Buzz, Buzz

"What's that, Duck? Are you afraid of bees? They're only insects after all, so don't let that buzzbox diesel tell you different!" "His name is BoCo, and he didn't. We–" "I wouldn't care if hundreds were swarming around! I'd just blow smoke, and make them buzz off." "Buzz, buzz, buzz!"

- James and Duck about bees Buzz, Buzz (retitled to James Goes Buzz Buzz in New Zealand and some North American releases) is the seventeenth episode of the third series. It is based on the story of the same name from the Railway Series book, Main Line Engines.

Plot
Trevor is enjoying his work in the Vicarage Orchard. It is a beautiful day with birds singing and apples ripening. James arrives and compliments how Trevor feels as well as his paint. After Trevor admits that he is bright and cheerful, James asks about a strange noise; Trevor explains that it is the bees that are making honey and that he needs to take the beehives to the station as the Vicar is going to give some of his honey to his friends. When BoCo arrives, he warns the two of them not to make the bees angry or they will sting. However, James ignores him and both engines leave and set off for the next station.

Bill and Ben are busy arranging trucks but they leave when they see BoCo, who tells Duck about the time he first met the twins and how Edward soon put a stop to their games. Duck agrees that Edward is the only one who can keep Bill and Ben in order and then nicknames them "The Bees" and BoCo chuckles, finding it a good nickname as a result of their behaviour. James bustles in after having overheard part of the conversation. He butts in asking Duck if he is ever afraid of bees and boasts that he would make the bees buzz off by blowing smoke at them, much to Duck's amusement.

The next morning, James is preparing to pull the Express. As the passengers prepare to board the train, the porter is in a hurry and accidentally knocks a beehive off the trolley, causing it to break open. Everyone in the station quickly clears out and a swarm of bees buzz around James' crew in hopes they would repair their hive. However, they are more worried that the bees will sting them and so they cling onto James' warm boiler instead. One of them burns itself on a hot spot of James' boiler and in retaliation teaches him a lesson by stinging the red engine right on the nose, leaving it red and swollen. James and his crew cannot take it anymore and run off, leaving the express behind. They try different methods to get the bees off, such as spinning on a turntable, washing them off and smoking them out in a tunnel, but all methods are unsuccessful no matter what. Finally, James' driver says the only thing to do is to go back to the orchard, which allows the bees to fly off when they see a beehive at the Wellsworth vicarage.

Once back at the sheds, the Vicar comes by to see James and gives his crew some jars of honey in gratitude for saving the bees. He also jokingly notes that even though it is not Christmas yet, it would be a great idea to nickname him "James the Red-Nosed Engine," much to James and his crew's amusement. Instead, they prefer to call him "The Bee's Knees," as a sign of just how Really Useful he is.

Characters

 * James
 * Duck
 * BoCo
 * Trevor
 * The Vicar of Wellsworth
 * Bill and Ben
 * Troublesome Trucks
 * Thomas
 * Bertie
 * Bridget Hatt
 * Mrs. Kyndley
 * Jem Cole
 * Farmer Trotter
 * The Boy
 * One Little Boy
 * Big Mickey
 * Edward

Locations

 * Wellsworth Vicarage Orchard
 * Brendam Docks
 * Sodor Trading Co.
 * Tidmouth
 * Tidmouth Yards
 * Tidmouth Tunnel
 * Tidmouth Sheds
 * The Waterfall

