Time for Trouble

*“Coo! The express is late and it's got two engines! I think James couldn't pull it on his own, so Toby had to help him!”*
―A boy joking about James and Toby

## Time for Trouble

### Writer

Rev. W. Awdry (original story)Britt Allcroft and David Mitton (adaptation

### Narrator

* Michael Angelis (UK)
* George Carlin (US)

## Release details

### Released

* 26th December 1991 (US)
* 17th March 1992 (ENG, UK)
* 28th April 1992 (JAP)
* 17th February 1993 (AUS)
* 1997 (KOR; KBS)
* 7th May 1998 (GER)
* 26th August 2002 (LATAM)
* 2nd September 2004 (KOR; JEI TV)
* 8th May 2008 (HUN)

## Episode guide

### Next

Gordon and the Famous Visitor

***Time for Trouble*** is the third episode of the third series. It is based on the story Double Header from the Railway Series book The Eight Famous Engines.

## Plot

It is a very busy time for the Fat Controller's engines, as the Island of Sodor has a lot of visitors. The Fat Controller schedules more trains to cope with the demand, with Gordon in particular having to make more journeys than usual. Gordon is eager to ensure all his trains are on time and works harder than ever to make sure this happens. Things are so hectic that at times Gordon has no sooner dropped off one load of passengers that he has to take another. Gordon does not mind this, however, and does his increased workload without fuss. Despite this, the Fat Controller soon decides that Gordon deserves a rest and James will take the express instead. James is delighted at the chance to show off and be as respected as Gordon.

One day in the yard, James boasts to Toby about how important he is and how he is never late. The Fat Controller arrives and tells Toby it is time for him to go to the Works to have his worn parts replaced. Toby is upset at having to go for repairs and asks if Henrietta can go with him, but the Fat Controller refuses as he needs all coaches to be available. Percy promises to look after Henrietta while Toby is gone.

Toby forks off Thomas' Branch Line at Elsbridge and puffs away to the Works on the main line, but he starts to make some clanking sounds. Since he has a smaller water tank than most of the other engines, he soon feels thirsty. He is glad when he starts to approach Lower Tidmouth and stops to take on water as he and his driver do not think it will be a problem. However, the signalman - who is new to the job - has never met Toby and he orders him to continue on and clear the line for James and the express. Toby sadly leaves and struggles to Knapford to replenish, but runs out of steam and is left stranded on the main line.

Toby's fireman knows they have to warn James about the blockage on the line, and Percy comes by with Henrietta who hates leaving Toby stranded. Percy assures her she is helping Toby by carrying the fireman which cheers her up. The fireman reaches the station in time and tells James' crew what has happened. The signalman apologises for causing the trouble while James is angry, knowing this will make him late and fumes when his driver tells him he will need to push Toby as well as pull the express.

James finds Toby and gives him a bump before starting to push him along. James works harder than ever, having to push and pull his train at the same time and by the time he reaches Knapford he is exhausted. Some children on the platform see this and joke that as the express is late and James is tired, it must mean that he could not pull it alone and needed Toby's help. Toby assures James the children are only teasing, but James does not find it amusing at all, and just angrily scoffs, while Toby just smiles.

## Characters

* Gordon
* James
* Percy
* Toby
* Sir Topham Hatt
* The New Signalman
* The Little Boys
* Henrietta (*does not speak*)
* Thomas (*cameo*)
* Edward (*cameo*)
* Annie and Clarabel (*cameos*)
* Stephen Hatt (*cameo*)
* Bridget Hatt (*cameo*)
* Mrs. Kyndley (*cameo*)
* One of the Stone-Dropping Boys (*cameo*)

## Locations

* Tidmouth Hault
* Wellsworth
* The Viaduct
* Lower Tidmouth
* Knapford
	+ Knapford Yards
	+ The Works (*mentioned*)
* Tidmouth Sheds
* Tidmouth Windmill
* Tidmouth Farm
* Dryaw Canal
* The Valley Bridge

