Air date: April 21st, 1992 (UK), November 19th 1991 (US)
Adapted from: The magazine stories "The Express" and "A Passenger for James"
James is boasting to Thomas and Percy that he is the most useful engine on the line. Thomas disagrees and says that The Fat Controller says all of the engines are useful. Percy then tells James that he's getting all puffed up, leaving the big red engine leaving angrily.
Later, James starts boasting to Gordon about how he is the pride of the line. Gordon tells him that he saw him pull trucks the other day and that he's a good engine. James tells him that he pulls trucks, too, but Gordon says he doesn't pull them as much as he does. James then tells Gordon that the Fat Controller has plans for him, but he is making this up. To his surprise, Gordon believes him.
At the yard, Thomas is shunting shiny new coaches. James asks if the coaches are for him, but Thomas tells him that they're for Gordon's express, and that he'll fetch James' trucks next. Thinking about his trick, James tells Thomas that The Fat Controller informs him that he's to take the coaches, while that Gordon pull the trucks. The trick was a success, and James is then coupled to the coaches, and he leaves the yard. Thomas arrives with the trucks just as Gordon arrives, surprised at the lack of coaches. Thomas tells them about what James had told him, leaving Gordon furious.
James is enjoying himself enormously and gloats on his plan, just until he meets The Fat Controller at the next station. He scolds James for confusing the railway schedule with his trick, and banishes him to his shed until he is wanted. At the sheds, Gordon and Henry laugh at James by asking each other who will pulling the express next, and remarking on how James is stuck in the shed for being silly.
A few days later, a contrite James returns to work and apologizes to Thomas for tricking him; and Thomas tells him that the trucks are pleased to have him back. James then shunts trucks in the harbour for the rest of the day. As James and his crew are ready to return home after a hard day's work, a railway inspector arrives and tells James' driver he's to attend an important meeting with The Fat Controller and asks for a ride in James' cab. James then takes the inspector to Knapford just in time. The inspector tells The Fat Controller how James gave him a splendid ride, and that he must be proud of him. The Fat Controller proudly agrees and calls James a Really Useful Engine.
Tropes featured in the episode:
- Can't Get Away with Nuthin': James faces this when the Fat Controller hears of his trick involving taking the Express.
- Digital Destruction: In the restored version:
- Studio equipment is visible when James arrives at the Sodor Shipping Company building.
- One of the shots of James shunting at the harbour was mistakenly replaced with an outtake where two of his trucks are derailed.
- Dude, Not Funny!: This is the Fat Controller's reaction to James' trick.
- Easily Forgiven: Thomas doesn't have any hard feelings towards James, even though the red engine tricked him in order to take the Express.
- The Freelance Shame Squad: The other engines laughed when James was on punishment for tricking the other engines for thinking he's taking the Express.
- Go to Your Room!: The Fat Controller sends James to his sheds until he's wanted.
- Jerkass: Gordon, who told James he was a goods engine solely based on the fact that he had seen the latter pulling a goods train earlier in the day, not to mention that he and Henry laugh at James over being punished.
- Manipulative Bastard: James tricking Thomas into swapping his truck job for Gordon's express coaches.
- Small Name, Big Ego: James.James: Look at me! I'm the most smartest, most useful engine on the line!
Thomas: Rubbish! We're all useful. The Fat Controller said so and he's Sir Topham Hatt, head of the whole railway. (US: Sir Topham Hatt said so, and he's head of the whole railway.)
Percy: You know what, James?
James: What?
Percy: You're getting all puffed up. - What the Hell, Hero?: The Fat Controller reprimands James for his joke and sends him to the shed until further notice.
