The Winx Club's Sodor Adventures - Season 3

Episode 11: No Joke for James

James is a mixed traffic engine. He can pull both freight cars and coaches. He's proud of his smart red paint, and so is Stella.

"Everyone says you brighten up their day, James," she says to him.

One morning, James whistled loudly at the other engines. "Look at me! I am the smartest and most useful engine on the line!"

"Rubbish," replied Thomas. "We're all useful. Sir Topham Hatt says so, and he's head of the whole railway."

"That's right," said Bloom. "We are all Really Useful."

"You know what, James?" added Percy.

"What?" replied James.

"You're getting all puffed up."

"Yeah," agreed Musa. "You're getting full of yourself today."

James huffed away.

Later, he was still boasting when he and Stella met Gordon and Aisha. "I'm the pride of the line."

"We saw you pulling freight cars," snorted Gordon. "You're only a goods engine."

"I pull coaches, too."

"Not as much as Gordon does," Aisha interjected.

"But Sir Topham Hatt has plans for me." James was only making this up, but Gordon and Aisha believed him.

"What plans?" Gordon asked.

"Uh, wait and see."

"Oh, dear," he thought. "Now what'll I do?"

Thomas and Bloom were shunting shiny new coaches. "Good morning, James."

"Good morning, Stella," said Bloom.

"Are those coaches for us?" asked James hopefully.

"No, these are for Gordon and Aisha's express. We'll fetch your freight cars next."

"Okay, Thomas," said Stella.

But James was going to play a trick on Stella and the others. "Actually, Thomas, Stella and I are taking the coaches. Sir Topham Hatt asked us to tell you and Bloom."

"What?" Stella gasped.

"What about the cars?" asked Thomas.

"Uh, give them to Gordon," answered James.

"Oh, no," sighed Stella, knowing that it was wrong to tell lies. "James had done it this time."

"Come on, Thomas," said Bloom. "Orders are orders."

So when Stella returned, James was coupled to the coaches and they puffed away.

Thomas and Bloom returned with the freight cars. And a few minutes later, Gordon and Aisha arrived.

"Where's the express?" demanded Gordon.

Thomas and Bloom told him about James. "And so, here are your cars."

Gordon was very cross and so was Aisha. "Wait till Sir Topham Hatt hears about this. And Stella is not going about happy about it, either."

Meanwhile, James was enjoying himself enormously. "What a clever plan! What a clever plan!" he chuffed.

Then he and Stella saw Sir Topham Hatt.

"Some jokes are funny, but not this one, James. You have caused confusion."

"Yes, sir," said James.

"I knew this was going to happen," said Stella.

"You're not to blame for James' trick, Stella," said Sir Topham Hatt. "So, I'll let you off with just a warning." Then he turned to James. "You will now stay in your shed until you are wanted."

The other engines teased James.

"I wonder who'd be pulling the express today?" said Gordon.

"I expect it'll be you," replied Henry. "James is stuck in the shed for being silly."

James felt sad.

Next morning, he went back to work.

"Hello," whistled Thomas. "Good to see you out and about again."

"We hope you learned your lesson about being honest," added Bloom.

"I'm sorry I tricked all of you," said James. "Especially you, Stella."

"It's okay, James," said Stella. "I forgive you."

"By the way," James continued, "are these my cars?"

"Yes," replied Thomas kindly. "They're please to have you back."

James and Stella set off to the harbor with their train of freight cars. They bustled about all day pushing and pulling them into place.

"Time to go home now, James," said Stella at last. "No cars or passengers. Just we two."

But the Fairy of the Shining Sun was wrong.

"Excuse me," called a man. "I have a meeting with Sir Topham Hatt, and I mustn't be late. May I ride back with you?"

"Of course," replied Stella. Then he whispered to James. "This gentleman is a railway inspector."

James was most impressed. He steamed along the line as smoothly and quickly as he could.

Sir Topham Hatt was waiting on the platform, and the railway inspector greeted him warmly. "This clever engine and his fairy friend gave me a splendid ride. You must be proud of him."

"Yes, indeed," agreed Sir Topham Hatt. "Once again, James, you are a Really Useful Engine."

The End