## Trivia

* This episode was originally planned to be a part of the second series, but was pushed back to the third series for unknown reasons.
* In a bunch of rare pictures:
	+ When Percy comes to Toby's rescue, he is on the line next to Toby and coming from the same direction rather than the opposite.
	+ Toby is seen going under the bridge instead of over it.
	+ James' express coaches are red instead of green.
	+ Gordon is crossing the viaduct in the opposite direction.
	+ The scenes of James boasting to Toby about pulling the express and the Fat Controller telling Toby to go to the works to have his worn parts mended were shown to originally take place at Tidmouth Sheds, as shown in three photos, two of which show Toby looking cross while in the sheds with James. At the same time, this also marks the first time Toby's new angry face is used, which would not appear on-screen until the fourth series.
* In the restored version, the scene of Toby leaving the yards after Percy talks to him at the water tower is extended.
* This episode was broadcast the day after Thomas and the Hurricane was published.
* Pre-filmed deleted and extended scenes from Gordon and the Famous Visitor are used.
* Gordon's line when he leaves the station is the same as Gordon Goes Foreign.
* This is the only time a brake van is seen at the end of Thomas' passenger train until A New Arrival.
* Percy's whistle is at a slightly lower pitch in this episode. It would return to its normal pitch in Thomas, Percy and the Dragon then resume the lower pitch in Toby's Tightrope and would stay that way for the rest of the season.

## Goofs

* The Fat Controller and Toby's conversation is out of sync in the UK narration.
* When Gordon called out to the coaches in the beginning of the episode, his eyes are wonky.
* As Toby was heading to Knapford, he incorrectly passes Dryaw Canal, which is on The Harbour Line. And when he departs Lower Tidmouth, he incorrectly passes the bridge that crosses over the Harbour Line, which is on the Ulfstead Branch Line. This means that a lot of locations were out of order, as when James pushes Toby to Knapford, they passes The Country Line, which is on Thomas' Branch Line near Maithwaite.
* Toby starts to move before James does, even though he has no steam. In addition, steam can be seen coming out of his funnel in the restored version.
* When Toby's fireman says "Please, take me back to the station. It's an emergency," the faded marks of where a smile had been are visible behind his frown.
* In a rare picture, Toby's face is loose and James' face is crooked as well as his eyes being wonky.
* In the close-up of Toby's water tank, the colour of his wood is brighter than it normally is.
* In the opening shot, Clarabel is facing the wrong way.

## Quotes

**Narrator**: The Island of Sodor had many visitors, and the Fat Controller had scheduled more trains. Gordon the Big Engine had to work harder than ever before.
**Gordon**: *[to his coaches]* Come on! Come on, come on, come on! The passengers rely on me to be on time.
**Narrator**: Whenever Gordon finished one journey it was time for another to begin.
*(The conductor blows his whistle)*
**Gordon**: Never mind. I like a long run to stretch my wheels.

**James (Early UK Version only)**: *[while pulling alongside Toby]* Look at me, I'm the smartest, most useful engine on the line!

**James**: You know, little Toby, I'm an important engine. Everyone knows it. I'm as regular as clockwork. Never late, always on time. That's me!
**Toby**: Says you!
*[The Fat Controller/Sir Topham Hatt shows up]*
**The Fat Controller**: Your parts are worn Toby, so you must go to the works to be mended.
**Toby**: Can I take Henrietta, sir?
**The Fat Controller**: No. What would the passengers do without her?
**Percy**: Don't worry Toby. I'll take care of Henrietta until you get back.

*[after James manages to make the last station and push Toby simultaneously on the same line]*
**One of the Children**: The express is late, and it's got *two* engines! I think James couldn't pull it on his own, so Toby had to help him.
**Toby**: Never mind, James. They're only joking.
**James**: *[crossly]* HA!
**Narrator (US / Early UK Versions Only)**: Toby just smiled.