The Trouble with Mud

"Dirty or clean - I'm a famous machine!"

- Gordon

The Trouble with Mud, also known as Trouble with Mud, is the tenth episode of the third season. It first aired on the Shining Time Station episode, A Dog's Life in 1991.

Plot
One morning, Thomas is being cleaned when Gordon arrives, who has mud blown all over his smart blue coat of paint. Thomas tells Gordon to have a wash down, but Gordon does not care and leaves. A strong wind is blowing and Gordon's driver tells him to slow down, but that only makes Gordon more cross at being dirty and late.

At the wash down near the next station, a large sign informed engines that "all trains must wash down daily". James is just finish getting cleaned and Gordon's driver tells him it is now his turn now to get washed. But Gordon angrily lets off steam and mud flies off all over James, the workmen and Gordon's driver. Gordon's driver scolds him for being a very naughty engine and now he has to wait until James gets another wash, but Gordon does not and leaves to pull the express. The Fat Controller is waiting for Gordon at Knapford and tells him that, because of his appearance, Henry will have to take the express. Gordon is then ordered by The Fat Controller to get cleaned up at once.



Gordon is soon cleaned and then pulls trucks for the rest of the day, much to his disappointment. James is getting ready to pull the express, when Gordon returns. Gordon warns James about the hills being slippery and says that he may need help, but James denies this and leaves.

Earlier, a storm had swept across Gordon's Hill, blowing leaves onto the tracks, making it very slippery for trains. The storm had already passed but the hill remained difficult to climb. James knew what had happened, and with a green signal, James goes faster and tries to go up the hill by himself like last time, but halfway up his wheels begin to slip on the leaves, and he rolls back down the hill. Gordon sees everything and helps James up the hill. The two big engines are determined to do it and finally reach the top. James and Gordon both wait to thank each other as well as saying goodbye.

That night, Thomas asks the Fat Controller if Gordon can pull coaches again. The Fat Controller says he is allowed as long as Gordon understands that having a wash down is sensible. After he leaves, Gordon is happy that he finally gets his privilege back and states that he's a famous machine no matter if he's clean or not, even though there is no one else left awake or around to hear him.

Characters

 * Thomas
 * Gordon
 * James
 * Sir Topham Hatt
 * Henry (does not speak)
 * Percy (cameo)
 * Mrs. Kyndley (cameo)

Locations

 * Knapford
 * Gordon's Hill
 * Tidmouth Sheds
 * Tidmouth Goods Station
 * Wellsworth
 * Lower Suddery
 * Knapford Yards
 * The Washdown
 * Sodor Shipping Company
 * Henry's Forest

Trivia

 * This episode is very loosely based on the story Leaves from The Railway Series book, Gordon the Big Engine. Thomas' line "Please Sir, can Gordon pull coaches again now?" is taken from Paint Pots and Queens.
 * The episode can be seen in a Japanese game, Magical Adventure.
 * In the episode, the express coaches of James' train are red, but in a few rare photos, they're green.
 * A reference to the first season episode, Troublesome Trucks is made.
 * In the early UK narration, the music in some scenes are omitted:
 * In the scene when Gordon angrily let off steam and the driver talking to Gordon.
 * When the narrator said "Gordon saw everything".
 * The music at the end of the episode is omitted, though a little bit of it is slightly heard when the credits started.

Goofs

 * The cleaners washing Thomas all have skinny flesh-coloured wires for necks.
 * When Gordon says "Baaah!", studio equipment can be seen in the top left corner.
 * As Gordon says "Mind my eyes!" his right eye is wonky.
 * When James first sets off with the express, his wheels slip.
 * When James is sliding back down Gordon's Hill, a wire can be seen attached to his rear coach pulling him back down the hill.
 * Gordon's eyebrows are missing at the beginning.
 * When Gordon and James are at the bottom of Gordon's Hill, a signal above them is set for stop.
 * In a rare picture of James climbing up the hill, his eyes are wonky.
 * The signals at the bottom of Gordon's Hill are incorrect as the yellow Distant Signal is above the red home signal.
 * In the Norwegian version, James is referred to as Henry when he says, "Trucks will be trucks."

Merchandise

 * Books - Gordon's Trouble with Mud
 * Buzz Books - The Trouble with Mud
 * Magazine stories - The Trouble With Mud! and Leaves on the Line

Home Media Releases
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UK

 * Trust Thomas and Other Stories (Direct-to-Home Video)
 * Thomas Gets Bumped and 17 Other Stories
 * Biggest Party Video Ever!
 * The Complete Series 3
 * Seasonal Scrapes

DVD Boxsets

 * Classic Collection

WAL

 * Thomas the Tank Engine: Bumper Special 1

US

 * Trust Thomas and Other Stories
 * Thomas and Bertie's Great Race and Other Adventures
 * 10 Years of Thomas
 * Best of Gordon
 * Thomas & Friends Classic Volume 3

VHS/DVD Boxsets

 * Special Video Collector's Set
 * Best Tales on the Tracks
 * Trust Thomas and Other Stories/A Big Day for Thomas Double Feature
 * On-the-Go Pack
 * Ultimate Thomas Collection
 * Totally Thomas Volume 6
 * Totally Thomas Volume 7
 * Best of Collection

AUS

 * Trust Thomas and Other Stories
 * All Aboard!
 * The Complete Series 3

DVD Boxsets

 * Complete Series 1-10
 * Classic Collection
 * Series Three and Series Four Double Pack

NZ

 * Trust Thomas and Other Stories
 * Bumper Video Collection Volume 4
 * Thomas Train Set Compilation Video Volume 2

JPN

 * Thomas the Tank Engine Volume 14
 * Best of Gordon
 * The Complete Works of Thomas the Tank Engine 1 Vol.1
 * No, No Troubles!
 * The Complete DVD Box 1

GER

 * Friends Help Friends

DVD Boxsets

 * Thomas and His Friends Box Set 1

KOR

 * Stories to Raise Cooperation

GR

 * The Twin Engines Were Confused!

DVD Boxsets

 * 3 DVD Boxset 2

NOR

 * The Old Coach
 * Thomas, Percy and the Post Train

FIN

 * Thomas, Percy and the Post Train

ITA

 * On Christmas Eve

MYS

 * Thomas' Christmas Party and Other Thomas Adventures

IN

 * The Trouble with Mud and Other Stories

NL

 * The Greatest Stories: The Adventures of Thomas, Percy and Gordon
 * The Ghost Train (Dutch DVD)

UKR

 * A Train Thomas and Friends

DK

 * Now There Will Be Trouble and Other Stories

SER

 * Synchronized 1

CHN

 * Thomas and Friends Season 1-4 (DVD)

THA

 * Thomas and Friends Volume 7 (Thai DVD)
 * Thomas and Friends - Volume 9 (Thai DVD)
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Video Games

 * Magical Adventure