| For other uses, see Dirty Work (disambiguation). |
- "You're not cross with me, Sir?! Even though my flags are drooped and I'm covered in coal dust, quarry dust and fish?!"
- ― James
Dirty Work is the fourth episode of the eleventh series.
Plot
James has barely returned from the repair yard when news comes of a special; an engine is needed to take the Mayor of Sodor to the Festival of Light at Callan Castle. James volunteers while Thomas, Percy and Emily end up doing goods work. They ask James for help but James says it is more important to look his best than to help his friends, making the three cross, and James leaves for the washdown.
While James is being washed, Percy, who still has lots of work to do, stops by on his way to the quarry. He asks James for some help but James says no. Later, while James is getting polished, Thomas arrives with some Troublesome Trucks, which have been biffing him. He asks James for some help but, again, James says no. While James is getting his funnel cleaned, he starts to smell something bad, which turns out to be Emily pulling heavy trucks of fish. Emily asks James for some help but, once again, James refuses to have to help her. James is cleaned and decorated with flags and arrives at the castle but is shocked to discover the others have not yet finished their work. James feels terrible for not helping his friends and goes out to help them.
James finds Thomas, who is still having trouble with his trucks and helps but is soon covered in coal dust. Next, he finds Percy struggling to pull his trucks of stone out of the quarry. James helps him by pushing him and gets covered in quarry dust. Lastly, he finds Emily, who cannot go any further with her heavy load. James pushes her and her load and knows he would be covered in fish.
Thomas, Percy and Emily make it to the festival. James arrives with the Mayor but is worried about what the Fat Controller might say after getting all dirty again. But to his surprise, the Fat Controller is proud of James for helping his friends and bringing the Mayor to the castle safely. The engines believe that even though James is dirty, he is still the star of the show.
Characters
- Thomas
- James
- Percy
- Emily
- Troublesome Trucks
- Sir Topham Hatt
- Sodor Brass Band (do not speak)
- The Third Mayor of Sodor (does not speak)
- Henry (cameo)
- 'Arry and Bert (cameos)
- Refreshment Lady (cameo)
- Lord Callan (cameo)
- Sir Topham Hatt's Blond-haired Assistant (cameo)
Locations
Trivia
- Going by production order, this is the twenty-second episode of the eleventh series.
- This episode shares the same title with an episode from the second series.
- Numerous differences were made in the individual airings and DVDs compared to the PBS Kids and Nick Jr. UK television airing, Hopes and Dreams:
- The first three shots were filmed at different sets.
- An alternate angle of the engines at Tidmouth Sheds is used with Emily wearing her smiling face in the original version while the re-shot version shows with her happy face .
- An alternate angle of James leaving Tidmouth Sheds is used with Emily wearing her cross face in the original version, while the re-shot version shows with annoyed face in the re-shot version.
- An alternate angle of Emily arriving at the yards is used, a workman on the platform is moved, there is more coal in the trucks in the original version and less in the re-shot version and the last coal truck is uncoupled in the re-shot version.
- An alternate shot of James wondering where his friends are.
- An alternate shot of James leaving the Scottish Castle, same as above.
- An alternate angle of James buffering up to Emily is used and his face is clearer in the original version, whilst in the re-shot version, he has coal dust on his face.
- This episode marks:
- 'Arry and Bert's first appearances since the ninth series episode, Thomas and the New Engine.
- One of three eleventh series episodes which are not featured on German DVD Releases. The other two episodes are Thomas and the Stinky Cheese and Percy and the Left Luggage.
- The only appearance of Emily's cross face, albeit only seen in the original version.
- Lord Callan's last appearance in an episode until the nineteenth series episode, Two Wheels Good.
- Callan Castle's last appearance in the model era and its last appearance until the fifteenth series episode, Spencer the Grand.
Goofs
- James' steam platform can be seen for most of the episode.
- In the first scene of Emily with the fish, she has a brake van. But when James helps her, it is uncoupled and parked on a different track.
- In the re-shot version used in individual airings and DVDs:
- When James arrives at the sheds, his eyes are misaligned.
- In the close up shots of James looking sad at the Scottish Castle, the trees, flowers and the flags on the wall have moved position. This is due to the crew having reconstruct the Scottish Castle on the edge of the Knapford set for the reshoots.
In Other Languages
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Merchandise
- Books - Thomas, James and the Dirty Work and James and the Very Dirty Work (China only)
Home Video Releases
UK/AUSUK DVD BoxsetAUS DVD BoxsetUS/CANZAZA DVD BoxsetINDMYSSPNNOR/SWE/DNK/FINIDN/THAJPNHK
TWN |
Reference
| #01 Thomas and the Storyteller | #10 Thomas and the Big Bang | #19 Thomas and the Stinky Cheese |
| #02 Emily's Rubbish | #11 Smoke and Mirrors | #20 Percy and the Left Luggage |
| #03 Dream On | #12 Thomas Sets Sail | #21 Skarloey Storms Through |
| #04 Dirty Work | #13 Don't Be Silly, Billy | #22 Cool Truckings |
| #05 Hector the Horrid! | #14 Edward and the Mail | #23 Wash Behind Your Buffers |
| #06 Gordon and the Engineer | #15 Hide and Peep | #24 Duncan Does It All |
| #07 Thomas and the Spaceship | #16 Toby's Triumph | #25 Sir Handel in Charge |
| #08 Henry's Lucky Day | #17 Thomas and the Runaway Car | #26 Ding-a-Ling |
| #09 Thomas and the Lighthouse | #18 Thomas in Trouble | |