Edward's Exploit

"Did you see him straining?" "Positively painful!" "Just pathetic! He should give up and be preserved before it's too late!" "Shut up! You're all jealous! Edward's better than any of you!" "You're right, Duck. Edward's old but he'll surprise us all!"

- Henry, James, Gordon, Duck, and BoCo arguing about Edward

Edward's Exploit is the twenty-third episode of the second season. It aired in the US on the Shining Time Station episode, The Magic is Believing in 1991.

Plot
Bertie has been taking several visitors to the Island of Sodor on a tour and on their last afternoon, Edward is to take them to visit Bill and Ben at the China clay works. But Edward has trouble starting due to the packed coaches. James and Henry make snide remarks, while Gordon grumbles that it is time for Edward to be retired. Duck and BoCo take exception to this, knowing Edward is capable of far more than he seems. Finally Edward manages to start and leaves the station.

Edwards arrives at the junction where the passengers meet Bill and Ben, who enjoy the attention and getting their photos taken. The passengers then board the twins' brakevans and travel to the China clay works. The visitors have a wonderful day, being very impressed with the clay works and Bill and Ben. Afterwards, the passengers return to the junction and board Edward's coaches.

On the way back, the weather takes a bad turn and it begins to rain hard. As Edward fights the elements, his sanding gear fails, which forces his fireman to ride out front to drop the sand onto the rails. But there is worse to come and Edward's wheels slip fiercely, causing him to stop with a nasty cracking noise.

Edward's crew examines him, and finds that a crank pin broke and is forced to remove the siderods that keeps Edward's drive wheels synchronised. Edward's driver reminds him that they must get the visitors back to the station as soon as possible since they must leave tonight. Edward promises to try.

Edward tries to start, but the heavy coaches and slippery rails prevent Edward from leaving. Edward's crew makes adjustments to the coaches. Now, Edward will pull them as he does trucks, instead of pulling them all together; Edward will start the first, which will help pull the second, and then the third. Edward makes another attempt to start, and this time it works. Edward is forced to go slowly, but keeps steady and finally makes it back to the station.

By the time Edward returns, it is quite late, but the passengers have made it back in time. They are very grateful and thank Edward and his crew for all their hard work. Afterwards, Edward wearily returns to the shed. Duck and BoCo make sure Edward is left in peace as Gordon and James remain silent out of respect.

Characters

 * Edward
 * Henry
 * Gordon
 * James
 * Duck
 * BoCo
 * Bill and Ben (do not speak)
 * Bertie (does not speak)
 * Sir Topham Hatt (does not speak)
 * Jeremiah Jobling (cameo)
 * Jem Cole (cameo)

Locations

 * Knapford
 * Tidmouth Sheds
 * Lower Suddery
 * Brendam
 * Sodor China Clay Company
 * Hackenbeck Tunnel

Trivia

 * This episode is based on the story of the same name from The Railway Series book, Main Line Engines.
 * Stock footage from Thomas and Bertie and Bertie's Chase is used.
 * A deleted scene shows Henry in the sheds instead of James.
 * In the US, this episode aired before The Diseasel, so early American viewers would not know who Bill, Ben, and BoCo are.

Goofs

 * When the engines watch Edward struggle, Edward, Gordon, and BoCo's eyebrows are missing. Edward's eyebrows are also missing when he pulls into the station and whistles. Also, the back roof of Knapford is missing.
 * When Henry says "Did you see him straining?", he should have said "Can you see...", or "Do you...", as Edward is still struggling.
 * When BoCo says "You're right, Duck!", his face mask moves a little.
 * In a close up of Edward struggling to pull his train, his second front wheel is derailed.
 * When Edward leaves Knapford, the last coach's paint is peeling up.
 * When Duck says, "Edward's better than any of you", a steam platform is visible underneath Edward.
 * The first coach of Edward's train has a loose running board.
 * Fingerprints are visible in the dust on top of Bill and Ben's brakevans.
 * When Bill and Ben arrive at the quarry, someone on the back of Bill's brakevan wobbles.
 * In the close-up of Edward's driving wheels without the siderods, some of the sticker used for Edward's lining is badly torn up.
 * When Edward's driver says "Steady, boy", you can see the reflection of a crew member's beard in the window.
 * When Edward enters his berth at Tidmouth Sheds, BoCo's shed doors are hanging off. In the same shot, Gordon's eyes are wonky.
 * When Edward arrives at Knapford at night, blue wires are visible on his and Henry's running board, near their headlamps.
 * Edward mysteriously gains headlamps when he reaches Knapford.