Air date: September 17th, 2004 (UK), September 18th, 2004 (US)
Thomas is helping with the construction of Kellsthorpe Road, a new station on the Main Line, by taking the workmen to the site and back home again. However, there is a difficult bend before the final approach to the station, which makes Thomas nervous. To help him get across, Annie and Clarabel always advise Thomas to slow down and puff with care. Upon arrival at Kellsthorpe Road, Thomas is informed by the Fat Controller that Annie and Clarabel are due for an overhaul at the repair yard, so he must take them there and use other coaches to take the workmen.
However, Thomas is very worried that, without Annie and Clarabel, he will not be able to tackle the difficult bend. The next morning, Thomas' nerves get the better of him as he accidentally bumps into his substitute coaches which roll back into James, making him cross. Also, whilst negotiating the difficult bend, Thomas goes too fast and ends up derailed with the coaches in the bushes. Harvey comes to Thomas' rescue, but Thomas feels that he is not Really Useful without his coaches. Harvey believes otherwise and takes the workmen and the coaches to the new station.
Thomas heads off for Tidmouth Sheds, longing to be back with Annie and Clarabel. However, Thomas spots some trucks, which have broken away from Edward, heading towards Kellsthorpe Road. Thomas gives chase and catches up to the runaway trucks, but he is getting closer and closer to the difficult bend. This time, Thomas remembers Annie and Clarabel's advice to slow down and puff with care. He gets around the bend on his own, but the runaway trucks go around the twisty tracks too.
Thomas keeps ahead of the trucks and whistles to attract the signalman's attention. Once informed, the signalman changes the points and the runaway trucks crash through the buffers just outside of Kellsthorpe Road.
The next day, Thomas is taking Annie and Clarabel to the new station for the grand opening, but this time, Thomas finds the difficult bend no longer difficult.
Tropes featured in the episode:
- Arc Words: Annie and Clarabel repeatedly advise Thomas to "Slow down and puff with care" to get past the difficult bend. It's these words that help him get past just in time to stop Edward's Runaway Train.
- Plot Hole: The trucks in Edward's Runaway Train are described as Troublesome Trucks, but are shown on-screen to just be ordinary flatbeds.
- Rail-Car Separation: Edward's trucks break away from him, and Thomas has to act fast to stop an accident.
- Runaway Train: Edward's trucks break away and head out of control towards Kellsthorpe Road. Luckily, Thomas can overtake them and have them redirected into a siding.
