Thomas and Gordon

"Well, little Thomas. Now you know what hard work means, don't you?"

- Gordon

Thomas and Gordon, retitled Thomas Gets Tricked in American releases, is the very first episode of Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends. It first aired on Shining Time Station in the episode A Place Unlike Any Other in 1989 and re-aired in Stacy Forgets Her Name in 1993.

Plot
Thomas is a blue tank engine who acts as a station pilot for the bigger engines. His job is to fetch coaches and trucks for the other engines and then take them away when the engines need to go to the sheds and rest. Thomas thinks no engine works as hard as he does and is often very cheeky to the bigger engines.

One day, a big blue express locomotive named Gordon returns from a long journey and wants a rest, so he finds a siding to sleep in. Then Thomas comes up in his cheeky way, telling Gordon to wake up and work harder. This wakes the big engine up, but instead of falling back asleep, he plots revenge on Thomas to show him what hard work really is.

The next morning, Thomas' crew is unable to make him start. Gordon impatiently waits outside the station for Thomas to bring him his coaches. Finally, Thomas starts. He hurrys to get the express coaches and brings them to the station platform behind Gordon. Gordon then enacts his plan and quickly backs down and couples to his train. Thomas usually pushes from behind to help the trains get a good start, but they always uncouple him from the train first. This time, however, Gordon has rushed him so much, Thomas' crew forgot to uncouple him and Gordon quickly starts off, with little Thomas behind. Gordon races through the Sudrian countryside as fast as he could to show Thomas how hard it is to pull the express. It is not long before Thomas is quite out of breath.

After a while, the two blue engines come to a stop at a station. Thomas had never gone that fast before and is very tired and feels very silly. He has a nice long drink from the water tower and puffs wearily home. Thomas learned to never be cheeky to Gordon again.

Characters

 * Thomas
 * Gordon
 * Henry (cameo)
 * James (cameo)
 * Sir Topham Hatt (cameo)
 * Stephen Hatt (cameo)

Locations

 * The Quarry Tramroad
 * Wellsworth
 * Tidmouth Sheds
 * Knapford
 * The Bus Yard
 * The Viaduct
 * Henry's Tunnel

Trivia

 * This episode is based on the story of the same name from The Railway Series book: Thomas the Tank Engine.
 * The events of this episode were remade in CGI for the 2015 special, The Adventure Begins.
 * Gordon is seen backing down to his train at the beginning of the restored version.
 * When Thomas pulls into Knapford at the beginning, a poster for Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus can be seen on the wall.
 * The title card was used on the first five seasons as well as the eighth season in the Greek dub.

Goofs

 * In the very first shot of Thomas, studio equipment is reflected off of his smokebox and the edge of his boiler is chipped. In the same shot when he starts rolling his eyes, his face moves just a little bit.
 * In the first shot of Thomas' wheels, the paint on his middle wheel is chipped and his smokebox is scratched.
 * In the restored version, the top of the set can be seen over the church, when James and Henry pass by.
 * When the narrator says "It was nearly time for the Express," there are no coaches on the track next to Gordon. When Thomas puffs in, they suddenly appear.
 * Gordon was waiting outside platform 2 for his coaches, but when Thomas puffs in, Gordon and his coaches are outside platform 3 and 4.
 * In one scene, there is a set of points leading from the track outside platform 5 to the track outside platform 4. In the next scene, it disappears.
 * In the restored version, studio equipment can be seen as Gordon pulls Thomas around the bend.
 * In the restored version, when the train crosses the viaduct, the edge of the set is visible.
 * In the restored version, when Thomas backs up to the turntable, a camera stand is visible, and a small white mark is visible on his tank.
 * When Gordon backs down on his train and yells, "Get in quickly please!", something can be seen moving behind the station.
 * When Gordon is sleeping in the siding, his buffers are crooked.
 * In the restored version, just before Thomas starts puffing to the water tower, the track ends behind him.
 * When Thomas wakes Gordon up the second time, the tracks in the siding in front of Gordon aren't connected to the buffers.
 * In a rare picture, there is no one in Gordon's cab as he and Thomas cross the Viaduct.
 * During the close up of Gordon's wheels when he reverses quickly, the track moves.
 * When Thomas is on the turntable, the inside of his funnel is white.
 * In one scene, Henry is in his new shape.

Home Media Releases
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UK

 * Thomas the Tank Engine & Friends
 * Thomas and Gordon and other Stories
 * Thomas the Tank Engine
 * My Little MiniVid
 * Edward and Gordon
 * Thomas Gets Bumped and 17 Other Stories
 * Peep Peep Party (DVD Only)
 * The Very Best of Thomas and Friends
 * My Little Thomas and the Royal Visitor
 * The Best of Thomas
 * The Complete First Series
 * Classic Collection
 * The Best of Friends
 * 1st Class Stories

AUS

 * Thomas and Gordon and other Stories
 * My First Thomas with Thomas
 * The Very Best of Thomas and Friends
 * The Best of Thomas and Friends - Volume 1
 * The Complete First Series
 * 60th Anniversary - Limited Edition Boxset
 * Complete Series 1-10

US

 * Thomas Gets Tricked and Other Stories
 * The Early Years
 * Thomas' Halloween Adventures
 * The Greatest Stories
 * Double Features
 * Totally Thomas Volume 8
 * Ultimate Thomas Collection

JPN
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 * Thomas the Tank Engine Vol.1
 * Thomas and Gordon
 * Keep It Up Thomas!
 * Nice to Meet You Thomas!
 * The Complete Works of Thomas the Tank Engine 1 Vol.3
 * The Complete DVD Box 1
 * I Love Thomas DVD Collection