Edward's Exploit

Edward's Exploit, lengthen to Edward's Exploit s  in the credits of one North American release, is the twenty-third episode of the second series. It is based on the story of the same name from the Railway Series book Main Line Engines.

Plot
Bertie has been giving several visitors a tour across the Island of Sodor and on their last afternoon, Edward prepares to take them to visit Bill and Ben, but has trouble starting due to the packed coaches. Henry and James mock him and Gordon remarks that it is time for him to retire. Duck and BoCo come to Edward's defense, knowing that the older engine is capable of far more than he seems.

When Edward arrives at the junction, the passengers meet Bill and Ben, who enjoy the attention and having their photos taken. The passengers then board the twins' brake vans and travel to the China Clay Works. The visitors have a wonderful day, being very impressed with the place as well as the twins. Afterwards, the twins with the passengers return to the junction and board Edward's coaches to head home.

On the way back, the weather turns bad and begins to rain hard. As Edward fights the elements, his sanding gear fails, which forces his fireman to ride out front on the running board and manually sand the rails by hand. But there is worse to come; without warning, Edward's wheels suddenly slip fiercely, which leads to something breaking with a shrieking crack and forcing him to stop. Edward's crew examine him and find a broken crankpin, forcing them to remove his side rods. His driver reminds Edward that they must get the visitors back to the station as soon as possible since they must leave tonight. Edward promises to try.

Edward tries to start, but his train and the slippery rails prevent him from moving. The passengers become anxious, so Edward's crew and the guard make more adjustments; they loosen the couplings between the carriages so that Edward will be able to pick them up one by one as he does with trucks. Edward cautiously makes another attempt to start, and this time it works. Edward is forced to go slowly, but keeps steady and finally makes it back to the station where Henry is waiting for him.

The Fat Controller angrily points to the clock, but he is swept aside by the cheerful passengers who thank Edward and his crew for all their hard work. Afterwards, Edward wearily returns to the shed. Duck and BoCo make sure Edward is left in peace as Gordon and James remain silent out of respect.

Characters

 * Edward
 * Henry
 * Gordon
 * James
 * Duck
 * BoCo
 * Bill and Ben
 * Sir Topham Hatt
 * The Enthusiasts
 * Bertie
 * Jeremiah Jobling
 * One Little Boy
 * The Ffarquhar Stationmaster and his Wife
 * One stone-dropping boy
 * One Naughty Boy
 * The Barber's Customer
 * Jem Cole
 * Annie and Clarabel

Locations

 * Knapford
 * Brendam Docks
 * Tidmouth Sheds
 * Lower Suddery
 * Sodor China Clay Company
 * Crosby
 * C&B Barber
 * Hackenbeck Tunnel

Trivia

 * Stock footage from Thomas and Bertie and Bertie's Chase is used.
 * A deleted scene shows Henry in the sheds instead of James. Additionally, Henry had his surprised or spooked face that was not used on-screen until the fourth series episode, Fish.
 * In the US, this episode aired before The Diseasel; this means that American viewers would not have known who BoCo and the tank engine twins were, despite the twins first being seen and not named in Percy Takes the Plunge.
 * In the episode, James is smiling when he sees Edward struggling, but in promotional images, he is cross instead.
 * Mrs. Kyndley's Cottage appears at Lower Suddery.
 * In the original story, Edward's left side splashers were severely battered during the return run. This was not done in the adaptation, most likely to prevent Edward's model from being damaged.
 * This episode marks the last of several things:
 * The last appearance of the orange branch line coaches that are not Annie and Clarabel, not counting a learning segment.
 * The last appearance of the Enthusiasts.
 * The last second series episode not narrated by Ringo Starr in the US.
 * The last episode to have a character say, "Shut up!" as opposed to "Be quiet!" until Thomas and the Magic Railroad.
 * The last appearance of Crosby until the fifth series episode, Bye George!
 * Going by release order, this is the first second series episode that is not re-narrated by Ringo Starr for Shining Time Station in the US, as well as the first series two episode narrated by George Carlin in said show that was not a re-narrated episode from the first season of said show.
 * Every episode between this one and Thomas and the Missing Christmas Tree were not included for the 1989 double bills as the series was discontinued after The Diseasel and the previous episode.

