- “Make way for an important engine!"
"You wouldn't feel important if one of these trees crashed onto you. You'd feel hurt!"
"Rubbish! It wouldn't dare!"
"You should be careful, James. Trees can be just as powerful as engines.” - ―James, Henry and Terence
James and the Trouble with Trees is the forty-sixth episode of the fifth series.
Plot[]
Henry has been working hard at Tidmouth Yards all day and is disappointed when she cannot receive a washdown due to a broken hosepipe, as it would make her feel much better, and is afraid that the other engines will make fun of his dirty paintwork. However, when Henry comes back to the sheds, he finds James boasting; James 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. Gordon contradicts James by saying they are all pride of the line. Henry crossly declares that he is the one who needs a new coat of paint. James retorts that she's not a pleasant sight and wouldn't understand the needs of a really important engine, leaving Henry fuming.
The next morning, while James is being repainted, Oliver is shunting some trucks, only for them to unintentionally run into a few solid boxes and the first two to derail. James suggests he should go talk a tree instead if he cannot push trucks properly, especially since Henry loves the forest. Oliver 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 Oliver isn't convinced. Later, James meets Henry, Bear and Terence while in the forest removing the trees. Bear 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 station to pull the Slip Coaches.
When James arrives at the station, however, the Fat Controller tells James he needs him to fetch an important goods train instead. James complains that he has been repainted and asks if Henry or Bear 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 harbour, the weather has changed significantly and the trucks tease James before he sets off with the train. They soon reach a 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, Henry comes to his rescue. At first James is embarrassed and afraid Henry will tease him, but Rosie knows this is no time for that. Henry 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 Henry for rescuing him. The Fat Controller tells them that they are both brave engines. As a reward, Henry will get a new coat of paint, while James will finally pull his Slip Coaches, making them both very happy.
Characters[]
- Henry
- Gordon
- James
- Oliver
- Bear
- Terence
- Sir Topham Hatt
- Farmer Finney (cameo)
- The Painter (cameo)
Locations[]
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.
- This episode marks Terence’s first speaking role since the third series episode, Henry's Forest.
- 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.
- Scrap pieces of the Märklin Engine and the goods engine from TUGS can be spotted at Wellsworth at the end.
- This is the last episode to feature Lynton and Barnstaple Railway Vans with faces.
- In the US version, when the Troublesome Trucks derail, the crash sounds are different from the UK version.
- 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 series 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.
Quotes[]
- James: If you can't push trucks properly, Oliver, why not talk to a tree instead? You know how much Henry likes the forest.
- Oliver: As a matter of fact, bossy boiler, the Fat Controller is inspecting the island for trees that are too close to the line. He's worried they might cause trouble.
- James: Ha! If I came upon a tree, I'd just push it aside!
- Oliver: Really?
- James: Make way for an important engine!
- Bear: You wouldn't feel important if one of these trees crashed on you. You'd feel hurt.
- James: Rubbish! It wouldn't dare!
- Terence: You should be careful, James. Trees can be just as powerful as engines.
- James: Oh, please!
- Truck: Your colour's nice, James. Pity about your face, though!
Merchandise[]
- Wooden Railway (discontinued)
- Take Along (discontinued)
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