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- “Old Iron? Slow?"
"Why, Edward could beat you in a race any day."
"Really? I should like to see him do it.” - ― Percy and Thomas telling off James for insulting Edward
Old Iron is the fifth episode of the second season. It first aired in the US on the Shining Time Station episodes Impractical Jokes in 1989 and re-aired in The Magic is Believing in 1991 and the Mr. Conductor's Thomas Tales episode, For the Birds in 1996.
Plot
James is forced to wait at Wellsworth station for Edward to arrive with his train which makes him angry and grumbles about being late. Edward finds it a good joke while James leaves to continue his work. Afterwards, James puffs to the shed, still grumbling. He complains to Thomas and Percy that Edward always makes engines wait and he is no better than a lump of "old iron." Thomas and Percy, who both have a great deal of respect for Edward, are outraged at this remark and tell him that Edward could beat him in a race any day. James scoffs at this, before returning to his berth in the shed to rest.
''Old Iron? Slow? Why Edward could beat you in a race any day!''
The next day, James' driver suddenly falls ill while at work and is sent home. With only his fireman on duty, James is relegated to shunting for the day. The fireman leaves James to get ready for the days work when the signalman spots James leaving without anyone aboard. He quickly sets the points to halt traffic down the line and tells the fireman what has happened. It emerges that two boys were seen on James' footplate fiddling with his controls, only to run when James started. The signalbox phone rings, with the engine inspector on the other end. He asks the fireman to quickly get a shunter's pole and a coil of wire rope.
The inspector soon arrives in Edward and the fireman is ready with the items requested. With James' fireman and the inspector aboard as well as his normal crew, Edward sets off promising to catch up to the runaway engine.
James, meanwhile, sails through Knapford and still does not have a clue that anything is wrong and is enjoying his long run. His happiness does not last much longer though, as he feels himself starting to go faster and faster causing him to realise that none of his crew are aboard. His joy turns to horror and James starts to call for help. Edward speeds through Knapford and races down the line as fast as he can in order to catch up to James. Soon the two engines are almost side-by-side with Edward giving it everything he can to keep up. Edward's driver does his best to keep Edward steady while the inspector climbs outside and makes it to Edward's front with a noose of rope tied through the crook of the shunter's pole and tries to slip the rope over James' buffer. It is difficult for the inspector, but he finally manages to lasso the buffer and pull it tight. James' fireman scrambles over to his engine and takes control, allowing both engines to finally slow down.
As the two tired engines approach the next station, James apologises for his harsh words earlier. Waiting for them both is the Fat Controller. He congratulates the crew on a fine rescue and then tells James that he can rest before pulling coaches. As for Edward, he is going to be rewarded with a trip to the works to get his worn-out parts mended. Edward is very happy and notes how nice it will be to get to run without clanking.
Characters
- Thomas
- Edward
- James
- Percy
- Sir Topham Hatt
- The Engine Inspector
- The Naughty Boys (do not speak)
- Henry (cameo)
- Gordon (cameo)
- Stephen Hatt (cameo)
- Mrs. Kyndley (cameo)
Locations
- Wellsworth
- Crosby
- C&B Barber
- Tidmouth Sheds
- Knapford
- Knapford Yards
- Sodor Shipping Company
- The Works (mentioned)
Trivia
- This episode is based on the story of the same name from The Railway Series book, Edward the Blue Engine.
- When Edward arrives at the Sodor Shipping Company, a first season-styled truck can be seen in the goods train next to him.
- In the restored version, the fade effect when Edward says, "So the 'Old Iron' caught you after all!" is removed.
- In a rare picture, James is smiling while he is at the sheds with Thomas and Percy.
Goofs
- When James starts again next to the signal box, the trucks have disappeared.
- Edward is missing his eyebrows when he picks up James' fireman.
- When James says "What shall I do?" the line ahead ends right at the trees.
- After the rope is attached between Edward and James, Edward's body is very off centre.
- The wire used to change one of the signals is visible.
- After Edward catches James they pass the water column, but in the next scene they pass the same water column again.
- While the inspector tries to catch James, Edward and James appear to pass under the same bridge twice.
- In the restored version, in the close-up of the Fat Controller, the background is blacked out.
- When James says "Really?" his face is crooked and Thomas' eyes are wonky.
- Studio equipment is visible in the top-right corner when Edward catches up with James.
- A piece of blu-tak can be seen on the signalman's hand to hold the telephone.
- When the inspector is walking towards the front of Edward, James' tender is derailed.
- Henry's eyes are wonky when Edward races through Knapford station.
- When Edward is chasing after James, the tracks behind him end in the bushes.
- In a rare picture, James' ill driver is standing inside of Henry's cab.
- In the Japanese dub, as James reverses into Tidmouth sheds after he was done arguing with Thomas and Percy, Ringo Starr's narration can be faintly heard in the background.
- In the early Swedish dub, Percy's whistle can be heard at the end and Edward does not whistle. This is because the audio at the end was taken from the second season episode, Percy and the Signal.
- In the redubbed Swedish version, Percy is referred to as Toby.
- In the beginning, there is a gap between the faceplate and the eyes and a crumb found on James' footplate. Thomas also has a gap in between the eyes and the faceplate.
- When Thomas is at Tidmouth, the shadow by Thomas changes despite no one moving at all.
- When James reverses into his shed, the track is off centre.
- The trucks James uncoupled for shunting have disappeared.
- The porter from the second season episode, Cows is now the inspector.
- Both James and Edward's funnels are white on the inside.
Merchandise
- Magazine stories - Old Iron
- My Thomas Story Library - Edward (discontinued)
In Other Languages
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Home Media Releases
| #01 Thomas, Percy and the Coal | #10 The Runaway | #19 Daisy |
| #02 Cows | #11 Percy Takes the Plunge | #20 Percy's Predicament |
| #03 Bertie's Chase | #12 Pop Goes the Diesel | #21 The Diseasel |
| #04 Saved from Scrap | #13 Dirty Work | #22 Wrong Road |
| #05 Old Iron | #14 A Close Shave | #23 Edward's Exploit |
| #06 Thomas and Trevor | #15 Better Late than Never | #24 Ghost Train |
| #07 Percy and the Signal | #16 Break Van | #25 Woolly Bear |
| #08 Duck Takes Charge | #17 The Deputation | #26 Thomas and the Missing Christmas Tree |
| #09 Percy and Harold | #18 Thomas Comes to Breakfast | Cancelled: The Missing Coach |
| Cancelled: Gordon Goes Foreign | ||