Air date: September 5th, 2005 (UK), September 4th, 2005 (US)
The Mayor of Sodor has invited an artist to paint the "Spirit of Sodor." The Fat Controller chooses Percy to collect him and show him around. Percy is curious to know what the "Spirit of Sodor" is, and Thomas tells him that it is something special about Sodor.
Percy collects the famous artist and takes him to Shen Valley, but the famous artist dismisses it as being "too green", so Percy takes him to Norramby Beach. Once again, the famous artist is very negative and calls the sand "too yellow", making Percy upset.
As they travel around the island, the famous artist calls the viaduct "too tall", the windmill "too round", and Knapford Station "too busy". This makes Percy very cross and Gordon, who is nearby, thinks that the famous artist is very rude for saying these things. Percy tells the famous artist that everywhere on Sodor is special including people, children, and engines. However, Percy accidentally lets off steam, blowing the famous artist's hat into the air. The famous artist wants to see the Fat Controller immediately, which makes Percy think that he's in trouble.
However, the famous artist tells the Fat Controller that he is going to paint a picture of Percy; because he's honest, hard-working, and never afraid to speak his mind - he is the "Spirit of Sodor". That night at Knapford Station, Percy and the other engines see the painting for the first time and Percy is very happy to be the "Spirit of Sodor".
This episode contains examples of:
- Early-Installment Weirdness: In all later appearances, the Mayor of Sodor is a black man with grey hair. However, in his first appearance here, he is a bald-headed white man instead.
- Everyone Has Standards: You know the artist is a snob when even Gordon thinks he's rude.
- High-Pressure Emotion: Percy blushes in anger after the famous artist says there's nothing special about Sodor.
- My God, What Have I Done?: Percy feels remorse after accidentally blowing the artist's hat away in anger, fearing that he'll be in trouble for it.
- Rage Breaking Point: When the artist says that there's nothing special about the Island of Sodor, this is the last straw for Percy, who has listened to his negativity all day:Percy: Everywhere on Sodor is special! And so are the people, the children, and the engines! We're all special!
- Unbuilt Trope: This is one of the first episodes since the show's retool to use the infamous "three strikes" formula. However, compared to other instances which unironically involve an engine screwing up three times before they learn their lesson, this instance intentionally plays on the repetition of Percy dealing with an unsatisfiable passenger before finally (and justifiably) telling them off, which actually resolves the conflict differently.
- Unseen No More: The Mayor of Sodor, who was previously mentioned in "James and the Queen of Sodor" and "As Good as Gordon", makes his first on-screen appearance in this episode, although he looks rather different to his current design which he gains in his next appearance, "Thomas and the Storyteller".
