Gordon and the Engineer

"Thank you for helping me today. Maybe an important engine like me needs help sometimes."

- Gordon thanking Donald and Douglas for helping him

Gordon and the Engineer, retitled Gordon and the Mechanic  in North American releases, is the sixth episode of the eleventh series.

Plot
The points on the Fat Controller's Railway are jammed and Gordon is asked to collect an engineer from Maron. As Gordon rushes down the line with his express coaches, he runs pass James and Henry who are stuck with their trains and can't go anywhere. When he arrives, he sees a man with a toolbox, thinking he is the engineer and has him climb onboard. The stationmaster warns him to wait as Bertie is bringing more passengers, but Gordon - knowing that fixing the points is important - leaves anyway. However, Gordon does not know that the man in his express is not the engineer, who is actually one of Bertie’s passengers. Once Bertie arrives, he is angry that Gordon has already left.

Gordon races past Donald and Douglas who are also stuck at Maron and Abbey stations. When Gordon arrives at the signal box, Thomas tells the man about the points, but he says that he is a carpenter who thought Gordon was taking him to Brendam. Gordon realises he left the engineer behind and that he has to go back to get him, but the signalman tells him he cannot go back on the express line with his coaches. Thomas suggests that Gordon uses his line to reverse down to Maron. Gordon leaves his coaches and reverses to the next station, but Douglas is in the way. He tells him to move, but Douglas says he can go as far as where Donald is. Thinking quickly, Gordon suggests Douglas reverse to the next station to get Donald to reverse to Maron to collect the engineer and then work forwards again. The idea works and the railway returns to running normally again. As night falls, Gordon finds Donald and Douglas in a siding and thanks them for their help, and admits that even a grand engine like himself needs help... sometimes.

Characters

 * Thomas
 * Gordon
 * Donald and Douglas
 * Sir Topham Hatt
 * The Carpenter
 * The Brown-haired Engineer
 * Henry
 * James
 * Bertie
 * Percy
 * Toby
 * Arthur
 * Rocky
 * Sir Topham Hatt's Blond-haired Assistant
 * Big Mickey
 * Emily
 * Annie and Clarabel

Locations

 * Maron
 * Norramby Fishing Village
 * Brendam Docks
 * Tidmouth Sheds
 * Wellsworth
 * Abbey

Trivia

 * Going by production order, this is the second episode of the eleventh series.
 * James angrily tells Gordon to "Hurry up" in the US Digital Download, Fun on the Rails, PBS Kids Sprout Channel airings, and in the Japanese dub.
 * Stock footage from Emily's Rubbish and Hide and Peep are used.
 * A deleted alternate angle of the scene of Percy, Toby and Gordon at Brendam Docks is used in another eleventh series episode.
 * This episode marks the first of three things:
 * Donald and Douglas' first physical appearances since the seventh series episodes Bad Day at Castle Loch and Gordon and Spencer, respectively, though Donald appeared in stock footage in the seventh series episode Harold and the Flying Horse, they both appeared in a deleted scene from the eighth series episode, Edward the Great and were mentioned in You Can Do it, Toby!. This is also their only appearance in the eleventh series.
 * The first episode where Donald is called "Terho" in the Finnish dub.
 * Arthur's first appearance in an episode since the eighth series episode, Fish.
 * Gordon's original plastic model was being used when he leaves Brendam Docks at the beginning of the episode and passing James and Henry being halted on the main line. This is the last episode to have the perspex model in use.
 * This episode marks the last appearance of Abbey.

Goofs

 * Both Scottish twins have Duck's whistle sound.
 * When Gordon comes back to the signal box with the engineer, he is traveling on his express line and his coaches have disappeared.
 * Although one is not seen, a shadow at the top of the screen reveals that there are at least three signals in the shot of Gordon with the express. However, there are only two tracks, so the third signal is redundant, and they are all up, so Gordon is passing a signal at danger.

Home Media Releases
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UK

 * The Best of Thomas
 * The Complete Series 11

DVD Packs

 * 10 DVD Boxset
 * Classic Collection
 * The Best of Friends

AUS

 * The Complete Series 11

DVD Boxsets

 * The Essential Collection

US

 * Fun on the Rails Playpack

JPN

 * Thomas the Tank Engine Series 11 Vol.1

SWE

 * Hide and Seek

GER

 * Thomas and the Spaceship

DVD Boxsets

 * 11 Great Stories with Thomas and his Friends
 * Adventure on Rails!

MYS

 * Hide and Peep and Other Adventures

SPN

 * Thomas Is Done to the Sea

ARA

 * Thomas Sets Sail

THA

 * Hide and Peep

HK

 * Thomas and Friends Volume 35

KOR

 * Thomas the Little Engine and Friends Season 6 Vol. 1

TWN
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 * Thomas and Friends Volume 22

Gordon y el Mecánico גורדון והמהנדס Gabryś i Inżynier Гордон и инженер