Thomas and Gordon

"Thomas is a tank engine who lives at the big station on the Island of Sodor. He's a cheeky little engine with six small wheels, a short stumpy funnel, a short stumpy boiler, and a short stumpy dome."

- The narrator's first lines in the main series.

Thomas and Gordon, retitled Thomas Gets Tricked in North American releases, is the first episode of the first series and the very first episode of Thomas & Friends overall. It is based on the story of the same name from the Railway Series book Thomas the Tank Engine.

Plot
Thomas is a blue tank engine who works at a big station called Knapford on Sodor. His job is to fetch coaches for the other engines and then take them away when the engines are done pulling them. Thomas thinks he works the hardest and is often very cheeky to the bigger engines, especially Gordon, the biggest and proudest engine, who pulls the express. Thomas likes to startle him by whistling loudly.

One day, Gordon returns from a long journey and wants a rest, so he finds a siding to sleep in. Then Thomas sneaks up and gives a cheeky whistle, telling Gordon to wake up and work harder, and runs off, laughing. This is the final straw for Gordon, and instead of falling back asleep, he decides to teach Thomas a lesson.

One morning, Thomas' crew is unable to make him start. Gordon and the passengers wait impatiently at Knapford Station for Thomas to bring the coaches. Finally, Thomas starts; he hurries to get the express coaches and brings them to the station platform behind Gordon. Gordon then enacts his plan, he quickly backs up, couples to his train and tells his passengers to get in quickly. Thomas usually pushes from behind the big trains to help them get a good start, but is always uncoupled first. This time, however, Thomas' crew do not have time to uncouple him and Gordon quickly starts off with Thomas being pulled along. Gordon races through the Sudrian countryside to show Thomas how hard it is to pull the express. Thomas has never gone so fast before, and it is not long before he is quite out of breath and his wheels ache, but he is forced to go on.

After a while, the express finally comes to a stop at Wellsworth Station. Thomas is very tired and feels very silly and exhausted. He is uncoupled from the train, gets turned around on the turntable and moves into a siding where he has a long drink from the water tower. He then wearily puffs home, having learned not to act so cheeky towards Gordon ever again.

Characters

 * Thomas
 * Gordon
 * Green Express Coaches
 * Orange Coaches
 * Henry
 * James
 * Clarabel
 * Troublesome Trucks
 * Sir Topham Hatt
 * Stephen Hatt
 * Märklin Engine

Locations

 * The Quarry Tramroad
 * Knapford
 * Knapford Bus Yard
 * Three-Track Bend and Signalbox
 * The Pond Runby
 * Tidmouth Sheds
 * Tidmouth Goods Station
 * Henry's Tunnel
 * The Viaduct
 * Hawin Ab
 * Wellsworth
 * Yards
 * United Kingdom

Trivia

 * The dialogue script for this episode was completed on 18 May 1984.
 * The George Carlin dub was previously very hard to find on home video as the only release available was on the 1995 Thomas Gets Tricked re-release from Anchor Bay Entertainment featuring George Carlin's dub with four extra episodes, until it was released on Thomas' Halloween Adventures in 2006.
 * The events of this episode were retold and recreated for the 2015 special, The Adventure Begins.
 * Music cues from this episode were used in some audiobooks of Thomas & Friends, which were only released in Germany.
 * The German audiobook features an extra scene of Gordon feeling guilty about what he did to Thomas, which could have foreshadowed him and Thomas forming their alliance in Down the Mine.
 * This episode marks the only appearance of Thomas' yawning and drowsy faces until the eighth series and the second series episode, Thomas Comes to Breakfast.
 * A clip from this episode was used in the 1995 CITV special Simply the Best.
 * A workman resembling Ringo Starr is visible.
 * In the Japanese dub, the narrator says that Sodor is a part of the United Kingdom. This is contrary to later in the show, where in The Great Race, it is revealed that Sodor is its own country. A possible explanation could be that it became an independent country between times.
 * In the Shining Time Station episode, A Place Unlike Any Other, Ringo Starr's line "and off he ran laughing" was used, much like its UK counterpart, while some US dubs of Ringo Starr's dub have him say, "And off Thomas ran laughing."
 * On the Shining Time Station episode, A Place Unlike Any Other and the Thomas' Halloween Adventures DVD, the last few seconds of the episode are cut.
 * This episode has the most home video releases for any episode in the television series.
 * The model that would later be used for Elizabeth II in the fourth series can be seen in this episode.
 * The JEI TV version of the Korean dub added subtitles to inform viewers what a turntable is.
 * This episode was never released on VHS and DVD in South Korea.
 * On 9th October 1984 before the Children’s ITV debut at 4.00pm, the first two episodes aired at 12.00 midday before the Lunchtime News.
 * When the series first aired in 1984, the main title fonts were shown in pink. Then when they were shown individually in 1985, the colour of the title fonts were changed to a bright red, which was also used for the second series.
 * Although this is James' first appearance, he is not officially acknowledged by name until Thomas and the Breakdown Train. This may be because James was added into the episode to make the set appear more active.
 * The whistle pattern Thomas makes when he wakes Gordon up for the second time is used in Mister Moose's Fun Time whenever Thomas' segment in that show is coming up next.
 * This episode is featured on the most UK releases out of all episodes from the series.
 * Alternate pre-filmed footage from Edward, Gordon and Henry is used.

