Percy, James and the Fruitful Day

"Percy, you are not to blame for the points failure, but I do not run a jam factory!"

- Sir Topham Hatt

Percy, James and the Fruitful Day is the twenty-fifth episode of the third season. In the US, it first aired in 1993 on the Shining Time Station episode, Schemer's Alone.

Plot
One day, James is waiting at the junction when Percy arrives with some troublesome trucks. James tells Percy that engines should always be on time and he puffs away. Percy thinks James is being bossy and ignores him. It was market day and James arrives at the harbour to see all the wonderful fruits from far away lands. James' trucks are filled and he sets off along the main line. On the way, he meets Thomas, Annie, and Clarabel and can't resist boasting. Thomas knows that there'll be trouble ahead for boastful James.

Back at the yard, Percy is busy shunting when the stationmaster tells his driver that James' brakes are jammed and that Percy has to go and help him at once. Percy quickly sets off and soon finds James stranded on the main line. Percy can't resist laughing and teasing James. Percy's driver soon intervenes and asks Percy if he can push the trucks of fruit. Soon, Percy is coupled to the trucks and sets off. Percy is in a hurry and isn't paying full attention to the line. He hadn't seen that the points had failed and that he had been diverted into a siding - until it's too late. Percy crashes into the buffers and gets covered in sticky fruit! The Fat Controller sternly reminds Percy that while the point failure is not his fault, his railway is not a jam factory!

That night in the sheds, all the engines are silent until Thomas reminds everyone that they are all Really Useful Engines!

Characters

 * Thomas
 * James
 * Percy
 * Annie and Clarabel
 * Sir Topham Hatt
 * Edward (speaks only in Japanese dub)
 * Henry (speaks only in Japanese dub)
 * Gordon (speaks only in Japanese dub)
 * Duck (speaks only in Japanese dub)
 * Farmer Trotter (cameo)

Locations

 * Arlesburgh Harbour
 * Tidmouth Sheds
 * Lower Suddery
 * Three Tier Bridge
 * Shunting Yards
 * Sodor Trading Co.
 * Tidmouth Tunnel
 * The Three Way Road

Trivia

 * This episode was adapted from the magazine story Percy Gets Jammed by Andrew Brenner.
 * The truck in front of Percy has NE written on it.
 * Stock footage from Thomas, Percy and the Post Train is used, as is a deleted scene from Heroes.
 * Izzy Gomez and Big Mickey from TUGS appear.
 * This episode marks the last appearance of Arlesburgh Harbour until Sodor's Legend of the Lost Treasure.

Goofs

 * When James is watching his trucks being loaded, there are four open-topped trucks, but when he leaves the harbour, one of them is replaced with a goods van.
 * When James leaves the harbour, the first truck is missing a face.
 * As Percy sets off with James' trucks, James' front wheels are derailed and Percy jerks back before starting.
 * During the crash scene, Percy's cab's roof is raised.
 * There are more than the usual six berths in Tidmouth Sheds.
 * At the end of the episode, a wire of some sort is wrapped around James' funnel.
 * When James puffs by Thomas, Annie and Clarabel, Annie is missing her name.

Quotes

 * Percy: "Got yourself into a bit of a jam, eh James? What you might call a 'sticky situation'?"
 * James: "Be quiet! It's not funny having jammed brakes!"

Home Media Releases
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UK

 * Escape and other stories
 * Thomas Gets Bumped and 17 Other Stories
 * Biggest Party Video Ever!
 * My Little Thomas and Percy Adventures
 * The Best of James
 * The Complete Third Series
 * Classic Collection

WAL

 * Help and 15 other stories

US

 * Schemer Alone
 * James Goes Buzz Buzz and Other Thomas Stories
 * Best of James
 * Two Thomas Adventures

DVD/VHS packs

 * Thomas' Fan Favorite Adventures

NZ

 * Bumper Video Collection Volume 5

JPN

 * Thomas the Tank Engine Volume 17
 * The Complete Works of Thomas the Tank Engine 1 Vol.6
 * To Transport a Lot Today

GR

 * The Twin Engines Were Confused!

DVD Boxsets

 * 3 DVD Boxset 2

NOR

 * Edward, Trevor and the Useful Party (Norwegian VHS)

GER

 * Heroes (German VHS)

UKR

 * A Train Thomas and Friends

ITA

 * Locomotive in Trouble
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