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- “You said the countryside's run got you all fired up, Duck, but I didn't think you meant it in this way!"
"Pah! It was the stupid trucks'/cars' fault, not mine!” - ―Douglas teasing Duck over his accident.
Donald, Douglas and Old Slow Coach is the twenty-eighth episode of the fifth series. It aired back to back with Thomas and the Rumours on Storytime with Thomas in the US.
Plot[]
Duck, Donald and Douglas look up at the early morning sky. Donald says that all the villagers of Sodor are happier when springtime comes, but Duck complains about the hard work. Douglas however tells him that the Fat Controller wants everything to be ready for the holidays and the salty air makes him feel good. Duck scoffs and prefers being in the countryside instead, before leaving the shed to collect his goods train from the harbour.
The twins then leave the sheds to take some empty trucks to the scrapyard. When they finish their job, they discover Harriet, the old coach in the scrap yard. She looks very dirty and sad and says that she is not useful any more despite being in good condition. The yard manager arrives and is asked by Douglas' driver about the Old Slow Coach who is due to be broken up soon. Donald and Douglas are very upset and though he is unsure how yet, Donald offers to help her.
Meanwhile, Duck is enjoying his journey with Lola when there is trouble; one of the fuel tankers in his train is leaking fuel, causing all the tankers to ignite from the sparks billowing from Duck's funnel. His driver immediately pulls the train into a siding and notifies Sam, Belle and Flynn. Donald and Douglas then arrive at the junction and the guard reveals what happened. Although it is quite a mess, the fire is soon extinguished. Douglas teases Duck about being fired up in the countryside, rather than being in the literal way, but Duck states that it was the trucks' fault that caused the fire. Sam stops the argument and gives them all-clear signal by Sam to proceed with their journey at a reduced speed, while they feel sorry for Duck.
Later that day, the twins take on water when they find out that there is another fire at the workmen's hut near them, so they decide to go see how they can help. The fire engines arrive, but there is a bigger problem; Belle complains that they are completely out of water from the previous fire and cannot use seawater as Flynn adds that it would clog their pumping apparatus, and Sam finishes that they are forced to let the hut burn. Donald suggests that they use the water from his and Douglas' tanks. The plan works well and the fire is soon put out, but the workmen's hut is completely destroyed. A foreman arrives and worries about housing for the men and says that they cannot sleep on the beach, so Douglas then comes up with the idea of using Old Slow Coach as the workmen's new temporary hut. Douglas' crew then phones the Fat Controller, who agrees to the idea.
Old Slow Coach is cleaned up, repainted and restored and feels splendid. The twins collect her and she sets off happily enjoying her new life with the workmen. They all agree there is nothing old or slow about her and she will always be Really Useful.
Characters[]
- Duck
- Donald and Douglas
- Sam
- Belle
- Flynn
- Old Slow Coach
- Lola
- Sir Topham Hatt
- The Fire Brigade (does not speak)
- Jem Cole (cameo)
Locations[]
- Arlesburgh
- Tidmouth Hault
- The Scrapyards
- Logging Halt
- Tidmouth Beach
- Sir Topham Hatt's Office
- Tidmouth Harbour (mentioned)
Trivia[]
- The working title of this episode appears to have been called "Fire Engines." This may have been dropped because of its similarity to the story "Fire-Engine" in the RWS book James and the Diesel Engines and the next adaptation episode is Fire Engine.
- Edited and extended pre-filmed footage from the previous episode is used.
- Elements of the magazine story Fire are used.
- In the first shot of Thomas and Percy at the scrapyard, a scrapped OBB boxcar from TUGS can be spotted.
- In the Latin American, Polish and Czech dub, Old Slow Coach is referred to as a male.
- This episode aired on the same day that Spooks and Surprises was released on VHS.
- The Workmen's Huts is the model of Dryaw Goods Station being reused.
- This episode marks the first of a few things:
- Harriet’s first appearance.
- The first appearance of Tidmouth Hault
- This episode marks the last of one thing:
- A guard's last speaking role until the eighteenth series episode, Thomas and the Emergency Cable.
Quotes[]
- Donald: Everyone's so much happier when springtime comes.
- Duck: Everyone except the Fat Controller/Sir Topham Hatt. He seems to be working us harder than ever.
- Douglas: Aye, he just wants everything to be ready for the holidays. Anyway, salty air makes me all cheerful in my smokebox.
- Duck: Pah! It's the countryside that really gets me fired up. It's the only place to be.
- Douglas: You said the countryside got you all fired up, Duck. But I didn't think you meant it in this way!
- Duck: PAH! It was this stupid trucks'/cars' fault, not mine!
Merchandise[]
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