Gordon Takes a Tumble

This article is about 'the episode'. You may be looking for 'the book'.

“Well, Gordon, you wanted to show Salty a thing or two and you've certainly done that. You've shown him how silly it is to ignore 'go slow' signs!”

― Sir Topham Hatt scolding Gordon

Gordon Takes a Tumble is the seventeenth episode of the sixth season.

Plot

None of the engines are more important than Gordon. Salty rolls up teasing Gordon that pulling trucks is a silly job for an express engine. Gordon brags that it would not be dignified for an express engine to pull trucks. Gordon explained what it means to Percy, but Salty interrupted, saying that it means someone is too big for his buffers and Gordon puffed furiously away.

Later that night, the Docks was packed with trucks due to the fog covering the Island of Sodor causing confusion and delay. Sir Topham Hatt came to the sheds and ordered Henry, Thomas and Percy to go to the Docks and Gordon to take the trucks somewhere where they will not be in the way, much to Gordon's shock. Gordon was waiting impatiently for his trucks, to show Salty how an express engine pulls trucks. Salty teased him again, but this time Gordon ignored him.

The next day when Gordon is puffing along the mainline, a signalman leaves the points onto an old, rickety branch line. The signalman sees Gordon going to the branch line, knowing that the express engines cannot go there, but it is too late. The branch line is weak and rusty and even has a "go slow" sign to warn trains, but Gordon ignores the sign and goes even faster. The old rails cannot hold his weight as Gordon tumbles off the tracks and ends up in a field. He ploughs through a dirt mound, a pile of tyres and barrels (losing his tender in the process) and a barn - and finally halts in front of a scarecrow. Gordon felt very undignified wondering what Sir Topham Hatt would say. Sir Topham Hatt arrived and scolded Gordon, for showing Salty a thing or two by showing him how silly it is to ignore "go slow" signs.

Gordon was repaired and returned back for work, but was still sad with himself. Thomas cheered him up by saying everyone makes mistakes and James told Gordon that Salty was sorry and Gordon apologised for being too big for his buffers. Everyone gave a jolly toot, even Gordon.

Characters

Locations

Trivia

Stock footage from The Fogman is used.
The model of the scarecrow is on display at Drayton Manor at the Thomas and Friends Exhibition.
This is one of the few episodes of the sixth season later re-narrated by Michael Brandon in the US and Michael Angelis in the UK with music composed by Robert Hartshorne and Ed Welch.
The episode was released on The Fogman and Other Stories DVD a day before airing on TV.

Goofs

In the first scene, Clarabel is facing the wrong way.
In the shot of Gordon on the old branch line, a cable is attached to his coupling.
When Gordon derails, his trailing wheels are slightly coming off.
When Gordon's trucks come off the rails, they come off differently in certain shots.
As the trucks derail and tumble down the slope, the ground bounces up and down.
A wire is visible pulling Gordon at one point when he derailed.

Quotes

Gordon: That's strange, I'm on the Branch line.

Gordon: I'm am an express engine, I don't go slow!

Gordon: OOOOOOOOOOHHHHHHHHHH HEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEELP!!!!!

Salty: Careful Captain, You don't wanna get to big for your buffers.

Merchandise

Take Along (discontinued)
Books - Gordon Takes The Tumble and Gordon in Need (Germany only)
Magazine Stories - Too Big for his Buffers!

In Other Languages

Language	Name	Meaning
French	Le Train de Tombler	The Falling Train
Dutch	Gordon Tuimelt Omlaag	Gordon Tumbles Down
Norwegian	Gordon Får seg en Luftetur	Gordon Gets a Tumble
Danish	Det Overlegne Lokomotiv	The Superior Engine
Catalan	Gordon: El Motor No Lenta	Gordon: The Not Slow Engine
Japanese	すべったゴードン	Gordon Has Slipped
Welsh	Tymbl Gordon	Gordon's Tumble
Swedish	Gordon Spärar ur	Gordon Gets Out
Czech	Gordon Padá	Gordon Falls
Slovenian	Gorazd se Prevrne	Gordon Overturns
Hungarian	Gordon Fennhordja az Orrát	Spread the Nose of Gordon Reserved
Italian	Gordon fa un Capitombolo	Gordon Takes The Tumble
Russian	Урок для Гордона	Lesson for Gordon
Romanian	Gordon Face o Tumbă	Gordon Does a Somersault
Slovak	Gordon sa Prepadne	Gordon Will Fall
Polish	Gabryś Dostaje Nauczkę	Gordon Gets a Lesson Here
Chinese	高登遭遇挫折	Gordon Suffers Setbacks
Korean	고든의 체면	Gordon's Face
Thai	กอร์ดอนหยุดผยอง	Gordon Stopped Swagger