James and the Express

James and the Express, retitled A Proud Day for James in American releases, is the tenth episode of the first series. It is based on the story of the same name from the Railway Series book James the Red Engine.

Plot
Although James has made a good impression on the Fat Controller after his success with some trucks, he is often ridiculed by Gordon and Henry for how a bootlace was once needed to help him finish a journey with some coaches. James tries to counter their insults by reminding them of their own adversities, but neither of them let up. Gordon boasts about being the only engine strong enough pull the Express alone and states to have never lost his way knowing the line by instinct, forgetting that it is the signalman who ensures that engines do not get lost.

The next morning, James and Gordon prepare for work. Gordon once again gloats about getting to pull the Express while James is left with "odd jobs" before sending the red engine to fetch his coaches. James, now knowing to be extra careful with the coaches, takes them nicely into the station. He tells the coaches that he would love to be able to take the Express, before leaving them for Gordon, who couples himself to the train as noisily and importantly as possible. The Fat Controller and other important people are onboard, and Gordon starts as soon as the guard blows his whistle. James waits until the express has departed, then goes back to work shunting trucks and fetching coaches for another train.

Later, James has brought in the next train's coaches to the platform, when Gordon quietly and sheepishly pulls into the station, trying not to be noticed. James sees him and asks if he "lost his way", to which Gordon admits that he was mistakenly switched off the main line and forced onto the loop back to the station (therefore, it was more like his way lost him). While James finds this funny, the passengers are furious and demand refunds, but the Fat Controller calls their attention and promises them a new train immediately. With Gordon no longer able to pull the express today, and no other engines available, the Fat Controller asks James if he will take the train. James is more than happy to and quickly couples up. The Fat Controller wishes James luck and he pulls out of the station. The journey goes without incident and upon reaching their destination, the passengers thank James for a nice journey. The Fat Controller is very impressed and asks James if he would like to pull the Express sometimes. James excitedly says "Yes" to this at once.

The next day, James sees Gordon shunting trucks. The larger engine is enjoying simpler work and getting to teach the trucks some manners. He then congratulates James on his success with the Express. Gordon and James soon become good friends. James sometimes takes the Express for Gordon to allow him to rest. Gordon no longer talks about bootlaces, and the two very much agree when it comes to their opinion of trucks.

Characters

 * Henry
 * Gordon
 * James
 * Green Express Coaches
 * Sir Topham Hatt
 * Orange Coaches
 * Troublesome Trucks
 * Thomas

Locations

 * Tidmouth Sheds
 * Knapford
 * The Viaduct
 * Hawin Ab
 * Wellsworth
 * Maron
 * Henry's Tunnel
 * Gordon's Hill
 * The Loop Line

Trivia

 * In an interview with Sodor Island Fansite, Christopher Noulton stated that some of the passengers were made out of Plasticine for this episode.
 * Extended stock footage from James and the Coaches as well as the alternate stock footage from the Series 1 premiere are used.
 * This is the first episode of two things:
 * The first episode in which Edward does not appear since his introduction in Edward and Gordon.
 * The first episode in which James and Gordon interact with each other.
 * George Carlin's dub of this episode was never featured on Shining Time Station. It first appeared on Mister Moose's Fun Time in 1998 and later the Best of James video in 2002.
 * Gary Wilmot was the first presenter responsible for introducing the individual episodes of the first series until this episode and was replaced by Rod Hull and Emu on 2nd December 1985 for the continuity of the airings until 20th December 1985 with the twenty sixth episode aired as the last remaining standalone episode outside of Children's ITV until the second series on 24th September 1986.

