James the Second Best

"You're finally in a poster. Maybe you are good enough after all!"

- Thomas seeing James in Edward's poster

James the Second Best is the twenty-seventh episode of the tenth season.

Plot
James is shocked to discover Edward has been chosen to appear on a railway poster. He tries to be as good as Edward by treating his trucks nicely and being useful, but he is held up after being cleaned, and is afraid Edward will finish his passenger journey before him. James uses the main line to get ahead of Edward, but when he goes onto the same line as him he stops suddenly for a signal and Edward is unable to stop in time. Edward bumps behind James and is pushed forward, ironically into Edward's railway poster. Although Thomas jokes he is the poster engine now, the Fat Controller is less than impressed and tells James the children will be unable to visit the seaside now that Edward is damaged. However, James acts as a backing engine for Edward.

Characters

 * Thomas
 * Edward
 * Henry
 * James
 * Percy
 * Sir Topham Hatt
 * Emily (does not speak)
 * The Photographer (does not speak)
 * Stephen Hatt (cameo)
 * Bridget Hatt (cameo)
 * Refreshment Lady (cameo)
 * The Storyteller (cameo)
 * Gordon (mentioned)

Locations

 * Knapford
 * The Coaling Plant
 * Hawin Croka Canal
 * Maron
 * Bluff's Cove
 * The Works
 * The Washdown
 * The School
 * Killdane
 * Crosby Tunnel
 * Tidmouth Sheds
 * The Main Line

Trivia

 * One of the Wellsworth station buildings is altered and used to portray Killdane.

Goofs

 * The narrator says that the Photographer was brought to Tidmouth Sheds, but the engines were at a different shed entirely.
 * The posters Edward is on are inconsistent. Despite the photo being taken at the sheds, the posters depict him pulling two coaches on the mainline. In addition, one poster at Knapford features Edward without the coaches.
 * When Edward is pushing James and the camera speed slows as James derails, Edward's wheels are still moving forward.
 * Despite his front crashing through the poster, only James' face is shown to have crashed through.
 * James' face is loose when he is at the washdown.

Home Media Releases
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UK

 * The Complete Series 10
 * The Best of James

DVD Boxsets

 * Classic Collection
 * The Best of Friends

AUS

 * The Complete Series 10

DVD Boxsets

 * Complete Series 1-10
 * The Essential Collection (5 DVD Boxset)
 * Series Nine and Series Ten Double Pack

SPN

 * Thomas and Friends - Volume 12 (Spanish DVD)

DVD Boxsets

 * Second Season (Spanish DVD)

MYS

 * Thomas and the Treasure and Other Adventures

THA

 * Thomas and Friends - Volume 46 (Thai DVD)

SAU

 * Rocky to the Rescue

JPN

 * Song and Story: Sing Fun
 * There Are Lots Of Thomas & Friends

HK

 * Thomas and Friends Volume 22 (Hong Kong DVD)

SWE/DEN/FIN/NOR

 * Thomas and the Treasure}}