Published: 26th April 2019 Set: 1948
British Rail has recently taken over from the Big Four. Sodor's experience is relatively uneventful, but over on the mainland there are serious issues with strikes, delays and blockages.
This episode features examples of:
- Berserk Button: Disgracing Wendell's history from "Thief" proves to be this for William. Especially since Wendell did what he did because of William.
- Both Sides Have a Point: After a rough day, Alice, William, and Winston speak their opinions on Nationalisation. Alice and Winston take it in stride, believing that things will get better; William, on the other hand, doesn't support it. He claims that things were fine with the previous system they had. Alice points out the Big Four did foster rivalries with each other, and now they're under one company, they have a dedication to provide an effective service to their clients and passengers. William states that's no different from how things were before, to which Winston agrees. Regardless of how they feel about it, the merger is here to stay, and there's no going back from it.
- Critical Staffing Shortage: Mass layoffs of railway staff cause major delays and confusion.
- Jerkass Has a Point: It's kind of hard not to side with Oliver; anyone would feel more than bemused when told they couldn't take something for some reason only for the person telling them this to do a 180 when someone else comes along for the same thing. note
- Lower-Deck Episode: This episode focuses on the mainland characters and their dealings with Nationalisation.
- Strike Episode: Not the entire episode, but part of the plot is railway workers going on strike, and the engines and remaining railway staff are dealing with the consequences of the said strike.
- Misblamed:
- Winston gets told that he made an already bad experience worse with the passengers, despite the fact that the paperwork got botched.
- William gets blamed for Stepney showing up late.
- This leads him to blame Stepney. When Winston tells him that Stepney's driver acquired the wrong papers, William just shifts the blame on the driver.
- Obstructive Bureaucrat: Many within the Vast Bureaucracy that is British Rail.
- Took a Level in Jerkass:
- William takes joy after hearing that Stepney has been rendered homeless by the rain.
- Stepney, in turn, brings up the time Wendell pilfered the trucks in smug way.
