U.S. Title: Edward the Really Useful Engine
Air date: October 7th, 2002
Gordon thinks that Edward is old and should be retired, and the other big engines agree with him, but Percy is concerned about this. He tells his driver and the Fat Controller about what Gordon said about Edward, who attends to the matter immediately.
The Fat Controller arranges for Edward to teach Stepney to run a new loop line, while Duck does Edward's work, but it makes no difference to Gordon. Edward enjoys working with Stepney, but Duck does not enjoy working with the trucks, especially when they hold him back on Gordon's Hill. Duck is stuck on Gordon's line, and it's too late to switch him to the middle line, so the guard tries to flag him down, but Gordon passes by and tries to push Duck up, but it's no good.
Gordon's crew sends for Edward to help both engines, and as the strange train sets off and pulls into the station, Gordon feels rather embarrassed and is told off by the Fat Controller for saying rude things about Edward, who has proven to be responsible, reliable, and very helpful. The next day, Gordon apologizes to Edward and says that he really is a useful engine. Now there is no more talk about Edward retiring.
Tropes featured in the episode:
- Adaptational Wimp: Duck becomes one as he is shown to be having trouble with trucks, since the books establish early on that the trucks learn (on Duck's first day on Sodor no less) that playing tricks on him was a mistake.
- An Aesop: Even the oldest of persons can do really big things.
- Humble Pie: Gordon experiences this when Edward helps push his and Duck's trains to Knapford, and thanks him for helping him up the hill.
- Jerkass: Gordon, Henry, and James all think that Edward is too old and needs to be retired, but mostly Gordon for starting it.
- Just Train Wrong: Percy comments that Edward doesn't have tyres. While locomotives don't have rubber tyres like a car does, they do have a different sort of tyres on their wheels.
- Kindhearted Simpleton: Percy doesn't get why Edward needs to be "retired" when he has no tyres, but he is the only one concerned over Gordon's bad remarks about him.
- Nice Guy:
- Percy is noticeably worried about Edward's longevity and doesn't like the big engines talking badly about him.
- Edward shows no hard feelings despite Gordon's comments that he should be retired either.
- Stronger Than They Look: Edward manages to help push both Gordon and the Express and Duck and his trucks up Gordon's Hill and back to Knapford, despite only being a small, old engine.
- Tempting Fate: Gordon comments that he doesn't need a banker. Once he sees Duck stuck on Gordon's Hill and gets stuck himself trying to help, he soon realises how wrong he was.
- What the Hell, Hero?: The Fat Controller gives Gordon a stern reprimand for his remarks about Edward, leaving Gordon feeling ashamed.
