*The Fat Controller notices a Brunswick green saddletank, No. 50 (Percy). Percy notably resembles his model from OTL's Season 23.*
"If I choose you will you work hard?"
"Yes, sir! You'll never regret buying me in your life!"
"Good. Now what can I call you? Spike...?"
*No. 50 visibly cringes.*
"Conker...? Hogarth...?"
*The Fat Controller notices that No. 50 is still cringing. Then he remembers retrieving a little boy's yo-yo during his trip.*
"How about Percy?"
"Oh yes, sir. Please sir!"
-The Fat Controller first meeting Percy (Nigel Pilkington), Trouble in the Shed
*At Tidmouth Sheds, we see Henry feeling sorry for himself. He is still in his old shape, and resembles a smaller green version of Gordon.*
"Maybe James is right. What if I don't work hard enough? Perhaps I should just let myself be scrapped."
-Henry (Tim Whitnall)'s internal monologue before singing Why Couldn't I Be Better?, Coal
"I've waited too long.
Now I must act fast.
To see that I don't.
Come in place last."
-Intro to Time to Shine, sung by 98462 (Tim Curry), The Flying Kipper
"I suppose that's what those bootlaces were for, to be ready?"
"Ugh...."
"I take that as a yes."
-Toby (Michael Gambon) roasting James (Rob Rackstraw), Dirty Objects
Narrator (Mark Moraghan): No matter how old Toby may be, all his friends have the same thing to say to him."
Children Chorus: Oldies but Goldies, we still care for you...
-The last line of Dirty Objects, notably the first time a reused song from the classic series was used in its unaltered form.
"How is a rebuild like that possible? Or, *gulp* was it a rebuild?"
-James (Rob Rackstraw) pondering what happened to Henry at Crewe, Gordon's Whistle
"Donal', you dinnae think we'll ever bae scrapped, do yae?"
"If that happaens, I'll bae going, not ye, Douggie."
-Douglas (Ewan McGregor), and Donald (David Tennant) in their early bird cameo at the end of Gordon's Whistle.
After the first half of TTTECGI's first season, The Hasthorne Family left to work on other projects. As such, HiT replaced them with Mike O'Donnel and Junior Campbell. Needless to say, the fans were sent into a seemingly endless tizzy. Around this time, the writing also improved, with more efforts to keep characters in balance.
Number 50: At a workshop on the British Mainland, the manager has scratch-built a new shunter to help his two existing ones, the red-painted saddle-tank King George and the Royal Blue side-tank Barney. The new engine is a little green one simply known as No. 50 (Nigel Pilkington) [1], and is built from designs for the GWR Trojan and 1361 Saddletanks. Then using some miscellaneous parts that the crew had fabricated for cancelled orders. However, the engine is much smaller and not as strong as King George and Barney. Which leads to him being mistreated by them, as well as the manager who regrets spending so much on an engine who wasn't as reliable as he hoped. No. 50 lives a dissatisfying life, his owner and the other two tank engines are cruel to him. In spite of this, No. 50 is a happy little engine, he is close friends with Molly (Maria Darling) , an GER Calud Hamilton who often pulls passenger trains to a station right outside the factory. No. 50 also gets along well with the engines that are built and tested on the factory grounds. Though he still yearns for a better and happier life outside the noisy and dirty factory (A Place for Me) [2]. One day, the owner of a fruit factory in Latin America comes to look for an engine to use on his line [3]. No. 50 tries his best to look presentable and be chosen. But when it seems that he'll get to leave, he ends up getting in an accident caused by Barney which damages his buffer beam. Which leads to King George and Barney being chosen instead.