Trivia

 * This episode was filmed on 13th January 1992.
 * In the original third series on PAL VHS releases, this episode appeared on the Australian release of the VHS, Trust Thomas, while it appeared on the UK and New Zealand releases of the VHS, Escape.
 * The bee that burns himself and stings James' nose is cel-animated and a cartoon version, making it the only time that animation is used before hand-drawn animation was used in Thomas and the Magic Railroad, CGI in the twelfth to the twenty-fourth series, and 2D computer animation in All Engines Go. It was animated by Peter Chiang of The Magic Camera Company. They were only credited when the episode was first released in 1992. An animation celluloid appeared on eBay and was owned by YouTube/SiF member BlueBerkBoco in 2011. Four years later, he sold it on eBay to another buyer. In 2019, three more animation celluloids were sold to Twitter users @FlyingPringle, @IsaacM6991 and @TomsProps respectively. The animation for the bee was also used for the two bees that appeared in the Shining Time Station episode, Stacy Forgets Her Name.
 * A reference to the second series episode, The Diseasel is made.
 * This is the first third series episode to not have an "early narration" for the UK narration. It was also the first third series episode to not use a still of the final shot for the end credits.
 * On the Shining Time Station ending credits of the episode Stacy Cleans Up, 10 Years of Thomas VHS/DVD, PBS Kids Sprout airings and Thomas & Friends Classic Volume 3, the UK title is used.
 * This episode marks the first appearance of James' surprised face.
 * This episode marks the last of a few things:
 * The Vicar of Wellsworth's last speaking role.
 * Trevor's last speaking role until the sixth series episode, Twin Trouble.
 * The last time that live-action hybrid animation was used in an episode until the twelfth series.
 * The last appearance of Wellsworth Vicarage Orchard until the ninth series episode, Henry and the Flagpole.
 * The Vicar tells James, "It's a pity it's not Christmas, then we could call you 'James the Red-Nosed Engine'!" This is a reference to Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. The reference was reused in the seventeenth series episode, Santa's Little Engine.
 * In the restored version:
 * The shot of a male and female passenger staring at the broken hive is omitted.
 * The scene of James spinning on the turntable is slowed down.
 * S.S. Vienna's model and Big Mickey from TUGS can be seen as Bill and Ben leave. The fire station, the steel company, a three berth garage, and a large brown building from TUGS also appear.
 * This episode marks Tidmouth Tunnel's first appearance in the television series.
 * The honeycombs inside the broken beehive are actually pieces of foam.
 * The bee that stung James is referred to as a male. However in real life only female bees can sting.
 * Separate face castings (actually recasts of two existing moulds/expressions - cross, tired) for James (painted in a satin grey coat as with all the faces at this time) were made especially for this episode, with the characteristic big red nose applied (as if he got stung by a bee) in place of the original nose. This was to ensure the existing faces would not be spoilt, hence new castings had to be made from these moulds. The faces were repainted in a matte grey coat in 2001 (apart from the noses, which kept their distinctive red colour) and appeared again in the 2002 music video James the Really Splendid Engine.
 * Mrs. Kyndley has the lady with the floppy green hat's body from the second series episode, Wrong Road.
 * Mrs. Kyndley fills the role of the old lady from the Railway Series story, however the reason for the beehive falling is left unmentioned.
 * A limited-edition Wooden Railway "James Goes Buzz Buzz" set was released to commemorate this episode. It featured a James with a red nose that, when rubbed, would temporarily go away, as well as BoCo, a turntable, a station with a beehive and the VHS James Goes Buzz Buzz and Other Thomas Stories. When assembled, the track is shaped like a bee.
 * This episode aired in the UK exactly 47 years after the first Railway Series book (The Three Railway Engines) was published. Coincidentally, this was also on George Carlin's 55th birthday.
 * Figures for James' crew in panicked positions were made for the episode but they were also reused in several later episodes:
 * In Tender Engines, for one of Gordon's crew holding a hose (small scale).
 * In Escape, for one of Douglas' crew coupling Douglas and Oliver (small scale).
 * In Rusty to the Rescue, for Stepney's driver huddled in the cab (large scale).
 * In A Better View for Gordon, for one of Gordon's crew with his arm in a cast (arm only; large scale).
 * In Busy Going Backwards, for a guard in some bushes (large scale).
 * In Gordon Takes a Tumble, for Gordon's crew in a pile of mud (large scale).
 * Throughout the Hit Entertainment era, for guard and workman arms (arms only; large scale).
 * On the eighth series reference sheets with the knocked out lorry driver head from Horrid Lorry (large scale).

Goofs

 * When Bill and Ben puff away, one of them is not puffing smoke and both of them do not make any sounds.
 * Studio equipment is visible when BoCo talks to Duck.
 * The narrator states that the bee that stung James' nose burnt one foot, but the bee is seen reacting to a burn of his two feet.
 * When the people are racing out of the station, the platform bounces up in some frames, one of the stone pillars by the entrance moves slightly, and in the second of the three frames that were shot for this sequence, a passenger figure has fallen over and is lying face down on the station floor, and some of the passengers have black sticky tack under their feet that also leave stains on the platform.
 * When the bees fly around the driver and fireman, James' cab roof is white. In the same shot, the station wall behind them is a blank, grey wall.
 * In some scenes, some black glue can be seen wrapped around James' funnel, which indicates that at some point, James' funnel had been broken during production.
 * When James arrives at Tidmouth, he stops at the front of the station, but in his point-of-view of the bee, he is in the middle of the station.
 * There appear to be two Mrs. Kyndley's at Tidmouth: one in her first series form and one in her fifth series form.
 * When James backs on his train before being stung, he moves too far back and hits the coaches. They can be seen moving backwards after James stops.
 * In the Finnish dub, Trevor is called a "car engine" by accident.
 * James' red nose smiling face's nose is smaller than his nose on his previous two red nose faces.
 * Studio equipment can be seen in the background when Bill and Ben are at Brendam docks.
 * When BoCo arrives, the roof of his brake van is both raised and bent and his buffers are crooked.
 * Trevor has some small scratches on his face.
 * Before James buzzes away some scratch marks can be seen below his face and lamp irons.
 * When James tells the bees to buzz off, the bees are not shown on his boiler.


 * A small black dot mark is visible in BoCo's face.

