Air date: November 4th, 2003 (UK), September 25th, 2004 (US)
The engines are celebrating May Day. Knapford Station is being decorated and the Fat Controller agrees to let the engines be decorated, but Gordon states that decorations are undignified for an important engine like him and puffs away.
At Tidmouth Sheds, everyone is being decorated. Percy has flags and streamers, Thomas has big red banners, and Murdoch is being decorated, despite his shyness. James gets the idea of having a competition for the "Best Dressed Engine". When Gordon arrives and hears about a competition, he wants to join in, but James tells him that he needs to be decorated since it is a Best Dressed Engine contest. Gordon rejects the competition after hearing everything.
Later, Gordon is crossing a bridge when a banner is blown onto his front. Since Gordon is pulling the express, he cannot stop and so remains "dressed up". Trevor is pulling a cart of apples for the children's apple bobbing. When he hears Gordon's whistle, he tries to go as fast as he can, but it is no use, and Gordon smashes all the apples. James is the last to reach the station for the contest until Gordon arrives. Everyone is surprised that Gordon is decorated, (even Gordon admits he never wanted to), but James says that he is definitely the Best Dressed Engine. Everyone agrees and Gordon is announced the winner of the competition.
This episode contains examples of:
- Break the Haughty: Gordon states that decorations are undignified for an important engine but ends up with some of his own when a banner gets caught over his smokebox.
- Oh, Crap!: The moment Trevor hears Gordon approaching, he tries to go faster, but the big engine crashes through his apple cart.
- Railroad Tracks of Doom: Trevor chugs slowly across a level crossing with a cartload of apples for the children's apple bobbing as Gordon approaches it, unable to stop. Trevor makes it across the level crossing, but Gordon smashes through the gates, destroying Trevor's cart and the apples inside it.
- Stock Footage: The episode uses footage from "Special Attraction", some scenes of the music video "Really Useful Engine", "Percy's Chocolate Crunch", and "Bulgy Rides Again". Mirrored stock footage from "Thomas and the Breakdown Train" is also used.
