TTTE S6E23: Edward the Very Useful Engine

Time for another Season 6 review. One focused on the first character in the books and the last to be written by the late David Mitton.

Special thanks to Thomas the Tank Engine Wikia for the image.

153. Edward the Very Useful Engine/Edward the Really Useful Engine.

Written by: David Mitton.

Aired: UK: 16 October 2002. AUS: 20 November 2002. CAN: 12 February 2003.

Gordon thinks that Edward is old and should be retired. Henry and James agree with him, but Percy is concerned about this. He tells his driver and the Fat Controller about what Gordon said about Edward, who attends to the matter immediately.

The Fat Controller arranges for Edward to teach Stepney to run a new loop line, while Duck does Edward's work, Henry was happy about this, but it makes no difference to Gordon. Edward enjoys working with Stepney, but Duck does not enjoy working with the trucks, especially when they hold him back on Gordon's Hill. Duck is stuck on Gordon's line, and it is too late to switch him to the middle line, so the guard tries to flag him down, but Gordon passes by and tries to push Duck 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 scolded by the Fat Controller for saying rude things about Edward who has proven to be responsible, reliable and very helpful. The next day, Gordon apologises to Edward and says that he really is a useful engine. Now, there is no more talk about Edward retiring.


First of all, I noticed that some people nitpicked that Percy said that Edward doesn't have tyres, after hearing Gordon say Edward "Should be retired.", where Percy thinks being retired means get new tyres. Their nitpick is that locomotives do have tyres, traction tyres. I would like to counter that nitpick by saying this: When Percy said Edward "Doesn't have tyres", he was probably referring to the tyres we see on road vehicles.

But overall, this was a nice episode, showing that you shouldn't underestimate those who are old. Who knows? Those who are old may not be so useless after all. But how rude Gordon was here was pretty uncalled for, but then again, he did get what was coming to him later.

Now no more talk about Edward being retired, okay?

My rating: 8.5/10.

Season 6 scorecard:

9. It's Only Snow: 9/10.

14. Middle Engine: 3/10.

17. Gordon Takes a Tumble: 9.5/10.

22. Thomas the Jet Engine: 10/10.

23. Edward the Very Useful Engine: 8.5/10.

Season 6 rating so far: 8.6/10.