U.S. Title: A Proud Day for James
Air date: November 6th, 1984
Adapted from: James the Red Engine, "James and the Express"
One night, Gordon and Henry are alone with James at Tidmouth Sheds. Although the Fat controller begins to think fondly of James due to him having successfully taken a goods train, whenever an opportunity comes up, Gordon and Henry would remind James of the time he bumped his coaches and broke a hole in their brake pipes that had to be mended with a passenger's bootlace. James tried to get back at them by reminding Henry of the time he got bricked up in his tunnel when he refused to leave it during a rainstorm, and Gordon of the time he got stuck on his hill while pulling a goods train. Unfortunately, they wouldn't listen. Gordon tells James that he talks too much, and that a fine, strong engine like him has something to talk about; he's the only engine on Sodor strong enough to pull the express, and when he's not there, the express needs two engines to pull it. He's pulled the express for years and has never once lost his way, as he seems to know the right way by instinct. Of course, every wise engine knows that the signalmen are the ones who set the points to make sure the engines are on the right tracks. Gordon had become so proud of himself that he had forgotten this.
The next morning, Gordon tells James to wake up, saying it's nearly time for him to pull the express. He then asks James if he will be doing odd jobs, saying that everyone has to start somewhere. He tells James to get his coaches ready and not to be late.
James goes to the shunting yard to get Gordon's express coaches, which have shiny new paint. James is careful not to bump the coaches, and they follow him smoothly into Knapford Station, singing excitedly about going on their journey with Gordon. James tells the coaches that he wishes he could be going with them, as he'd love to be able to pull the express and go flying along the line like Gordon.
After James moves onto another platform, Gordon backs up to his coaches, which have many important passengers on board, including the Fat Controller. He is coupled up, and as soon as he hears the guard's whistle, he leaves the station boasting, with his coaches following smoothly behind him. He says goodbye to James, telling him he will see him tomorrow. James watches Gordon leave, then gets ready for his next job by shunting some goods trucks in their proper sidings.
A little later, James gets some coaches ready for a passenger train when he hears a mournful noise. Gordon returns to the station, trying to sneak in without being noticed. James notices Gordon and asks him if it's tomorrow already. Gordon doesn't answer, instead letting off steam feebly. James asks Gordon if he lost his way, but Gordon tells him he didn't; it was lost for him; he was switched off of the main line and onto the loop, having to go all around and back again. James then jokes that perhaps it was "instinct".
The passengers angrily run up to the ticket window, demanding their money back. The Fat Controller then climbs onto a baggage trolley and blows the guard's whistle so loudly that the passengers all stop to look at him. The Fat Controller promises them that he will find a new engine to pull the train at once. He comes up to James, asking him if he will pull the express since Gordon can't do it. James is more than happy to, and makes his way to Gordon's express coaches. He is coupled up and everyone gets in. The Fat Controller encourages James to do his best, and James sets off. The coaches tell him that he's pulling them well. Bridges and stations flash by and the passengers cheer as James soon makes his way to Maron Station. The passengers all thank James, and an impressed Fat Controller asks James if he would like to pull the express sometimes. James tells him, "Yes, please!"
The next day, when James comes to Knapford station, he finds Gordon pushing goods trucks. Gordon tells James that he likes having some quiet work for a change, and that today he's teaching the trucks how to behave properly. He then tells James that he heard that he did well with his express coaches yesterday. Gordon tells James that he'll show the Troublesome Trucks, and he gives them a bump.
James and Gordon are now friends, and James sometimes takes the express to give Gordon a rest. Gordon never talks about bootlaces again, and both engines agree on the subject of goods trucks.
Tropes featured in the episode:
- Break the Haughty: Gordon's teasing and boasting towards James has led him to the loop line and had to return to the station with an embarrassed look on his face.
- Continuity Nod: Defending himself from Gordon and Henry's teasing, James reminds them of their respective incidents from Gordon getting stuck on the hill to Henry getting bricked up in a tunnel.
- Deadpan Snarker: James is quite amused when an embarrassed Gordon is led back to the station only shortly after saying his goodbyes until tomorrow:James: Hello, Gordon. Is it tomorrow? (cue temporary silence) Did you lose your way, Gordon?
Gordon: No, it was lost for me! I was switched off the main line on to the loop! I had to go all around and back again!
James: Perhaps it was instinct! - Earn Your Happy Ending: Despite having successfully delivered a goods train in the previous episode, Gordon and Henry still teased James for the bootlace incident at the beginning of this episode. James manages to redeem himself by pulling the express for Gordon when the latter is accidentally switched onto the loop line, doing a fantastic job of it and earning praise from the passengers, the Fat Controller, and Gordon, who becomes friends with him and never again talks about bootlaces. James also gets to take the express whenever Gordon needs a rest.
- Fire-Forged Friends: Gordon and James at the end of the episode.
- Humble Pie: Despite his humiliation, Gordon is pleased to see James pulling the Express well and is said not to talk about bootlaces anymore.
- Ironic Echo: Gordon boasts about knowing the Express line by instinct. Later, after explaining to James that he went onto a loop and returned to the station, James then says the same line to him.
- Jerkass: Gordon and Henry, initially.
- Jerk with a Heart of Gold: Gordon, at the end of the episode.
- No Sense of Direction: A witty James suggests that this is the reason why Gordon got lost.
- Once Done, Never Forgotten: At the beginning of this episode, Gordon and Henry still tease James over his incident with the bootlace. As retribution, James tries unsuccessfully to get back at them by reminding Henry of the time he got bricked in his tunnel, and Gordon of the time he got stuck on his hill.
- Stock Footage: Deleted footage from "James and the Coaches" is used.
