Gordon and Spencer

"Run out of water?" "Yes! I must have a leaky tank." "Perhaps, but we better hurry. Everyone is waiting!"

- Gordon teasing Spencer after he got stuck on the hill

Gordon and Spencer is the twenty-third episode of the seventh series.

Plot
Gordon is feeling excited; he gloats to Thomas about the Fat Controller choosing him as the special engine for the visiting Duke and Duchess of Boxford, but Thomas does not care and brushes it off. After Gordon has been washed and polished, he rushes away to meet the visitors. But on the way, he is diverted onto a siding. He is very upset about being late when a sleek silver streamlined tender engine passes by. Gordon is very surprised and wonders who he is.

When Gordon arrives at the shed, the engine is humming to himself. James explains that he is Spencer, the fastest engine in the world. Gordon scoffs at this, but is secretly impressed. Spencer explains that he is the Duke and Duchess' private engine and he takes them everywhere he goes. The Fat Controller arrives and says there will be a party for the visitors at Maron Station. After James points out that Maron is far away over Gordon's Hill, Gordon advises Spencer to take on plenty of water, but Spencer rudely declines. Gordon is hurt by this and claims he was only trying to be useful.

At Knapford, Spencer begins his journey. He shows the Duke and Duchess the Lighthouse, the Three Tier Bridge and the Windmill, but does not stop to take on more water. Thomas and Gordon are collecting passengers at Wellsworth when Spencer races by on his way to Maron. Gordon warns him again to take on water, but Spencer rudely ignores him, while Thomas knows Spencer is going to be in trouble soon, and he is right; Spencer runs out of steam while halfway up Gordon's Hill, and regrets not listening to Gordon. The Fat Controller hears about Spencer's predicament and sends Gordon to his rescue.

When Gordon arrives at Wellsworth, the stationmaster informs his driver about Spencer. Gordon's driver encourages him to hurry up the hill. Gordon looks forward to seeing Spencer in his predicament. When Gordon arrives at the hill, he cannot help but tease Spencer about his mishap. While Spencer makes up an excuse of a leaky tank, Gordon chuckles, switches over onto Spencer's track and is coupled up. Then they set off for the party.

Gordon pulls Spencer and his coach into Maron right on time, but Spencer is embarrassed. Thomas asks James what he thinks about Spencer now. James comments that Spencer has too much puff and not enough steam. The Fat Controller applauds Gordon about his achievements and says that he is the fastest engine on the island. Gordon proudly says that he already knows that.

Characters

 * Thomas
 * Gordon
 * James
 * Spencer
 * Sir Topham Hatt
 * The Duke and Duchess of Boxford
 * Edward
 * Henry
 * Percy
 * Douglas
 * Emily
 * Annie and Clarabel
 * Cyril the Fogman
 * Farmer Collett
 * Mrs. Last
 * The Storyteller
 * The Fisherman
 * The Portly Man

Locations

 * Norramby Fishing Village
 * Gordon's Hill
 * Tidmouth Sheds
 * Knapford
 * Knapford Sheds
 * Tidmouth Beach
 * Tidmouth Lighthouse
 * The Runby Bridge
 * Tower Windmill
 * Henry's Tunnel
 * Wellsworth
 * Wellsworth Bridge
 * Sir Topham Hatt's Office
 * Maron
 * Suddery Castle

Trivia

 * Going by production order, this is the first episode of the seventh series.
 * Gordon's Special Coaches was originally planned to be introduce in this episode, but was dropped and was pushed to the tenth series episode Emily and the Special Coaches.
 * Due to scenes on one particular set across the season being filmed in one go, Edward is seen with his sad face as Gordon leaves Wellsworth, likely from Edward's Brass Band.
 * Stock footage from Time for Trouble, Peace and Quiet, Thomas the Jet Engine and Saved from Scrap (which portrays Gordon with Edward's whistle) are used.
 * A high definition recreated scene of Gordon going down his hill was used in the eleventh series song version of Engine Roll Call along with a shot from What's the Matter with Henry? and Percy's Big Mistake.
 * Spencer pulls one coach throughout the episode. However, a deleted scene from The Whistle Song shows him pulling two coaches.
 * This is the first episode to be re-narrated by Michael Angelis for the US.
 * This episode marks the only appearances of a few things:
 * Spencer's only speaking role as well as his first speaking role and the Duke and Duchess of Boxford's only appearances in the seventh series.
 * Spencer’s only speaking role in the Classic Series.
 * The only episode written by Lee Pressman in the model series, and the only episode written by him until the seventeenth series episode, Kevin's Cranky Friend.
 * This episode marks the last of a few things:
 * The final appearance of Douglas until the eleventh series episode, Gordon and the Engineer, though he appears in a deleted scene from Edward the Great, with Donald.
 * Edward, Henry, Gordon, Douglas, Emily and Spencer’s last appearances in the Classic Series.
 * James’ last speaking role in the Classic Series.
 * The last episode where Douglas appears without Donald.
 * The final episode where Emily has bronze buffers. From James Gets a New Coat all the way through Gordon and Rebecca, Coming Through!, she has silver buffers.
 * The final episode where Mike O'Donnell and Junior Campbell compose music for the US dub before the HiT Entertainment changed the music made by Robert Hartshorne for airings of the episodes of this series as well as on future home video releases, all in which become as part of the HiT era of the show.
 * This episode appears before Emily's New Coaches on New Friends for Thomas and Other Adventures in the US and Engines to the Rescue in Australia, meaning that American and Australian viewers may have not recognised Emily in the background.
 * Prior to being released for digital download on Amazon in 2016, Michael Brandon's dub of this episode had only been broadcasted on television. However, the music that was used was released on DVD with Michael Angelis' dub in the UK DVD, Bumper Party Collection!
 * When Spencer first races past Gordon, an instrumental tune of Five New Engines in the Shed can be heard in both of Michael Angelis' dubs with Mike O'Donnell and Junior Campbell's music and in international dubs.

