Troublesome Trucks (episode)

"Give up! Give up! You can't pull us! You can't! You can't!" "I can and I will! I can and I will!"

- The Troublesome Trucks and James

Troublesome Trucks, retitled Foolish Freight Cars in American releases, is the ninth episode of the first season. It aired in the US on the Shining Time Station episodes, Show and Yell in 1989 and The Mayor Runs for Re-Election in 1993.

Plot
After having damaged a coach and causing a lot of trouble recently, James has been confined to the shed for several days. James starts to cry, thinking that no one will ever see his red coat again. The Fat Controller finally comes to speak to him and tells him that his recent actions have caused a lot of embarrassment for the railway. James sincerely apologises and the Fat Controller decides to allow him out to pull some trucks. James could not be happier to be let out and eagerly goes to work.

At the station, Thomas brings James his trucks and, after teasing him about bootlaces, runs off. James angrily couples himself to the trucks, who tease him for his red paint. James just ignores them and sets off; however, the trucks do not want to go and attempt to hold back. James does not allow them to and drags them out of the station. As the journey continues, the trucks try everything they can to get James to give up, but it is no use as James is determined to prove himself.

Finally the train gets to Gordon's Hill and James tries his hardest to run it up as fast as he can. Although it is initially hard, with a sudden jerk it gets easier and James makes it up the hill. However, James' driver stops him and points out that the end of the train became detached and ran down the hill. The trucks stop at the bottom of the hill, where the guard gets out to warn approaching engines.

James backs down the hill to pick up the trucks, where Edward has stopped due to the blockage. Edward offers help, but James is determined to do it himself and politely declines. Pulling with every ounce of his strength, James finally makes it to the top of the hill and easily continues on to the station where Edward later arrives with the Fat Controller.

James is very worried, knowing the Fat Controller may be angry again. This time, however, the Fat Controller is happy with James, having been aboard Edward's train and seeing everything. Since James made the most troublesome trucks on the line behave, the Fat Controller says that he deserves to keep his red coat.

Characters

 * Thomas
 * Edward
 * James
 * Sir Topham Hatt
 * Gordon (mentioned)
 * Jeremiah Jobling (not named; mentioned)

Locations

 * Tidmouth Sheds
 * Gordon's Hill
 * Knapford
 * The Bus Yard
 * Maron
 * The Main Line

Trivia

 * This episode is based on the story of the same name from The Railway Series book, James the Red Engine.
 * In George Carlin's narration, the line, "After that, you deserve to keep your red coat," is heard.
 * Alternative footage from Thomas and the Trucks is used.
 * In the restored version, an extended close-up shot of James at Maron is shown.

Goofs

 * When the Fat Controller first speaks to James, his head is turned away from him.
 * James' tender is derailed while Thomas arranges his train.
 * When Thomas says: "Have you got some bootlaces ready?" there is blu-tak under his lantern.
 * When James puffs out of the yard, the truck at the front loses its face.
 * When Thomas puffs away laughing, all the trucks are coupled to each other. But when James backs onto the trucks, one at the front is uncoupled.
 * When the trucks get to the bottom of Gordon's Hill, a truck disappears. It however reappears in the last shot of James pulling the trucks, and it is noticeable.
 * When James goes up Gordon's Hill the second time, a wire pulls him up.
 * James' puffing noise is not in sync with his speed.
 * When the narrator says the line, "Sometimes their axles would run hot," a crew member's shadow is seen at the end of the set.
 * When Edward is first shown at the bottom of Gordon's Hill, he has no train. When James backs down and couples the lost trucks, look carefully and you can see Edward has at least one truck behind him.
 * In the close-up of James at Maron, the water tower next to him disappears.
 * In the last close-up of James going up Gordon's Hill, his driving wheels are not moving.
 * When James couples up to his train, he is outside the station but when he starts moving off, he is inside.

Merchandise

 * Buzz Books - James and the Troublesome Trucks
 * Ladybird Books - Thomas Goes Fishing and James and the Troublesome Trucks
 * Board Books - James the Red Engine
 * My Thomas Story Library - James (discontinued)

Home Media Releases
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UK

 * Thomas the Tank Engine & Friends (Betamax/VHS)
 * Troublesome Trucks and other stories
 * Troublesome Trucks, Coal and other stories
 * The Sad Story of Henry and Other Stories
 * My Little Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends Video
 * Truck Loads of Fun
 * The Complete First Series
 * Classic Collection

WAL

 * Troublesome Trucks and 8 Other Stories (Welsh VHS)

US

 * James Learns a Lesson and Other Stories (RS)
 * Thomas and His Friends Help Out (GC)
 * Thomas' Useful Stories
 * The Early Years (RS, UK)
 * Season 1 (Digital Download)

DVD Packs

 * Thomas' Trackside Tunes and Other Thomas Adventures/Thomas and His Friends Help Out Double Feature
 * Ultimate Thomas Collection
 * Totally Thomas Volume 3
 * Totally Thomas Volume 9

AUS

 * Troublesome Trucks and other stories
 * ABC For Kids Favourites
 * Truck Loads of Fun
 * The Complete First Series
 * My First Thomas with James

DVD Boxsets

 * 60th Anniversary - Limited Edition Boxset
 * Complete Series 1-10 (Boxset)
 * My First Thomas

FRA

 * The Adventures of Thomas

SE

 * Thomas and the Guard (Swedish VHS)

JPN

 * Thomas the Tank Engine Vol.3
 * The Complete Works of Thomas the Tank Engine 1 Vol.8
 * Anytime With James!
 * The Complete DVD Box 1

PHL

 * Thomas and Friends Collection

SA

 * Volume 1 (VHS)

GER

 * All Beginnings Are Difficult
 * The Freight Wagons and 4 Other Adventures

MYS

 * Thomas and Gordon and Other Adventures

NOR

 * Thomas the Tank Engine 1 (Scandinavian VHS/DVD)
 * Favourites From Thomas and Friends (Norwegian VHS/DVD)

FIN/ISL

 * Thomas the Tank Engine 1

BRA

 * Helping the Friends

NL

 * ...Taken by the Nose!
 * The Greatest Stories: The Adventures of Thomas, James and Henry

NZ

 * Bumper Video Collection Volume 1
 * Thomas Train Set Compilation Video Volume 6

ITA

 * A Freight Train Troublemaker

ROM

 * Thomas and the Trucks (Romanian DVD)

DVD Packs

 * Triple Pack 1

SER

 * Thomas the Tank Engine 1

DNK

 * Thomas and Gordon and Other Stories (Danish DVD)

ISR

 * Welcome Thomas!

HRV

 * Thomas and Gordon (Croatian DVD)

IND

 * Thomas and Gordon and Other Stories (DVD)

CHN

 * Thomas and Friends Season 1-4 (DVD)

THA

 * Thomas and Friends - Volume 2 (Thai DVD)

TWN
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 * Thomas and Friends Volume 1 (Taiwanese DVD)