Goodbye Engine Number Nine

Goodbye Engine Number Nine

Goodbye Engine Number 9 is the ninth episode in the series. It was released in 1994.

President Boom decides to retire Engine No. 9 for the new Zoom Train. Furthermore, the Smoggies cause a collapse in the train tunnel...

Uncle Boom never understood why Choo-Choo kept using his old train engine known as Number No. 9 and insists of replacing her with Speed & Chip's new Solar-Powered Zoom Train Engine. Choo-Choo explains to Uncle Boom that the Zoom Train wasn't ready for testing yet. But Uncle Boom explains once it was, Engine No. 9 would officially be retired. Meanwhile, Speed, Chip, Choosy, and Sport were doing repairs inside an old train tunnel, along with Princess Lila and Uncle Boom, who were also there. While the Suntots continued work, the Smoggies began evesdropping on them, and Emma, as usual, thought they were mining for the supposed Magic Coral. Choo-Choo then sets on his way with Engine No. 9, pulling three train cars with lumber to support the tunnel walls. But Engine No. 9 couldn't climb up the steep hill, and began sliding back down it. Speed rushes after Choo-Choo to help him. Choo-Choo tries to apply the brakes, but ends up breaking them. Luckily, Speed was able to stop the runaway train by jamming the brake handle between Engine No. 9's wheel and brake pad, stopping the train. But the lumber car's coupler breaks, sending them rolling down the hill, and crashing at the bottom. Later that night, Uncle Boom declares a meeting and a vote, whether to keep Engine No. 9, or replace her with the Zoom Train, which still wasn't ready for testing yet. Everyone votes yes, except for Speed, Chip, Princess Lila, and Choo-Choo, who were unfortunately outnumbered. Back in the tunnel, the Smoggies were mining against the tunnel walls. Polluto mines the tunnel too deep, which results in the tunnel entrance caving in, trapping the Smoggies inside. Back at the train station, the Zoom Train was ready to go, and so was Choo-Choo, but not before saying goodbye to Engine No. 9. Meanwhile, the Smoggies discover a crystal cavern inside the tunnel.

At last, the time comes for the Zoom Train was ready for it's first test run. Many Suntots were excited and boarded the train as it leaves the station. Speed explains that if the throttle went past the red zone, the Zoom Train wouldn't function properly. Back in the tunnel, the Smoggies find a hieroglyphic inside the tunnel of a young man getting older overtime. Emma reads it backwards, thinking the opposite, thinking the Magic Coral was behind the rock, and tells Polluto to blow it up with dynamite. Back on the train, trouble strikes when a gust of wind blows the diagram out of Chip's hands. Chip tries to grab it, but ends up ramming into Choo-Choo, as he accidently knocks the throttle all the way up and gets stuck, as the train goes out of control. And to make matters worse, the dyanmite exploded inside the tunnel, causing the tunnel to fall apart even more. Choo-Choo tries to apply the brakes, but just like Engine No. 9, they break. Speed tries the same trick he used with Engine No. 9, but the train was going too fast, as the brake handle flew out of his hands. Speed gets a new idea. He tells Chip & Choo-Choo to jump off the train, which they do, as he uncouples the Zoom Train from the passenger coaches, and jumps from the Zoom Train onto the first coach, just in time as the Zoom Train crashes into the rubble blocking the tunnel as it caves in even more, trapping the Smoggies even more than they were before.

The Suntots hear the Smoggies calling for help inside the tunnel. Digging the rubble by hand would take too long, so Choo-Choo gets Engine No. 9 to haul the Wind Shovel and takes Uncle Boom with him, so he could finally apricate Engine No. 9. Once again, as they began climbing up the hill, Engine No. 9 began slowly sliding down it again. Luckily, Choo-Choo was able to kick Engine No. 9's wheel in the opposite direction, and they finally make it to the top of the hill. Chip quickly wastes no time and gets the Wind Shovel in operation, and eventually free the Smoggies. Later that night, Uncle Boom holds yet another meeting and vote to keep Engine No. 9 in operation until the Zoom Train was fully tested. Everyone votes yes, but surprisingly, Choo-Choo votes no. Choo-Choo realizes that Engine No. 9 would eventually have to be replaced with the Zoom Train. And at the end of the episode, he suggests Speed & Chip to use Engine No. 9's whistle on the Zoom Train once it was rebuilt. Everyone cheers for Choo-Choo & Engine No. 9.

Episode Topic

The lesson of the episode was about not rushing progress and how dangerous it can be if you do so.