Goofs

 * Because of stock footage being used, studio equipment is seen at the top right of the screen.
 * Due to portions of the script being taken word for word from the original story from the Railway Series, the narrator as Henry says, "Did you see him straining?", even though Edward was still at Knapford and the "heavy" train contained of only three short branch line coaches.
 * Edward's train has no brake coach.
 * When the engines watch Edward struggle, his eyebrows are missing along with Gordon and BoCo's. Also, the back roof of Knapford is missing.
 * In the close-up of Gordon, the man next to him has blu-tak under his feet.
 * When BoCo says "You're right, Duck!", his face mask moves a little.
 * In a close-up of Edward struggling to pull his train, his second front wheel is derailed.
 * When Edward leaves Knapford, the last coach's paint is peeling up.
 * When Duck says, "Edward's better than any of you," a steam platform is visible underneath Edward.
 * The first coach of Edward's train has a loose running board.
 * In one shot, BoCo's angry face is missing the eyebrows.
 * Fingerprints are visible in the dust on top of Bill and Ben's brake vans.
 * Someone on the back of Bill's brake van wobbles when he and Ben arrive at the quarry.
 * In the close-up of Edward's driving wheels without the side rods, some of the stickers used for Edward's lining are badly torn up.
 * In the shot of inside Edward's cab when his driver says, "Well done, boy. You've got them! You've got them!", the reflection of a crew member's face and beard can be seen in the window.
 * When Edward pulls into Knapford alongside Henry, blue wires are visible on their running boards, near their headlamps. Also, blu-tack is visible under the Fat Controller.
 * Edward mysteriously gains headlamps when he passes through Crosby.
 * Edward is not moving in the close-up of his fireman, Sidney, sanding the track.
 * When Edward says, "I'll try, sir," the end of the set can be seen behind him.
 * As Edward begins to the visitors back home and the weather changes, it is still sunny while thunder sound effects are heard.
 * Edward's driver says that he and his fireman took off both of Edward's side rods, but only the left one was removed while the right one is still on his wheels as he passes the trees before he passes through Crosby. When Edward enters his berth at Tidmouth Sheds, his left side rod is back on.
 * In the shot of Edward puffing through the signal box during the night, the roof of the last coach is loose.
 * When Edward enters the sheds, BoCo's shed doors are hanging loose and Gordon's eyes are wonky.

Quotes

 * [Edward struggles to pull his train]
 * Henry: Did you see him straining?
 * James: Positively painful.
 * Gordon: Just pathetic! He should give up and be preserved before it's too late!
 * Duck: Shut up! You're all jealous. Edward's better than any of you!
 * BoCo: You're right, Duck. Edward's old but he'll surprise us all.
 * Edward: [finally puffs out of Knapford] I've done it! We're off! I've done it! We're off!

(after being stopped by a shrieking cracking noise, Edward's crew inspect and attempt to repair the damage)

(Edward tries to start but his wheels slip and the train does not move; the passengers get anxious so Edward's crew adjust the coaches' couplings)  (he moves cautiously forward, with the first coach moving helped to start the second, and then the third, and so on)
 * Edward's Driver: One of your crankpins broke, Edward. We've taken your side rods off. Now you're like an old-fashioned engine. Can you get these people home? They must start back tonight.
 * Edward: I'll try, sir.
 * Edward's Driver: We've loosened the couplings, Edward. Now you can pick your coaches up one by one, just as you do with trucks/freight cars.
 * Edward: That will be much easier. (starts moving slowly) Come on...!
 * Edward: (finally resumes at his regular speed) I've done it, I've done it!
 * Edward's Driver: Steady boy! Well done, boy! You've got them, you've got them!
 * Narrator: And he listened happily to Edward's steady beat, as he forced slowly but surely ahead.

Merchandise

 * Magazine stories - Edward's Exploits

Home Media Releases
{{Scroll box|

UK

 * The Deputation and Other Stories
 * The Best of Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends
 * Thomas Gets Bumped and 17 Other Stories
 * Ghost Train and other stories/Time for Trouble and other stories
 * The Complete Series 2
 * Fun Time Favourites
 * Chad Valley Video
 * Edward's Exploit

DVD Boxsets

 * Classic Collection

US

 * Thomas, Percy and the Dragon and Other Stories
 * Thomas & Friends Classic Volume 2

CAN

 * Thomas, Percy and the Dragon and Other Stories

DVD Packs

 * Thomas and the Treasure/Thomas, Percy and the Dragon and Other Stories Double Feature
 * On-the-Go Pack
 * Totally Thomas Volume 7

FRE

 * The Talkative Trains

JPN

 * Thomas the Tank Engine Volume 11
 * Best of James and Edward
 * The Complete Works of Thomas the Tank Engine 1 Vol.5
 * Toby and Edward the Little Engines
 * The Best Collection
 * The Complete DVD Box 1

AUS

 * The Deputation and other Stories
 * The Complete Series 2
 * My First Thomas with Toby and Edward

DVD Boxsets

 * Complete Series 1-10
 * Classic Collection
 * Series One and Series Two Double Pack

NZ

 * The Deputation and Other Stories
 * Bumper Video Collection Volume 3

NOR

 * Anniversary
 * Ghost Train

IND

 * Pop Goes the Diesel and Other Stories

SER

 * Thomas the Tank Engine 5

HRV

 * Better Late than Never

MYS

 * Edward's Exploit and Other Thomas Adventures
 * The Deputation and Other Adventures

ZA

 * Volume 4 (VHS)

GER

 * Percy's Predicament and 4 Other Adventures
 * Thomas and His Friends Vol. 5
 * It's Great to be a Locomotive!

DVD Boxsets

 * Thomas and His Friends Box Set 1

PHL

 * Edward's Exploit

MYS

 * The Deputation and Other Adventures

UKR

 * A Train Thomas and Friends

ITA

 * The Brave Locomotive

ROM

 * Thomas Comes to Breakfast

DVD Packs

 * Triple Pack 2

GRC

 * A Lively Companionship

KOR

 * Stories That Fosters Responsibility

CHN

 * Thomas and Friends Season 1-4

HK

 * Thomas and Friends Volume 5
 * Thomas and Friends Volume 12

THA
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 * Thomas and Friends 7

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