Air date: September 9th, 2020 (UK); September 1st, 2020 (US)
One morning, the Fat Controller receives a call asking if he can spare an engine. He speaks to Percy (who has just arrived after his mail run) and asks him if he can pick up some trucks from Brendam Docks and take them to Ulfstead Castle for a railway show for little engines. Percy then brags to Gordon that he will be going to the show.
While performing his other duties, Percy speaks to Peter Sam, Sir Handel and the Arlesdale Railway engines, telling them to come to Ulfstead Castle for the show. News of the show is quickly passed throughout the Island by Philip, Oliver, Paxton and Rosie.
At the Blue Mountain Quarry, all of the narrow gauge engines have disappeared, leaving Owen and Merrick without anyone to take their trucks. Meanwhile, at Arlesburgh West, the Small Controller is swarmed by a mob of angry passengers, complaining that there are no engines.
Later at Knapford, Gordon complains that Philip has not collected his coaches. Henry and Bertie then arrive and complain that Rosie and Thomas also never showed up for their jobs. Hearing the commotion, the Fat Controller tells the three that he has had calls from the Thin and Small Controllers saying that all of their engines have gone missing. Just then, James arrives, indignant as to why he has not been invited to the railway show. Sir Topham Hatt puts two and two together and goes to telephone the other controllers.
At Ulfstead Castle, all of the small engines have shown up for the railway show and are queued up outside of the castle. Several more engines including Skarloey, Rusty, Nia, Bill, and Ben have shown up, while Duck, Oliver, and Ryan have brought the miniature engines on flatbeds. Gordon and James then arrive carrying the railway controllers onboard, who ask why all of the engines are here instead of doing their jobs. Percy, confused, states that everyone is there for the little railway show - to which the Thin Clergyman explains that the Fat Controller was referring to model engines, rather than small working engines. Percy apologises for wasting everyone's time, and Sir Robert Norramby states that all of the different engines at the castle will make the show much more exciting. The other controllers agree, with the condition that the engines all get their jobs done and go to the show in rotation. The Thin Clergyman sets up his layout of Sodor and runs his models of the engines. By the end of the show, Percy is pleased to find out that a model of him has won the prize for best in show.
This episode contains examples of:
- The Cameo: All the little engines who show up at the show.
- Continuity Nod:
- When Percy tells Peter Sam and Sir Handle about the railway show, attention is brought to Peter Sam's special funnel and Sir Handel's steamroller wheels.
- When lined up for the show, Rusty announces his arrival with "Trusty Rusty coming through!".
- Imagine Spot: Percy imagines him being a part of the "Great Little Railway Show".
- Mythology Gag: Wilbert Awdry (who The Thin Clergyman is in fact an Author Avatar for) was also a railway model enthusiast, and made models of his characters from the original books. The model of Percy that wins the contest is even based on his original model for the character.
- Poor Communication Kills: Percy thought the Great Little Railway Show involved all of the small engines on Sodor, and told all of the small engines about it. This resulted in the engines leaving their jobs and head to Ulfstead Castle. The Thin Clergyman then explains that the show involved model engines.
- Right on Queue: The scene where all of the small engines line up. The engines in order are Philip, Skarloey, Rusty, Bill, Ben (though the two were on a siding), Harvey, Mike, Oliver, Peter Sam, Rex, Ryan, Nia, Thomas, Bert, and Duck.