Quotes

 * James: Hello, Trevor. You look as bright and cheerful as my red paint.
 * Trevor: Oh, I am.
 * James: What's that noise?
 * Trevor: It's the bees. They're all in these boxy things called beehives. I'm taking them to the station. The Vicar says his bees make good honey and he's giving some of them to his friends.
 * Narrator: Just then, BoCo the Diesel Engine hummed in.
 * [BoCo arrives]
 * BoCo: Take care, you two. Don't make the bees angry. They might sting you.
 * Narrator: James didn't like being told what to do by a diesel and he buzzed away.
 * [James ignores BoCo and leaves the orchard]

_____________________________________________________________________________________
 * BoCo: I remember the first time I met those two. They nearly made my eyes pop out. Edward soon put a stop to their games.
 * Duck: Edward is the only one who can keep Bill and Ben in order. I sometimes call them "the bees".
 * BoCo: A good name. They're terrors when they start buzzing around.
 * Narrator: James bustled in.
 * [James bustles in]
 * James: What's that, Duck? Are you afraid of bees? They're only insects, after all. So don't let that buzz-box diesel tell you different.
 * Duck: His name is BoCo and he didn't. We...
 * James: I wouldn't care if hundreds were swarming around! I'd just blow smoke and make them buzz off!
 * Duck: Buzz, buzz, buzz!

_______________________________________________________________________________________
 * James: [after the bees swarm to his boiler] Buzz off, buzz off!
 * Narrator: One bee burned his foot.
 * Bee: Ooh! Aah! Ow! Phew, phew!/Aah! Ooh!
 * Narrator: The bee thought James had burned it on purpose... so it stung James right back on the nose. (the bee stings James)
 * James: EEEEEEEEE!!!
 * Narrator: He had enough, so had his fireman and driver.

Merchandise

 * Wooden Railway - James Goes Buzz Buzz set and James Goes Buzz Buzz Collection Piece
 * Tomica
 * Take Along
 * Motor Road and Rail - Bees Chasing Along with James
 * TrackMaster - James Goes Buzz Buzz
 * Capsule Plarail - Red-nosed James
 * Motorized Railway
 * Press & Go
 * Limited Edition Collection
 * Ofuro de MiniCar
 * Buzz Books - James and the Bees
 * Books - James Goes Buzz, Buzz
 * Magazine Stories - James and the Bees
 * FELTKids - James Goes Buzz Buzz

Home Media Releases
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UK

 * Escape and Other Stories
 * Thomas' Christmas Party and 17 other stories
 * Biggest Party Video Ever!
 * The Complete Series 3
 * The Very Best of Thomas & Friends
 * The Best of James

DVD Packs

 * The Best of Friends
 * The Fogman and The Very Best of Thomas & Friends Double Pack
 * Classic Collection

US

 * Shining Time Station Vol. 1: Stacy Cleans Up
 * James Goes Buzz Buzz and Other Thomas Stories
 * 10 Years of Thomas
 * Best of James
 * Thomas' Fan Favorite Adventures
 * Thomas & Friends Classic Volume 3

CAN

 * James Goes Buzz Buzz and Other Thomas Stories
 * 10 Years of Thomas
 * Best of James

VHS/DVD Packs

 * Thomas' Fan Favorite Adventures
 * Best of Thomas, Percy and James Platinum Edition
 * Totally Thomas Volume 7
 * Best Tales on the Tracks
 * Ultimate Thomas Collection
 * James Goes Buzz Buzz/Thomas and the Special Letter Double Feature
 * Best of James/Best of Thomas Double Feature
 * Best of Collection

WAL

 * Thomas the Tank Engine: Bumper Special 1

AUS

 * Trust Thomas and Other Stories
 * The Very Best of Thomas & Friends
 * The Complete Series 3
 * The Best of Thomas & Friends - Volume 1
 * My First Thomas with James

DVD Packs

 * My First Thomas
 * My First Thomas
 * 60th Anniversary - Limited Edition Boxset
 * Essential Collection
 * Complete Series 1-10
 * Classic Collection
 * Series Three and Series Four Double Pack

NZ

 * Escape and Other Stories
 * Bumper Video Collection Volume 5

ZA

 * Buzz, Buzz

GRC

 * The Twin Engines Were Confused!

DVD Boxsets

 * 3 DVD Boxset 2

JPN

 * Thomas the Tank Engine Volume 16
 * Best of James and Edward
 * The Complete Works of Thomas the Tank Engine 1 Vol.6
 * I Love Thomas DVD 3
 * Anytime with James!
 * The Best Collection
 * The Complete DVD Box 1

IND

 * The Trouble with Mud and Other Stories

NOR

 * Anniversary
 * Edward, Trevor and the Useful Party
 * Thomas Celebrates Christmas

FIN

 * Edward, Trevor and the Useful Party

DK

 * The Great Escape and Other Stories

GER

 * Mavis and 4 Other Adventures
 * Thomas Animal Adventures

SVN

 * Percy, James and the Fruitful Day

ITA

 * Engines in Messes

NL

 * Rely on Thomas
 * The Greatest Stories: The Adventures of Thomas, James and Henry

SER

 * Thomas the Tank Engine 6

MYS

 * Toby's Tightrope and Other Thomas Adventures
 * Donald's Duck and Other Adventures

KOR

 * Thomas and Friends Volume 1

CHN

 * Thomas and Friends Season 1-4

HK

 * Thomas and Friends Volume 7
 * Thomas and Friends Volume 9

THA
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 * Thomas and Friends - Volume 10

Bzzz Bzzz בזז, בזז あかはなのジェームス Pszczoły Жу-жу