Samson boasts to the other engines that he has been given a unique and important job by going to the Blue Mountain Quarry, only for Thomas to prove him wrong as he has been given the same task. Determined to prove himself special, Samson tries to save time by taking as many trucks as he can to the docks.

James is showing off too much, so the Fat Controller takes away his coaches, telling him to change his attitude. The others only think he is being sulky. James is shut up in the shed until he promises to behave, though he is being so grumpy about pulling goods trains that he still causes trouble.