No Joke for James

*“Some jokes are funny, but not this one, James. You have caused confusion!”*
―The Fat Controller
***No Joke for James*** is the eleventh episode from season three. It is based on the magazine stories The Express and A Passenger for James.

## Plot

James is proud of his smart red paint, and his driver tells him that he brightens up everyone's day. Shortly afterwards, James boasts to Thomas and Percy that he is the smartest and most useful engine on the line. Thomas and Percy disagree. Later, as James boasts to Gordon that he is the pride of the line, Gordon tells him that he is only a goods engine. James lies to Gordon that the Fat Controller has plans for him, and Gordon believes him, much to James' concern.

Thomas is shunting coaches in the yard. Thomas tells James that they are for Gordon's express, and that he will fetch James' trucks next. James, however, decides to trick Thomas, lying that the Fat Controller told him that he is to take the express, and that Gordon is to pull the trucks. He is then coupled to the coaches and steams out of the yard just as Thomas arrives with James' tanker wagons for Gordon, leaving him and his driver shocked and furious.

Meanwhile, James is puffing along and enjoying himself enormously, thinking to himself how clever he is. His fun does not last, however; he finds the Fat Controller waiting for him at Elsbridge, and he quickly reprimands James for his naughty actions, and sends him to his shed. James ends up with Gordon and Henry teasing him by asking each other who will pull the express. The next day, James is let out of the shed and apologises to Thomas, who gives him his trucks. James then shunts trucks in the harbour for the rest of the day.

As James and his crew prepare to head home, a man arrives and tells James' driver that he is to attend an important meeting with the Fat Controller. He must not be late for it, and he asks for a ride in James' cab. James' driver recognises the man as a railway inspector and agrees. When James arrives at Knapford, the inspector praises James. The Fat Controller agrees and tells James that he has once again proven himself to be a Really Useful Engine.

## Characters

* Thomas
* Henry
* Gordon
* James
* Percy
* Sir Topham Hatt
* Jeremiah Jobling (*not named*)
* Troublesome Trucks (*do not speak*)
* Edward (*cameo*)
* Big Mickey (*faceless cameo*)

## Locations

* Tidmouth Sheds
* Knapford
	+ Knapford Yards
		- Sodor Shipping Company
* Brendam Docks
* Henry's Forest
* Wellsworth
	+ Wellsworth Vicarage Orchard
* Elsbridge
* Hawin Croka Canal
* The Watermill (*deleted scene*)
* The Country Line (*deleted scene*)

## Trivia

* In the first shot of James shunting at the harbour, he is pushing a truck that has "N.E." written on it.
* The railway inspector is Jeremiah Jobling.
* In a few promotional photos, Gordon arrives next to Thomas on his left rather than on his right. In another photo, Gordon is smiling rather than frowning and a siding is behind him.
* The Tidmouth Goods Station appears as a building in Knapford Yards.
* In the restored version, the opening of James pulling the goods train is extended and the scene of him passing Brendam Canal with express coaches is shortened.
* This episode marks the last appearance of Brendam Canal until the seventh series episode, James and the Queen of Sodor.
* In the US version, the line of James telling someone to look at him and saying that he's "the smartest, most useful engine on the line" is taken from the US version of Time for Trouble.
* A music cue is used at the end of the US and the International versions.
* The models of Big Mickey, Izzy Gomez, a scrap tractor model, the steel company building, and the steel rig from TUGS can be seen at the harbour.
* The episode was cut from the Fox Family airing of the Shining Time Station episode Oh, What a Tangled Web. However, it was seen on the Fox Family shows Mister Moose's Fun Time and Storytime with Thomas

## Goofs

* In the first scene and the moment James pulls up beside Gordon, studio equipment is visible in the top centre corner of the screen.
* When James talks to Gordon, his eyes are wonky and his face is loose.
* When James first arrives at the Sodor Shipping Company building, Thomas is seen shunting two salt vans and a tanker. In the same shot, studio equipment can be seen in the restored version. Next, red express coaches can be seen coming down the line two shots later. Then, the salt vans Thomas was shunting are coming backwards, and Thomas is gone.
* When James wheeshes steam at the Fat Controller, the latter shakes a bit.
* When Gordon said "I wonder who'll be pulling the express today?", some of the mud on his top front end were visible from the previous episode.
* In the shot of Henry teasing James, both of his brake pipes are facing upwards. One should be facing downwards.
* When James says "Actually, Thomas," the smoke coming from the chimney in the background disappears and reappears.
* In the restored version, the first shot at the harbour shows James pushing three trucks. Two of them are derailed as they are seen bumping across the sleepers as this was a deleted scene of this episode.
* When Thomas and James are talking, Edward is seen pulling a goods train on another line, then in the next shot, he is nowhere to be seen.
* When Thomas is shunting Gordon's trucks into place, the line next to him is clear. Then in the next shot, express coaches appear. Then, when Thomas says "And so here are your trucks!", Percy can be seen shunting some trucks on the same line. Then in the next shot, Percy and his trucks disappear.
* When James arrives at Elsbridge, there is a man standing next to the Fat Controller. But in the close up of him, the man disappears.
* On the New Zealand release of Trust Thomas and Other Stories, James' whistle is omitted at the start of the episode.
* In the Ukraine version, Michael Angelis' UK narration is heard at the start of the episode but then it later switches to the Ukraine narration with George Carlin's voice being heard in the background for the rest of the episode.
* Jeremiah Jobling’s small scale figure does not have a moustache.
* When James tricks Thomas that he was taking the express, his eyes are misaligned and at least twice his eyes make some noticeable jerks, indicating film cuts.
* The camera shakes throughout this episode.

