Ep 9. Gordon Takes A Tumble / Percy's Chocolate Crunch

Gordon Takes A Tumble / Percy's Chocolate Crunch

In the first part of this double episode, titled "Gordon Takes A Tumble," we find that all the engines on the island of Sodor, particularly Thomas's friend Gordon the big blue express engine, are very busy and working hard on their jobs. Gordon is upset that he has to take freight cars instead of coaches. He keeps trying to sneak off and pull coaches instead, but to no avail. Gordon then makes a crucial mistake and ignores warnings to slow down around a bend in the tracks. This results in Gordon taking a terrible tumble down a steep embankment, leaving him battered and lying upside down in a ditch. The other engines all rush to his aid, but are unable to reach him. They eventually find a way to get him back onto the tracks and Gordon is taken to the Steamworks to be repaired. Through this accident, Gordon realizes the importance of following the rules and being safe on the tracks.

The second part of this episode, titled "Percy's Chocolate Crunch," comes as a nice contrast to the first part, as a more lighthearted and amusing storyline. Percy the small green engine, with his cheeky grin and eager personality, is feeling excited because he has been given the job of delivering a special load of chocolate to the chocolate factory. But Percy quickly discovers that this is not as easy as it sounds, as troublesome trucks are trying to delay his progress. They tell him there is a problem with the tracks, which is actually just a trick to make him go slower so they can have some fun. The trucks play all sorts of pranks on Percy and try to derail him, but he manages to stay on the tracks and reach the chocolate factory. However, just as he is about to deliver the precious cargo, he collides with another engine, causing a huge mess and covering Percy in sticky chocolate. The episode ends with a few laughs as the engines and workers try to clean up the mess and Percy learns a lesson about staying focused on the job at hand.

Overall, this episode showcases the different personalities and strengths of the various engines on the island of Sodor, as well as the importance of safety and following the rules on the tracks. It also provides a bit of entertainment and amusement for younger viewers, with some playful antics from the troublesome trucks and a satisfying chocolatey mess at the end. Thomas & Friends Classic continues to delight and educate children with its timeless stories and lovable characters.