Percy and the Signal (episode)

Percy and the Signal '''is the seventh episode of the second season and the thirty-third episode of the series. It aired in the US on the Shining Time Station episode, Stop the Press. In this episode, James and Gordon fool Percy into thinking there are such things as "backing signals".'''

Plot
Percy works in the yard, collecting coaches and trucks that the bigger engines need for their trains. Although he works hard, he can also be very cheeky. First, he wakes Gordon up by telling him was train was ready. Gordon jumps, thinking he was running late, only for Percy to reveal a line of dirty trucks. Gordon was angry and tries to think of a way to pay Percy back.

Percy then goes to James and tells him that the Fat Controller has sent a message for James to not leave the shed. James was delighted, thinking the Fat Controller wants him to pull a special. As a result, he refuses to leave the shed when his driver and fireman try to take him out. The other engines are angry over having to do James' work as well as their own. Finally an engine inspector arrives and tells James to move. James refuses and tells him about the message the Fat Controller sent. The inspector points out the Fat Controller couldn't send a message as he was away. James was horrified and quickly leaves to find Percy, but Percy had decided to make himself scarce. When the Fat Controller gets back, he does speak to James as well as Percy, telling them both off for causing trouble.

A few days later, Percy was showing off to Gordon and James as the Fat Controller has asked him to take trucks to Thomas' junction. He is boasting that he was chosen as he's a really useful engine, but James thinks he probably just wants him out of the way. Gordon and James then put form a plan and put it into action. They claim they were talking about being careful with the signals at the junction, especially "backing signals". Percy, keen to show off, claims that he knows all about signals and leaves, but worries as he has never seen or heard of a backing signal before.

Soon Percy arrives at a signal set to danger. However, when its arm moves up instead of down. Percy, having never seen anything like it before, guesses that it's a backing signal and begins reversing. Percy's driver was shocked and quickly stops him, but Percy insists that it's a backing signal and tells his driver about what Gordon and James had said. The driver laughs, then tells him the truth. Percy is eager to leave before he was seen, but it was too late, Gordon goes passed and sees that Percy fell for the trick. Percy quickly and quietly finishes his work.

That night in the sheds Gordon and James talk about signals; while they it's funny, Percy was less than impressed.

Characters

 * Gordon
 * James
 * Percy
 * Thomas (does not speak)
 * Sir Topham Hatt (does not speak)
 * Edward (cameo)
 * Henry (cameo)
 * Annie and Clarabel (deleted scene)

Locations

 * Tidmouth Sheds
 * Knapford
 * Knapford Yards
 * Ffarquhar Sheds
 * Elsbridge
 * Suddery Castle
 * The Coaling Plant

Errors

 * Percy's left cylinder was hanging off throughout most of the episode.
 * When Gordon says "James and I had just been speaking about signals at the junction", part of James' face was coming away from his smokebox.
 * In the close-up of Percy's wheels when he reverses from the signal, a wire was visible.
 * When Percy goes under the pedestrian bridge at Elsbridge, the reflection of a studio member or camera was visible in the shiny part.
 * The signal which Percy stops at isn't the sort that's meant to point upwards.
 * Gordon's eyes are wonky throughout the episode.

US Home Video Releases

 * Thomas Gets Bumped and Other Stories
 * Thomas and His Friends Get Along and Other Thomas Adventures


 * Best of Percy