Edward and Gordon

Edward and Gordon, retitled Edward Helps Out in American releases, is the second episode of the first season. It first aired on Shining Time Station in the episode A Place Unlike Any Other in 1989.

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Edward is an old, blue engine and was feeling sad as he had not been out in a long time. The other engines that lived in Tidmouth Sheds with Edward told him the driver would not choose him, making Edward even more depressed. One morning, the driver and fireman saw that he was upset and chose him over the other engines. Edward had a wonderful day pulling coaches. The coaches were very impressed with Edward, as was his crew. He went back to the sheds that evening and fell fast asleep.

Next morning, Gordon was bragging to Edward. He told the old engine to watch him rush by with the express that afternoon. Edward ignored him and went to shunt trucks in the yard. Edward loved shunting; he would biff the trucks and they would scream in horror.

Edward worked very hard all day. That afternoon, he went for a rest in the sidings. Presently, he heard Gordon's whistle. But instead of coaches, the express engine was pulling a line of dirty trucks. Gordon moaned as he slowly pulled his goods train. He soon began to climb a hill and stopped halfway up. Edward was soon called to be Gordon's banker. The big blue engine did not think that little old Edward could do it, but he pushed all the same. Up the hill went the train all the while Gordon kept saying, "I can't do it, I can't do it". But to Gordon's surprise, they did make it to the top. Gordon thundered away, cheering for himself, leaving Edward in the dust. Edward slowly ran into a siding at the next station, where his driver and fireman promised to give him a new coat of paint.

Characters

 * Edward
 * Gordon
 * Thomas (cameo)
 * Henry (cameo)
 * James (cameo)

Locations

 * Tidmouth Sheds
 * Gordon's Hill
 * Maron
 * The Viaduct (deleted scene)

Errors

 * Henry and James aren't introduced until The Sad Story of Henry and Thomas and the Breakdown Train respectively, so the audience don't know who they were.
 * The narrator says that "the other engines were all bigger than Edward", but Thomas is smaller. This error was caused by the order of the Railway Series stories being changed for the television series - Thomas wasn't meant to be introduced until after "Edward and Gordon".
 * When Edward leaves the turntable, one side jerks up a little.
 * In the scene that immediately follows Edward leaving the sheds, Edward's eyes are wonky.
 * When Edward says "I'm going out again tomorrow", steam is venting from an empty siding in the background.
 * In the siding where steam is venting, the rails end at the bottom of the screen.
 * When Edward puffs out of the shed to shunt trucks, the shadow of the camera can be seen.
 * Edward's cab roof was raised when he is shunting trucks.
 * Studio equipment was seen in the top left corner when Edward's driver talks to Gordon.
 * When Edward buffers up behind Gordon, the sound comes earlier than it should.
 * When Gordon says "I've done it!" the ground sinks slightly.
 * In the US narrations, as Edward approaches the station, the narrator says that Edward was happy because he was so helpful, but he looks very sad.
 * When Edward approaches the water tower, he was wearing James' sad face.
 * When the narrator says, "Gordon was very cross", there are bushes beside Gordon instead of the yard and the sheds.
 * In the restored version, as Gordon says "The shame of it!", his trucks disappear.
 * When Edward shunts the trucks, a truck on the next line was missing an eye.
 * In a close-up of Gordon at Tidmouth Sheds, Henry isn't next to Thomas.
 * In the beginning, a camera can be seen in the top-right corner.
 * It's unlikely that five trucks would be strong enough to hold back Gordon.
 * In the first scene, James' eyes are wonky.

US Home Video Releases

 * Thomas Gets Tricked and Other Stories
 * Thomas and His Friends Help Out