Episode Nine and Episode Eight were made one after the other, so the similarities in film style and the shots used are shown explicitly. The basic premise of Episode Nine was split between the story about Sir Ralph's past history, and the subject of headcodes, which I felt would be a nice historical and educational link with regards railways (and accordingly, has been adhered to in every episode since this episode).

The head codes were not a nightmare but the editing was! There are several occurrences where the head codes on Sir Ralph are wrong, especially in the last few minutes of the Episode. So much for head code accuracy...!

As far as episodes are concerned, Episode Nine had the least going on in it very few moving shots are seen, and most of it is dialogue preparing the viewers for the plot twists and surprises to follow in the next episode, which would appear a month later. The reasoning is simple: Episode Nine had a simple plot, and was ultimately a sacrifice of sorts it was an average episode, which was used more to build up suspense, and prepare the viewer for the main event of the series, the episode which I had worked the hardest on in scripting Episode Ten, The Legacy of Gadwall.

The station sequence was filmed on a set that was later modified for Episode Ten to represent York Station and it is here that we see Arthur the A2 pacific in the series for the first time (although not named, he is still seen later on, pulling Sir Ralph's train). Further, this is the first and last time that the model for Sir Ralph is seen by Episode Ten, this model had been replaced by an extremely accurate version single chimney, blue livery, weathered, with correct number and nameplate added. This would be the kick-start to the debate about accuracy in the series, and by Episode Twelve, every locomotive would have correct number and names emblazoned on their sides.

It was a tense, deliberate cliff hanger that kept many viewers waiting for the third installment of the Sir Ralph Wedgwood Trilogy with anticipation but what was the secret behind Sir Ralph...?