Trouble in the Shed: No. 50 is left to be repaired, when he meets an engine named Hiro (Hiroyuki Sanada), who was built for a planned standard gauge line in Japan, but was left stranded in the UK when it was cancelled [4]. Now, he sits in the workshop, but does dream of one day going to live on the Island of Sodor (The Island Song). Then it is revealed that King George and Barney got their comeuppance when they accidentally wandered into the path of an express, leaving No. 50 with the last laugh as he returns to work. Back on Sodor, the big engines refuse to get their coaches and so Edward is brought in to shunt for them. However, poor Edward is met with relentless hostility and so the Fat Controller goes to the workshop to look for a tank engine [5]. He has a hard time deciding one, as while all of them seem reliable workers (barring King George and Barney), they are simply not the best options. However, while surveying an engine that is currently meant to go to Africa, No. 50 accidentally bumps into said engine. The Fat Controller ultimately decides to buy him, and names him Percy after a boy whose yo-yo help helped retrieve before going to the Mainland. The big engines still refuse to shunt and fetch their coaches, so the Fat Controller shuts them up in the sheds and brings Thomas to work with Edward on the main line while Percy runs Thomas' Branch Line.
Coach Trouble: Ever since 98462 lost his name, Cecil has been trying to be on his best behavior so that he doesn't suffer the same fate. Meanwhile, Thomas is ordered to use some new coaches on Henry's passenger trains. They are new ones, and immediately take a disliking to him being a tank engine. Which angers Thomas, and frustrates him so much he bursts a safety valve while entering Wellsworth. After this, the Fat Controller reluctantly has 98462 take over for Thomas while he works the Brendam Branch instead. Though after 98462 gets even more violent with them, he has Edward go. Edward ignores them whenever they insult him, but he does end up needing repairs to his coupling due to wear. Lastly, Cecil is rostered to take them, but he eventually gets so cross he doesn't care where he's going and rams into the back of Bridget's goods train. While Cecil is forgiven, he is warned. When asked, Edward explains to Cecil and Thomas that his trick was to just ignore them.
Percy Runs Away: After several days in the sheds for being naughty, the big engines finally see sense and agree to get their coaches ready, so the Fat Controller lets Thomas, Edward and Percy play on the branch line. Thomas takes Annie and Clarabel for a run and Edward takes some trucks to Brendam, leaving Percy alone. He strays onto the points, and Gordon scares him when he rushes into the junction. Percy flees, and eventually, exhausted, runs in a sandbank. Gordon later commends him for preventing an accident and Percy becomes the brand new station pilot at Tidmouth.
Coal: Ever since his stay in the tunnel, Henry has been feeling chronically ill and is having trouble making steam. While engines like Gordon, Cecil, and James are unsympathetic to him, Edward, Rita, and Percy feel pity for him, and Thomas and Bridget usually feel sorry for Henry when he doesn't make them late. The Fat Controller fears that he will have to be replaced if they cannot find a cure. Henry is left in an even more depressed state as he laments his condition (Why Couldn't I Be Better?) [3]. (During this, Henry imagines himself, in a reference to Christopher Awdry's lore, as a Robinson Atlantic). 98462 overhears this conversation and sees this as his possible change to shine again when Henry is sent away. Henry's fireman tells the Fat Controller that Henry's firebox is too small and cannot make enough steam. The Fat Controller arranges for some Welsh coal to be brought for Henry and as soon as he begins using it, Henry feels better soon.
The Flying Kipper: Fishing boats often dock at Tidmouth and send their fish to be sold on a train dubbed The Flying Kipper. While Rita usually pulls the train, it is Henry's turn to take it, with his driver confirming that he may become the permanent secondary express engine if they do well. 98462 is furious about being left as he puts it, "neglected", and makes plans to get rid of Henry, ultimately seeing his chance when he learns that he will take a goods train that same night (Time to Shine) [6]. Henry makes good time (Night Train), until they encounter an incorrect signal they are unaware was caused by snow forcing it down. 98462 has tricked the signalman into thinking the line is clear, but he has actually stopped on the siding with his goods train. While his crew are drinking cocoa in the brakevan, Henry collides into 98462's goods, which does lead to 98462 being hoist by his own petard when the impact derails him. After the crash, Henry is sent away to the works at Crewe and comes back better than ever before, rebuilt in a fresh new shape and no longer needing Welsh coal. While Alfred is relegated to a purely goods engine as his punishment.
