Expansion: Because this is an adaptation of the story of the same name from Small Railway Engines, the episode adds a few scenes of the two clergymen taking pictures of the other engines such as Skarloey, James, Toby, and Thomas. It also shows them making peace with Bert onscreen.
- Aside Glance: The episode ends with the narrator saying that Bert did end up on television, who then winks at the camera.
- Attention Whore: Thomas who wanted the two clergymen to take pictures of him instead of Toby. Fortunately, they took a picture of him later.
- Breaking the Fourth Wall: The ending of the episode keeps the same joke from the original Railway Series story.Rex: We heard you were covered in mud.
Bert: I was, but they cleaned me up again. They're actually very nice. They're even gonna write about me in a book, and show me off in moving pictures on the television, too!
Mike: Don't be silly! That's never gonna happen!
Rex: He must be having you on.
Narrator: But it did happen, didn't it? - Deadpan Snarker: Annie and Clarabel poke fun at Thomas in this dialogue:Thomas: What does that make me then? Am I an usual engine?
Annie: Why I suppose you are, Thomas.
Clarabel: Yes, you're usually very silly. - Easily Forgiven: The Small Controller crossly punishes Bert for his prank, but the two clergymen feel sorry for him and make peace with him.
- Go to Your Room!: A railway variant. Bert is sent to his shed for his behavior towards the two clergymen.
- What the Hell, Hero?: The Small Controller scolds Bert for his behavior towards the two clergymen.
