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 a muddy Gordon arrives. 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 next station, Gordon sees a sign saying "All trains must wash down daily".

James is just finishing with his wash down and Gordon's driver tells him it is his turn now, but Gordon lets off steam and mud flies all over James. Gordon's driver tells him that 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 he is muddy, Henry will have to take the express. Gordon is then ordered by The Fat Controller to get cleaned up at once.

Gordon leaves to get a wash down and then pulls trucks for the rest of the day. 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. Though the storm had passed, the hill is still slippery.

When James is halfway up, his wheels begin to slip and he rolls back down the hill. Gordon sees everything and helps James up the hill. That night, Thomas asks the Fat Controller if Gordon can pull coaches again. The Fat Controller says yes, as long as he stays clean. After he leaves, Gordon states that "Dirty or clean, he's a famous machine", even though there is no one else left awake 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
 * Wellsworth
 * Knapford Yards
 * Sodor Shipping Company
 * Henry's Forest

Trivia

 * This episode is based on the story, Leaves from The Railway Series book, Gordon the Big Engine with a line taken from Paint Pots and Queens.
 * In the episode, the express coaches of James' train are red, but in some photos, they're green.

Goofs

 * The cleaners washing Thomas all have skinny flesh-coloured wires for necks.
 * As Gordon says "Mind my eyes!" his right eye is wonky.
 * When Gordon bumps the trucks, he bumps them together but in the next shot they are moving one by one.
 * 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 attatched 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.
 * When James tries to stop, his pony truck is derailed.
 * Gordon is a bit muddy again in Tidmouth Sheds at night at the end.
 * The signals at the bottom of Gordon's Hill are incorrect as the yellow Distant Signal is above the red home signal.

Merchandise

 * Buzz Books - The Trouble with Mud

Home Media Releases
{{Scroll box|

UK

 * Trust Thomas and Other Stories (UK)
 * Thomas Gets Bumped and 17 Other Stories
 * Biggest Party Video Ever!
 * Seasonal Scrapes
 * The Complete Third Series
 * 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

DVD boxsets

 * Best Tales on the Tracks

AUS

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

NZ

 * 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!

GER

 * Friends Help Friends

GR

 * The Twin Engines Were Confused!

DVD Boxsets

 * 3 DVD Boxset 2

NOR

 * The Old Coach (Norwegian VHS/DVD)
 * Thomas, Percy and the Post Train (Norwegian VHS)

ITA

 * On Christmas Eve

UKR

 * A Train Thomas and Friends
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