Gordon's Whistle: After Henry returns to Crewe, everyone is surprised to see what has changed. Gordon on one hand is furious that he was rebuilt while he hasn't been converted into a Super Pacific like the rest of his Gresley brethren (Why Me?). Edward, Bridget, Thomas, Percy, and Rita are all happy to see him back. However, the main scope is when Gordon insults Henry about whistling too often. Only to end up getting his whistle jammed until a fitter comes to knock it back in place. This episode would become famous for the shocking events added after that. conversation between James, who took over for Gordon after his incident, and Cecil. During it, James asks Cecil if he noticed anything odd about Henry. Cecil affirms yes, pointing how that while Henry hated the rain in the past, that was because he didn't want his paint ruined while he know seems to fear the rain itself, and also points out that he is less cocky and has a deeper voice. They are visibly spooked, and attempt to laugh off their suspicions. James tries to pretend to think it was just a complex rebuild, but believes worse. Eventually, we see a shed at Crewe. As a familiar green engine stands at the entrance to a siding, it's buffered up to from behind. As soon as its on the siding, the engine is revealed to be Donald (David Tennant). As he goes back into the yards, his twin Douglas (Ewan McGregor) asks if they think they'll ever be scrapped. With Donald swearing if that does happen, he will be first to go for Douglas' sake. The fact old Henry never speaks at all leads to the shocking questions surrounding the new Henry. Most fans like to think that as much from the old Henry was recycled as possible.
Scarves and Sneezes: Percy is cold one morning and expresses a desire for a scarf. Henry replies bluntly the engines don't need scarves, but Percy just teases him. Meanwhile, Henry is running through the Countryside, when some rude boys drop stones on Henry's boiler. His crew plan an elaborate revenge where Henry sneezes on them. In the ensuing sneeze, 98462 gets covered in soot as he is passing Henry. Which leads to him planning revenge once more. Meanwhile at Tidmouth, Percy goes to shunt some coaches, but approaches the platform so quietly that he runs over a trolley, scattering luggage everywhere. The Fat Controller, furious, seizes his top-hat off Percy's lamp-iron and sends Percy away with a pair of his trousers coiled around his funnel. Henry learns about this and feels sorry for Percy, and the two make amends that night.
Toby and the Stout Gentleman: The Fat Controller and his family are feeling overworked as Summer Vacation begins for his grandchildren. So they decide to visit East Anglia and a clergyman (Christopher Awdry, in the first of several Stan Lee-esque cameos). While there, they go to visit a tram engine named Toby (Michael Gambon) and his coach Henrietta (Maggie Ollerenshaw). The two have seen better days, and Henrietta laments the low cargo levels compared to the past (Those Tramway Days). However, they cheer up when the Topham family ride on them at least once a day during their stay in the area. After they leave however, their tramway becomes less viable and eventually closes. At first Toby fears the worst will happen to him, but he soon learns the Fat Controller wants him for his own ends…
Thomas in Trouble: Thomas is bringing some trucks down from a quarry when he surprises a policeman, who tells him he is breaking the law by going across a public road without cowcatchers and sideplates. Thomas is upset, and the Fat Controller has to leave his breakfast to talk to the policeman, who tells him he cannot change the law. A comment by Thomas makes the Fat Controller remember his holiday, and a certain tram engine. A few days later, Toby arrives to help at the quarry, and after he scares the policeman he and Thomas become friends (Toby).
Dirty Objects: James makes fun of Toby and Henrietta for having shabby paint. When Toby makes a snide comment about bootlaces, James huffs off to get a "slow goods" train. He bumps the trucks so badly they are determined to pay him back. As he goes over Gordon’s Hill, the trucks push him down into a pair of tar tankers standing in the yard and Toby and Percy come to his aid. The Fat Controller congratulates Toby and Percy for their work, and promises Toby and Henrietta a new coat of paint (Toby, Reprise). Thomas and Toby becomes even firmer friends and Toby is guaranteed a new lease on life.