Goofs

 * In the first shot of Thomas:
 * Studio equipment is reflected off of his smokebox.
 * His eyes are wonky.
 * One of his eyes is scratched.
 * His dome is lopsided and part of his boiler is raised due to the middle section not being reassembled properly before shooting.
 * When he rolls his eyes, his face moves.
 * A black dot is visbile in his nose.
 * When Thomas' wheels are first shown:
 * The paint on the wheels are chipped.
 * There are white marks on his wheel arch.
 * There is a red mark on his smokebox.
 * His cab doorway is not painted properly near the bottom.
 * In the following shot of his boiler:
 * The yellow stripe around his cab is peeling off.
 * His side tank has several chips and scratches
 * His cab roof has paint chips on the front.
 * In the first shot of Thomas puffing into Knapford station, studio equipment is briefly visible behind the nearby buildings before the camera pans closer to the station.
 * When Thomas stops inside Knapford station for the first time, Henry is in his new shape.
 * In the scene where the narrator says "Thomas thinks no engine works as hard as he does," Henry's passenger train has no brake coach.
 * In the first shot of Gordon there are paint chips near the bottom right of his smokebox.
 * When Gordon is first seen pulling the express, the reflection of some studio equipment can be seen in the lake, and the ground slightly sinks.
 * In the close-up of Thomas' driver and fireman inside his cab, the shed is missing as just blue sky can be seen in through Thomas' cab windows.
 * When the narrator says "It was nearly time for the Express," there are no coaches on the track next to Gordon. When Thomas puffs in, they suddenly appear.
 * Gordon was waiting outside platform 2 for his coaches, but when Thomas puffs in, Gordon and his coaches are outside platforms 3 and 4.
 * When Gordon backs up to get coupled up with the coaches, something can be seen moving behind the station. It is most likely a crew member.
 * In one scene, there is a set of points leading from the track outside platform 5 to the track outside platform 4. In the next scene, it disappears.
 * Just before Thomas reaches the water tower, the background shows trees and bushes instead of Wellsworth.
 * When Gordon and Thomas exit Henry's tunnel, the tracks bounce in the air.
 * When Gordon is sleeping in the siding, his buffers are crooked.
 * When Thomas wakes Gordon up the second time, the buffers in the siding in front of Gordon are not connected to the track, Thomas and a brake van move a little and his smoke vanishes due to a jump cut.
 * When Thomas backs onto the turntable at Wellsworth, he looks more annoyed than tired.
 * When Henry leaves the station, Gordon's eyes are a bit wonky.
 * When Thomas says "Hurry (up) yourself!" the coaches cannot be seen in front of him, his lamp handle is missing, his lamp was not attached.
 * When Henry and James puff out of Knapford, two of Henry's wheel arches are missing.
 * When Thomas puffs into Knapford in the opening scene, Henry has no coaches. In the next scene, he leaves the station with coaches, a van, and a brake van.
 * In the closeup of Thomas' and Gordon's whistles, Knapford station is missing.
 * In the closeup of Gordon when he says "Well, little Thomas, now you know what hard work means, don't you?" Wellsworth station is missing, and gap between his eyes.
 * In the restored version:
 * An unidentified object obstructs the camera lens in the top-left corner of the shot when James and Henry pass by at Knapford. The object is most likely studio equipment.
 * When Thomas leaves the sheds, the edge of the set can be seen.
 * Studio equipment can be seen as Gordon pulls Thomas around the bend.
 * In the closeup of Thomas being tired out, the train in front of him is missing.
 * When the train crosses the viaduct, the edge of the set is visible.
 * Just before Thomas starts puffing to the water tower, the track ends behind him.
 * In the closeup of Gordon smiling, there is studio equipment in the background, Thomas and the express disappear, his tender bounces a little, and the tracks behind him end.
 * When Thomas backs onto the turntable, a camera stand is visible. This was fixed on later releases.
 * Because of this, on the digital release of the first series, the narration changes from George Carlin to Ringo Starr during the shot when the camera stand was visible, then back to George Carlin again.

