Air date: August 25th, 2014 (UK)
Edward is teased by the big engines, especially Gordon, who calls him unreliable.
One day, Gordon is going up his hill when he sees something red blowing beside the track. Believing it to be a danger signal, Gordon stops. He soon realizes that it is red pair of trousers. Feeling so foolish, Gordon tries pulling away, but he can't start on the steep hill. Meanwhile, at Wellsworth Station, Edward is flagged down by the stationmaster and is told that Gordon is stuck on the hill, so Edward heads off to the hill.
Back at the hill, Gordon is waiting impatiently for Edward to arrive. While he waits, he gets teased by both Emily and Thomas. When Edward finally arrives, Gordon is very cross and calls Edward old and slow. Despite this, Edward manages to push Gordon to the summit of the hill. Gordon then races away without even saying thank you to Edward. Later on, Edward meets up with Thomas and complains about Gordon's ungrateful attitude. Thomas decides that it's time for the big engine to be taught a lesson.
That night in the sheds, all of the engines are laughing about what had happened to Gordon that day. Edward says that Gordon needed him to push him to the top of the hill. Gordon insists that he did not need Edward at all. Thomas decides to put his plan into action. Thomas bets Gordon that he cannot go faster than him. All the engines gasp and think that Thomas is very silly for thinking he can go faster than Gordon. Even Gordon thinks it is unfair and says that he will have no problem following Thomas across the island, even if Thomas has a ten minute head-start.
As arranged, Thomas and Gordon meet at Knapford. Thomas leaves before Gordon and starts to puff along the main line. It is not long before Clarabel sees Gordon approach on the other line. Annie and Clarabel are sure Gordon is about to pass them, but Thomas switches onto Gordon's line. Gordon is not impressed by Thomas' speed and orders him to move back to the other line. Thomas refuses to switch tracks and Gordon has no choice but to slowly follow Thomas towards the hill.
When they reach Gordon's Hill, Thomas slows down even more. Eventually, Gordon is going so slow that he stops and he cannot budge. Thomas' plan had worked. Thomas carries on his way while Edward pulls up next to Gordon. This time, it is Edward's turn to call Gordon unreliable for always sticking on his hill. Edward goes to puff away, but Gordon calls after him, asking for a push. Edward says that Gordon would not want to rely on such an old and unreliable engine to help him. As Edward disappears over the top of the hill, Gordon apologizes for teasing Edward and promises to never do it again. Edward thinks Gordon has learned his lesson and so he agrees to give Gordon a push. Gordon even says thank you afterwards.
Tropes featured in the episode:
- An Aesop: Always thank people for helping you.
- Space Whale Aesop: ...because if you don't, your friend will trick you into getting stuck on your own hill again.
- Batman Gambit: To teach Gordon a lesson, Thomas plans to prove to Gordon that he is faster than him by moving onto the same line as Gordon and going so slow that he forces Gordon to get stuck on his hill.
- Beware the Nice Ones: Edward, who is usually kind and soft spoken to a fault, finally shows a limit to his patience and gets swift revenge in this episode.
- Big "NO!": Gordon does this after getting stuck on the hill again thanks to Thomas' plan.
- The Freelance Shame Squad: The engines teased Gordon for being stuck on the hill due to mistaking a pair of red trousers for a red flag.
- Grudging "Thank You": While very embarrassed about it, Gordon thanks Edward.Edward: And what do you say? (Choo Choo)Gordon: Oh, the indignity.Edward: Sorry?Gordon: I mean, thank you. Thank you, Edward.Edward: You're welcome, Gordon. Anytime.
- Humble Pie: Gordon gets a taste of it at his hill the second time.
- Ironic Echo: After getting stuck on his hill again, it was Edward's turn to call Gordon unreliable.Edward: Oh dear, but I must say, you don't seem very reliable, always getting stuck on your own hill.
- Karmic Trickster: Thomas, who causes Gordon to get stuck on his own hill by going slow as part of his and Edward's plan to teach him gratefulness.
- A Taste of Their Own Medicine: To get revenge on Gordon for being so ungrateful, Thomas and Edward team up together by letting Gordon get stuck on his own hill and Edward calling him unreliable.
- Tempting Fate: After Emily spots Gordon stuck, he fears another engine will see him. Cue Thomas.
- Ungrateful Bastard: Gordon doesn't thank Edward at all despite the latter helping him up his hill when he got stuck. Edward complains about his ungratefulness and Thomas hatched a plan to teach Gordon a lesson.
