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- “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, Rosie and James
Edward the Very Useful Engine, retitled Edward the Really Useful Engine in some releases, is the twenty-third episode of the sixth series.
Plot[]
Gordon thinks that Edward is old and should be retired. Henry and James agree with him, but Rosie is concerned about this. She tells her driver about what Gordon said about Edward and Rosie's crew tell the Fat Controller, who attends to the matter immediately.
The Fat Controller arranges for Edward to teach Oliver to run a new loop line, while Derek does Edward's work. BoCo is happy about this, but it makes no difference to Gordon. Edward enjoys working with Oliver, but Derek doesn’t enjoy working with the trucks, especially when they hold him back on Gordon's Hill. Derek 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 Derek up, but it is no good.
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 and is told off by the Fat Controller for saying very rude things about Edward who has proven to be responsible, reliable and very helpful. The next day, Gordon apologises to Edward and tells him that he really is a useful engine.
Characters[]
- Edward
- Gordon
- James
- Rosie
- BoCo
- Sir Topham Hatt
- Oliver (does not speak)
- Derek (does not speak)
- Henry (cameo)
- Duck (cameo)
- Aurora, Ariel and Anna (cameos)
- Alice and Mirabel (cameo)
- Isabel and Dulcie (cameo)
- Lola (cameo)
- Toad (cameo)
- Allicia Botti (poster cameo)
Locations[]
- Tidmouth Beach
- The Viaduct
- Maithwaite
- Gordon's Hill
- Tidmouth Sheds
- Knapford
- Maron
- Wellsworth
- Tidmouth Bay
- Tower Windmill
Trivia[]
- This is the only episode David Mitton wrote solo.
- This is one of the six episodes of the sixth season re-narrated by Michael Brandon in the US and Michael Angelis in the UK 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.
- Three posters at Knapford read "Allicia Botti in concert tonight at the castle."
- In Michael Angelis' 2005 re-narration, the term "freight cars" is used at the beginning.
- Despite Edward being the titular character, he only has two lines throughout the whole episode.
- Not counting stock footage used of them in the seventh series, this episode marks the last appearance of one thing:
- In the Japanese version, Derek's guard gains lines when he flags down Gordon.
Quotes[]
- Gordon: Edward is a useless old steam pot. He should be retired.
- Rosie: But he doesn't have tyres.
- James: Retired means taken out of service.
- Gordon: And not a moment too soon.
- Trucks: Derek 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 (Germany only)
- Magazine Stories - Edward to the Rescue! and Really Useful Edward
In Other Languages[]
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Home Media Releases[]
UK
DVD Boxsets
WAL
US
CAN
DVD Boxsets
AUS
DVD Packs
PHLNOR/DK
DK DVD Boxsets
SVN
MYS
JPN
KOR
SWE
ITA
HK
THATWN
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