Home Media Releases
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UK

 * Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends Cassette 1
 * Thomas and Gordon and Other Stories
 * Thomas the Tank Engine
 * Children's T.V. Favourites Volume 2
 * Thomas and Gordon, Troublesome Trucks and other stories
 * Thomas Gets Bumped and 17 Other Stories
 * My Little MiniVid
 * Peep Peep Party
 * The Complete Series 1
 * The Very Best of Thomas and Friends
 * My Little Thomas and the Royal Visitor
 * The Best of Thomas
 * Thomas and Gordon & Percy's Promise
 * Edward and Gordon
 * 1st Class Stories

UK DVD Boxsets

 * Classic Collection
 * Peep Peep Party and Brave Little Engines Double Pack
 * The Fogman and Other Stories and The Very Best of Thomas and Friends Double Pack
 * Peep Peep Party/Engines to the Rescue/The Chocolate Crunch Triple Pack
 * 10 DVD Boxset
 * The Best of Friends

WAL

 * Thomas and Gordon and Other Stories

US

 * Thomas Gets Tricked and Other Stories
 * The Early Years
 * Thomas' Halloween Adventures
 * The Greatest Stories
 * Thomas and Friends Classic Volume 1

CAN

 * Thomas Gets Tricked and Other Stories
 * The Early Years
 * Thomas' Halloween Adventures
 * The Greatest Stories

US/CAN VHS/DVD Boxsets

 * Special Video Collector's Set
 * Totally Thomas Volume 8
 * Thomas' Halloween Adventure/Percy's Ghostly Trick Double Feature
 * Thomas Gets Tricked and Other Stories/Percy's Ghostly Trick Double Feature
 * Thomas Gets Tricked and Other Stories/Thomas' Halloween Adventures Double Feature
 * Ultimate Thomas Collection

AUS

 * Thomas and Gordon and Other Stories
 * My First Thomas with Thomas
 * The Very Best of Thomas and Friends
 * The Best of Thomas and Friends - Volume 1
 * The Complete Series 1

AUS DVD Boxsets

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

NZ

 * Thomas and Gordon and Other Stories
 * Bumper Video Collection Volume 1
 * Thomas Train Set Compilation Video Volume 4

ZA

 * Thomas and Gordon

IND

 * Thomas and Gordon and Other Stories

MYS

 * Thomas and Gordon and Other Thomas Adventures
 * Thomas and Gordon and Other Adventures

PHL

 * Thomas Gets Tricked

LATAM

 * A Lesson for Thomas
 * Personajes Favoritos Vol. 2

BRA

 * Learning with Thomas

ITA

 * A Vicious Train

FRA

 * The Adventures of Thomas

ROM

 * Thomas and the Trucks

ROM DVD Boxset

 * Triple Pack 1

NL

 * ...Gets Tricked!
 * The Greatest Stories: The Adventures of Thomas, Percy and Gordon

GER

 * All Beginnings Are Difficult
 * Thomas and Gordon and 4 Other Adventures
 * Thomas and His Friends - Volume 1
 * Thomas Introduces Himself

NOR

 * Thomas the Tank Engine 1
 * Thomas-Festival

SWE

 * Thomas and the Guard

DK

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

ICE/FIN

 * Thomas the Tank Engine 1

SLV

 * Thomas' Train

HRV

 * Thomas and Gordon

SER

 * Thomas the Tank Engine 1

GRC

 * A Naughty Train!
 * Appointment at the Station!

ISR

 * Welcome Thomas!

THA

 * Thomas and Friends - Volume 1

JPN

 * Thomas the Tank Engine Volume 1
 * Best of Gordon
 * The Complete Works of Thomas the Tank Engine 1 Vol.3
 * The Complete DVD Box 1
 * Nice to Meet You Thomas!
 * I Love Thomas DVD Collection
 * Keep It Up Thomas!
 * Thomas and Gordon
 * 75th Anniversary Edition: Thank You as Always! Thomas & Friends Masterpieces

CHN

 * Thomas & Friends Season 1-4

HK
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 * Thomas and Friends Volume 1

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