| This article is about the episode. You may be looking for the book. |
- “Run out of water?"
"Yes! I must have a leaky tank."
"Perhaps, but we better hurry. Everyone is waiting!” - ― Gordon teasing Spencer after he got stuck on the hill
Gordon and Spencer is the twenty-third episode of the seventh series.
Plot
Gordon is feeling excited; he gloats to Thomas that the Fat Controller will choose him as the special engine for the visiting Duke and Duchess of Boxford, but Thomas does not care and brushes it off. After Gordon has been washed and polished, he rushes away to meet the visitors. But on the way, he is diverted onto a siding. He is very upset about being late when a sleek silver streamlined tender engine passes by. Gordon is very surprised and wonders who he is.
When Gordon arrives at the shed, the engine is humming to himself. James explains that he is Spencer, the fastest engine in the world. Gordon scoffs at this, but he is secretly impressed. Spencer explains that he is the Duke and Duchess' private engine and he takes them everywhere. The Fat Controller arrives and says there will be a party for the visitors at Maron Station. After James points out that Maron is far away over Gordon's Hill, Gordon advises Spencer to take on plenty of water, but Spencer rudely rebuffs him. Gordon is hurt by this and mumbles he was only trying to be useful.
At Knapford, Spencer begins his journey. He shows the Duke and Duchess the Lighthouse, the Three Tier Bridge and the Windmill, but does not stop to take on more water. Thomas and Gordon are collecting passengers at Wellsworth when Spencer races by on his way to Maron. Gordon warns him again to take on water, but Spencer shouts back "Who cares?!" Thomas knows Spencer is going to be in trouble soon, and he is right; Spencer runs out of steam halfway up Gordon's Hill and regrets not listening to Gordon. The Fat Controller hears about Spencer's predicament and sends Gordon to his rescue.
When Gordon arrives at Wellsworth, the stationmaster informs his driver about Spencer. Gordon's driver encourages him to hurry. Gordon looks forward to seeing Spencer in his predicament. When Gordon arrives at the hill, he cannot help but tease Spencer about his mishap. While Spencer makes up an excuse of a leaky tank, Gordon chuckles, switches over onto Spencer's track and is coupled up. Then they set off for the party.
Gordon pulls Spencer and his coach into Maron right on time, but Spencer is embarrassed. Thomas asks James what he thinks about Spencer now. James comments that Spencer has too much puff and not enough steam. The Fat Controller applauds Gordon about his achievements and says that he is the fastest engine on the island. Gordon proudly says that he already knows that.
Characters
- Thomas
- Gordon
- James
- Spencer
- Sir Topham Hatt
- The Duke and Duchess of Boxford (do not speak)
- Edward (cameo)
- Henry (cameo)
- Percy (cameo)
- Douglas (cameo)
- Emily (cameo)
- Annie and Clarabel (cameos)
- Cyril the Fogman (cameo)
- Farmer Collett (cameo)
- The Storyteller (cameo)
- The Fisherman (cameo)
- The Hot Air Balloon Pilot (cameo)
- Harvey (deleted scene cameo)
- Murdoch (deleted scene cameo)
Locations
- The Fishing Village
- Gordon's Hill
- Tidmouth Sheds
- Knapford
- Tidmouth Beach
- The Runby Bridge
- Tower Windmill
- Henry's Tunnel
- Wellsworth
- Sir Topham Hatt's Office
- Maron
- Suddery Castle (deleted scene)
Trivia
- Going by production order, this is the first episode of the seventh series.
- There are several deleted scenes from this episode that were shown in The Whistle Song:
- One shot features James. In the background, Gordon can be seen still parked in the siding after Spencer had raced past. James would have passed by Gordon in the opposite direction.
- A shot of Spencer leaving Knapford from the front, filmed from the same angle that Emily does in Emily's New Coaches.
- Spencer pulls one coach throughout the episode. However, a deleted scene from The Whistle Song shows alternate take of him crossing the Runby Bridge, this time pulling two coaches.
- A shot of Spencer passing by Suddery Castle is shown, featuring both yellow flowers (from James and the Queen of Sodor) and pink flowers (from Bad Day at Castle Loch).
- An alternate shot of Spencer entering Wellsworth is shown, this time from an angle that shows Thomas.
- According to writer Lee Pressman, every time he wrote or rewrote this episode, it was always sent back with demands for changes. After that, he was not asked to write for the series again until a decade later.[1] As a result, this is the only episode written by Lee Pressman in the model series, and the only episode written by him until the seventeenth series episode, Kevin's Cranky Friend.
- On the VHS/DVD release New Friends for Thomas and Other Adventures, this episode, Emily's New Coaches, The Spotless Record, Peace and Quiet, Jack Jumps In and A Friend in Need (in that order) were re-narrated by Michael Angelis for the US.
- Due to the order of the episodes on the release, American viewers may have not recognised Emily in the background of this episode.
- There are four English narrations of this episode:
- Michael Angelis' UK narration with music composed by Mike O'Donnell and Junior Campbell.
