One night, Henry and Gordon were alone with James in the driver's house at Tidmouth. Although, Sir Topham Hatt was beginning to think well of James, whenever a chance came, the others would talk of nothing but bootlaces.
"Remember when they had to use a bootlace to get you out of trouble, James?" they would tease.
James did try to get back at them by taunting Henry for getting his engine shut up in a tunnel, and Gordon for getting stuck on a hill. But, they didn't care.
"You talk too much, little James," said Gordon. "A man like me with a big strong wngine like mine always has something to talk about. I'm the one who owns the only engine strong enough to pull the express. When I'm not there, they need two engines. Think of that. I've pulled expresses for years and have never once lost my way. I seem to know the right line by instinct."
Everyone really knows that of course, that the signalman sets the switches to make the trains run on the track. But Gordon was being such an egotistical pompous, that he had forgotten.
"Wake up, James," said Gordon next morning. "It's nearly time for the morning trains. I'm pulling the express as always. So, what are you doing today? Odd jobs? Oh, well. We all have to begin somewhere, don't we? Run along and go get my coaches and don't be late."
James puffed off and went to find the coaches. They were all shiny with lovely new paint, and the stewardesses were all wearing fresh new uniforms.
James shunted them all together, and this time he was careful not to bump them as they followed him smoothly into the station.
As they neared the platform, the stewardesses all sang happily "We're going away! We're going away!"
"I wish I was going with you", said James. "I should love to pull the express and going flying along the line with my engine."
James moved out of the way as Gordon backed down on the platform and was co wasupled to the coaches. Sir Topham Hatt was on board with other important passengers. As soon as they heard the conductor's whistle, Gordon opened the regulator and started off.
'Goodbye, Little James," He shouted. "I'll see you tomorrow."
James watched as Gordon puffed out of the station as the coaches glided after him. Then after it disappeared, he went back to work. He pushed some trucks into their proper sidings, and then went to fetch the coaches for another train. As soon as he returned with the other coaches, he heard a rather mournful sound. There was Gordon's engine. Gordon was trying to sneak his engine into the station without being noticed.
"Hello, Gordon. Is it tomorrow?" asked James.
Gordon didn't answer. He just let off steam feebly.
"Let me geuss. You lost your way, didn't you, Gordon?" he asked.
"No. It was lost for me", said Gordon angrily. I got switched off the main line onto the loop. I had to go all around and back again."
"Perhaps it was instict', laughed James. "Instinct was not how Luke Skywalker destroyed the Death Star, you know. He had to use the force with the guidance of Obi-Wan Kenobi."
"I really don't feel in the mood for Star Wars talk right now," said Gordon.
Meanwhile, all the passengers hurried to the ticket window.
"We want our money back," they all shouted.
But Sir Topham Hatt climbed onto a luggage trolley and blew the conductor's whistle so loudly that they all stopped to look at him. Then he promised them a new train at once and he walked over to James immediately.
"Gordon can't pull the express today", he said. "Will you pull it for us, James?"
"Yes, sir. I'll try."
So they coupled James's engine up to the train and everyone got in.
"Do your best, James," said Sir Topham Hatt.
"Time to go, Time to go," huffed James.
"He's pulling us well, He's pulling us well," The stewardesses all sang.
Bridges and stations flashed by, the passengers cheered, and before you can say "Bob's your uncle," they reached the station.
Everyone said thank you to James and Sir Topham Hatt was very impressed.
"Well done," he said. "Would you like to pull the express sometimes?"
"Oh, yes. Please," answered James.
"Good. I'll talk with Gordon about it and see what he says."
Next day, when James came to the yard, he saw Gordon shunting with trucks.
"I like some quiet work for a change," he said. "I'm teaching these delinquents manners. you did well with your coaches, I hear. Good. We'll show them."
And gave the trucks a Bump.
"Ow, ow, ow," the delinquents shrieked.
James and Gordon are now good friends. James sometimes takes the express to give Gordon a rest, and Gordon never talks about bootlaces, and they are both quite agreed on the subjects of trucks and delinquents.