this program describes being employed in the old economy. corporate or factory employees can find themselves here. it like the old Japanese corporate system, when it was not an option to lay off an employee and the employees do not think about looking for another job. less ideally, it's just like any corportate environment and any factory in the first world. thomas and his friends encourage each other to base their self worth on job performance, and everyone has his/her place. indeed, derailed tank engines are sitting ducks. the engines' loyalty makes sense.