Air date: September 13th, 1998
Thomas has been working at the coaling plant all day and is covered in coal dust. He is upset when he is unable to get a washdown due to a broken hosepipe and worries that the other engines will tease him. However, when he arrives at the sheds, all the engines are focused on James. Percy whispers to Thomas that James has been boasting about getting a new coat of paint all day. Thomas complains about this and says he's the one who deserves a new coat, leading James to tell him that he doesn't understand the needs of an important engine.
The next morning, Henry has an accident with trucks while James is being repainted. James laughs at Henry and suggests he go talk to a tree instead since he loves the forest. Henry tells James that the Fat Controller plans to remove trees that are too close to the line. James scoffs at this, saying that if he encountered a tree, he would simply push it aside. Later that day, James shows off his new coat of paint to Thomas, Percy, and Terence while they're in the forest removing the trees. Despite the others trying to warn him not to take trees lightly, James brushes them off and leaves to collect the express. Unfortunately for James, when he arrives at the station, the Fat Controller re-assigns him to an important goods train. This puts James in a very foul mood.
By the time James arrives at the yards, a powerful thunderstorm has set in over Sodor. The trucks tease James about the contrast between his gleaming paint and sulky face, but James ignores them and sets off. However, trouble lies partway down a hill: an old tree on an embankment by the side of the line. With the soil softened by the rain and the strong winds, the tree slowly slides down until it is standing in the middle of James' track. His driver sees the tree and hits the brakes just in time, and James comes to a stop right in front of the tree. He tries to move back, but between the heavy train, wet rails, and inclined tracks, he doesn't get anywhere. Luckily, James soon hears Thomas' whistle as the small tank engine comes to help. At first, James is afraid Thomas will tease him for getting stopped by a tree, but he does nothing of the sort. Thomas wastes no time in coupling to the back of James' trucks. Together, Thomas and James force the trucks back up the hill just before the wind blows the tree over onto where James was just moments before.
Back at the yard, James thanks Thomas for the aid. Just then, Edward comes in and says that the Fat Controller commended the two engines for their bravery. As a reward, Thomas will get a re-paint, while James will get to pull the express the next day.
This episode contains examples of:
- Big Damn Heroes: Thomas enters the scene and pulls James and his trucks away right before the tree falls onto the latter.
- Break the Haughty: Happens to James with the trees, the latter having boasted about his new paintwork and teased Henry about trees.
- Continuity Nod: James' remark about how Henry should talk to a tree instead of shunting trucks, since he loves the forest so much, and Henry's rebuttal that the Fat Controller was inspecting the island for trees too close to the line, is a dual reference to both "Henry's Forest" as well as the fact that Wilbert Awdry despised the episode for its lack of realism as well as breaking standard railway code (the trees in the forest were dangerously close to the railway lines).
- Deadpan Snarker: The trucks get a zing at James:Trucks: Your color's nice, James! Pity about your face, though!
- Earn Your Happy Ending: Thomas and James reconciled and then receive their respective rewards.
- Humble Pie: This causes James to thank Thomas for rescuing him.
- Jerkass: The troublesome trucks to James.
- Jerk with a Heart of Gold: James is boastful about his paintwork and gets a laugh over Henry and the trees, but is genuinely thankful when Thomas rescues him.
- Narcissist: James's new coat of paint made him too proud for his own good.
- No Sympathy: James show no remorse over Thomas unable to get a washdown on account of his vanity, which makes him furious.
- "The Reason You Suck" Speech: After Thomas complains about how dirty he is, an unsympathetic and haughty James gives him this, infuriating him.James: I'd rather not. You're not a pleasant sight and wouldn't understand the needs of a really important engine.
- Small Name, Big Ego: James brags about how he's getting a new coat of paint and the Fat Controller calls him the pride of the line, though Henry clarifies to him that all of the engines are the pride of the line.
- Very Loosely Based on a True Story: The episode is inspired by an event that occurred during David Maidment's time as stationmaster of Aberbeeg (1964-1965): During a storm, a tree slid down a bank and stood upright in the middle of the track between Ebbw Vale and Aberbeeg.
