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- “Did you lose your way, Gordon?"
"No, it was lost for me. I was switched off the main line onto the loop. I have to go all around and back again."
Perhaps it was instinct.” - ― James and Gordon
James and the Express, retitled A Proud Day for James on North American releases, is the tenth episode of the first series. It is based on the story of the same name from The Railway Series book James the Red Engine.
Plot
Although James has made a good impression on the Fat Controller after his success with some trucks, Gordon and Henry often ridicule him in the sheds at night for the time he needed a bootlace to help him finish a journey with some coaches. James tries to counter their insults by reminding them of their own problems but neither of them let up. Gordon boasts about being the only engine strong enough to pull the Express alone and states to have never lost his way knowing the line by instinct, forgetting that it is the signalman who ensures that engines do not get lost.
The next morning, James and Gordon prepare for work. Gordon once again gloats about getting to pull the Express while James is left with "odd jobs" before sending the red engine to fetch his coaches. James, now knowing to be extra careful with the coaches, takes them nicely into the station. He tells the coaches that he would love to be able to take the Express, before leaving them for Gordon, who couples himself to the train as noisily and importantly as possible. The Fat Controller and other important people are onboard and Gordon starts as soon as he hears the guard's whistle. James waits until the express has departed, then goes back to work shunting trucks and fetching coaches for another train.
Later, James has brought the next train's coaches to the platform, when Gordon quietly and sheepishly pulls into the station, trying not to be noticed. But James notices him and asks if he "lost his way", to which Gordon admits that he was mistakenly switched off the main line and forced onto the loop back to the station; therefore, it was more like his way lost him. While James finds this funny, the passengers are furious and demand refunds but the Fat Controller calls their attention and promises them a new train immediately. With Gordon no longer able to pull the express today and no other engines available, the Fat Controller asks James if he will take the train. James is more than happy to and quickly couples up. The Fat Controller wishes James luck and he pulls out of the station. The journey goes without incident and upon reaching their destination, the passengers thank James for a nice journey. The Fat Controller is very impressed and asks James if he would like to pull the Express again sometimes. James excitedly agrees to this at once.
The next day, James sees Gordon shunting trucks. The larger engine is enjoying simpler work and getting to teach the trucks some manners. He then congratulates James on his success with the Express. Gordon and James soon become good friends. James sometimes takes the Express for Gordon to allow him to rest. Gordon no longer talks about bootlaces and the two very much agree when it comes to their opinion of trucks.
Characters
- Henry
- Gordon
- James
- Green Express Coaches
- Sir Topham Hatt
- Orange Coaches (do not speak)
- Troublesome Trucks (do not speak)
- Troublesome Vans (faceless; do not speak)
- Thomas (cameo)
Locations
- Tidmouth Sheds
- Knapford
- The Viaduct
- Wellsworth
- Maron
- Henry's Tunnel (mentioned)
- Gordon's Hill (mentioned)
- The Loop Line (mentioned)
Trivia
- In an interview with Sodor Island Fansite, Christopher Noulton stated that some of the passengers were made out of plasticine for this episode.
- According to Noulton, Terence Permane had the "shock of his life" when he looked through the camera only to find that the plasticine passengers had melted due to the heat of the studio lights.
- Extended stock footage from James and the Coaches is used.
- This is the first episode of two things:
- The first episode in which Edward does not appear since his introduction in Edward and Gordon.
- The first episode in which James and Gordon interact with each other.
- George Carlin's dub of this episode was never featured on Shining Time Station. It first appeared on Mister Moose's Fun Time in 1998 and later on the Best of James VHS and DVD release in 2002.
- Gary Wilmot was the first presenter responsible for introducing the individual episodes of the first series until this episode and was replaced by Rod Hull and Emu on 2 December 1985 for the continuity of the airings until 20 December 1985 with the twenty-sixth episode aired as the last remaining standalone episode outside of Children's ITV until the second series on 24 September 1986.
Goofs
- After Gordon leaves Knapford, the van in front of James changes and another workman also appears out of nowhere.
- In the close-up of James, he can be seen outside of the station but, in the next scene, he is inside the station.
- In the scene after the passengers are rushing to the ticket window, a blonde woman in red clothing has blu tack underneath her shoes.
- When the Fat Controller asks James if he would like to pull the Express sometimes, the tree on the left behind him wobbles.
- A wire is visible near Gordon's trailing wheel when he asks James to get his coaches and James' eyes are pretty misaligned.
- Because stock footage is used, James brings the other coaches to platform 5. Then when Gordon arrives back at Knapford, James is at platform 3 and the brake coach is in the middle of the train.
- James places the coaches into Knapford at a point where the first coach was at the front of the platform. However, when Gordon buffers up to them, they have moved back without Gordon pushing them and he is then at the front of the platform.
- During the scenes of Gordon at Tidmouth Sheds, his buffers and lamp irons are crooked.
- In George Carlin's dub, James and Gordon's whistle sound effects are muted when they are at Knapford.
- After James backs up Gordon's coaches into Knapford, there is a close-up of him and there is also a blue sky in the background. When he is then uncoupled from the train, he is back at Knapford.
- When Gordon backs on to his train, James disappears then reappears in the next scene.
- When Gordon asks, "What are you doing, odd jobs?" James' eyes are misaligned.
- The coach James backs on to has no buffers or coupling hook.
- Gordon is coupled to his trucks before he gave them a bump but, when he gives them a bump, he is further away and uncoupled.
- Some of the passengers at Knapford have blu tack under their feet.
- In the close-up of Gordon's whistle, Knapford is nowhere to be seen.
- In both of Ringo Starr's dubs, the very beginning of the busy theme is cut off and fades in.
- In a close-up of James, his dome is very scratched up.
- The official Thomas & Friends YouTube channel misnamed this episode as the previous episode (Foolish Freight Cars) and the upload also had no audio. The video was set to private in April 2023, likely for this reason.
In Other Languages
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Merchandise
Magazine Story
- 1988 - James and the Express
Home Video Releases
Episode
References
| #01 Thomas and Gordon | #10 James and the Express | #19 The Flying Kipper |
| #02 Edward and Gordon | #11 Thomas and the Guard | #20 Whistles and Sneezes |
| #03 The Sad Story of Henry | #12 Thomas Goes Fishing | #21 Toby and the Stout Gentleman |
| #04 Edward, Gordon and Henry | #13 Thomas, Terence and the Snow | #22 Thomas in Trouble |
| #05 Thomas' Train | #14 Thomas and Bertie | #23 Dirty Objects |
| #06 Thomas and the Trucks | #15 Tenders and Turntables | #24 Off the Rails |
| #07 Thomas and the Breakdown Train | #16 Trouble in the Shed | #25 Down the Mine |
| #08 James and the Coaches | #17 Percy Runs Away | #26 Thomas' Christmas Party |
| #09 Troublesome Trucks | #18 Coal | |