There is to be a cleanliness competition, and Gordon, Emily and James believe they'll win. Thomas and Percy want to win too, but Thomas slowly loses confidence as the other engines arrive at the washdown before him.

Diesel tries to rattle Gordon by saying steam engines will be scrapped. Gordon doesn't believe him, but starts to worry when he hears a squeaking and rattling. If he slows down, the noise disappears, so he decides to go slowly, even when he has to take The Fat Controller and some children on a boating trip.