Gordon Takes Charge

"Maybe teaching Percy will be fun, then he'll see I'm the biggest and the best."

- Gordon

Gordon Takes Charge is the twelfth episode of the eighth season.

Plot
Percy is taking passengers for the first time in ages and Gordon tries to teach him how to treat coaches. Things are shaky when Percy accidentally bumps the coaches, lets off steam at the wrong time, and Gordon starts showing off. In the end, Gordon tries to brake so smoothly he slips on the icy rails and runs into a snowdrift, just as Percy puffs in and gently halts. Gordon compliments Percy afterwards, but attributes it to his good teaching.

Characters

 * Gordon
 * Percy
 * Sir Topham Hatt
 * Edward (does not speak)
 * James (does not speak)
 * Toby (does not speak)
 * Bertie (does not speak)
 * Thomas (cameo)
 * Emily (cameo)
 * Annie and Clarabel (cameo)
 * Butch (cameo)
 * The Refreshment Lady (cameo)
 * Mrs. Kyndley (cameo)
 * Cyril the Fogman (cameo)

Locations

 * Tidmouth Sheds
 * Bulgy's Bridge
 * Maron
 * Kellsthorpe
 * Shunting Yards

Trivia

 * Stock footage from Percy's New Whistle is used.
 * The snow engine the children made resembles Thomas.
 * Thomas' large-scale model for when he interacts with The Pack is seen at the beginning.
 * In Germany, this episode is called "Gordon Says It's Done". In Norway it is named "Gordon Shows Off". And in the Netherlands it is titled "Gordon Takes the Lead". In Japan, this episode is called "Gordon the Teacher".

Goofs

 * The road underneath Bulgy's Bridge has been mysteriously replaced by rails.
 * Gordon puts his brakes on but he still makes a puffing sound.
 * The snow Gordon puffs into looks unrealistic.
 * Michael Brandon's voice cracks when he says, "His face was as red as Bertie the bus."
 * Bertie appears to be smiling when he is stuck in the snow.