The Spotless Record

"The Spotless Record" is a seventh season episode.

Plot
A new tank engine with a "spotless record", Arthur, arrives. Arthur's first job is to take a train of fruit to market, but they tease Arthur. Thomas, sensing a chance for mischief, advises Arthur to tell the trucks to stop singing. Arthur does, and the furious trucks decide to pay him out. On Gordon's Hill, they bump forward and crash into Duck's train, spraying fruit everywhere. When Thomas arrives to help, he confesses the incident was his fault, and dutily gets to work. Arthur is later having a washdown when Thomas apologizes, and the two become friends.

Featured Characters

 * Thomas
 * Percy
 * Arthur
 * Troublesome Trucks
 * Sir Topham Hatt
 * Duck (does not speak)
 * Harvey (does not speak)
 * Henry (cameo)
 * Gordon (cameo)
 * James (cameo)
 * Salty (cameo)
 * Butch (cameo)

Trivia

 * Introducing Arthur the LMS Engine.
 * If Arthur had been pulling the train instead or had a brakevan, the accident probably would never have happened.
 * If you look closely when Arthur is pushing, and slow it down twice, you can see that one of the vans has Splatter/Dodge's cross face.

Goofs

 * When Thomas explains what a spotless record is James is hurrying past in the background, but soon after he and his train disappear.
 * When the shot fades to Thomas and Percy whizzing past Arthur, smoke is venting up from beneath the tracks before Thomas runs on them.
 * The trucks keep changing places during Arthur's journey.
 * In one scene the van in front of Arthur's train is missing his face.
 * If the laws of physics were correct, then Arthur's velocity should have caused the brakevan to crumple accordion-style, Duck should have been pushed through the gates and the driver and signalman should have been knocked over when the fruit hit them.
 * If the crash went the way the narrator said, fruit would have splattered everywhere as soon as Arthur crashed, but there is no fruit to be seen at all until it suddenly splashes on Duck, the driver and the signalman.
 * Arthur’s first few wheels are lifted up during the collision, but in later shots they are back on the tracks.
 * When the fruit hits the signalman his head jolts up.
 * When Thomas pushes some of the trucks, his wheels stop spinning and skid briefly.