The Trouble with Mud

"Dirty or clean - I'm a famous machine!"

- Gordon

The 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
Gordon is muddy, but refuses to be cleaned and sprays James with mud after his washdown. As punishment, he is forbidden to pull the Express. James does the job for him, but when Gordon warns him about the slippery rails on his hill, the red engine refuses to listen and pays the price when he slips down the hill. Gordon luckily comes to push James up again and as a reward is given his job back.

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
 * Henry's Forest

Trivia

 * This episode is based on the story Leaves from The Railway Series book, Gordon the Big Engine.
 * In the episode, the coaches of James' train are red, but in some photos, they're green.
 * In the US narration, the line "Freight trains! Freight trains!" is added.

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, look closely beyond the back of his train and you can see a clear wire pulling him back.
 * 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".

Quotes

 * Thomas: "Hello Gordon! You look as if you've had a mud bath. Be a sensible engine, have a shower instead!"

Episode
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