The Runaway Elephant

"Hooray for Duncan's mistake!"

- The narrow gauge engines

The Runaway Elephant is the sixteenth episode of the seventh season.

Plot
A new park is being opened and Duncan is bossing the other engines about and telling them to do their work quicker. When Duncan finishes his jobs, he is asked to take an elephant statue down to the park, but carelessly leaves without a brakevan. Duncan also ignores the warnings to slow down and thus runs out of control, finally derailing at the park and sending the elephant flying into the pond. Duncan is repaired in time for the opening, but is surprised to find the elephant still in the pond due to general favour of the elephant's position, and embarrassed to be lauded by the others for his fortunate mistake.

Characters

 * Skarloey
 * Duncan
 * Rusty
 * Sir Topham Hatt
 * Lady Hatt
 * Rheneas (cameo)
 * Peter Sam (cameo)
 * Nancy (cameo)

Locations

 * Whispering Waterfall
 * Elephant Park
 * Rumblin Bridge
 * Glennock

Trivia

 * Stock footage from Edward's Brass Band is used.
 * This is the fourth episode to use a rendition of William Tell's Overture; the first being Busy Going Backwards, the second being Thomas the Jet Engine, and the third being Rheneas and the Roller Coaster. However, like the aformentioned episode, this was only in the UK version.
 * In the US narration, Duncan yells "Whoa!", but in the UK narration, he does not.
 * The Danish title for this episode is "The Flying Elephant". In Japan this episode is called "Duncan's Failure Teaches Success".

Goofs

 * When Duncan sees Skarloey, Skarloey is preparing to pull some trucks, but in the next scene, Skarloey is pushing trucks.
 * In one scene, Duncan's driver changes appearance.
 * The scenes of Duncan running down the hills are clearly tilted, because Duncan's steam simply shoots out in diagonal jets from his funnel.
 * When Duncan rushes past Rusty, the narrator says "Slow down! whistled Rusty," but Rusty is a Diesel. Also, the line behind Rusty leads to bushes.
 * It is impossible for a heavy statue to fly that far and high.
 * The water is dyed green.
 * When Duncan speeds past the cars, Elizabeth and Bulgy's horn sounds are heard, but they are no where to be seen.
 * When the tractor crosses the lane, it stops for a moment.

Merchandise

 * TrackMaster - Duncan with elephant statue truck and log truck