Thomas gets tricked

Thomas and Gordon, retitled Thomas gets tricked in US released,is the first episode of the first series and the first episode of *Thomas & Friends* altogether. It is based on the story of the same name from The Railway Series book, Thomas the Tank Engine.

## Plot

Thomas is a blue tank engine who works at a big station on Sodor. His job is to fetch coaches for the other engines and then take them away when the engines are done pulling them. Thomas thinks he works the hardest and is often very cheeky to the bigger engines, especially Gordon, the biggest and proudest engine, who pulls the express, Thomas likes to startle him by whistling loudly.

One day, Gordon returns from a long journey and wants a rest, so he finds a siding to sleep in. Then Thomas sneaks up and gives a cheeky whistle, telling Gordon to wake up and work harder, and runs off, laughing. This is the final straw for Gordon, and instead of falling back asleep, he vows to teach Thomas a lesson by showing him what hard work really is.

The next morning, Thomas' crew is unable to make him start. Gordon and the passengers impatiently wait at Knapford station for Thomas to bring the coaches. Finally Thomas starts; he hurries to get the express coaches and brings them to the station platform behind Gordon. Gordon then enacts his plan, he quickly backs down, couples to his train and hurries his passengers to get in. Thomas usually pushes from behind the express to help them get a good start, but is always uncoupled from the coaches first. This time, however, Thomas' crew forgets to uncouple him and Gordon quickly starts off, with Thomas being pulled along. Gordon races through the Sudrian countryside to show Thomas how hard it is to pull the express. It is not long before Thomas is quite out of breath and his wheels ache, but he is forced to go on.

After a while, the express comes to a stop at Wellsworth station. Thomas has never gone so fast before, and is very tired and feels very silly. He is uncoupled from the train, gets turned around on the turntable and moves into a siding where he has a long drink from the water tower. Then he puffs wearily home; having learned not to act so cheeky toward Gordon ever again.

## Goofs:

* In the first shot of Thomas, studio equipment is reflected off of his smokebox. In the same shot when he starts rolling his eyes, his face moves just a little bit.
* When Gordon is first seen pulling the express, the reflection of some studio equipment can be seen in the lake.
* When the narrator says "It was nearly time for the Express," there are no coaches on the track next to Gordon. When Thomas puffs in, they suddenly appear.
* Gordon was waiting outside platform 2 for his coaches, but when Thomas puffs in, Gordon and his coaches are outside platforms 3 and 4.
* In one scene, there is a set of points leading from the track outside platform 5 to the track outside platform 4. In the next scene, it disappears.
* Just before Thomas reaches the water tower, the background shows trees and bushes instead of Wellsworth.
* When Gordon and Thomas leave Knapford Station they immediately go through Henry's tunnel, but that would be impossible since Henry's tunnel is located on the opposite end of the line. And when they exit the tunnel, the tracks bounce in the air.
* When Gordon is sleeping in the siding, his buffers are crooked.