Episode XIII: Old Reliable was uploaded on July 8, 2014 and is the third episode of the second season.
Plot[]
One evening, The Fat Controller tells the engines that they've been doing good, but they need some help, and thus, he had brought a new engine over to help. Edward asks who the new engine's name is, leading to The Fat Controller explaining that he couldn't find a steam engine, nor could he spend money on a new diesel, so he had to give a trial to an older diesel, and that diesel... as D199, much to the engines' frustration. The Fat Controller tells them that if he does act up again, he'll send him packing.
The next day, D199 slunked through the island like a snake. The engines all eyed him with distrust, but he didn't care and kept on rolling to Knapford Harbor, where Henry, Donald and Douglas all glared at him and The Fat Controller greeted him. D199 tells him that he'd like to be a really useful engine, impressing The Fat Controller. Bear then comes in, glaring at D199 as well. D199 greets Bear, noting his new livery in the process, to which Bear simply tells him to stay out of trouble, irritating him. The engines were left with negative thoughts after he scuttled off.
Later, D199 meets Bear again at Kronk Station, where he tells him that while he knows how terrible he acted the last time he came, the amount of steam locomotives he's seen being scrapped made him realize just how horrible the concept of it is, and made him change his view on steam engines and the North Western Railway entirely. Bear was impressed by this, but he tells D199 he'll still need to prove himself to The Fat Controller, so D199 decides to look for something important to do.
D199 arrived at Tidmouth, shaking with excitement. He's told there is a tanker train bound for Suddery, which he agrees to take right away. The diesel had a splendid time cruising along the line, and he didn't break down this time. While taking the train, he tells himself he isn't Spamcan, but rather... still D199, leading to him thinking of a name for himself, eventually settling on Ted.
For the rest of the day, D199 worked as hard as he could, delivering all goods ahead of his schedule, surprising the engines by his efforts. Henry points this out to him, but also notes that he's been rushing his work. D199 claims that having no patience doesn't affect anything, and that he's just being quick, leading Henry to bring up when Thomas left his coaches behind and Peter Sam ditched the refreshment, and as he leaves, he says "Goodbye, Old... Relia-bleh!" to which D199 calls him a "plugged up cucumber" in response.
The next day, D199 hadn't any work to do, leaving him feeling bored. He then saw Bear roll in with some older tankers; he explains he's getting the tankers ready for his train. D199 offers to take them for him, since he has nothing else to do, which Bear reluctantly agrees to.
However, as soon as D199 was supposed to leave, his driver realized his fuel tank was almost empty; to make matters worse, the depot was out of fuel. D199, not wanting the job to go to waste, tells his driver to just drain one of the tankers assuming that it's fuel just because it's in a dirty black tanker. The driver grabbed a bucket, and upon draining the tanker, he notices the liquid doesn't smell like fuel, but rather a burp. D199 disagrees and tells him to hurry up.
Eventually, the driver had filled up D199's tank to where he could complete the journey. However, as soon as he started up, he could barely move; he helplessly spluttered and coughed just as James and Henry arrived in time to see everything. The diesel then felt very lightheaded and started hallucinating some very bizarre things. D199 then gives up and tells the driver to turn him off, and with that, his engine was busted.
The Fat Controller arrived and the driver explained to him what happened, making him try hard not to laugh. D199 tells him that it was a generic tanker, so it must've been fuel in the tanker, so The Fat Controller, still trying not to laugh, explains to him that the tankers weren't carry fuel, but rather beer, humiliating D199 and making James and Henry burst out laughing. Once the laughing had been put under control, The Fat Controller tells D199 that stuff like that is what happens when you're impatient, but he is also very proud of D199 for his efforts over the last few days and how eager he was to help another engine. Henry and James also point out how he changed quite a lot since then and had redeemed himself, which D199 tells them that he wanted to change his attitude since the last time he was there.
D199's trial was extended and over the next few weeks, the other engines began to appreciate and trust him; that is, except for Donald and Douglas, but that was another story...
Characters[]
- Edward
- Henry
- Gordon
- James
- Donald and Douglas (Douglas does not speak)
- Bear
- D199
- Sir Topham Hatt
- Bertie (appears in hallucination)
- Thomas (does not speak)
- Percy (cameo)
- Duck (cameo)
- Stanley (cameo)
- Neil (cameo)
- Old Slow Coach (cameo)
- Bulgy (cameo)
- Diesel 10 (appears in hallucination, cameo)
- Smudger (appears in hallucination, cameo)
- Peter Sam (mentioned)
Voice Cast[]
- EnterprisingEngine93: Edward
- Andrew Homer: James
- KnapfordProductions: Bear and Bertie
- Thomas1Edward2Henry3: Everyone Else
Transcript[]
Main article: Old Reliable/Transcript
Trivia[]
- The episode is the first of a two part story. The story continues where this left off in Episode XIV.
- The episode was originally planned for release in June, but vacation and voice actor problems delayed the production.
- When D199 arrives on Sodor, the song "Without Me" by Eminem is heard.
- Events from the RWS book "Enterprising Engines" are mentioned.
- D199's theme, heard when he tells Bear how he's changed, was made in Studio One. It is a remix of Diesel's theme.
- This is the last episode until their Season 3 appearances where Donald and Douglas are voiced by Thomas1Edward2Henry3. Carson0802200 later took over the roles from the next episode.
- References to the TV Series episodes, "Thomas' Train" and "Peter Sam and the Refreshment Lady" are made.