Air date: October 24th, 2004
It is a very windy day, and preparations are underway for the opening of the flower show at Maithwaite Station. The Fat Controller announces that a special must be taken there before Allicia Botti opens the show and chooses Percy to take it, much to the annoyance of Gordon and James.
Percy arrives at Brendam Docks with a flatbed, only to discover that his special is just a roll of red carpet. Salty tells Percy that it might be magic, as he has heard tales of carpets that can fly. Salty goes on to talk about magic words such as "hey presto", "hocus pocus", and "abracadabra". Percy is in doubt, but once he moves, the carpet unrolls itself just like magic.
Stopping at a signal, Percy sees Gordon, who is not surprised that Percy was told to collect a carpet as he is just a small engine. Suddenly, the wind lifts underneath the carpet, taking it into the air. Percy is now convinced that it is a Magic Carpet, but Gordon knows that it is just the wind, and he departs to collect Allicia Botti. Then Murdoch passes Percy and the red carpet lands on a flatbed on Murdoch's train. Percy gives chase to Murdoch, calling for him to wait, but Murdoch is too far ahead to hear Percy and carries on through Maron Station. Percy, speeding through Maron, tells James that Murdoch has his magic carpet, but James tells him that magic carpets do not exist.
Soon the wind takes the carpet off of Murdoch's train and onto Toby's roof. Percy follows Toby to Kellsthorpe Road, where he meets Gordon again. The carpet flies off Toby's roof and lands down onto the tracks. Percy is very upset, but Gordon is not impressed; he thinks that Percy is trying to make his "little job" important. Suddenly, they hear Thomas approaching the station, heading straight for the carpet. Gordon and Percy blow their whistles to alert Thomas but to no avail. Percy decides to say a magic word, but none of the suggestions Salty gave him work. So, Percy says "please" and just as Thomas is about to run over the carpet, the wind blows the carpet away from Thomas and lands on Percy's flatbed. Now Gordon too is convinced that the carpet is magic.
Once his driver ties the carpet down to the flatbed, Percy sets off, worried that he is running late. Soon Percy reaches Maithwaite and tells the Fat Controller about all of the trouble the carpet caused. However, though he explains that magic carpets do not exist, the Fat Controller tells Percy that he is right on time whilst the carpet is unloaded and placed onto the platform.
Later, Allicia Botti arrives with Gordon and opens the flower show. However, the wind blows underneath the red carpet again whilst it is on the platform, leaving Percy and Gordon unsure whether the carpet is magic or not.
Tropes featured in the episode:
- Arson, Murder, and Jaywalking: When the Narrator describes the effects of the wind:Narrator: Trees were blown, leaves were scattered, and the Fat Controller's hat flew away.
- Correlation/Causation Gag: When the carpet lands on the same track as Thomas, Percy tries saying, "Hey, Presto!", "Hocus pocus!", and "Abracadabra!" to get the carpet to move off the track, but none of this works. Percy then asks, "Please?", and the wind blows the carpet back onto his flatbed.
- Green-Eyed Monster: Gordon and James are both jealous of Percy's special until the special turns out to just be a roll of carpet.
- Jerk with a Heart of Gold: Gordon spent most of the episode putting Percy and his carpet down, however, he immediately joins Percy in whistling to warn Thomas that the carpet is on his track.
- Magic Carpet: Percy is convinced the carpet he is delivering is a magic one as the wind keeps making it fly. Gordon isn't convinced until it flies out of the way just before Thomas runs it over.
- Season Finale: Of Series 8.
