- “Who holds the old record?"
"I do!” - ― Thomas and Gordon
It's Good to Be Gordon is the ninth episode of the tenth series.
Plot
One spring morning, the Fat Controller tells Gordon that if he is on time with the express and back, he will have set a new record. Gordon is happy about this, but he has to go to the coaling plant to fill his tender. After he is filled with coal, the yard manager cries out that Gordon has just been given Henry's special coal by mistake. Gordon knows Henry needs special coal, but he thinks that it would help him with his record, so he ignores the yard manager and leaves with the special coal. Henry arrives at the coaling plant to fill his tender to take some tar wagons to Knapford, but the yard manager tells him that there is no special coal remaining and that Henry will have to use regular coal. Henry is worried as using ordinary coal would clog his firebox and therefore stop him from making steam, but he decides to use the ordinary coal as it is only for one day.
Gordon starts puffing around the island to set his new record. He is making good time and he feels good to be Gordon. But Henry is not at his best as he can not go fast with his heavy tar wagons and black steam is coming out from his funnel and he is also rattling. Thomas sees Henry and knows he is sick. Gordon soon finds out from Thomas about Henry's sickness and wishes he had not taken his special coal, but he continues to set a new record. When Gordon arrives at Maron, he sees Henry taking on water and looking very sick. Gordon feels guilty, but the stationmaster blows his whistle and Henry cheers for Gordon to set a new record.
Gordon is on time, but he stops metres outside Knapford not caring for setting a new record and goes back to find Henry. Gordon finds him having a rest and tells Henry that he took his special coal. Henry forgives him and the two big engines swap tenders under Gordon's suggestion. Henry is filled with special coal and feels much better as they go to Knapford. Because Gordon was late with the express, everyone left with Thomas being the only one there. The Fat Controller drives home in his car for tea. Gordon felt upset that he did not set a new record, but is cheered up when Thomas reminds him that he is still the current record-holder and the good friends laugh.
Characters
- Thomas
- Henry
- Gordon
- Sir Topham Hatt
- The Coaling Plant Manager
- Edward (cameo)
- James (cameo)
- Percy (cameo)
- Emily (cameo)
- Refreshment Lady (cameo)
- Sodor Brass Band (cameo)
Locations
Trivia
- Going by production order, this is the eighth episode of the tenth series.
- This was the first episode for several things:
- The first episode to have two engines switch their tenders. If The Missing Coach had been completed, this would have been the second episode to do so.
- The first appearance of Gordon's new face mask.
- The first time Henry's stuffed up face mask appeared since the first series episode, Whistles and Sneezes.
- This episode marks the last time an engine driver has a speaking role until the special, Day of the Diesels. It was also the last episode until the eighteenth series episode, Long Lost Friend, in which a driver has spoken dialogue.
- This is the last time a character's face turns green until the nineteenth series episode, Who's Geoffrey?.
- This is the last episode to use Henry's original perspex model almost exclusively and the second to last to use it in the model series. It would only be seen one more time in Henry's Lucky Day when he backs onto a train of trucks at the airport, after this his brass model would be the only used for the rest of series 11 and 12.
Goofs
- When Henry says "The workmen are waiting! The workmen are waiting!" his side rods are going slower than his accurate speed.
In Other Languages
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Home Media Releases
UK
DVD PacksAUS
DVD Boxsets
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| #01 Follow that Flour | #11 Fearless Freddie | #21 Emily and the Special Coaches |
| #02 A Smooth Ride | #12 Toby's New Shed | #22 Thomas and the Colours |
| #03 Thomas and the Jet Plane | #13 Big Strong Henry | #23 Thomas and the Birthday Mail |
| #04 Percy and the Funfair | #14 Sticky Toffee Thomas | #24 Duncan's Bluff |
| #05 The Green Controller | #15 Which Way Now? | #25 Missing Trucks |
| #06 Duncan Drops a Clanger | #16 Thomas and the Shooting Star | #26 Thomas and the Treasure |
| #07 Thomas' Tricky Tree | #17 Edward Strikes Out | #27 James the Second Best |
| #08 Toby's Afternoon Off | #18 Topped Off Thomas | #28 Thomas and Skarloey's Big Day Out |
| #09 It's Good to Be Gordon | #19 Wharf and Peace | |
| #10 Seeing the Sights | #20 Thomas' Frosty Friend | |