Goofs

 * After Gordon leaves Knapford, the van in front of James changes, and another workman appears out of nowhere.
 * In the close-up of James, he can be seen outside of the station, but in the next scene, he is inside the station.
 * In the scene after the passengers are rushing to the ticket window, a blonde woman in red clothing has blu-tak underneath her shoes.
 * When the Fat Controller asks James if he would like to pull the Express sometimes, the tree on the left behind him wobbles.
 * A wire is visible near Gordon's trailing wheel when he asks James to get his coaches and James' eyes are pretty wonky.
 * Because stock footage is used, James brings the other coaches to platform 5. Then when Gordon arrives back at Knapford, James is at platform 3, and the brake coach is in the middle of the train.
 * James places the coaches into Knapford at a point where the first coach was at the front of the platform. However, when Gordon buffers up to them, they have moved back without Gordon pushing them and he is then at the front of the platform.
 * During the scenes of Gordon at Tidmouth Sheds, his buffers and lamp irons are crooked.
 * In George Carlin's dub, James and Gordon's whistle sound effects are muted when they are at Knapford.
 * After James backs up Gordon's coaches into Knapford, there is a close-up of him, and there is blue sky in the background. When he is then uncoupled from the train, he is back at Knapford.
 * When Gordon backs on to his train, James disappears then reappears in the next scene.
 * When Gordon asks, "What are you doing, odd jobs?" James' eyes are wonky.
 * The coach James backs on to has no buffers or coupling hook.
 * Gordon was coupled to his trucks before he gave them a bump, but when he gives them a bump, he is further away and uncoupled.
 * Some of the passengers at Knapford have blu-tak under their feet.
 * In the close-up of Gordon's whistle, Knapford is nowhere to be seen.
 * In both of Ringo Starr's narrations, the very beginning of the busy theme is cut off and fades in.
 * In a close-up of James, his dome is very scratched up.
 * The official Thomas & Friends YouTube channel misnamed this episode as the previous episode (Foolish Freight Cars), and the upload had no sound. The upload has since been set to private as of April 2023, possibly for this reason.

Merchandise

 * 1988 - James and the Express

Home Media Releases
{{Scroll box|

UK

 * Thomas the Tank Engine & Friends
 * Troublesome Trucks and other stories
 * Troublesome Trucks, Coal and other stories
 * The Sad Story of Henry and Other Stories
 * Bumper Special
 * Thomas and Gordon, Troublesome Trucks and other stories
 * Thomas and the Breakdown Train and Other Stories
 * Thomas' Train and 17 other stories
 * The Complete Series 1
 * Fun Time Favourites
 * Thomas Saves the Day & James and the Express
 * The Best of James

DVD Boxsets

 * Classic Collection
 * The Best of Friends

US

 * James Learns a Lesson and Other Stories
 * Best of James
 * Thomas' Fan Favorite Adventures
 * The Early Years
 * Thomas and Friends Classic Volume 1

CAN

 * James Learns a Lesson and Other Stories
 * Best of James
 * The Early Years

VHS/DVD Packs

 * Thomas' Fan Favorite Adventures
 * Special Video Collector's Set
 * Best Tales on the Tracks
 * Best of James/Best of Thomas Double Feature
 * Totally Thomas Volume 9
 * Best of Collection
 * Best of Thomas, Percy and James Platinum Edition

AUS

 * Troublesome Trucks and other stories
 * The Complete Series 1
 * My First Thomas with James

DVD Boxsets

 * Complete Series 1-10
 * My First Thomas
 * My First Thomas
 * Classic Collection
 * Series One and Series Two Double Pack

NZ

 * James and the Express and other stories
 * Troublesome Trucks and other stories
 * Bumper Video Collection Volume 1
 * Thomas Train Set Compilation Video Volume 4

PHL

 * Thomas and Friends Collection

MYS

 * Thomas and the Breakdown Train and Other Thomas Adventures
 * Thomas and Gordon and Other Adventures

ZA

 * Volume 1

WAL

 * Troublesome Trucks and 8 Other Stories

ITA

 * A Freight Train Troublemaker

FRA

 * The Magic of Sodor

ROM

 * Thomas and the Trucks

DVD Packs

 * Triple Pack 1

NL

 * ...Taken by the Nose!
 * The Greatest Stories: The Adventures of Thomas, James and Henry

GER

 * The Freight Wagons and 4 Other Adventures
 * Thomas and His Friends Vol. 1
 * Full Steam Ahead!

DVD Boxsets

 * Thomas and His Friends Box Set 2

NOR

 * Anniversary
 * Thomas and Gordon

SWE

 * Thomas and the Guard

DNK

 * Thomas and the Trucks
 * Thomas and Gordon and Other Stories

FIN/ISL

 * Thomas the Tank Engine 1

HRV

 * Thomas and Gordon

SER

 * Thomas the Tank Engine 1

ISR

 * Welcome Thomas!

IND

 * Thomas and Gordon and Other Stories

THA

 * Thomas and Friends - Volume 2

JPN

 * Thomas the Tank Engine Vol.3
 * Anytime With James!
 * The Complete DVD Box 1
 * The Complete Works of Thomas the Tank Engine 1 Vol.8

KOR

 * Best of James

CHN

 * Thomas and Friends Season 1-4

HK
}}
 * Thomas and Friends Volume 1
 * Thomas and Friends Volume 10

James und der Schnellzug Un Gran Día para James ג'יימס והרכבת המהירה La rivincita di James ジェームスのうれしいひ Kuba i Ekspres Джеймс берёт реванш