The Trouble with Mud

The Trouble with Mud, also known as Trouble with Mud, is the tenth episode of the third season and the sixty-second episode of the series. It first aired on the Shining Time Station episode A Dog's Life in 1991. In this episode, Gordon has given goods work after refusing to get a wash down and spraying James with mud, but ends up helping James up the hill.

Plot
One morning, Thomas is being cleaned when a muddy Gordon arrives. Thomas tells Gordon to have a wash down, but Gordon doesn't care and leaves. A strong wind blew and Gordon's driver tells him to slow down. At the next station, Gordon sees a sign saying "All trains must wash down daily".

James was just finishing with his wash down and Gordon's driver tells him it's his turn now, but Gordon lets off steam and mud flies all over James. Gordon's driver tells him that now he has to wait until James gets another wash, but Gordon doesn't and leaves to pull the express. The Fat Controller was waiting for Gordon at Knapford and tells him that, because he is muddy, Henry will have to take the express.

Gordon leaves to get a wash down and then pulls trucks for the rest of the day. James was getting ready to pull the express, when Gordon returns. Gordon warns James about the hills being slippery and says that he may need help. James denies this and leaves. Earlier, a storm had swept across Gordon's Hill, blowing leaves onto the tracks. Though the storm had passed, the hill was still slippery.

When James was half way up, his wheels begin to slip and he rolls back down the hill. Gordon sees everything and helps James up the hill. That night, Thomas asks the Fat Controller if Gordon can pull coaches again. The Fat Controller says yes, as long as he stays clean.

Characters

 * Thomas
 * Gordon
 * James
 * Sir Topham Hatt
 * Henry (does not speak)
 * Percy (cameo)
 * Mrs. Kyndley (cameo)

Locations

 * Knapford
 * Gordon's Hill
 * Tidmouth Sheds
 * Wellsworth
 * Knapford Yards
 * Sodor Shipping Company
 * Henry's Forest

Errors

 * The cleaners washing Thomas all have skinny flesh-coloured wires for necks.
 * As Gordon says "Mind my eyes!" his right eye is wonky.
 * When Gordon bumps the trucks, he bumps them together but in the next shot they were moving one by one.
 * When James first sets off with the express, his wheels slip.
 * When James is sliding back down Gordon's Hill, look closely beyond the back of his train and you can see a clear wire pulling him back.
 * Gordon's eyebrows are missing at the beginning.
 * When Gordon and James are at the bottom of Gordon's Hill, a signal above them was set for "stop".
 * In a rare picture of James climbing up the hill, his eyes are wonky.
 * When James tries to stop, his pony truck is derailed.
 * The signals at the bottom of Gordon's Hill are incorrect as the yellow Distant Signal is above the red home signal.
 * Gordon is a bit muddy again in Tidmouth Sheds at night at the end.

US Home Video Releases

 * Trust Thomas and Other Stories
 * 10 Years of Thomas
 * Best of Gordon