U.S Title: Elizabeth the Vintage Quarry Truck
Air date: September 20th, 2002 (UK), January 7th, 2003 (US)
Thomas is pulling a special to Brendam Docks. It is heavy, and he is puffing so hard, that his side rods fall off. Thomas' crew find an old disused shed, which Thomas thinks is haunted, but instead of finding a ghost inside, Thomas' crew discovers a vintage Sentinel lorry named Elizabeth. She has been sheeted for many years and hasn't been out since. Thomas' fireman puts some of his coal in her fire, and soon she is out and working again. After saying rude things to Thomas, she drives off to the works to get new siderods for Thomas. She returns, and Thomas sets off to the docks. He arrives just in time for the boat, but the Fat Controller is cross that he was almost late. Thomas explains about his siderods and is just about to tell him about how rude Elizabeth was when she pulls up. It turns out the Fat Controller drove Elizabeth when he was younger, and he has Jem Cole restore her to her original beauty.
Tropes featured in the episode:
- Did You Just Punch Out Cthulhu?: Elizabeth actually insults the Fat Controller without ever getting in trouble for it:Elizabeth: Oh, it's you. Have you learned to drive properly yet?
- Insistent Terminology: When Thomas and Elizabeth first set eyes on each other, Thomas remarks that she's an old Sentinel lorry, to which Elizabeth insists that he refers to her as a vintage Sentinel lorry.
- Jerkass: Elizabeth is rude and unpleasant, much to Thomas' displeasure.
- What a Piece of Junk: Elizabeth is pretty much the Millennium Falcon to Thomas' Luke Skywalker. She may be old, but she's got what it takes.
Thomas: And you're just an old Sentinel lorry.
Elizabeth: That would be vintage Sentinel lorry. And I haven't much time to get your coupling rods.
