Air date: October 9th, 2005 (UK)
Thomas is warned by a signalman about a broken bridge, so Thomas goes to collect some steel ironworks. At the yards, Neville is with 'Arry and Bert. He reverses up to his trucks and bumps into them. This gives 'Arry and Bert a chance to laugh at him and tease him about it. At that moment, Thomas arrives, sees Neville with 'Arry and Bert, and thinks that Neville is friends with the Diesel engines.
At Knapford, Thomas meets James, and tells him about seeing Neville laughing with 'Arry and Bert. Then, as Thomas leaves, Edward arrives so James tells him about Neville. Later, whilst taking on water, Edward tells Percy that Neville is friends with the Diesels and does not want to be with steamies. Then, when Percy meets Emily at a red signal, he warns her not to go near Neville as 'Arry and Bert had told him to biff into all of the steamies.
At Abbey station, Thomas is just told by the Fat Controller to warn engines not to cross the broken bridge when he hears a steam engine's whistle - it turns out to be Neville pulling Annie and Clarabel. Thomas is cross with Neville for pulling his coaches. Emily then arrives. She is also cross with Neville as she thinks that he is going to biff into all the steam engines, much to the surprise of Thomas.
After Neville leaves, Thomas is puzzled and asks Emily where she got information from. This makes Emily confused, but she finally explains what had happened. Toby then arrived explaining what he heard from Henry, who saw 'Arry and Bert picking on Neville. Thomas and Emily are very shocked and realized they had made a mistake. Thomas then realizes that Neville is heading for the broken bridge, so he pumps his pistons to Neville's rescue. Unfortunately, Neville had already crashed through the barricade and was already hanging over the edge of the broken bridge. But soon Thomas arrives, just in time to save Neville, Annie, and Clarabel. Thomas apologizes to Neville for believing silly stories about him, and Neville is happy to have finally made friends with Thomas.
Tropes featured in the episode:
- An Aesop: Don't believe in rumors.
- Berserk Button: Thomas is not happy to see Neville pulling Annie and Clarabel.Thomas: I'm not talking to you.
- Big Damn Heroes: Thomas pulling Neville, Annie and Clarabel from the ledge of the bridge.
- Blatant Lies: Percy tells Emily that Neville was going to "biff all the steamies". Even if it was a case of Chinese Whispers, no one before Percy ever said anything about "biffing" or "bashing" anyone.
- The Bully: 'Arry and Bert.
- Category Traitor: The engines view Neville as this for associating with the diesels, at first.
- Easily Forgiven: Neville seems to hold nothing against Thomas for making accusations against him and quickly accepts him as his friend.
- Fantastic Racism: Played a lot straight. As far as this episode is concerned, a steam engine isn't supposed to associate themselves with diesels.
- Gossipy Hens: Although the diesels were laughing at Neville, Thomas thought that he was associating with them, which made him pass the word to the other engines and inadvertently caused an escalating rumor.
- Hypocrite: Thomas and the other engines (except for Toby) think a steam engine being friends with diesels is an outrageous idea, never mind that they get along well with diesels like Mavis and Salty.
- Idiot Ball: Upon seeing 'Arry and Bert, established bullies who hate steam engines, laughing in close proximity to Neville, Thomas jumps to the conclusion that they're sharing a joke instead of bullying him and proceeds to start malicious rumors about him.
- Jerkass Ball / Out-of-Character Moment: Edward, who is supposed to be the kind and wise engine that he was in the older seasons, actually believed in a rumor about Neville.
- Karma Houdini: 'Arry and Bert get no comeuppance for making fun of Neville.
- My God, What Have I Done?: Thomas, after discovering he was wrong about Neville, and what's more forgot to tell him about the broken bridge.
- Nice Guy: Neville turns out to be friendly to everyone he meets, including Arry and Bert.
- Only Sane Man: Toby and Henry, seeing as how they were the only ones who saw Arry and Bert picking on Neville instead of conspiring with him.
- Poor Communication Kills: Thomas jumps to the conclusion that Neville was laughing with 'Arry and Bert, but doesn't realize the two diesels were laughing at Neville.
