Air date: November 21, 2016 (UK), December 15, 2016 (US)
Samson arrives at the shunting yards and tells Thomas, Stanley and Diesel that he has been given an important job by the Fat Controller. He is to collect stone from the Blue Mountain Quarry and deliver it to Brendam Docks quickly and efficiently. But Thomas tells him that he has been given the same job, leaving Samson cross.
Samson arrives at the quarry, where Thomas is already collecting his trucks. He loads his own trucks with stone, and then chooses to take even more claiming it will save time. Sir Handel and Peter Sam are skeptical about this, but Samson does not listen and slowly hauls his long heavy train out of the quarry.
But Samson's troubles begin when he reaches Gordon's Hill. He builds up speed, but cannot make it more than halfway up before his heavy train pulls him back down. He tries again, this time backing up to get a good run up, but fails again. Thomas arrives having already finished his first delivery, and Samson asks him to be his back engine and give him a push. So Thomas switches track and couples up to Samson's brake van. But as they are backing up, Paxton approaches Thomas and is forced to stop. Luckily, Paxton helps push Thomas and Samson up and over the hill. But once on the other side, Samson refuses to stop and let Thomas be uncoupled, since they are already late.
The Fat Controller is cross when Samson and Thomas arrive at the docks. Not only is Samson pulling far too many trucks, but he is keeping Thomas from doing his job. Samson apologises on Thomas' behalf and says that he was trying to save time, but the Fat Controller tells Samson that he is not saving time at all—only causing confusion and delay.
Later at the Blue Mountain Quarry, Samson apologises to Thomas and decides to pull a shorter train this time. But Thomas is surprised to see Samson pulling only one truck, which he claims will save time in the long run.
This episode contains examples of:
- An Aesop: Doing too much won't always save time.
- Deadpan Snarker: Thomas is incredibly snarky to Samson in this episode.Thomas: Having a nice rest, Samson?
Samson: No! Working very hard as it happens. Haven't you seen many trucks I'm pulling?
Thomas: Um... too many? - Implausible Deniability: Samson blatantly denies taking too many trucks as Thomas points out to him.
- A Lesson Learned Too Well: Samson has learned his lesson of not taking too many trucks a bit too well, as when he decides to pull a shorter train, he only takes one truck.
- Mouthscreen: When Thomas yells, "PUSH!" so Paxton can push Sampson's heavy train up Gordon's hill, the camera is focused on his mouth.
- What the Hell, Hero?: The Fat Controller reprimands Samson for taking too much trucks which made him arrive too late.
