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“Your Duke is a hero! He stood firm like a bulldog and wouldn't let go.”
― The passengers complimenting the manager on Duke's bravery

Bulldog is the third episode of the fourth series. It is based on the story of the same name from the Railway Series book Duke the Lost Engine.

Plot

One morning, Percy is feeling very impatient. He has a new coat of paint and is very eager to show it off but he complains that his driver is late. However, Gordon, Henry and James remind him the driver is not late; rather Percy is awake early. Thomas assures Percy it will soon be time for work but warns him not to be impatient; otherwise, he may run into danger and Duke will not be there to save him. Toby is surprised to hear their hero mentioned and Thomas decides to tell them a story his driver told him.

Long ago on the Mid Sodor Railway, back when Peter Sam and Sir Handel were still originally named "Stuart" and "Falcon," they worked alongside Duke. One day, the manager came along and told Falcon - who was still new and had a lot to learn - that he was pleased with his work and wanted him to learn about the Mountain Road, which was a difficult part of the line. The next day, Falcon would get a new coat of paint, then go on the Mountain Road with Duke to double-head a train. Falcon was not impressed that he was having to work with Duke, who he considered a fusspot and real fuddy-duddy.

The next day, Duke told Falcon he would head the train since the Mountain Road was tricky to travel over. Falcon refused and insisted on going in front, since he needed to learn the line and Duke would block the view. Duke warned Falcon not to admire the view since he needed to watch the track and also tried to slow them down to keep them safe but Falcon ignored Duke and thought he was fussing over nothing.

Soon, the engines approached a curved tunnel, which Falcon disliked. He rushed through the tunnel and while everything initially seemed normal, he suddenly derailed and dangled precariously near a cliff's edge. Duke held on to Falcon for dear life, as their crews quickly worked to anchor the two engines to the line. However, Duke's fireman found another problem; Duke was low on water. Luckily for them, a workmen's cottage was nearby and all the passengers assisted in fetching water. Duke's tank was soon refilled and he managed to build up enough steam to pull Falcon clear off the edge and back onto the track.

The manager was waiting for the train at the top station. Duke and Falcon soon arrived and the passengers told him that Duke was a hero who stood firm like a bulldog and did not let go of Falcon, who thanked Duke for saving him, especially as he had been so rude to him. Duke was modest and told Falcon that it would have been a shame if his new coat of paint had been spoilt.

Characters

Locations

Trivia

  • In the original UK dub:
    • In the scenes when Thomas began telling the story about Duke, the music is omitted until the scene of Duke and Falcon starting their journey. Also, the first bit of music is heard earlier than the later UK dub and most international ones.
    • When Duke pulls Falcon back onto the rails, his chuffing sound is faster.
    • Henry's line, "Rubbish!" sounds less enthusiastic.
    • One line, "But be careful, or you might run into danger and Duke is not here to save you," is heard earlier. The music is also heard earlier.
    • Other lines "It was curved and he couldn't see," and "Duke bravely held on with all his strength. 'Stop shaking!' he called. 'I can't hold you if you shake!'" are heard later.
  • The scenes in which the passengers fill up Duke's tank with water using pots and pans from a nearby cottage is possibly inspired by the 1953 film, The Titfield Thunderbolt, in which they do the same.
  • The title is a reference to the symbolic dog breed of the United Kingdom. Even the quote "[Duke] stood firm like a Bulldog and wouldn't let go" comes from the stereotype of the type of dogs called bull breeds in which they are said not to let go of something they bite.
  • This episode marks the last of two things:
  • This episode marks the first appearance of Falcon/Sir Handel's cross face.
  • This episode marks Falcon/Sir Handel's first derailment/accident.
  • Duke's dialogue of "Stop shaking! I can't hold on to you if you shake!" is changed from The Railway Series version, where Duke says "Young idiot! Stop shaking! I can't hold on if you shake!" It was changed since the word "idiot" can be a vulgar-based word.
  • This episode marks Duncan's first appearance in the television series.
  • This episode was paired alongside Thomas Comes to Breakfast in an airing of Storytime with Thomas.
  • The passengers mention the episode title when they say, "Your Duke is a hero! He stood firm like a bulldog and wouldn't let go."

