Dalek44's Thomascember - 72. Tender Engines 

What's this, educating Gordon day?!

I was introduced to this episode on 'Thomas Gets Bumped & Other Stories' video tape. I enjoyed this episode, but I wasn't familiar with Flying Scotsman back then. I didn't know who he was until I was in college. I enjoyed how this story was about both Gordon and Henry. It was great to see Gordon trying to feel important and then get upset by Diesel when talk of scrap comes about. Henry being made a fool by the tenders was a funny way to end the episode 😆.

Flying Scotsman is my favourite character. It is a shame that he was glossed over in this episode but thankfully we do get to see him for real in the Great Race.

Even though the episode hasn't exactly matched up with the story in The Railway Series, due to the lack of money to build the entire model for the Flying Scotsman, I do find "Tender Engines" good. I remember I was really fascinated to see two tenders for the same engine, even though I had no idea who the Flying Scotsman was at that time. And everybody giving Gordon tips, much to his annoyance, does satisfy me still to this day. (I can't believe "educating Gordon day" has actually become a thing in the Thomas community!) So it's a fun episode, even if I enjoy the Railway Series version a lot obviously because it actually features the Flying Scotsman (and I'm glad he made a real appearance in The Great Race), and I have a friend who dislikes the episode for that reason.

I have to be honest I never watched this as a kid and it’s one of the only episodes of Season 3 I never go back to often.

2:23 the Flying Scotsman is in the great race.

From what became a simple quote to becoming a popular meme on April Fools day (brought up by Percyengine619), Educating Gordon Day has become the fandom's favorite holiday! 😆🤣😂

Now this is an episode that has a huge impact on me since I watched it a lot whenever I saw it on the Escape and Other Stories, Biggest Party Video Ever and Complete Series 3 VHS tapes. I love this episode so much that I would remake this with my wooden trains. Plus I still have my ERTL and Wooden Railway Models of Flying Scotsman, the latter I use for whenever I do a remake of this episode.

Fantastic review looking forward to tomorrow's review 👍😊🤩😎

Did you know that the Flying Scotsman’s cab is actually Henry’s?

This was a pretty great episode, although it is a far cry from the original railway series stories which totally turned Gordon’s character around because before this story he was a pompous and egotistical engine, who thought highly of his own self importance but after he was told that Steam engines days been numbered, and all his brothers (except flying. Scotsman) had all well passed away as a result he was devastated and started maturing a lot until his retirement nearly 45 years later. It’s quite a contrast when you think back to the first story he was in and he was bullying Edward for being outdated and now he’s in Edward’s original place. I even think season 3 wanted to show him growing up but series 4 came & he reverted back to his more egotistical side again.

I personally think it could’ve went this way, if they couldn’t make a flying Scotsman model then I think it would be for the better to adapt super rescue in its place because I think making bear cost around the same as just making scots tenders and they if don’t have enough money to make d199 than they could just use diesel for him and just like with small railway engines series 20 is when they adapt tender engines so they can have it closer to the railway series story which also be a set up for the great race

OK my problem with this Episode because I feel like The Flying Scotsman sould have a bigger role and the title sould be called Tenders for Henry from the Railway series book how ever I love the scene when Duck plays a trick on Henry is kinder Funny for all why does gordon don't recognise his own brother oh well i ranked 2.5/10 for me actually how ever i am excited for the Next episode because i think i know what is but wait and see! :)

Not gonna lie, this is honestly my least favourite episode of Season 3 as I feel the book version of the story was SO much better personally. I understand why they changed it entirely, as they didn’t have the budget to build the full Flying Scotsman model, but it is still disappointing personally for me, as I have grown up loving Flying Scotsman. Plus I feel Gordon had a much better reason to be not happy, as in the original book, his other siblings were basically all being killed by British Railways, rather having him just be angry just for the sake of it. Plus I don’t get why Devious Diesel is there again, when he was sent back home in disgrace. No offence intended Simon, just saying I don’t like the episode that much now I am an adult.