Two Wheels Good

Main page

“What I always say is two wheels are best!”

― Mr. Percival

Two Wheels Good is the sixteenth episode of the nineteenth season.

Plot

Lord Callan is having a special birthday ball, and Spencer has to take the Duke and Duchess to Callan Castle. The Duke has prepared a speech as well as bringing a present. The Duke reminds Spencer that they must get to the castle on time, and Spencer promises that he will not let them down.

Spencer's first stop is at Knapford, where the Thin Controller has just arrived on his bicycle to have a meeting with the Fat Controller. Mr. Percival tells him that he prefers to ride his bike, as "two wheels are best." Bertie disagrees and thinks that four wheels are best, while Thomas likes his six wheels. Spencer arrives and boasts that twenty wheels are the very best. The Duke reminds Spencer of his job, so Spencer sets off again.

Spencer speeds along confidently, when suddenly his valve gear snaps and he slows to a stop, unable to go on. The Duke begins to worry about being late when Thomas arrives. He teases Spencer about his twenty wheels letting him down, and offers to take the Duke and Duchess the rest of the way to the castle, to which they agree.

But Thomas has not gone very far before he has to stop to avoid hitting a fallen tree. Bertie pulls up, and offers to take the Duke and Duchess himself. As they climb aboard, Bertie boasts that four wheels are best. Bertie hurries towards the castle through the quiet country roads. But suddenly he runs over some nails laying in the road, and punctures a tyre. The Duke is just about to give up hope when the Thin Controller arrives on his bicycle. The Duke tells him about his important destination, so Mr. Percival sets off to call for help. Soon, Harold arrives to pick up the Duke and Duchess. They quickly climb aboard and Harold flies them to the castle. Lord Callan greets them and asks where Spencer is. The Duke promises to tell him over dinner, and thanks Harold for his help.

That evening at Knapford, Spencer feels very embarrassed for breaking down. But his valve gear has been fixed, and Bertie's flat tyre is mended too. Thomas still does not know how many wheels are the best, while the Fat Controller tries to ride Mr. Percival's bike, but he does not get the hang of it. Harold flies over the station, and Thomas realises that he did not even use his wheels.

Characters

Thomas
Spencer
Annie
Bertie
Harold
Sir Topham Hatt
Lord Callan
The Duke and Duchess of Boxford
Mr. Percival
The Knapford Station Speaker
Clarabel (does not speak)
Percy (cameo)
Toby (cameo)
Henrietta (cameo)
The Bird Watcher (cameo)
The Ginger-haired Boy (cameo)
A Schoolboy (cameo)
Dowager Hatt's Friends (cameo)
The Lady with the Big Hat (cameo)
The Welsh Bird Watcher (cameo)
Albert's Wife (cameo)
The Female Puppet Show Entertainer (cameo)

Locations

Cast

UK

John Hasler as Thomas
Matt Wilkinson as Spencer and The Duke of Boxford
Teresa Gallagher as Annie and The Duchess of Boxford
Keith Wickham as Bertie, Harold, Sir Topham Hatt, Lord Callan and Mr. Percival
Miranda Raison as the Knapford Station Speaker

US

Joseph May as Thomas
Glenn Wrage as Spencer
Teresa Gallagher as Annie and The Duchess of Boxford
Keith Wickham as Bertie, Sir Topham Hatt and Lord Callan
Kerry Shale as Harold and Mr. Percival
William Hope as The Duke of Boxford
Miranda Raison as The Knapford Station Speaker

Trivia

This episode marks the first of a few things for Lord Callan:
- His first appearance since The Great Discovery.
- His first speaking role since his debut in the seventh season.
- His first appearance in full CGI.
This episode marks the Duke's first speaking role since the sixteenth season episode, Welcome Stafford.
The plot is similar to the fifth season episode, Lady Hatt's Birthday Party where Sir Topham Hatt uses his car, Caroline, George and Thomas, as for the Duke and Duchess they use Spencer, Thomas, Bertie and Harold.
Instrumental snippets from the special The Adventure Begins can be heard throughout the episode.
The scene of Harold arriving at Callan Castle closely resembles the scene where he rescued the climbers from The Thomas Way.
The title of this episode is a reference to a famous quote "Four legs good" in George Orwell's "Animal Farm."
On December 31, 2017, when this show was removed from PBS Kids' lineup, this was the last episode to be broadcast.

Goofs

When Mr. Percival uses the telephone, he faces away from the phone itself with the earpiece to his ear, but does not speak into the mouthpiece built into the box. The person receiving the call would not have been able to hear him properly.

Merchandise

TrackMaster - Royal Spencer
Books - Race to Callan Castle/The Best Engines Ever
Engine Adventures - Thomas' Trusty Wheels
Magazine Stories - Harold to the Rescue!

In Other Languages

Language	Title
Czech	Dvě kola jsou nejlepší
Dutch	De Beste Wielen
French	La Bataille des Roues
German	Wie viele Räder sind am besten?
Hungarian	Kerék kérdés
Italian	Bontà a due Ruote
Japanese	しゃりんはいくつ
Korean	두 바퀴가 좋아
Norwegian	To hjul er nok
Polish	Dwa koła
Portuguese	Duas rodas boas
Romanian	Două roți sunt bune
Russian	Два колеса лучше
Serbian	Dobra dva točka
Slovenian	Dve kolesi sta v redu
Spanish	Todo marcha sobre ruedas / Dos Ruedas Mejor

Home Media Releases

UK/AUS

Start Your Engines!

US

Start Your Engines!
Season 19 (Digital Download)

<< Series 18

Series 19

Series 20>>

#01 Who's Geoffrey?	#10 Salty All at Sea	#19 Diesel's Ghostly Christmas Part One
#02 The Truth About Toby	#11 Den and Dart	#20 Diesel's Ghostly Christmas Part Two
#03 Lost Property	#12 Helping Hiro	#21 Thomas the Babysitter
#04 Henry Spots Trouble	#13 Slow Stephen	#22 Rocky Rescue
#05 A Cranky Christmas	#14 Two Wheels Good	#23 The Other Side of the Mountain
#06 Snow Place Like Home	#15 Reds vs. Blues	#24 No Help At All
#07 The Beast of Sodor	#16 Best Engine Ever	#25 Goodbye Fat Controller
#08 Toad and the Whale	#17 The Little Engine Who Raced Ahead	#26 Wild Water Rescue
#09 Very Important Sheep	#18 Philip to the Rescue