Air date: October 18th, 1995 (UK), November 11th, 1996 (US)
Adapted from: Duke the Lost Engine, "Bulldog"
One morning, Percy is feeling very impatient. He has a new coat of paint and is very eager to show it off and complains that his driver is late. The other engines remind him the driver is not late, rather Percy is awake early. Thomas assures Percy it will soon be time for work, but warns him not to be impatient otherwise he may run into danger and Duke will not be there to save them. The other engines are surprised to hear their hero mentioned and Thomas decides to tell them a story his driver told him...
Long ago on the Mid Sodor Railway, back when Sir Handel was still called Falcon and Peter Sam was still called Stuart, the two worked alongside Duke. One day the manager comes along and tells Falcon, who is still new and has a lot to learn, he is pleased with his work but now wants the engine to learn about The Mountain Road, a difficult part of the line. The next day, Falcon will get a new coat of paint, then will go on the Mountain Road with Duke to double-head a train. Falcon is not impressed that he is having to work with Duke, who he considers a fusspot.
The next day, Duke tells Falcon he will head the train since the Mountain Road is tricky to travel over. Falcon refuses and insists on going in front, telling Duke he does not want the view blocked. Duke warns Falcon not to admire the view since he needs to watch the track and also tries to slow them down to keep them safe, but Falcon ignores Duke thinking he is fussing over nothing.
Soon the engines approach a curved tunnel, which Falcon does not like. He rushes through, but then near-disaster strikes as just after the exit is a sharp bend. Falcon goes too fast and ends up derailing and hanging over a cliff-edge. Duke holds on to Falcon for dear life, as their crews quickly work to anchor the two engines to the line.
There are more problems however, as Duke is out of water. A workman's cottage is nearby and all the passengers assist in fetching water and refilling Duke's tank. Eventually he manages to build up enough steam and works hard to pull Falcon back onto the line.
The manager is waiting for the train at the top station and when Duke and Falcon arrive the passengers tell him that Duke was a hero who wouldn't let go of Falcon and stood firm like a bulldog. Falcon thanks Duke for saving him, especially as he had been so rude to him. Duke is modest and tells Falcon that it would have been a shame if his new coat of paint had been spoilt.
Tropes featured in the episode:
- Attention Whore: Percy in the beginning. He wants the other engines to see his new coat of paint even though they're all still sleeping.
- Dangerous Clifftop Road: A train-related variant. Falcon nearly falls off the side of a cliff just because he isn’t being mindful of his surroundings.
- Disneyfication: When Duke is trying to hold Falcon to stop him from falling down the mountain, he snaps at him, "Stop shaking! I can't hold on to you if you shake!". This was toned down from Duke the Lost Engine, where Duke calls him a "young idiot" before giving his warning.
- Forgotten Framing Device: The episode begins with Thomas telling Percy the episode's story. But unlike the previous two episodes it doesn't return to the framing device.
- Hypocrite Has a Point: Despite the fact that James likes to show off his red paint, he did have a point that Percy wanted to show off his green paint and told him it's too early to do so.
- Hypocritical Humor: James accusing Percy for wanting to show off his new coat of paint. What is James obsessed with?
- Jerk with a Heart of Gold: Falcon being grateful to Duke and apologizing for his rude behavior.
- Shout-Out:
- The concept of passengers giving Duke water through the use of pots and pans from a nearby cottage is taken from The Titfield Thunderbolt.
- Duke is described as standing firm like a Bulldog and never giving up on his mission to save someone from a terrible fate. All that's missing is the cigar.
- Title Drop: Said by the Passengers as they explain how Duke saved Falcon to the Manager.
