Edward the Very Useful Engine

"Edward is a useless old steam pot. He should be retired." "But he doesn't have tyres." "Retired means taken out of service." "And not a moment too soon."

- Gordon, Percy and Thomas

Edward the Very Useful Engine (retitled Edward the Really Useful Engine in a few North American releases or Edward, the Very Useful Engine in one release) is the twenty-third episode of the sixth series.

Plot
Gordon's hatred of Edward resurfaces, but he takes it to greater extremes this time: he insists that Edward is worthless and deserves to be unceremoniously retired. The other big engines agree with him, but Percy is concerned about this. He tells his driver about what Gordon said about Edward and the driver tells the Fat Controller, who attends to the matter immediately.

The Fat Controller arranges for Edward to teach Stepney to run the completed loop line, while Duck does Edward's work. Henry is happy about this, but it makes no difference to Gordon. Edward enjoys working with Stepney, but Duck does not enjoy working with the trucks, especially when they hold him back on Gordon's Hill. Duck is stuck on Gordon's line, and it is too late to switch Gordon, who is due any minute, to the middle line, so the guard tries to flag Gordon down. However, Gordon passes by and tries to push Duck up the hill, but it is no use.

Gordon's crew sends for Edward to help both engines, and as the strange train sets off and pulls into the station, Gordon feels rather embarrassed. He is then told off by the Fat Controller for saying very rude things about Edward, who has proven to be useful, reliable and very helpful. As a result, Gordon apologizes to Edward by thanking him for his help the next day, telling him that he really is a useful engine after all. The Fat Controller's plan has worked, and there is no more talk about Edward retiring from this point on.

Characters

 * Thomas
 * Edward
 * Henry
 * Gordon
 * Percy
 * Troublesome Trucks
 * Sir Topham Hatt
 * Stephen Hatt
 * Duck
 * Stepney
 * James
 * Annie and Clarabel
 * Charlie Sand
 * Sidney Hever
 * Nancy
 * Farmer Trotter
 * Tom Tipper
 * Sir Topham Hatt's Brown-haired Assistant
 * The Lighthouse Keeper
 * Allicia Botti
 * Oliver

Locations

 * Tidmouth Beach
 * Tidmouth Lighthouse
 * The Viaduct
 * Hawin Ab
 * Maithwaite
 * Gordon's Hill
 * Tidmouth Sheds
 * Knapford
 * Maron
 * Callan
 * Callan Yard
 * Tidmouth Bay
 * Tower Windmill

Trivia

 * This is the only episode David Mitton wrote solo.
 * An alternative shot from the previous episode is used.
 * This is one of the six episodes of the sixth season re-narrated by Brandon and Angelis with music composed by Robert Hartshorne.
 * Due to scenes on one particular set across the sixth series being filmed in one go, the scene at Knapford in this episode looks pretty similar to the scene at Knapford in Thomas, Percy and the Squeak. The same people are boarding the same trains, the same engines are in the same positions, and the same posters are up.
 * The beginning scene of Duck and James looks very similar to the opening scene in James and the Red Balloon. Due to Duck pulling the same three coaches, the only difference is that Henry passes him instead of James.
 * Three posters at Knapford read: Allicia Botti in concert tonight at the castle.
 * In Michael Angelis' 2005 re-dub, the North American term "freight cars" is used at the beginning.
 * Despite Edward being the titular character, he only has two lines throughout the whole episode.
 * This is the last episode until the thirteenth series episode, Snow Tracks narrated by three people in the English dubs.
 * This episode seems to be loosely based on the Railway Series story, Super Rescue.
 * Not counting stock footage used of them in the seventh series, this episode marks the last appearances of the following:
 * Stepney's until the twelfth series episode, Rosie's Funfair Special.
 * The Viaduct until the thirteenth series episode, The Lion of Sodor.
 * A deleted scene that was used in Little Engines shows Stepney passing Oliver on the The Viaduct.
 * This episode marks the final appearance of Callan Station.
 * In the Japanese dub, Duck's guard gains lines when he flags down Gordon.
 * Percy says that Edward does not have tyres, which is ironic as all locomotives and rolling stock have them, just not rubber ones which automobiles use.
 * The episode plot would later be similar to Old Reliable Edward.

Goofs

 * Duck has Oliver's whistle sound at the beginning.
 * Percy's left lamp iron (viewers' perspective right) is slightly crooked.
 * Thomas's cab roof is slightly lifted at the sheds.
 * In Alec Baldwin's US dub after he says, "Sir Topham Hatt spoke severely to Gordon", David Mitton can be faintly heard saying "Take six".
 * When Gordon gets closer to Duck to push him, the guard is seen waving a red flag, but in the very next shot, he is in the brake van.
 * However, it is possible that the guard might have entered the brake van before he buffers up to Duck.
 * James's eyes are wonky for most of the episode.
 * In this episode, Gordon is referred to as "an express" instead of an express engine.

Quotes

 * Gordon: Edward is a useless old steam pot. He should be retired.
 * Percy: But he doesn't have tyres/tires.
 * Thomas: Retired means taken out of service.
 * Gordon: And not a moment too soon.




 * Trucks: Duck should play with other ducks, 'cause he's no good at pulling trucks! Quack, quack, quack, quack! Hold back! Hold back! [laugh]

Merchandise

 * Books - Edward, the Very Useful Engine and Help the Little Edward
 * Magazine Stories - Edward to the Rescue! and Really Useful Edward

Home Media Releases
{{Scroll box|

UK

 * Brave Little Engines
 * Bumper Party Collection!
 * The Complete Series 6

DVD Boxsets

 * Classic Collection
 * Peep Peep Party/Brave Little Engines Double Pack
 * Brave Little Engines/The Chocolate Crunch Double Pack
 * Bumper Party Collection!/Truck Loads of Fun Double Pack

WAL

 * The Brave Machines

US

 * James and the Red Balloon and Other Thomas Adventures
 * Mud Glorious Mud
 * Engine Friends
 * Thomas & Friends Classic Volume 6

CAN

 * James and the Red Balloon and Other Thomas Adventures
 * Mud Glorious Mud
 * Engine Friends

DVD Boxsets

 * Totally Thomas Volume 3

AUS

 * Rusty Saves the Day
 * The Complete Series 6
 * My First Thomas with Toby and Edward

DVD Packs

 * Complete Series 1-10
 * The Great Adventures of Thomas and Friends
 * Trainloads of Thomas Fun
 * Series Five and Series Six Double Pack

PHL

 * Edward, the Very Useful Engine

NOR/DK

 * Percy's Chocolate Crash

DK DVD Boxsets

 * Danish DVD Boxset

SVN

 * Chocolate Percy

MYS

 * Thomas and the Jet Engine and Other Thomas Adventures (Malaysian DVD)
 * Scaredy Engines and Other Adventures

JPN

 * Thomas the Tank Engine Series 6 Vol.3
 * Toby and Edward the Little Engines

KOR

 * A Story That Builds Confidence

SWE

 * Percy's Chocolate Dip

ITA

 * The Jet Engine

HK

 * Thomas and Friends Volume 15
 * Thomas and Friends Volume 8

THA

 * Thomas and Friends - Volume 22

TWN
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 * Thomas and Friends Volume 5

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