Air date: May 5th, 1992 (UK), December 25th, 1991 (US)
Adapted from: Tramway Engines, "Mavis"
Mavis is a young Diesel engine who works in the quarry at the end of the branch line, where she shunts trucks and puts them in their proper place. She has sideplates like Toby to help prevent accidents on the line, but she is quite inexperienced and has her own ideas on how to do things; ideas she is very keen to implement. As a result, she puts the trucks in different positions every day making things hard for Toby, who tells Mavis off for this. Mavis, however, thinks Toby is just being fussy and boring and continues to do things her way until eventually Toby gives up and tells her she can take her own trucks to the station. Mavis is very pleased with this, as taking trucks makes her feel important.
Later, Diesel oils up to Mavis, who complains about Toby. Diesel sees a chance to cause trouble and tells Mavis that Diesels are naturally better than steam engines before leaving. Mavis takes his words to heart, not realising that Diesel knew nothing about trucks.
The line Toby uses crosses a main road behind the station before reaching a farm lane. Here, there is a dip in the line which can be very difficult to ride across in frosty weather. Toby had found a solution to this; after the fireman stopped the traffic on the road, Toby took a run at the dip and used the weight of the trucks to carry him across without trouble. Not only is it the easiest way, but it is also the only safe way to travel the lane. Toby tells Mavis about the farm lane and how to cross it, but Mavis thinks that Toby is just being fussy and ignores his advice.
Later, Mavis begins taking the trucks to the station not realising that the trucks, who were tired of being bumped around, planned to make her day difficult. Mavis reaches the farm lane, however, instead of stopping before the dip, she stops just before the road. All the traffic is halted and Mavis, who believes she has got one over on Toby, tries to leave. But the trucks take advantage of her mistake and hold back. Mavis is unable to move despite her best attempts. Mavis' crew tries to dig away the frozen mud, to no avail. Mavis is stuck, making everyone who is caught in the resulting traffic jam cross.
Back at the yard, Toby is angry when he is told what has happened. Toby's driver tries to calm him down, reminding him that Mavis is young and needs to learn. Toby is not interested and is willing to let her manage the trucks herself. The driver reminds Toby that they are actually his trucks and Mavis is technically not allowed to leave the yard. Knowing the Fat Controller might be angry if he finds out about this, Toby decides to go and help after all.
Back at the lane, Mavis is facing the anger of a farmer when Toby arrives to help. After a lot of pushing, Toby finally starts to move Mavis and the trucks back across the lane. This makes Toby's fire burn fiercely and his fireman uses the ashes to melt the frozen mud. Finally, Toby and Mavis wind up at the beginning of the lane and Toby wishes Mavis goodbye and leaves. Mavis is left feeling very angry and embarrassed, and after taking the trucks to the shed, she quickly sneaks back to the quarry.
Tropes featured in the episode:
- Actually Pretty Funny:
- Though also being held up by Mavis, Bertie, and Terence look far more amused by the situation than the grumbling crowd.
- Toby, similarly, despite his bad mood with Mavis, can't help laughing at her when he sees her predicament.
- Adaptation-Induced Plot Hole: In the episode, Toby and Mavis are both at the quarry when she leaves with her trucks and gets stuck on the crossing, then when Toby is told of her plight, he leaves the quarry down the same line as Mavis, but somehow arrives on the other side of the crossing so he can rescue her. This Plot Hole didn't occur in Tramway Engines, however, as Toby departs from the sheds, which is on the opposite end of the crossing.
- Adaptational Nice Guy: Downplayed. While Toby still spitefully refuses to help Mavis, he relents quicker than he did in Tramway Engines, where he expected his workman to lie about his involvement. The Reveal gag that Toby was petty enough to do so only a few yards away from Mavis is also absent.
- Adapted Out: In the book version of the story, Daisy is the diesel who talks to Mavis about how diesel engines are superior to steam engines. In this adaptation, Devious Diesel takes her role.
- Angrish: If Mavis says anything even resembling a coherent remark after realizing she's stuck on the level crossing, it isn't narrated.Toby: Having trouble, Mavis? I am surprised!
Mavis: GRRRRUSH! - Composite Character: Diesel takes Daisy's role from the book in talking with Mavis, since Rick Siggelkow disapproved of Daisy.
- Continuity Nod: The narration reminds us that "Diesel knew nothing about trucks" when he's giving his advice to Mavis.
- Disneyfication: Mavis exclaims "Fiddlesticks!" at the beginning of this episode, instead of "Fudge!" in the original book. This was likely to avoid any criticism for alluding to profanity in the television series.
- Downer Ending: Although she is helped by Toby up the track, Mavis is left embarrassed and angry as she returns to the quarry.
- Laser-Guided Karma: The Trucks holding back Mavis at the level crossing counts because she had been frequently getting on Toby's nerves earlier in the episode.
- Manipulative Bastard: Diesel.
- Parenthetical Swearing: When Mavis gets stuck on a level crossing:Narrator: An angry farmer was telling Mavis just what she could do with her train.
- Refuse to Rescue the Disliked: Toby angrily refuses to help Mavis after she gets herself stuck on the farm lane, and only relents when his driver reminds him that the trucks holding her back are his, and he'd likely get in trouble same as her if the Fat Controller found out she'd left the quarry.
- Stock Footage: Footage and a deleted scene from "Donald's Duck" is used.
- Well, Excuse Me, Princess!: Mavis much to Toby's annoyance.
