Thomas arrives at the train yard, smelling fresh paint. He asks Henry what the painters were working on and Henry tells him that James was getting a new coat. Thomas is sad as he would have liked a new coat of paint. He sets off to find James. Thomas finds James and starts telling him how much he would like a new coat of paint as well. Sir Topham Hatt overhears and explains to Thomas that he should not be upset - James was getting a new coat of paint as he had not been painted in a long time and had many rust spots and that Thomas should be happy that he does not need fixing. Thomas understands, is glad that he does not need fixing and is happy for James. As people hear what Thomas said, they all start to cheer for James!

Although the picture and button for the seaside is of Bulstrode, he is not featured in any of the stories. Along the way, Thomas had to wait for a signal, then a farmer had to move his cow off the line, then for Henry to pass with his train and a bridge that was under repair. At the picnic, Thomas tells Percy that he wishes that he was a jet plane so he would not have to wait for traffic. But Percy tells him that he is fine as he is. In the illustration of "James' New Paint", there is no coal in James' tender, and his siderods are missing. The country fair is being held on a beautiful spring day and Thomas is bringing a cow which he hopes will win first prize. However, Thomas notices Bertie in trouble and stops to help. Bertie has a flat tyre and Thomas stays to help. Then James comes along and notices that the cow is wandering away. Thomas does not know what to do, but as James is bringing hay to the fair, he decides to help Thomas by bringing the cow. Thomas thanks James and stays with Bertie until help arrives. The cow wins first prize as the best cow in the county; Thomas and Bertie arrive and join in with James and the happy crowd as they celebrate.