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Edward and Gordon, retitled Edward Helps Out on North American releases, is the second episode of the first series. It is based on Edward's Day Out and the story of the same name from The Railway Series book The Three Railway Engines.
Plot
Edward is an old, blue tender engine who lives in a shed with four other engines and is feeling sad as he has not been out in a long time. One summer day, the driver and fireman see how upset he is, so they choose him over the other engines. Edward has a wonderful day pulling some coaches. The coaches are very impressed with Edward, as is his crew. Edward tells the other engines that he will go out again tomorrow that night in the sheds but falls asleep before he can find out what they think of it.
Gordon: "I can't do it, I can't do it, I can't do it!"
Next morning, Gordon is bragging to Edward. He tells the old engine to watch him rush by with the express that afternoon. Edward ignores him and goes to shunt trucks in the yard. Later, Edward sees Gordon pass by the yard but, instead of pulling coaches, Gordon is pulling a short goods train, to his anger. Edward laughs about this and goes back to work.
Edward: "I will do it, I will do it, I will do it!"
A porter soon calls Edward to help Gordon, who is stuck on a hill. When Edward arrives, Gordon does not think that he can help. The train is brought down to the bottom of the hill and then both engines puff together up it. All the while, Gordon persistently complains but, to his surprise, they reach the top. Gordon thunders away at high speed, cheering for himself and leaves Edward far behind, having forgotten about him. Out of breath, Edward slowly runs into a siding at Maron Station, where the crew give him a nice, long drink and promise to reward him with a new coat of blue paint with red stripes the next day.
Characters
- Edward
- Gordon
- Troublesome Trucks
- Thomas (not named, does not speak)
- Henry (not named, does not speak)
- James (not named, does not speak)
- Old Coaches (do not speak)
- The Stone-dropping Boys (cameos)
Locations
- Tidmouth Sheds
- Three-Track Bend and Signal Box
- Rail Under Road Bridge and Signal Box
- Gordon's Hill
- Maron
- Henry's Tunnel (deleted scene)
- The Viaduct (deleted scene)
- Hawin Ab (deleted scene)
Trivia
- On 9 October 1984 before the Children's ITV debut at 4.00pm, this episode aired with Thomas and Gordon at 12.00 midday before the ITN News at 1.00pm.
- The second half of this episode was recreated and re-adapted for the 2015 special The Adventure Begins.
- Thomas and James take the roles of 87546, 98462 and the red tender engine from the original book, despite Thomas being the smallest and James being roughly the same size as Edward.
- The events of this episode were later mentioned by the narrator in James and the Express.
- According to film slides, an extended sequence of Edward pulling the Old Coaches was planned and possibly an extended adaptation of Edward's Day Out was to take place. The sequence was cut likely for time constraints.
- George Carlin's narration of the episode was never featured in an episode of Shining Time Station. It first appeared on the 1995 version of Thomas Gets Tricked and Other Stories on in 1995.
- In the Shining Time Station episode, A Place Unlike Any Other, Ringo Starr's line, "Edward's driver came up" is the same as in its UK counterpart, while home media releases of Starr's US dub have the line re-recorded.
- When Gordon races through Maron, the footage is sped up.
- Edward's classic theme is used the most in this episode throughout the classic series, which is three times.
- This episode marks the first of several things:
- The first episode in which the narrator says the line indicating a problem ahead, "Then there was trouble."
- Edward's first appearance in the television series.
- The first episode with Edward as a main character.
- The first appearance of Henry, Gordon and James' annoyed faces as well as Henry's smiling face.
- The first episode in which Thomas appears but does not speak.
- The first episode in which the Fat Controller does not appear.
- The first time where Gordon is seen pulling trucks instead of coaches.
- The first episode that was adapted from two stories of The Railway Series.
- The only first series episode with Edward's concerned and shocked faces. His concerned face would be seen in future series while his shocked one is next seen in the seventh series episode Edward's Brass Band.
- The first appearance of Edward's original smiling face.
Goofs
- Throughout the episode:
- Of the Ringo Starr's US dub, he re-narrates Gordon's lines in his regular voice.
- Gordon middle lamp iron is crooked and some stains can also be seen on his running board.
- In the first scene:
- James' eyes are misaligned.
- The narrator mentions that all the other engines are bigger than Edward. This is not true, as Thomas is actually the smallest engine, since he is a tank engine and James is roughly the same size as Edward.
- In the first close-up of Edward's driver and fireman in his cab, the sheds are nowhere to be seen behind him. The same thing also happens when Edward says "Oh yes please!" and in the close-up of Edward's funnel.
- In the second close-up of Edward's driver and fireman in his cab, Gordon is nowhere to be seen.
- In the scenes of where Edward and Gordon cross the turntable, the rotating part of the track tilts and moves slightly.
- During Edward's morning passenger train:
- The brake coach is backwards, this being due to the coaches, even the brake one, only being painted on one side.
- His eyes are also misaligned.
- When Edward says "I'm going out again tomorrow," steam is venting from an empty siding in the background. Also, in the siding where steam is venting, the rails end at the bottom of the screen.
- In a close-up of Gordon at Tidmouth Sheds, Henry cannot be seen next to Thomas.
- When Edward puffs out of the shed to shunt trucks, a camera shadow can be seen.
- When Edward is shunting trucks, his cab roof is raised and a truck on the line next to him is also missing one of its eyes.
- When the narrator says "Gordon was very cross," there are bushes beside Gordon instead of the yard and sheds.
- In the restored version:
- As Gordon exclaims "The shame of it! The shame of it! Oh, the shame of it!":
- He is not pulling the trucks.
- A gap can be seen between his eyes and face.
- The edge of the track, is visible behind him.
- Studio equipment is visible on the bottom left.
- When Gordon is on the hill, the edge of the set can be seen.
- As Gordon exclaims "The shame of it! The shame of it! Oh, the shame of it!":
- When Gordon talks to Edward's driver, his eyes jitter a few times.
- When Edward buffers up behind Gordon, the sound comes earlier than it is supposed to, Gordon's brake van has also changed and the open truck is empty.
- When Gordon and Edward reach the top of the hill, the ground underneath the tracks moves slightly.
- In both US dubs, it is said that Edward was happy because he had been so helpful but he looks sad.
- Edward is wearing James' sad face when he approaches the water tower. Due to this, his nose and eyebrows also change shape.
- When Edward's driver says "I'll get out my paint tomorrow," he has a stain on his right shoulder (viewers' left).
- Edward's eyes are slightly misaligned in the final scene of the episode.
In Other Languages
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Merchandise
Books
Magazine Story
Home Video Releases
Episode
US Narration (George Carlin)References
| #01 Thomas and Gordon | #10 James and the Express | #19 The Flying Kipper |
| #02 Edward and Gordon | #11 Thomas and the Guard | #20 Whistles and Sneezes |
| #03 The Sad Story of Henry | #12 Thomas Goes Fishing | #21 Toby and the Stout Gentleman |
| #04 Edward, Gordon and Henry | #13 Thomas, Terence and the Snow | #22 Thomas in Trouble |
| #05 Thomas' Train | #14 Thomas and Bertie | #23 Dirty Objects |
| #06 Thomas and the Trucks | #15 Tenders and Turntables | #24 Off the Rails |
| #07 Thomas and the Breakdown Train | #16 Trouble in the Shed | #25 Down the Mine |
| #08 James and the Coaches | #17 Percy Runs Away | #26 Thomas' Christmas Party |
| #09 Troublesome Trucks | #18 Coal | |