One day, Monty was pulling a fish train back from Brendam docks, when he saw a familiar shape. It was a Silver A4 Pacific.

"What's yer name?" he asked

"How dare you talk to me, you puny goods Engine?" said the A4, "I, Spencer, am the grandest on the Island and talk to no one I dislike."

Monty was deeply hurt. That night, he talked about it with Murdoch.

"That's Spencer," Murdoch explained, "he's a pain in the neck."

"Even the other A4s aren't that bad." said Monty.

"Ignore Spencer, that's the best policy," Arthur concluded.

The next day, Monty came by with the Limited, a fast Passenger run. He passed Spencer again. This time, Spencer was at Cronk, about to climb Gordon's hill.

"Be careful of the hill," Monty warned, "It has caused accidents."

"I don't need to be careful, I am the strongest engine on the Island."

"Technically that's Murdoch, but whatever."

Unsurprisingly, Spencer was not careful at all. The expensive furniture he was carrying ended up in pieces, and he was on his side. Since Spencer was a private Engine, Fatty would not send breakdown crews for him until the Duke and Duchess paid for said crews. Spencer's cars that were on the line were only moved as far as the nearest siding, and left there pending the Duke and Duchess hiring an Engine to haul them.

As Murdoch and Rocky moved the Trucks off, they stayed silent. When Henry rolled by with the stopping passenger service, he was silent. When James passed through with a line of Trucks, he laughed loudly. When Monty pulled the Limited past, he repressed the "I told ye so" that seemed only fitting. Spencer was humiliated, but not as much as when Gordon passed with his Express.

"All that streamlining, and you still can't get a train DOWN a hill properly." the Blue Engine teased.

"At least I don't ditch my trains in a ditch" was Spencer's clever response, but Gordon was too fast to hear it.

After many hours, Monty brought crews in, and helped Spencer to the Works. He did not offer any of the mocking Spencer expected.

After this episode, Spencer came to respect Monty a lot more.