Wrong Road

"What's that?" "Shh! It's Gordon." "It looks like Gordon, but it can't be. Gordon never comes on the branch lines, he thinks them vulgar." "If it isn't Gordon, it's just a pile of old iron." "Which we better take to the scrapyard." "No Bill, this lot's useless for scrap. We'll take it to the harbour and dump it in the sea." "I am Gordon! Stop! Stop!"

- Bill and Ben teasing Gordon

Wrong Road is the twenty-second episode of the second series. It is based on the story of the same name from The Railway Series book, Main Line Engines.

Plot
Thomas and Edward's branch lines are very important to the railway. But their tracks and bridges are not as strong as those on the main line, so the Fat Controller does not allow the larger engines to run on them. Although this is purely for safety, Gordon believes the rule is for another reason entirely.

One day, he complains to Edward about BoCo being allowed to take main line trains when he is only supposed to work on the branch line. Edward jokingly suggests that Gordon ask if he can take BoCo's trucks in return, but Gordon refuses to consider it. Edward notes that it might be a nice change, but Gordon claims the Fat Controller would never agree and states that branch lines are vulgar before snorting off, followed by an amused Edward.

Every evening, both Gordon and Edward take late-night trains. Gordon takes the express along the main line, while Edward leaves five minutes later with a branch line train. Normally everything runs fine, but that evening there is trouble when a lady with a large green floppy hat says goodbye to a friend on the platform. When it is nearly time for Gordon to start, his fireman looks back and, seeing something large and green waving, assumes the guard is waving the flag, even though it was the lady with her green hat moving. As a result, Gordon leaves with the majority of the passengers, the luggage, and the guard stranded on the platform. Everyone is surprised, but the surprise quickly gives way to anger.

Eventually Gordon is stopped and brought back, much to his embarrassment. But by now Edward is late, so he sets off first instead. This causes more trouble, as the signalman at the junction has not been informed of the change and sends Edward down the main line. When Gordon follows, he is sent down the branch and ends the evening by being forced to sleep in a siding near the harbour.

The next morning, Bill and Ben arrive to pick up trucks from BoCo. While neither BoCo nor the trucks are there, they do not mind as they much prefer the idea of teasing Gordon. After joking that the large blue engine near them cannot be Gordon, as Gordon would never go on branch lines as he thinks them vulgar, they pretend to consider he’s a pile of old iron. Bill jokingly considered taking the old iron to the scrapyard while Ben pretends to suggest throwing it into the sea. Gordon, not knowing it is a joke, starts to panic.

BoCo then arrives and Gordon begs the diesel to save him. BoCo soon realises what is happening and sends Bill and Ben off by threatening to take the trucks he brought for them away. Bill and Ben quickly run off, as a relieved Gordon thanks BoCo. Not knowing the twins were only teasing, Gordon ends up thinking that BoCo saved his life.

Characters

 * Edward
 * Gordon
 * Bill and Ben
 * BoCo
 * Thomas
 * Sir Topham Hatt
 * The Lady with the Floppy Green Hat
 * Stephen Hatt
 * Jem Cole
 * Jeremiah Jobling
 * Mrs. Kyndley
 * The Vicar of Wellsworth
 * The Little Boys
 * The Ffarquhar Stationmaster's Wife
 * The Ffarquhar Policeman
 * The Careless Cleaner
 * The Storyteller
 * One Enthusiast

Locations

 * Knapford
 * Knapford Harbour
 * Knapford Yards
 * Sodor Shipping Company
 * Crosby
 * C&B Barber
 * The Viaduct
 * The Watermill
 * The Branch Line Bridge
 * The Scrapyard

Trivia

 * Christmas lights are used for Gordon and Edward's lamps.
 * In the UK and Japanese versions, music can be heard when the narrator describes Gordon and Edward's trains.
 * This episode was reran back to back with Old Iron on Storytime with Thomas.
 * This episode was to be the last episode in 1989 airings of Series 2.