Off The Rails: Henry and Percy tease Gordon repeatedly while he is in a siding resting. Then the big engine becomes even more grumpy after being told to take a goods train and his fire is slow, so Edward takes him to the turntable. Gordon attempts to "jam" the table, but instead breaks through a fence and slides into a ditch. Edward takes the special instead and Gordon is left in the ditch until nightfall when Henry and James finally pull him out.
Leaves: Gordon is forbidden from taking the express after his incident and is relegated to goods work. Gordon is upset and grumbles to himself, but James just laughs at him (Work, Work, Work). To add further insult to injury, the Fat Controller reluctantly sends 98462 to take the Express instead. Later, Gordon tries to warn James that the hill is slippery from leaves. James simply laughs, but soon regrets it when the coaches drag him down the hill. However, Gordon takes pity and helps James up again.
Down the Mine: After helping James up his hill, Gordon takes a slow goods at Knapford. When he is there, he gets teased by Thomas for falling into a ditch. Thomas carries on even after Annie and Clarabel rebuke him. Thomas then goes to the Lead Mines to shunt trucks. At that mine is a board warning engines to not pass a certain part of the complex. Unaware that it is because a mineshaft has made the ground unstable, Thomas concocts a plan to go past a "danger" board and falls through a weak spot in the ground. Gordon, who laughs when he finds out, comes to the rescue and on the way home, the two form an alliance (Forgive Your Friend) [7].
Paint Pots and Queens: The Queen of England is coming to Sodor and everyone wants to be the one to go the mainland and pick her up (Will You, Won't You) [9]. Henry brags that he will be chosen to take the Royal Train, but these plans are soon put to rest when Henry disturbs a painter and a paint pot falls onto him. Meanwhile, Thomas and Gordon apologize to the Fat Controller for being silly and he allows Gordon to pull the Royal Train. On the big day, Thomas gets the coaches ready and Edward clears the line in front. The Queen meets all the engines and talks personally to Thomas, Edward and Gordon, but the latter feels proudest of all.
Mrs. Kindley's Christmas: Mrs. Kyndley is an old lady who lives in a cottage near the line. Although she waves to Thomas every day as he passes, she falls ill and no longer has the energy to wave. A few days later, Thomas and Toby are rostered to doublehead a special train of Christmas Carolers to Knapford Cathedral (A Sodor Christmas Song). They make their way down from Ffarquhar when a dressing-gown waving from Mrs. Kyndley's window stops him. While the driver and a doctor go to see what the matter is, the fireman discovers that the gown was used to warn them about a landslide. The next day, Thomas, Toby, Henrietta, Annie, Clarabel and the Fat Controller go to the cottage to thank her. The Fat Controller offers her tickets to Bournemouth, where she recovers from her illness.
[1] A reference to 1950, the publication year of Troublesome Engines.
[2] Think Over The Rainbow + Sing Sweet Nightingale.
[3] Has a similar composition to "I Want To Go Home" from OTL's Journey Beyond Sodor.
[4] This is a reference to the original pre-war version of the famous Shinkansen. Which would have been a steam-hauled service run by streamlined 4-8-4s.
[5] During the sequence, several engines from OTL's CGI series are portrayed. Such as Ryan (a Purple GNR N2 0-6-2T), Nia (An East African 2-6-2T), and Stanley.
[6] A song like "No More Mr. Nice Guy" from the animated Swan Lake. I'm not using the actual name because it's too boring. Though the villain song in that film is not that bad.
[7] 1960s style song akin to the original version of "We're Your Friends" from The Jungle Book.
[8] A song from OTL's special The Great Race. But with many lyrics and characters changed.