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.

Gordon and James hope to make as many journeys as possible. Thomas gets competitive too, but becomes upset when Farmer McColl stays in his cab to make sure his eggs are safe, and he has to go slowly.