Goofs

  • Gordon is missing his brake pipe.
  • Henry's face is tilted when he is dozing.
  • Although the engines say the drivers and firemen are not there because it was still early, the drivers and firemen can be seen in the sheds.
  • Toby's face is not positioned correctly when he stutters Duke's name.
  • Falcon's left (viewers' right) eye is misaligned when the manager is talking to him about the Mountain Road.
  • Smudger is missing from his generator shed.
  • When Duke and Falcon enter the tunnel, Falcon has Smudger's whistle sound. This is paticularly noticeable in the early UK narration.
  • When Falcon crashes through the fence and Duke tries to save Falcon, Duke derails as well.
  • In a close-up of Duke, his face is smaller than usual. This is because his larger scale model was used.
  • In the close-up of Duke before he pulls Falcon back on the track, they are not coupled together.
  • Falcon's nameplate is slightly peeled off when Duke pulls him back onto the rails.
  • When the passengers say, "He stood firm like a bulldog and wouldn't let go," one of the passengers is missing their eyebrows.
  • When Falcon thanks Duke for saving him, his left pupil (viewers' right) is scratched.

Quotes

Percy: Driver should be here by now! What's he doing?
Gordon: Sleeping!
Percy: But that means I'll be late! The coaches will be waiting and the passengers will get cross!
Henry: Rubbish!
James: It's still early. You just want to show off!
Percy: No I don't!
Thomas: Never mind, Percy. It'll soon be time for work. But be careful or you might run into danger. And Duke is not here to save you.
Toby: [stuttering] Duke? You mean our hero?

Manager: So, tomorrow, when you have a new coat of paint, you will go on it. Duke will explain everything.
Falcon: Huh! Duke's an old fusspot!
Narrator: The next day came.
Duke: Listen. The mountain road is difficult. I'll lead.
Falcon: No, I'll lead! How can I learn the route with you lumbering ahead and blocking the view?
Duke: Suit yourself but never mind the view. Look at the track.
Narrator: The engines set off.
Duke: Look at the track. Never mind the view.
Falcon: Fusspot, Fusspot! Fuddy-Duddy, Fuddy-Duddy, Fuddy-Duddy!
Narrator: The engines' speed grew slower and slower.
Falcon: Don't dawdle, don't dawdle!
Duke: No hurry, no hurry.
Narrator (Thomas): Soon, they approach a tunnel. Falcon didn't like the tunnel. It was curved and he couldn't see.
Falcon: I want to get out! I want to get out!
[their exit seems normal]
Narrator (Thomas): One moment, everything seems safe... but then suddenly... Falcon was derailed and hung dangerously over the edge.

Passengers: Your Duke is a hero! He stood firm like a bulldog and wouldn't let go.
Falcon: Thank you for saving me, Duke. I don't know why you bothered after I'd been so rude.
Duke: Oh, well! You just had a new coat of paint. It would have been a pity if you rolled down the mountain and spoilt it!

In Other Languages

View content
Language Title
Albanian Bulldog
Chinese Mandarin 斗牛犬
Czech Buldok
Danish Bulldog
Dutch Bulldog
Finnish Buldogi
German Wie ein Fels
Greek Η ιστορία του Δούκα
Hungarian A Bulldog
Italian Bulldog
Japanese ブルドッグ
Korean 기관차들의 영웅, 듀크
Latin American Spanish Bulldog
Norwegian Bulldogen
Polish Buldog
Romanian Bulldog
Russian Бульдог
Serbian Buldog
Slovenian Buldog
Swedish Bulldoggen
Ukrainian Наполеглевий
Welsh Fel Cranc!

Merchandise

Home Video Releases

UK/AUS

UK DVD Boxset

AUS DVD Packs

WAL

US

CAN

  • Sing-Along and Stories (Direct-to Home-Video)

US/CAN DVD Boxset

NZ

ZA

IND

MYS

PHL

ITA

NL

GER

NOR

DK

SWE

FIN

SVN

SRP

GRC

GRC DVD Boxset

THA

JPN

KOR

CHN

HK

TWN

Reference



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