One evening at Tidmouth Sheds, James is teasing Percy about being scared of the dark so Henry challenges him to take "The Flying Kipper" that night for him.
Tropes featured in the episode:
- Bittersweet Ending: James suffers through his run with the Flying Kipper and is teased mercilessly by the other engines afterwards. However he is commended by the Fat Controller afterwards and told to have a wash down, much to James' relief.
- Call-Back: James telling the engines about the ghost train in the dark was similar to his teasing towards Percy in "The Phantom Express", also lampshading Percy's experience in pulling the mail in the dark.
- Earn Your Happy Ending: The Fat Controller applauds James for pulling The Flying Kipper on time in compensation for his trick on Henry and is given a washdown.
- The Freelance Shame Squad: All of the engines laugh at James when he smells like fish, especially when one of them were in front of his smokebox.
- The Prankster: James tricks Henry into thinking he dreamed daring him to take the Flying Kipper.
- What the Hell, Hero?: The Fat Controller makes clear James is pulling the Flying Kipper the following night after finding out he weaseled out of his promise to Henry.
