| Cows/A Cow on the Line | |
|---|---|
 Original UK title card | |
| No. of season: | 2 |
| No. of epsiode: | 2 |
| No. of series: | 28 |
| Director: | David Mitton |
| Producer: | David Mitton Robert D. Cardona |
| Writer: | Reverend W. Awdry (original) Britt Allcroft and David Mitton (adapted) |
| Narrator: | Ringo Starr (UK/US) George Carlin (US) |
| Original air date: | September 5th, 1986 (UK) April 19th, 1988 (Australia) April 16th, 1989 (US (Ringo Starr)) April 22nd, 1993 (US (George Carlin)) |
| Previous: | Thomas, Percy and the Coal/Double Trouble |
| Next: | Bertie's Chase |
Cows (retitled A Cow on the Line for American releases) is the 2nd episode of the 2nd series and the 28th episode of the series. It is based on the story of the same name from the Railway Series book Edward the Blue Engine. It first aired in the US on the Shining Time Station episodes Impractical Jokes in 1989 and Fortune Teller Schemer in 1993. In this episode, Gordon and Henry tease Edward for letting cows uncouple his trucks, but Edward has the last laugh.
Plot[]
Edward is the oldest engine on the Island of Sodor and has some worn-out parts which cause him to clank as he runs. One bright and sunny day, Edward is taking some cattle trucks to a nearby market town. The trucks are making a lot of noise, as is Edward by this point. On the line is a field where some cows were grazing. The noise and smoke produced by Edward and the trucks disturbs the animals as they're not used to it. As Edward passes by, a number of cows break the fence, run across the line, and break a coupling, causing a truck, the brakevan, and the guard to be left behind. Edward (believing the jerk to be the trucks getting up to mischief) continues on his journey, clueless about the mishap. It isn't until Edward gets to the next station that either he or his driver realise what happened.
When Gordon and Henry learn about the accident, they laugh and tease Edward constantly, making him very angry. Toby is also indignant towards the larger engines, knowing they've never encountered cows and don't know the trouble they cause.
A few days later, Edward was still in a bad mood when Gordon sails through Wellsworth with the express, teasing him. Gordon continues down the line telling the coaches to hurry, when he and his driver think they see something on the upcoming bridge. The driver shuts off steam and applies the brakes and as Gordon gets closer, he sees the obstacle is a cow. Gordon isn't worried and tries to shoo the cow away but she doesn't budge having had her calf taken away and feeling upset. Gordon's crew and the passengers try to get the cow to leave to no avail.
Henry soon comes by with his train and also thinks that the cow can simply be ordered away. When this doesn't work, Henry gets nervous and backs off claiming he doesn't want to hurt her. Reversing back to the station, Henry's guard tells the stationmaster about the cow blocking the line. The porter realises it's Bluebell and says that her calf is it at the station. The two men decide to send the calf in a truck pulled by Percy.
At the bridge, Percy arrives with the calf and reunites it with its mother. The two cows are then easily led away by the porter. As they leave, Gordon and Henry make an agreement not to tell anyone about the incident. Despite this, the story quickly gets around and Edward is ready to tease Gordon and Henry that night in the shed. Gordon defends himself, claiming that he simply didn't want Bluebell to hurt herself by running up against him.
Edward tells Gordon that he understands and Gordon worries that Edward all too well does understand.
Characters[]
- Edward
- Henry
- Gordon
- Toby
- Troublesome Trucks
- Percy (does not speak)
- Thomas (cameo)
- James (cameo)
- Mrs. Kyndley (cameo)
Locations[]
Notes[]
- There are some differences between the UK version and the US versions. Some some differences are:
- In the British narration, the porter notes that Bluebell's calf was "ready to go to market". In the American narration it was said to be "looking for her mother"; this wasn't clear why the line was changed, although the reference to cow slaughter may have been removed due to censorship issues.
- In the Ringo Starr narrations, Gordon and Henry whisper to each other, "Not a word. Keep it dark". But in the George Carlin version they whisper, "Not a word. Keep it secret".
- A deleted scene shows Henry on the bridge without his coaches.
- The Italian title of this episode is "Mucche sui Binari". The Latin American Spanish title is "El Accidente de Edward". In Japan, this episode is called "せんろのうし". In Denmark, the title is "Edward og Køerne". The Welsh title is called, "Gwartheg".
- From 1986 when originally first showed as a doublebill with Thomas, Percy and the Coal, the credits showed the story title of the previous story credited, when individually showed later from 1987 the end credits from Duck Takes Charge are used.
US Home Video Releases[]
- Thomas Breaks the Rules and Other Thomas Stories
- Thomas Comes to Breakfast and Other Thomas Adventures
Merchandise[]
- Wooden Railway (discontinued)
Transcript[]
UK Version[]
- [Transitions Brendam where Edward was pulling cattle trucks as he whistles]
- Narrator: Edward was getting old. His bearings were worn, and he clanked as he puffed along. [fades to Edward pulling cattle trucks in another shot] He was taking empty cattle trucks to a market town. [fades to a shot of Edward pulling cattle trucks at Lower Suddery] The sun shone, birds sang, [fades to Edward pulling cattle trucks on the viaduct] but Edward was heading for trouble.
- Trucks: Oh, oh, oh, oh!
- Narrator: Screamed the trucks. Edward puffed and clanked. The trucks rattled and scremed. [fades to Edward puffing to a village where the cows live. The cows made some noise] Some cows were grazing nearby. They were not used to trains. [Edward passes some cows] The noise and smoke disturbed them. [some cows made more noise as Edward passes some more cows] As Edward clanked by, they broke through the fence and ran across the line. [just then a breakvan and a cattle truck have come loose making Edward and the other cattle trucks keep going] A coupling was broken, [fades to a driver on a breakvan looking at the cows] and some trucks were left behind.
Gallery[]
