This article is about the episode. You may be looking for the Buzz Book. |
- “Now if I had two tenders I wouldn't have to stop so often, and I wouldn't have to listen to silly little engines!”
- ― Gordon
Tender Engines is the twentieth episode of the third series. It is based on the story Tenders for Henry from The Railway Series book, Enterprising Engines.
Plot
Gordon gets fed up with being given advice by the other engines while taking on coal and water and claims that big engines have big needs and little engines are just annoying. Later, Gordon is impressed when he sees a visitor (The Flying Scotsman) with two tenders and says that if he had two tenders, he would not need to stop as often, nor be teased.
However, he becomes depressed when Diesel gloats the diesels' victory over steam engines on the mainland. His mood worsens when Duck and Henry tease him about boiler-ache. He perks up when he is told by the Fat Controller that he will never be scrapped on his railway and that the visitor had two tenders due to the lack of coal and water in between stations on the Mainland, but while Gordon feels much better, Henry is cross and grumbles that he deserves two tenders for his work.
Duck, planning a trick, coerces Henry into pulling some spare tenders. Henry is delighted but is less than thrilled when he finds out that they are dirty, old and filled with boiler sludge, much to the other engines' amusement. As Henry grudgingly pulls them through the station, he is teased back by Gordon with the same insults he had used earlier.
Characters
- Henry
- Gordon
- James
- Duck
- Donald
- Diesel
- Sir Topham Hatt
- Flying Scotsman (not named; tenders and cab only)
- Thomas (cameo)
- Edward (cameo)
- Percy (cameo)
- Annie and Clarabel (cameo)
- Bertie (cameo)
- Jem Cole (cameo)
- Big Mickey (faceless; cameo)
- British Railways Diesels (mentioned)
- The Mainland Diesels (mentioned)
Locations
- Knapford Harbour
- Tidmouth
- Tidmouth Yards
- Tidmouth Tunnel (deleted scene)
- Wellsworth
- The Three Way Road
Trivia
- A photograph from this episode was released as a Royal Mail stamp in 2011 to mark the Reverend W. Awdry's Centenary.
- One of Henry's "tenders" has LMS written on the side, a possible reference to his basis, the LMS Black 5 Class. Some of the other tenders have "NE" on the sides, indicating that they are North Eastern Railway 4,200 gallon tenders.
- Flying Scotsman was originally intended to have a larger role in this episode, but due to budgetary constraints, the entire locomotive model could not be constructed. So Flying Scotsman was rewritten as a stranger to Gordon rather than his brother.
- This was the only episode until the twenty-second series episode, Confusion Without Delay where the Flying Scotsman appears. It was also aforementioned
- This marks Diesel's last speaking role until the sixth series episode, The World's Strongest Engine.
- This is the last episode to use Gordon's grumpy music cue. This music cue was previously used in The Trouble with Mud and Gordon and the Famous Visitor.
- This episode marks the only appearance of the Flying Scotsman before The Great Race.
- This is the first episode where Donald appears without Douglas, as well as the first episode where either of the Scottish twins appears without the other.
- The modern television description refers to Flying Scotsman as 'a two-engine,' instead of referring to him as having multiple tenders.
- Big Mickey, the fire station, a grey building, a large brown building, the steel company and steel rig from TUGS appear in the episode.
Goofs
- When James first arrives at the coal chute to speak to Gordon, his pony truck is derailed.
- When James leaves the coal loader, his eyes are wonky.
- Flying Scotsman's second tender is a standard LNER corridor tender when it should be an auxiliary water tender.
- When Henry bangs the trucks, one bounces upwards.
- Henry's face is loose when he complains about always working hard enough for two tenders.
- Before Henry comes out with the tenders, James' first wheel is crooked.
- Henry passes Thomas twice while pulling the tenders.
- In the restored version, a tripod camera is seen when Gordon says "Don't be vulgar!"
- Studio equipment can be seen when Gordon leaves Tidmouth.
Quotes
- [Duck catches Gordon taking on water from an ordinary stand pipe, as the water is under repair]
- Duck: I wouldn't drink too much of that water if I were you, Gordon. It might give you boiler-ache.
- Gordon: Pah! What's this? Educating Gordon Day? First James, and now you, Duck. Big engines have big needs. Little engines are just annoying.
- Duck: Don't say I didn't warn you.
___________________________________________________________________________________
- Diesel: Everyone knows that tenders are a mark and distinction, but I'm afraid that no amount of tenders will save you in the end. We diesels are taking over, and we don't need tenders to make us important, not even one.
____________________________________________________________________________________
- Gordon: [disappointed after hearing Diesel's remark the day before] I'm not happy.
- Duck: I know. It's boiler-ache.
- Gordon: It's not boiler-ache. It's...
- Henry: Of course, it is. That water's bad. Your boiler must be full of sludge. Have a good washout, then you'll feel a different engine. (Last two sentences are switched around in the US dub.)
- Gordon: Don't be vulgar.
_______________________________________________________________________________
- Henry: I always work hard enough for two. I deserve another tender.
- Duck: [plans a trick with Donald] Henry, would you like my tenders?
- Henry: Yours? What have you got to do with tenders?
- Duck: Alright, the deal's off. Would you like them, Donald?
- Donald: I wouldna deprive ye of the honor.
- Duck: It is a great honor, but I'm only a tank engine. Perhaps James might--
- Henry: I'm sorry I was rude, how many tenders have you and when can I have them?
- Duck: Ah... hmmm... I have six and you can have them this evening.
- Henry: Six lovely tenders! What a splendid sight I'll be!
Merchandise
In Other Languages
View content | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Home Media Releases
UK
DVD BoxsetsWALUSDVD BoxsetsAUS
DVD Boxsets
NZ
GERDVD BoxsetsDKGRDVD BoxsetsNL
INJPN
NOR/FINMYSUKR
ITASERCHNTHAHK |
#01 A Scarf for Percy | #10 The Trouble with Mud | #19 One Good Turn |
#02 Percy's Promise | #11 No Joke for James | #20 Tender Engines |
#03 Time for Trouble | #12 Thomas, Percy and the Post Train | #21 Escape |
#04 Gordon and the Famous Visitor | #13 Trust Thomas | #22 Oliver Owns Up |
#05 Donald's Duck | #14 Mavis | #23 Bulgy |
#06 Thomas Gets Bumped | #15 Toby's Tightrope | #24 Heroes |
#07 Thomas, Percy and the Dragon | #16 Edward, Trevor and the Really Useful Party | #25 Percy, James and the Fruitful Day |
#08 Diesel Does It Again | #17 Buzz, Buzz | #26 Thomas and Percy's Christmas Adventure |
#09 Henry's Forest | #18 All at Sea | |