Thomas and the Golden Eagle

"Seeing two golden eagles is a wonderful thing!" "But not as wonderful as helping a friend."

- Percy and Thomas

Thomas and the Golden Eagle is the twenty-fourth episode of the ninth season.

Plot
A golden eagle has been spotted at Bluff's Cove and Emily is chosen to pull the train for the birdwatchers. Thomas and Percy make a plan and Percy takes some of Thomas' trucks to Brendam while Thomas goes to Bluff's Cove. But Bertie comes with news that the eagle has been spotted near Gordon's Hill, prompting Thomas to go on a wild goose chase looking for the golden eagle. At last, Thomas finds Percy, out of coal and water, on the line; Percy had seen Thomas' trucks unmoved and tried to take them to Brendam with his milk tankers. Thomas delivers Percy's goods and helps him home, but the two are amazed to see not one, but two golden eagles perched on a cliff-face. The two engines think the eagles are wonderful, but not as wonderful as helping friends.

Characters

 * Thomas
 * Percy
 * Bertie
 * Sir Topham Hatt
 * Emily (does not speak)
 * Henry (cameo)
 * Gordon (cameo)
 * James (cameo)
 * Molly (cameo)
 * Cranky (cameo)

Locations

 * Brendam Docks
 * McColl Farm
 * Farmer McColl's Field
 * Bluff's Cove
 * Bluff's Cove Junction
 * Tidmouth Sheds
 * Gordon's Hill
 * Sodor Dairy
 * Centre Island Quarry

Goofs

 * Thomas would have easily seen his trucks when he passed them enroute to find the golden eagle.
 * When Thomas climbs Gordon's Hill, mechanism is seen underneath him.
 * The episode is unrealistic since eagles are native in parts of Africa and North America, not Europe (although it's not evident Sodor is still part of the British Isles in the later series).