Rock 'n' Roll


 * “Nothing's happened! Nothing's happened! Silly old diesel, clever me!”
 * ―Duncan

Rock 'n' Roll is the tenth episode of the fourth season.

Plot
One day, Skarloey meets Rusty and tells him how different the railway feels since he left to be mended. Rusty explains that he and the manager planned it to give Skarloey a surprise upon his return. Later that day, he warns Skarloey that there is still a damaged piece of line just outside the first station and expresses specific worry that Duncan, with his habit of "rock 'n' roll," will derail there. Duncan overhears the two engines' conversation and demands to know why they are talking about him. Rusty attempts to warn him, but Duncan dismisses the warning, and thinks he does not need Rusty (who becomes insulted) to tell him what to do.

Duncan collects his coaches and arrives at the station where James is already waiting for him. When Duncan explains his grievances with Rusty, James tells him of the time he supposedly sent Diesel packing. Filled with admiration and unaware James was bragging and sometimes lied, Duncan becomes more reckless and, despite his driver's warning, as he approaches the bad bit of line, begins to "rock 'n' roll," which ultimately causes him to derail.

Rusty is sent to help, but initially refuses until Skarloey reminds him that the passengers will be stranded otherwise. He arrives with some workmen who work alongside the passengers to lever Duncan, who is sad for his silly actions, back onto the rails. For the rest of the day, Duncan is extra careful. That evening, he apologises to Rusty and asks if they can be friends. Rusty agrees and promises to mend the damaged line in the morning.

Characters

 * James
 * Skarloey
 * Duncan
 * Rusty
 * Thomas (cameo)
 * Gordon (cameo)
 * Percy (cameo)
 * Duck (cameo)
 * Sir Handel (cameo)
 * Peter Sam (cameo)
 * Duke (cameo)
 * Jeremiah Jobling (cameo)
 * One Little Boy (cameo)
 * Diesel (not named; mentioned)

Locations

 * Crovan's Gate
 * Skarloey Railway Engine Sheds
 * Rheneas
 * Lakeside
 * Lakeside Bridge
 * Sodor Castle
 * The Mountain Road
 * Rheneas Viaduct
 * Cros-ny-Cuirn

Trivia

 * This episode is based on the story of the same name from The Railway Series book, The Little Old Engine.
 * Going by production order, this is the ninth episode of the fourth season.
 * On early UK releases of Rock 'n' Roll and other Stories, "James was already there waiting for him" is heard later.
 * This episode takes place after Home at Last.
 * Thomas does not speak in this episode.

Goofs

 * When Skarloey meets Rusty, he is on (viewer perspective) the left side of Rusty. Further down the line, they seem to have switched tracks. Skarloey also has a new line of trucks.
 * When Duncan "rocks 'n' rolls" in his first scene, the track is tilted.
 * Duncan’s eyes jitter up and down when he says “Silly old diesel, clever me!”
 * When Duncan comes off the track, he has his happy face mask on.
 * The pole used to derail Duncan is clearly visible.
 * When Rusty says "Oh! I forgot about them!" his right eye pokes in.
 * In the close-up of Duncan's wheels when he is put back on the rails, no people are visible, Duncan's rear wheel remains derailed, and the shadow of the hand putting him down can be seen.
 * Rusty's eyes are wonky in the very last shot.
 * Duncan's coaches have faces when he fetches them, but when Duncan meets James at Crovan's Gate, they lose their faces.
 * In the Latin American version, at the beginning and when Skaroley talks to Rusty about being disappointed due to Rusty' attitude towards Duncan' accident the narrator mistakenly says Skarloey' name as "Sharloey".