It's Good to be Gordon

"Who holds the old record?" "Why, I do!"

- Thomas and Gordon

It's Good to be Gordon is the ninth episode of the tenth series.

Plot
One spring morning, the Fat Controller tells Gordon that if he is on time with the express and back, he will have set a new record. Gordon is happy about this and proceeds to go to the coaling plant to fill his tender. After his tender is filled with coal, the yard manager calls out for Gordon to stop as he has just been given Henry's special coal by mistake. Gordon knows Henry needs special coal, but he thinks that it will help him with his record, so he pretends to not hear the yard manager and leaves with the special coal. Henry arrives at the coaling plant to fill his tender with special coal to take some tar wagons to Knapford, but the yard manager tells him that there is no special coal left and that Henry will have to use ordinary coal today. Henry is worried as using ordinary coal will clog his firebox and therefore stop him from making steam, but he all the same does so as it is only for one day.

Gordon starts puffing around the island to set his new record. He is making good time and he feels good to be Gordon. But Henry is not at his best as he cannot go fast with his heavy tar wagons and dark steam is coming out from his funnel and he is also rattling and he didn't feel good to be Henry. Thomas sees Henry and thinks he looks very ill. Gordon soon finds out from Thomas about Henry's illness and wishes he had not taken his special coal, but he continues to set a new record. Gordon feels upset as he leaves the station, and he didn't feel good to be Gordon anymore. When Gordon arrives at Maron, he sees Henry taking on water and looking very poorly. Gordon feels guilty, but the stationmaster blows his whistle and Henry cheers for Gordon to set a new record.

Gordon is on time, but he stops just outside Knapford not caring for setting a new record and goes back to find Henry. Gordon finds him having a rest and tells Henry that he took his special coal. Henry forgives him and the two big engines swap tenders under Gordon's suggestion. Henry is filled with special coal and feels much better right away as they go to Knapford. Because Gordon was late with the express, everyone has left with Thomas being the only one there and the Fat Controller drives home in his car for tea. Gordon feels upset that he did not set a new record, but is cheered up when Thomas reminds him that he is still the current record-holder and the good friends laugh.

Characters

 * Thomas
 * Henry
 * Gordon
 * Sir Topham Hatt
 * The Coaling Plant Manager
 * Edward
 * James
 * Percy
 * Emily
 * Refreshment Lady
 * Sodor Brass Band
 * Sir Topham Hatt's Brown-haired Assistant

Locations

 * Knapford
 * The Coaling Plant
 * Maithwaite
 * Tidmouth Sheds
 * McColl Farm
 * Maron
 * Crosby Tunnel
 * Three-Track Hay Field

Trivia

 * Going by production order, this is the eighth episode of the tenth series.
 * This was the first episode of a few things:
 * The first episode where two engines switch their tenders. If The Missing Coach had been completed, this would have been the second episode to do so.
 * The first appearance of Gordon's new apologetic face.
 * The first time Henry is seen using ordinary coal while needing special coal since the first series. This episode gives a new reason for Henry needing special coal in that ordinary coal clogs his firebox; he is shown to exhaust black smoke from his funnel while using regular coal. Previously, in his old shape, the problem was that his firebox was too small for regular coal, meaning he could not produce enough steam.
 * The first appearance of Henry's stuffed up face since the first series episode, Whistles and Sneezes.
 * This was also the last episode of a few things:
 * The last episode where an engine driver has a speaking role until the 2011 special, Day of the Diesels and where one has spoken dialogue until the eighteenth series episode, Long Lost Friend.
 * The Coaling Plant Manager's last appearance, not counting a mentioned appearance.
 * Henry's original plastic model being used for almost the entire episode except for the last few scenes at Knapford, and the second to last to use it in the model series. It would only be seen one more time in the eleventh series episode Henry's Lucky Day when he backs onto and takes away a presents train at the airport. After this, his two newly made models would be used for the rest of the eleventh and twelfth series.
 * Henry gained a new wincing face, which was originally made in the eighth series and only appears in this episode.
 * The US dub of this episode was never released on home media.
 * From this episode until The Great Discovery, Henry gains a new astonished face which is similar to his original one from the second series.
 * During the filming of the Maron scene, the smoke mechanism used to make Henry puff black smoke overheated and exploded inside his tender.

Goofs

 * When Henry says "The workmen are waiting! The workmen are waiting!" his side rods are going slower than his accurate speed as he is being pulled along too fast by the camera rig.
 * Henry's original plastic model appears to be damaged at the front on his left side. All shots of Henry were positioned in such a way where this damage would be least noticeable, so the viewer mainly sees his right side throughout the episode. This damage was later fixed as it is not present in the eleventh series episode, Henry's Lucky Day where the plastic model made its final appearance. The fix is still visible today and the original piece that broke off was glued back on, rather than that section being replaced with new plastic sheet.

Home Media Releases
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UK

 * Thomas and the Colours/It's Good to be Gordon
 * The Best of Thomas
 * The Complete Series 10

DVD Packs

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

AUS

 * The Complete Series 10

DVD Boxsets

 * Complete Series 1-10
 * The Essential Collection
 * Series Nine and Series Ten Double Pack
 * The Complete Series Ten and Hero of the Rails Double Pack

POL

 * Club Colors

NOR/SWE/DK/FIN

 * Percy and the Funfair

DVD Boxsets

 * Danish DVD Boxset

NL

 * Fair in the City

THA

 * Thomas and Friends - Volume 41

MYS

 * Duncan Drops a Clanger and Other Adventures
 * Toby's Afternoon Off and Other Adventures

ARA

 * Hero of the Rails

JPN

 * Thomas the Tank Engine Series 10 Vol.3
 * There Are Lots Of Thomas & Friends

HUN

 * Thomas the Tank Engine 12 - The Most Important Task

SPN

 * Thomas and Friends - Volume 10

DVD Boxsets

 * Second Season

KOR

 * Thomas the Little Engine and Friends Season 5 Vol. 1

HK

 * Thomas and Friends Volume 30
 * Thomas and Friends Volume 21

TWN
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 * Thomas and Friends Volume 18

Es Bueno ser Gordon טוב להיות גורדון Jak Dobrze być Gabrysiem Как хорошо быть Гордоном