Air date: September 22nd, 1998
One evening, Percy is tired of the smell of fish after working at the docks all day. He asks his driver to have a washdown, but there is not time because the Fat Controller is waiting for him at the sheds. At the sheds, the Fat Controller announces a festival of flowers, and that a sign saying "Best Dressed Station" shall be awarded to the winner, and he tells the engines to help out with the arrangements.
The next morning, Percy collects trucks loaded with vegetables and flowers. His driver explains that they will be displayed on Maithwaite's platform. On the way, Percy sees Harold, and is curious as to why he is buzzing about. Suddenly, Percy is stopped by a ram on the tracks. Percy's now worried that he will be late, but his driver has just the thing to get him off the line. His driver lures it away with some cabbage and Percy is soon on his way again. When Percy arrives at Maithwaite, the stationmaster tells them the ram has a reputation for always being hungry.
A little while later, Maithwaite is decorated with the flowers and vegetables Percy had delivered. Percy then moves into a siding and is later looking forward to a snooze when he hears a commotion at the station and goes to investigate. He discovers the decorations have been ruined and Percy's driver and the passengers suspect that the mess was the ram's fault. The passengers cannot get into the waiting room because of the ram, but Percy's driver also notices three boys inside, pleading to be let out. The stationmaster and the passengers then realize that the boys were responsible for vandalizing the station, and that the ram was taking them hostage in the waiting room, making sure they would do no more damage. The boys apologise for vandalizing the station, and promise to put everything back the way it was before.
A few days later, the Fat Controller invites some of the engines to Maithwaite, winner of the best dressed station award. The Fat Controller then gives one more prize for the ram. He hands the ram a pumpkin, saying that he'll eat his hat if the Ram doesn't like it. Harold arrives, and the wind from his blades blows the Fat Controller's hat off, where it's eaten by the ram. The Fat Controller laughs and says that it seems he would not be able to eat his hat even he had to. Everyone laughs, and the only sound to come from the ram was a contented hiccup.
Tropes featured in the episode:
- Deadpan Snarker: Thomas and Toby in response to Percy's statement that the dockyard is his favourite station (granted that Percy was too tired to think properly). A grumpy Percy soon gets back, though.Toby: Mine's Maithwaite. Percy, what's yours?
Percy: [sleepy] The docks.
Thomas: Ha! We can tell!
Toby: [laughing] The docks are full of fish, not flowers.
Percy: [irate] Alright then, Arlesdale End!
Toby: That's my home...
Percy: That's why I like it. Especially when you're there and not here saying I'm silly. Good night. - "Everybody Laughs" Ending
- Extreme Omni-Goat: The ram who ate the Fat Controller's hat, not that he minds.
- Hat Damage: After the Fat Controller makes a joke about eating his hat, the wind from Harold's blades blow it off his head and the ram eats it.
- Jerkass Ball: Percy seemingly grabs it by yelling at Toby about Arlesdale End and yells at him for thinking he's silly.
- Not Me This Time: When Percy and his crew first found Maithwaite station to be a mess, Percy's driver and the passengers immediately assume that the ram had come to make a meal of the station. While the ram was there, however, he was not the one responsible. It was some mischievous boys, whom the ram had taken hostage in the station's waiting room.
