| Birds of a Feather! | |
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Episode number |
9 |
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Director(s) |
Simon Martin |
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Producer(s) |
Simon Martin |
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Writer(s) |
Simon Martin |
|
Narrator |
Simon Martin |
|
Air date |
April 6th 2008 |
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Previous episode |
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Next episode |
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"Birds of a Feather!" is the 9th episode of The British Railway Series: The End of the LNER.
Plot
After a good sendoff from the the other engines, George leaves the yard to return to the Midland Region as a light engine move. Sir Ralph is boasting about how express engines have their special type of headcode to show how important they are one day afterwards, when Scott enters the yard in a very bad mood. He tells the others that as 1 of his lamps wasn't fitted properly, it fell off on his run, and as a result was diverted onto the slow line as his headcode told the signalman that his train was "empty coaching stock". When Stephen points out that it was better to be safe than sorry, Sir Ralph stuns everyone by agreeing with him.
Allen and Stephen both wonder why Sir Ralph agreed, but they are interrupted by Scott and Sir Ralph now arguing about headcodes. Halfway through the argument, Sir Ralph mentions the name Gadwall, but stops abruptly afterwards. He then quietly leaves the yard, followed by a thoughtful Stephen. When Allen asks Scott if something is wrong, he reveals that Sir Ralph was originally 1 of the A4s named after birds.
Later, Scott backs down onto his train at the station, but he is not concentrating on his work, and therefore forgets to correct his headcode, and therefore it still reads "empty coaching stock". Meanwhile, Sir Ralph has also forgotten to change his headcode, and therefore has been diverted onto the wrong line. As another engine takes his train for him, Sir Ralph notices Scott backing down into the yard. After joining him at the sheds, Sir Ralph claims that whilst they may be different in some ways, they always try to do the same jobs well, and Scott then says that they are "birds of a feather". It is then that Scott reveals that old friends of his used to say that, worrying Sir Ralph greatly.
As the others return to the yard, the 2 engines sit in silence, but soon, Scott begins to talk to all of the engines, saying that he can't stay at the yard whilst a plot goes on. He then bursts out a horrible accusation: the A4 Pacific that stands before them is an impostor who stole his friend's identity, and that he is not, and never has been, Sir Ralph Wedgwood, and all the engines were shocked including Sir Ralph.
Characters
- Allen
- Stephen
- Sir Ralph
- Herbert
- Nigel
- Scott
- George
- Arthur (not named; does not speak)
- Tavish (cameo)
- Thompson (cameo)
- An SR Bulleid Pacific (cameo)
- Gadwall (mentioned)
- Great Northern (mentioned)
- Silver Link (mentioned)
- Mallard (mentioned)
- Falcon A4 (mentioned)
- Peregrine/Lord Faringdon (mentioned)
- Seagull (mentioned)
Trivia
- The music used at the end of the episode was used in the cliff-hanger ending to the Season 3 finale of "Star Trek: The Next Generation", "The Best of Both Worlds: Part 1".
- This episode is part 2 of the "Sir Ralph Wedgwood Trilogy".
- This is the final episode for Sir Ralph to have his double chimney, incorrect number, and nameplate.
Gallery
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