Air date: October 4th, 2004
Gordon is pulling the Mayor of Sodor on an important trip and Emily is chosen to pull the Express while he's away. Gordon brags that he can pull the Express across the island and back before teatime, so Emily challenges that record. She collects the coaches and sets off before the brake coach is coupled on. She makes good time, and, on the journey back, gets cross at Edward for delaying her with his goods train. She later waits at Maithwaite Station for Bertie but is too impatient and leaves too soon, ironically just as he pulls in. She soon has to take on water, but James is at the next standpipe, and she goes on instead. She is approaching Brendam Docks when she runs out of water and stops. James pulls her to the Docks and Emily offers to take his slow goods train. She later meets Thomas at a signal, and proudly announces she is learning patience.
Tropes featured in the episode:
- An Aesop: Always be patient.
- Jerkass Ball: Emily grabs it again when the idea of taking Gordon's Express goes right to her smokebox.
- Jerkass Has a Point: Emily yelling at Edward to hurry up at the crossing was rude, yes, but express passenger trains do take priority over slow goods trains.
- Laser-Guided Karma: After spending the day being rude to others because she gets to pull the Express, Emily runs out of water and has to be rescued by James.
- A Tragedy of Impulsiveness: Emily is so focused on challenging Gordon's record that she forgets the brake coach for the Express, doesn't wait for Bertie's passengers, and is too impatient to take on water, which leads to her stopping.
- What the Hell, Hero?: The Fat Controller calls Emily out for her impatience which results in her leaving behind the brake coach, stranding Bertie's passengers, and bumping the carriages that have passengers inside.