Goofs

 * Henry is turned too quickly on the turntable between the shot of Gordon arriving at Tidmouth Sheds and Thomas' close-up after.
 * Because stock footage is used, Edward's whistle is shown instead of Gordon's when he whistles after coupling up to Spencer.
 * Spencer runs out of water, but still blows steam for a few more seconds.
 * When Spencer races past Thomas and Gordon at Wellsworth, he is heading west. Later, however, when Gordon sets off to rescue him, he goes to the east and still catches up with Spencer.
 * In television broadcasts, Gordon's whistle is not heard as he leaves Wellsworth.
 * When Gordon arrives at the shed, the lining on his cylinder is peeling off.
 * When Gordon asks Spencer if he ran out of water, the narrator says he is teasing him. But Gordon looks more concerned instead of smiling or laughing.
 * When the episode was broadcast on Nick Jr. in the UK, some descriptions misnamed the episode as Spencer's Mountain.
 * During the whole episode, a piece of Gordon's valve is missing.
 * In the first shots of Spencer at the sheds and the other ones, Emily's siderods change position.
 * In one shot of Spencer, reflections of studio lighting can be seen in his eyes.

Quotes
--
 * Gordon: Steaming pistons! Who's that?!
 * Thomas: What do you think of Spencer now?
 * James: Too much puff and not enough steam!

Merchandise

 * Books - Gordon and Spencer and The Fastest Locomotive in the World
 * My Thomas Story Library - Spencer
 * Engine Adventures - Spencer

Home Media Releases
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UK

 * Engines to the Rescue
 * Bumper Party Collection!
 * The Complete Series 7
 * The Best of Thomas

DVD Packs

 * Classic Collection
 * The Best of Friends
 * 10 DVD Boxset
 * Bumper Party Collection!/Truck Loads of Fun Double Pack
 * Peep Peep Party/Engines to the Rescue/The Chocolate Crunch Triple Pack

WAL

 * Machines Save the Day

AUS

 * Engines to the Rescue
 * The Complete Series 7
 * My First Thomas with Henry and Gordon

DVD Boxsets

 * 60th Anniversary - Limited Edition Boxset
 * Essential Collection
 * My First Thomas
 * Complete Series 1-10
 * 3 DVDs
 * Series Seven and Series Eight Double Pack

US

 * New Friends for Thomas and Other Adventures
 * Thomas & Friends Classic Volume 7

CAN

 * New Friends for Thomas and Other Adventures

DVD Packs

 * Totally Thomas Volume 4
 * New Friends for Thomas/Spills and Chills and Other Thomas Thrills Double Feature

MYS

 * Fergus Breaks the Rules and Other Adventures
 * Something Fishy and Other Adventures

TWN

 * Confident Brave Little Engine
 * Thomas and Friends Volume 5

SWE

 * Hooray for Thomas!

DK

 * Hip Hooray for Thomas and Other Stories

DVD Boxsets

 * Danish DVD Boxset

ZA

 * Whistle Stop

DVD Boxsets

 * 4 Disc Collection
 * 5 DVD Boxset

JPN

 * Thomas the Tank Engine Series 7 Vol.6
 * Gordon and Henry the Large Engines
 * Run! Big Race on the Island of Sodor
 * 75th Anniversary Edition: Thank You as Always! Thomas & Friends Masterpieces

KOR

 * Character Special Edition Series Vol. 4
 * A Story That Builds Confidence

ITA

 * Hooray for Thomas

THA

 * Thomas and Friends - Volume 26

HK
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 * Thomas and Friends Volume 16
 * Thomas and Friends Volume 10

Gordon y Spencer גורדון וספנסר ゴードンとスペンサー Gabryś i Szymek Гордон и Спенсер