## Quotes

* **James:** "Look at me! I am the smartest, most useful engine on the line."
* **Thomas:** "Rubbish! We're all useful. Sir Topham Hatt says so and he's the head of the whole railway!"
* **Percy:** "You know what, James?"
* **James:** "What?"
* **Percy:** "You're getting all puffed up!"

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* **Narrator**: Thomas was shunting shining new coaches.
* **Thomas**: Good morning James!
* **James**: Are those coaches for me?
* **Thomas**: No. These are for Gordon's Express. I'll fetch your freight cars next.
* **James**: Actually, Thomas, *I'm* taking the coaches. Sir Topham Hatt asked me to tell you.
* **Thomas**: What about the cars?
* **James**: Uh, give them to Gordon.
* **Thomas' Driver**: Come on, Thomas. Orders are orders.

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* **The Fat Controller**: *[having heard of James' recent antics]* Some jokes are funny, but not this one, James. You have caused confusion and delay!
* **James**: *[disappointedly]* Yes, Sir.
* **The Fat Controller**: You will now stay in your shed until you are wanted.

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* **Gordon**: I wonder who will be pulling the express today?
* **Henry**: I expect it'll be you. James is stuck in the shed for being silly.

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* **Railway Inspector**: This clever engine gave me a splendid ride. You must be proud of him.
* **The Fat Controller**: Yes, indeed. James, once again you are a Really Useful Engine.

## Merchandise

* Buzz Books - No Joke for James
* Magazines - No Joke for James

## Home Media Releases

UK
* Trust Thomas and Other Stories (*Direct-to-Home Video*)
* Thomas' Christmas Party and 17 other stories
* Biggest Party Video Ever!
* Double the Fun with Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends
* The Very Best of Thomas and Friends
* The Best of James
* The Complete Series 3

DVD Boxsets
* Classic Collection
* The Best of Friends
* The Fogman and The Very Best of Thomas and Friends **Double Pack**

WAL
* Thomas the Tank Engine: Bumper Special 1

US
* Trust Thomas and Other Stories
* Best of James
* Thomas' Fan Favorite Adventures
* Thomas & Friends Classic Volume 3

VHS/DVD Boxsets
* Special Video Collector's Set
* Best Tales on the Tracks
* Trust Thomas and Other Stories/A Big Day for Thomas **Double Feature**
* Best of James/Best of Thomas **Double Feature**
* On-the-Go Pack
* Totally Thomas Volume 6
* Best of Collection
* Best of Thomas, Percy and James Platinum Edition

AUS
* Trust Thomas and Other Stories
* The Very Best of Thomas and Friends
* The Complete Series 3

DVD Boxsets
* 60th Anniversary - Limited Edition Boxset
* Essential Collection
* Complete Series 1-10
* Classic Collection
* Series Three and Series Four **Double Pack**

NZ
* Trust Thomas and Other Stories
* Bumper Video Collection Volume 4
* Thomas Train Set Compilation Video Volume 2

GER
* Henry's Forest and 4 Other Adventures
* All Beginnings Are Difficult

JPN
* Best of James and Edward
* Thomas the Tank Engine Vol.14
* Mischief Strategy
* The Complete Works of Thomas the Tank Engine 1 Vol.3
* The Complete DVD Box 1

KOR
* Stories That Fosters Responsibility

GRC
* The Twin Engines Were Confused!

DVD Boxsets
* 3 DVD Boxset 2

NOR
* Thomas, Percy and the Post Train
* Thomas Celebrates Christmas

FIN
* Thomas, Percy and the Post Train

DK
* Now There Will Be Trouble and Other Stories

ITA
* On Christmas Eve

IN
* The Trouble with Mud and Other Stories

MYS
* Thomas' Christmas Party and Other Thomas Adventures
* Donald's Duck and Other Adventures

NL
* The Greatest Stories: The Adventures of Thomas, James and Henry
* Thomas and the Special Letter

UKR
* A Train Thomas and Friends

SVN
* Henry's Forest

SER
* Thomas the Tank Engine 6

CHN
* Thomas and Friends Season 1-4

THA
* Thomas and Friends - Volume 9

HK
* Thomas and Friends Volume 7
* Thomas and Friends Volume 5 (*DVD*)