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This article is about the episode. You may be looking for the Railway Series book or the US/Canadian VHS.
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“You're a gallant little engine! When you're rested, we'll mend you so you'll be ready for tomorrow.”
― Rheneas' driver congratulating him

Gallant Old Engine, sometimes named as The Gallant Old Engine, is the fourteenth episode of the fourth series. It is based on the story of the same name from the Railway Series book of the same name.

Plot

Duncan has been grumbling about being overworked, not being polished enough and, most of all, the passengers. One day, Skarloey bluntly states that he is ashamed of Duncan and that he hopes Rheneas, who is due to return home soon, can talk some sense into him. When Duncan asks what Rheneas has to do with him, Skarloey points out that Rheneas single-handedly saved their railway.

At Peter Sam's insistence, Skarloey tells the two engines about the railway prior to when they arrived. It had been facing the threat of closure if Skarloey and Rheneas could not keep the trains running. Skarloey tried hard but his old wheels ached, so Rheneas pulled as many of the trains as he could, always reaching a station to rest no matter how short of steam he felt. Skarloey explains to Duncan that Rheneas did this so as not to upset his passengers, as they get cross when a train stops where it should not. He then recalls a time that Rheneas stopped in the wrong place.

It was rainy and windy while Rheneas was travelling home with a full train. The ride was very uncomfortable and there were even passengers with the guard in the brake van. When they approached a steep hill, Rheneas' wheels kept slipping but he eventually made it to the top. As he was heading down the other side, one of his valve gears jammed and he stopped on the loneliest part of the line. Rheneas' driver examined him carefully and then urged him to get the passengers to the next station. Rheneas promised to try and continued on. Despite feeling very sore and tired, he kept going, knowing that the railway would close if he didn’t. After one last valiant effort, an exhausted Rheneas finally reached the station. The passengers thanked him and promised to tell their friends what a fine railway it was. Rheneas' driver praised him, calling him a "gallant little engine," and promised to mend him so he is ready for tomorrow.

Skarloey concludes his story by explaining that Rheneas was always "ready for tomorrow." A humbled Duncan, who now finally realises that passengers are more important than his own selfish desires, admits he was wrong and thanks Skarloey for telling him about Rheneas. The next day, Edward brings Rheneas home to the yard. All the engines who are there, big and small, celebrate his return. Rheneas is delighted to be back, especially with Skarloey and says he feels he truly has come home.

Characters

Locations

Trivia

  • This was the 100th episode aired in Japan.
  • The events of the previous episode are mentioned.
  • This episode marks the last of a few things:
  • This episode's plot is similar to Edward's Exploit and Four Little Engines. The Italian title for this episode is the same as that of Edward's Exploit.
  • This episode marks one of the few episodes in the television series' US dub that refers to the guard's van as a "caboose," its American term.
  • This episode was paired alongside Oliver Owns Up in an airing of Storytime with Thomas.
  • This episode marks several things for Rheneas:
    • His first and only leading role in the fourth series.
    • His first and only individual speaking role in the fourth series.
    • His last leading role until the seventh series episode The Old Bridge (shared with Skarloey). It also marks the last appearance of Sodor Castle until that same episode (not counting the stock footage appearances in Toby and the Flood and Make Someone Happy).
  • Despite their appearances in the episode, Percy, Sir Handel and Duke do not appear in the nameboard sequence at the end of the episode in the Japanese dub.

Goofs

  • Duncan has Peter Sam's whistle sound at the beginning of the episode.
  • On PBS Kids Sprout airings and Thomas & Friends Classic Volume 4, the Thomas Theme Music can be heard faintly in the left audio channel when Skarloey talks about how he and Rheneas had to keep the trains running.
  • Rheneas is wearing Smudger's sad face when he passes Skarloey in the first part of the flashback.
  • Throughout all of the field scenes, a wire is visible under Rheneas and one of his coaches.
  • When Rheneas is on the causeway, he has Duke's alternate whistle sound (his whistle from Granpuff to Bulldog).
  • When Rheneas arrives at Skarloey Station, his eyes abruptly change position, indicating a film cut.
  • In most dubs, the engines start whistling long before the narrator says they do.
  • Gordon's buffer is crooked in one scene.
  • When the passengers begin thanking Rheneas, Jem Cole is standing alone. Then in the next scene, he is standing with the Refreshment Lady amongst others.
  • Henry and Sir Handel looks cross when Edward arrives with Rheneas.
  • In both English dubs, the breakdown train is mistakenly referred to as Edward's truck.

Quotes

  • Rheneas: [last line] You know, this helps a little engine to feel that, at last, he has really come home!

In Other Languages

View content
Language Title
Albanian Lokomotiva e vjetër guximtarë
Brazilian Portuguese Pequeno forte trem
Chinese Mandarin 神勇老火车
Czech Statečná mašinka
Danish Den tapre lokomotiv
Dutch Een keurige locomotief
Finnish Urhea vanha veturi
German Tapfere alte Lok
Greek Μια παλιά μηχανή σώζει το σιδηρόδρομο
Hungarian A lelkiismeretes mozdony
Italian La locomotiva coraggiosa
Japanese ゆうかんなきかんしゃ
Korean 돌아온 레니아
Latin American Spanish Una locomotora muy valiente
Norwegian Staselige lokomotiv
Polish Dzielna mała lokomotywa (TVP3)
Stary wielki parowóz (JimJam)
Romanian Locomotiva cea veche galantă
Russian Доблестный старый паровоз
Slovenian Junaška stara lokomotiva
Swedish Det tappra lokomotivet
Ukrainian Доблесний старий паровоз
Welsh Hen Injan Ddewr

Merchandise

Home Video Releases

UK

UK DVD Packs

WAL

US

CAN

  • The Gallant Old Engine and Other Thomas Stories/Henry and the Elephant (Direct-to-VHS)

AUS

AUS DVD Packs

NZ

  • Thomas and the Special Letter and Other Stories
  • Story and Song Collection

ZA

IND

MYS

PHL

ITA

NL

GER

NOR

DK

SWE

SVN

GRC

GRC DVD Boxset

THA

JPN

KOR

CHN

HK

TWN

Episode

Reference



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