Sheffield's Secret is the seventh episode of Season 5, and the fifty-ninth episode overall.
Plot
Mike's driver, Jim, is feeling unwell and stops him at Bridge Street station. Jim is just about to call for a relief driver when a teenage boy touched Mike's regulator, which starts him abruptly. Jim notifies control of the runaway, and Mike is whistling to warn people ahead. At Arlesburgh, Frank tells a workman to change the points towards the chute, where Sheffield backs up to the chute, and Mike lands in his truck full of sand. Sheffield tells Mike that a hard landing is unpleasant, and Mike is grateful for the rescue. The next day, some workmen are examining the chute for damage, as it was not built to take an engine going at speed.
At the coaling plant, Douglas and Sheffield are talking about the previous day's events, as Henry enters the yard with his goods train. Sheffield notices the flatcar full of steel beams, which he is able to describe just by looking at them, when he notices they are loose. Sheffield tells Henry, and the problem is put right. Donald arrives and asks what's happening, and Douglas explains. Donald has a sudden realisation, but doesn't tell Douglas about it.
Later at Maron, Henry tells Duck about the morning's events, which further confuses Duck as he notices many contradictions in Sheffield's persona. At Callan, Donald tells Sheffield about his earlier realisation. He recalls Wilbert's tale about Sixteen, and the pieces come together for Duck. Sheffield has learned from his mistakes and he has become a really useful engine. A few weeks later, the harvest traffic on the Arlesdale Railway is dying down, so Sheffield is reallocated to general duties across Sodor. The other engines don't care about his past, as he has proven himself to be really useful.
Characters
- Henry
- Duck
- Donald and Douglas
- Sheffield
- Mike
- Frank
- Jim
- Oliver (does not speak)
- Wilbert (does not speak)
- Thomas (cameo)
- Gordon (cameo)
- James (cameo)
- Toby (cameo)
- BoCo (cameo)
- Bear (cameo)
- Bert (cameo)
- Rex (cameo)
- Annie and Clarabel (cameo)
- Henrietta (cameo)
- Trevor (cameo)
Trivia
- Railway Series references include; James and the Bootlace, Wired Up and Cab Over Wheels.
- This is the only time Matthew Gamble voices Frank. Terrier55Stepney took over the role from Sodor: The Modern Years onwards.
Goofs
- When Duck says "I understand", he has a line under his nose.
Voice Actors
- WildNorWester as Duck, Donald, Douglas and the Narrator
- TheScotsmanReturns as Henry
- NWR1991 as Sheffield
- Edward Tear as Mike
- Matthew Gamble as Frank
- Tenshine1 as Jim
Gallery
Episode
