TTTE S7E22: Best Dressed Engine

Yet again, another Gordon review. One about a competition.

Special thanks to Thomas the Tank Engine Wikia for the image

178. Best Dressed Engine.
Written by: Polly Churchill.
Aired: UK: 4 November 2003. US: 19 September 2004. AUS: 10 November 2004.

The Engines are celebrating May Day. Knapford Station is being decorated and Sir Topham Hatt agrees to let the engines be decorated, but Gordon states that decorations are dignified for an important engine like him and puffs away.

At Tidmouth Sheds, everyone was being decorated. Percy had flags and streamers, Thomas had big red banners and Murdoch was decorated, even though he was shy. James gets the idea of having a competition for the "Best Dressed Engine." When Gordon arrived and heard about a competition, he wanted to join in, but James tells him that he needs to be decorated and that it is a Best Dressed Engine contest. Gordon rejects the competition after hearing everything.


Later, Gordon is crossing a bridge when a banner is blown onto his front. Since Gordon is pulling the express, he cannot stop and so remains "dressed up." Trevor was pulling a cart of apples for the children's apple bobbing. When Trevor heard Gordon's whistle, he tried to go as fast as he could, but it was no use and Gordon smashed all the apples. James was the last to reach the station for the contest, until Gordon arrived. Everyone was not expecting Gordon to be decorated, but Gordon said he didn't, but James says that he was defiantly the Best Dressed Engine, everyone agreed and Gordon was announced the winner of the "best dressed" competition.


This episode is not without some flaws. First of all, why would Gordon the Big Engine think "Decorations aren't dignified"? He wore decorations in Paint Pots and Queens, and he felt proud.

Second flaw, Gordon the Big Engine's driver could've stopped him when the banner covered Gordon's face. Express or not, some trains need to stop when there's a problem.

Also, I will admit Thomas, Percy, James and Murdoch looked very bright in their decorations, and Gordon looked funny in his "decoration", but would the decorations have burnt from the heat of the engines? Unless the decorations were heatproof.

So overall, despite its flaws, this is still a funny episode.

My rating: 9/10.

Season 7 scorecard:

2. Percy Gets it Right: 9.5/10.

9. The Spotless Record: 10/10.

12. Rheneas and the Roller Coaster: 5/10.

16. The Runaway Elephant: 9.5/10.

22. Best Dressed Engine: 9/10.

Season 7 rating so far: 8.9/10.