Air date: October 13th, 2003 (UK)
A new tank engine named Arthur arrives. The Fat Controller explains that he is to shunt trucks and pull freight and that he was chosen because he has a spotless record. Percy is confused, so Thomas explains that it means Arthur has never been naughty and he has never had an accident.
Later, Thomas and Percy are bumping trucks around. They know this is naughty, but they are having fun. Thomas asks Arthur to join in, but he declines. Arthur's first job is to take a train of fruit to market. The trucks sing at him which he thinks is very rude. This gives Thomas an idea, and he tells Arthur that the Fat Controller does not like the trucks singing and that he should tell them to stop. Arthur is convinced that he can keep the trucks in order and sets off while Thomas chuckles at his little joke.
Arthur is out on the main line when the trucks start singing again. Arthur crossly tells them to stop, so the trucks decide that if they cannot sing, they will try and teach Arthur a lesson instead. When they come to the top of Gordon's Hill, the trucks use their weight to pull Arthur down at high speed. But up ahead Duck has stopped at a level crossing. Arthur tries to stop, but it is too late as he crashes into the back of Duck's train, destroying Arthur's trucks and damaging Duck's brake van. Squashed fruit flies in all directions. Arthur is very upset now that his spotless record has been ruined.
Thomas arrives with the Fat Controller on board. Arthur tells him how he told the trucks to stop singing, but they pulled him down the hill. Thomas feels ashamed and admits to the Fat Controller that it was his fault since he told Arthur to stand up to the trucks. The Fat Controller orders Thomas to help clean up the mess. Harvey arrives with the breakdown train, and everyone works hard to clean up the mess.
That evening, Arthur is being cleaned when Thomas arrives. He apologises for tricking Arthur, and he is grateful that Thomas owned up. The two engines decide that spotless records can be broken, but then mended again, just like friendship.
Tropes featured in the episode:
- An Aesop: Spotless records can be broken.
- Asshole Victim: The troublesome trucks are rude to Arthur and cause his accident, so no one seems to care that they ended up destroyed in the process.
- Covered in Gunge: After Arthur crashes into the back of Duck's train, squashed fruit flies all over the two of them and a nearby signalman.
- Easily Forgiven: Despite owning up to causing Arthur's accident with his joke, Thomas surprisingly doesn't get a severe reprimand from the Fat Controller, who only orders him to clean up the mess. This helps Thomas make up for what he did.
- What Happened to the Mouse?: Duck disappears from the episode after Arthur crashes into his train.
