James Gets a New Coat

"Magnificent!"

- James admiring himself

James Gets a New Coat is the fifth episode of the eighth series.

Plot
James has been repainted and he boasts to the other engines that he is a very special engine because he has bright red paint. This makes Percy upset, thinking that the Fat Controller does not think that he is special because he is green instead of red. Thomas tries to put some sense into James' smokebox, explaining that looking splendid is not the same as being really useful. James claims that looking splendid and being really useful makes him even more special and falls asleep. Leaving Thomas and Percy speechless.

The next morning, all the engines are busy. The Fat Controller sends James to the coaling plant to help Percy fill and deliver an important order of coal to the docks. However, James ignores the Fat Controller's orders and puffs along a canal to see his reflection and goes to various stations and branch lines so that people can see him (only to not be able to since everyone keeps leaving once he arrives). Thomas - seeing James on his branch line - reminds him that he should be working, but James takes no notice.

At the coaling plant, Percy is struggling to fill the coal trucks on his own and time is running out. The Plant Manager is concerned that the order will not be filled, but he knows that it is not Percy's fault; James should have arrived hours ago. At last, James arrives at the coaling plant, but he is very late which makes Percy and the Plant Manager cross. Due to the delay, a very long line of coal trucks must be taken to the docks to make up for lost time. James takes the trucks, excited to be going to the docks where people can see his new coat of paint. Percy warns James that the coal trucks are being naughty, but once again James takes no notice.

On his way to the docks, James is quick to realise that Percy was right as the coal trucks bump into each other and into James, covering him in coal dust. Soon, James no longer has a new coat of red paint; he has a new coat of black. Now James does not want to be seen, but then, Emily, Edward and Thomas pass by him. Thomas chuckles and points out that the one thing left on James' face was his face, much to James' embarrassment. Then, at the Docks, Gordon is surprised to see James so dirty once James arrived at Brendam Docks.

At last, all of the coal had been delivered to the docks on time. James is tired and upset, whilst Percy with the rest of the coal trucks admires James' "new" black coat. Soon all of the trucks are laughing and even James laughs about his "new" coat too.

Characters

 * Thomas
 * James
 * Percy
 * Troublesome Trucks
 * Sir Topham Hatt
 * The Coaling Plant Manager
 * Edward
 * Gordon
 * Emily
 * Henry
 * Annie and Clarabel
 * Cranky
 * Charlie Sand
 * Sidney Hever
 * Big Mickey
 * Toby
 * Henrietta

Locations

 * Tidmouth Sheds
 * The Coaling Plant
 * Gordon's Hill
 * The Runby Bridge
 * Wellsworth
 * Wellsworth Bridge
 * Brendam Docks
 * Brendam Canal
 * Sodor Shipping Company
 * Tidmouth Beach
 * Tidmouth Lighthouse
 * Sodor Slate Quarry

Trivia

 * Going by production order, this is the twenty-third episode of the eighth series.
 * A photograph from this episode was released as a Royal Mail stamp in 2011 to mark the Reverend Awdry Centenary.
 * A deleted scene implies that Toby was originally going to appear in this episode, but this was left unused from the final cut due to time constraints.
 * This episode marks the first time Wellsworth is addressed by its name.
 * From this episode onwards, Emily has silver buffers.
 * When James is by the canal, Cranky and Big Mickey can be seen in the distance, implying that the set was close to the set for the docks. It makes sense because both sets include water.
 * According to the 2003 bible, Edward was meant to take Percy's role, and James was collecting trucks from the slate quarry.
 * Extended pre-filmed footage from Percy's Big Mistake is used.

Goofs

 * When Henry puffs past the camera at the beginning, a wire is visible underneath him.
 * As Percy puffs past the camera with three trucks, the first one is missing its right buffer, and although the trucks appear to be coupled together, their couplings are actually dangling.
 * When Thomas is working with Emily, Thomas' right eye is wonky. At the end of the episode, Percy's right eye is wonky, and in the next scene, James' eyes are also wonky.
 * When Gordon first goes up his hill, he has two Express coaches. But later, when leaving a station he has three coaches. Then later, at the docks, he has two again.

Merchandise

 * Magazine Stories - James' New Coat
 * Stamp

Home Media Releases
{{Scroll box|

UK

 * Tales from the Tracks
 * The Complete Series 8
 * The Best of James

DVD Boxsets

 * 5 Adventurous DVDs
 * Adventure Pack
 * Classic Collection
 * The Best of Friends
 * The Ultimate Collection

US/CAN

 * Track Stars
 * The Greatest Stories

DVD Boxsets

 * Steam Engine Stories
 * Train Loads of Stories
 * Action Pack

NL

 * A New Look for James

AUS

 * The Complete Series 8

DVD Boxsets

 * Complete Series 1-10
 * The Essential Collection
 * Series Seven and Series Eight Double Pack

ZA

 * Arise and Shine

DVD Boxsets

 * 5 DVD Boxset

NOR/SWE/DK/FIN

 * Stories from the Tracks

CZ

 * Thomas Did It

MYS

 * James Gets a New Coat and Other Adventures
 * Too Hot for Thomas and Other Adventures

POL

 * Thomas Comes to the Rescue

THA

 * Thomas and Friends - Volume 39

HUN

 * Thomas the Tank Engine 5 - Thomas, a Savior

DVD Boxsets

 * Thomas the Tank Engine & Gift Keys extension box

ROM

 * Stories by Rail
 * Thomas and Friends - Vol. 5

DVD Packs

 * Triple Pack 3
 * Six DVD Set

SPN

 * Thomas and Friends - Volume 4

DVD Boxsets

 * First Season

JPN

 * Thomas the Tank Engine Series 8 Vol.2

HK

 * Thomas and Friends Volume 23

TWN

 * Thomas and Friends Volume 11

KOR
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 * Character Special Edition Series Vol. 2
 * Thomas the Little Engine and Friends Season 3 Vol. 3

Episode
James Recibe una Nueva Capa de Pintura ג'יימס נצבע מחדש Nowe Ubranko Kuby Новое одеяние Джеймса