Then Percy arrives and moans that his whistle is clogged with dust again. When James returns to the sheds, Gordon is surprised to see him still clean. After the mess is cleared up and the barge's wheelhouse and funnel are cut down, James puffs on his way, finally reaching the smelter's shed clean and shiny. However, James stops in time and manages to stay clean and shiny.
The Queen of Sodor crashes through the pipe, pouring sludge all over the boat and the tracks. He does not notice a pipe stretched across in front of the boat. Throughout his very long journey, James tries his hardest not to get dirty. He realises that Gordon tricked him and James is determined to prove that a shiny engine never gets dirty, so he sets off with the Queen of Sodor. James arrives at the canal and is angry to see that the Queen of Sodor is a rusty, grimy old barge. James loudly announces that he will collect her and sets off happily while Gordon sees that his plan is working. James pulls into the sheds, which gives Gordon an idea as James was not there to hear the entire conversation, Gordon loudly asks the Fat Controller if collecting the Queen of Sodor is important, which it is. Later at Tidmouth Sheds, the Fat Controller asks for a volunteer to collect the Queen of Sodor, a leaky old barge. James collects the mayor and puffs on his way. But James laughs and tells him that he needs a wash first. James brags that he is collecting the mayor today, which Gordon thinks should be his job. But he accidentally blows mud all over Gordon, making Gordon very angry. His whistle is clogged with quarry dust, so he blows hard to clean it. One day, he is at the wash down when Percy arrives.
James is very proud of his bright red paint and thinks his work is very important.