U.S. Title: Runaway Car
Air date: December 3rd, 2018 (UK)
While he is working on the Chinese Railway, Thomas tries to save an accident-prone truck named Lei who is racing down the tracks. Spotting a chance to be a hero, he tries to stop it but accidentally flips Lei right off the tracks. Yong Bao shows him the correct way to do it.
Tropes:
- An Aesop: If you learn something new and don't get it right the first time, don't get upset - just keep on trying.
- Artistic License – Physics: Somehow, Thomas is able to flip Lei over just by bumping him.
- Big Damn Heroes: Thomas in his fantasy sequence. Thomas actually gets a chance to be a hero when he actually saves Lei.
- Cock-a-Doodle Dawn: A rooster crows at one point in the episode.
- Continuity Nod: In the And Knowing Is Half the Battle segment, Thomas recalls the events of The Adventure Begins.
- Eyedscreen: Thomas at the beginning of his Imagine Spot, in the mean of a horizontal Split Screen with his eyes in the middle.
- Floating Advice Reminder: When he is trying to save Lei, Thomas sees a hallucination of Yong Bao who reminds him to use tai-chi.
- Imagine Spot: Thomas has one where he is a big damn hero.
- In Medias Res: The beginning of the episode cuts right to Lei racing down the tracks and Yong Bao trying to save him.
- Iron Butt Monkey: Lei doesn't seem to suffer any damage despite how many times he gets flipped off the tracks in this episode.
- Running Gag: Lei being flipped off the tracks.
- Slow Motion: Used the first time Lei gets flipped off the tracks.
- Stock Footage: In the And Knowing Is Half the Battle segment, stock footage from "Bradford the Brake Van" is used.