- Michael Angelis' US re-narration that retains the original music.
- Michael Angelis' UK narration with music composed by Robert Hartshorne.
- Michael Brandon's US narration that uses the new music.
- In Mike O'Donnell and Junior Campbell's score for the episode, an instrumental tune of Five New Engines in the Shed can be heard when Spencer first races past Gordon. Incidentally, in the music video for said song, two scenes show one of the titular new engines on sets from this episode:
- One scene shows Harvey pulling two scrapped tenders on a flatbed on the set with the signalbox and siding that Gordon was diverted into.
- A scene on the Wellsworth set in which Murdoch passes Gordon and Thomas and their coaches, similar to the scene in the episode proper where Spencer does the same. Due to scenes on one particular set across the season being filmed in one go, both scenes have the same passengers and vehicles at the station in the same places.
- Another instance of the above occurring is when Edward is seen with his sad face as Gordon leaves Wellsworth, likely from Edward's Brass Band.
- Stock footage from Thomas the Jet Engine, Time for Trouble, Peace and Quiet and Saved from Scrap is used.
- Gordon's Special Coaches were originally planned to be introduced in this episode, but was dropped and was pushed to the tenth series episode, Emily and the Special Coaches.
- A high definition recreated scene of Gordon going down his hill was used in the eleventh series song version of Engine Roll Call.
- Prior to being released for digital download on Amazon in 2016, Michael Brandon's dub of this episode had only been broadcasted on television. However, the music that was used was released on DVD with Michael Angelis' dub in the UK DVD, Bumper Party Collection!.
- This episode marks Spencer's first speaking role and his only speaking role in the Classic Series and in the seventh series.
- It is also the Duke and Duchess of Boxford's only appearances in the seventh series and their only appearances in the Classic Series.
- This episode marks the last of a few things:
- The final appearance of Douglas until the eleventh series episode, Gordon and the Engineer, though he appears in a deleted scene from Edward the Great, with Donald.
- Edward, Henry (not counting a stock footage cameo appearance in Not So Hasty Puddings), James (not counting two stock footage cameo appearances), Gordon, Douglas, Emily and Spencer's last appearances in the Classic Series.
- The last episode where Douglas appears without Donald, and the last episode in general where one Scottish twin appears without the other.
- The final episode where Emily has bronze buffers. From James Gets a New Coat all the way through Gordon and Rebecca, Coming Through!, she has silver buffers.
- The final time Gordon's sixth series theme is used, albeit slightly recomposed similarly to other seventh series music cues, as well as the last time his original motif is used until The Adventure Begins.
Goofs
- Henry is turned too quickly on the turntable between the shot of Gordon arriving at Tidmouth Sheds and Thomas' close-up after.
- When Gordon whistles after coupling up to Spencer, stock footage of Edward's whistle is used instead.
- Spencer runs out of water, but still blows steam for a few more seconds.
- Gordon and Spencer pass through Wellsworth in opposite directions and yet still end up on Gordon's Hill together.
- In television broadcasts, Gordon's whistle is not heard as he leaves Wellsworth.
- When Gordon arrives at the shed, the lining on his cylinder is peeling off.
- When Gordon asks Spencer if he ran out of water, the narrator says he is teasing him. But Gordon looks more concerned instead of smiling or laughing.
- When the episode was broadcast on Nick Jr. in the UK, some descriptions misnamed the episode as Spencer's Mountain.
- Throughout the episode, a piece of Gordon's valve is missing.
- In the first shots of Spencer at the sheds and the other ones, Emily's siderods change position.
- In one shot of Spencer, reflections of studio lighting can be seen in his eyes.
Quotes
- Gordon: [upon seeing Spencer pass him at high speed] Steaming pistons! Who's that?!
- Thomas: What do you think of Spencer now?
- James: Too much puff and not enough steam!
In Other Languages
| View content | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Merchandise
- Books - Gordon and Spencer and The Fastest Locomotive in the World (Germany only)
- My Thomas Story Library book - Spencer
- Engine Adventures book - Spencer
Home Video Releases
References
| #01 Emily's New Coaches | #10 Toby's Windmill | #19 Bulgy Rides Again |
| #02 Percy Gets It Right | #11 Bad Day at Castle Loch | #20 Harold and the Flying Horse |
| #03 Bill, Ben and Fergus | #12 Rheneas and the Roller Coaster | #21 The Grand Opening |
| #04 The Old Bridge | #13 Salty's Stormy Tale | #22 Best Dressed Engine |
| #05 Edward's Brass Band | #14 Snow Engine | #23 Gordon and Spencer |
| #06 What's the Matter with Henry? | #15 Something Fishy | #24 Not So Hasty Puddings |
| #07 James and the Queen of Sodor | #16 The Runaway Elephant | #25 Trusty Rusty |
| #08 The Refreshment Lady's Tea Shop | #17 Peace and Quiet | #26 Three Cheers for Thomas |
| #09 The Spotless Record | #18 Fergus Breaks the Rules | |