James and the Trouble with Trees

**James and the Trouble with Trees** is the fifth episode of the fifth season and the 114th episode overall.

## Plot

Thomas has been working hard at the coaling plant all day and is disappointed when he cannot receive a washdown due to a broken hosepipe - as it would make him feel much better - and is afraid that the other engines will make fun of his dirty paintwork. However, when Thomas comes back to the sheds, he finds James boasting; he is being given a new coat of paint the next day, as the Fat Controller has told him that he is the pride of the line. Henry contradicts James by saying they are all pride of the line. Thomas crossly declares that *he* is the one who needs a new coat of paint. James retorts that he's not a pleasant sight and wouldn't understand the needs of a really important engine, leaving Thomas fuming.

The next morning, while James is being repainted, Henry is shunting some trucks, only for them to unintentionally run into a few boxes and the first two to derail. James suggests he should go talk to a tree instead if he cannot push trucks properly, especially since he loves the forest. Henry tells James that the Fat Controller has been inspecting the island and removing trees that are too close to the line, worrying for their potential to cause trouble. James scoffs that if he came upon a tree, he'd just push it aside, but Henry isn't convinced. Later, James meets Thomas, Percy and Terence while in the forest removing the trees. Percy and Terence try to warn him about how trees can be just as powerful as engines, but the vain red engine just ignores them and he sets off for the big station to pull the Express.

When James arrives at Knapford, however, the Fat Controller tells him he needs James to fetch an important goods train instead. James complains that he has been repainted and asks if Thomas or Percy can do it as they are dirty and like working with trucks, but the Fat Controller tells him that, "Really Useful Engines don't argue." This puts James in a very bad mood. At the yards, the weather has changed significantly and the trucks tease James before he sets off with the train. They soon reach Gordon’s Hill and begin to climb, only for the wind to start blowing an old tree that is by the side of the line which makes it start to slide onto the tracks due to rain weakening the soil. James comes to a stop and tries to reverse, but the train is too heavy. Luckily for him, Thomas comes to his rescue. At first James is embarrassed and afraid Thomas will tease him, but Thomas knows this is no time for that. Thomas couples to the back of the train and helps James move out of the way just in time before the tree falls over.

Back at the yard, James thanks Thomas for rescuing him. Edward comes in to tell them that the Fat Controller says that they are both brave engines. As a reward, Thomas will get a new coat of paint, while James will finally pull the Express, making them both very happy.

## Characters

* Thomas
* Edward
* Henry
* James
* Percy
* Terence
* The Fat Controller
* Troublesome Trucks
* Gordon *(cameo)*

## Locations

* Kirk Ronan Coal Mine
* Tidmouth Sheds
* Sodor Steamworks
* Henry’s Forest
* Knapford
* Tidmouth Yards
* Wellsworth
* Gordon’s Hill
* Wellsworth Yards

## Trivia

* This 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.
* The scene of the tree sliding down the embankment is similar to the scene in the 1970 British film adaptation of E. Nesbit's classic children's novel, *The Railway Children*, when the three children watch trees sliding down a cutting, causing rocks to fall onto the rails.
* Henry's statement that the Fat Controller is having trees that are close to the line removed for fear that they will end up causing trouble might have been a response to Wilbert Awdry's criticism of the third season episode, Henry's Forest. Part of his criticism of the episode was about the trees being too close to the line and thus, could catch fire from sparks out of Henry's funnel.

## References to Other Stories

* James teases Henry about talking to a tree considering he likes the forest.

## Transcript

James and the Trouble with Trees Transcript