Goofs

 * When Gordon and Edward talk about branch lines, before Gordon leaves, steam is rising in front of him. When he leaves, it continues rising. Also, in the restored version, the top of the set can be seen.
 * In the restored version at the beginning, studio equipment can be seen on the top of the set.
 * Edward is missing his eyebrows in the scene at Knapford.
 * When Gordon is brought back blu-tack is visible on Sir Topham Hatt's shoes and his eyebrows are much bigger.
 * In the scene when Gordon is embarrased, Edward's eyebrows are missing and in the same scene, you can see a gap in Edward's right eye (viewer's left).
 * The back end of the coach's roof at the end of Edward's train seems to have snapped.
 * In one shot, BoCo is missing his eyebrows.
 * When the narrator says "Gordon started" and when Gordon comes back to the station, wires are visible on Gordon's and Edward's buffer beams.
 * Light bulbs are visibly sticking out from Edward's and Gordon's lamps.
 * When Edward crosses the viaduct, his last coach does not have any lighting.
 * Gordon pushes the buffers out of place when he comes into the siding.
 * When Gordon shouts "Stop, stop!" one of his eyes is not looking at Bill and Ben.
 * Gordon's front bogie wheels are derailed near the end. His left eye (viewers right) is also scratched.
 * During the outro theme, static is audible.
 * When the scene cuts away from the guard and into the passengers, the woman's old friend can be seen among them.
 * The narrator says that Gordon's fireman looked towards the guard's van at the end of the train, but the guard is in the brake coach.
 * In the Japanese version, when Edward and Gordon are at Knapford Station, Ringo Starr's narration can faintly be heard in the background.
 * Edward does not cross the viaduct slowly despite it being under repairs.
 * In a close-up of Ben, his nameplate is falling off on his right (viewer's perspective left) side.
 * When BoCo threatens to take away the trucks for Bill and Ben, the twins are smiling.

Merchandise

 * Magazine Stories - Wrong Road

Home Media Releases
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UK

 * The Deputation and Other Stories
 * The Complete Series 2
 * Edward's Exploit (UK DVD)

VHS/DVD Packs

 * Classic Collection
 * Ghost Train and other stories/Time for Trouble and other stories

US

 * James Goes Buzz Buzz and Other Thomas Stories
 * Best of Gordon
 * Thomas & Friends Classic Volume 2

DVD Boxsets

 * Best Tales on the Tracks
 * James Goes Buzz Buzz and Other Thomas Stories/Thomas and the Special Letter and Other Stories Double Feature
 * Ultimate Thomas Collection
 * Totally Thomas Volume 7
 * Best of Collection

NZ

 * The Deputation and Other Stories
 * Bumper Video Collection Volume 3
 * Thomas Train Set Compilation Video Volume 3

AUS

 * The Deputation and other Stories
 * The Complete Series 2

DVD Boxsets

 * Complete Series 1-10
 * Classic Collection
 * Series One and Series Two Double Pack

JPN

 * Thomas the Tank Engine Volume 11
 * The Complete Works of Thomas the Tank Engine 1 Vol.2
 * Welcome to Sodor Island Tour!
 * The Complete DVD Box 1

PHL

 * The Deputation (DVD)

SER

 * Thomas the Tank Engine 4

HRV

 * Better Late Than Never (Croatian DVD)

NOR

 * Favourites From Thomas and Friends (Norwegian VHS/DVD)
 * Ghost Train (Norwegian VHS)

IND

 * Pop Goes the Diesel and Other Stories

MYS

 * Thomas Comes to Breakfast and Other Thomas Adventures (Malaysian DVD)
 * The Deputation and Other Adventures

GER

 * Thomas and His Friends Vol. 5

SA

 * Volume 4 (VHS)

ITA

 * The Brave Locomotive

ROM

 * Thomas Comes to Breakfast (Romanian DVD)

DVD Packs

 * Triple Pack 2

CHN

 * Thomas and Friends Season 1-4 (DVD)

THA

 * Thomas and Friends - Volume 7 (Thai DVD)

HK
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 * Thomas and Friends Volume 5
 * Thomas and Friends Volume 8