you
Thomas the tank engine was grumbling to the other engines I spend my time
pulling coaches about ready for you to take out on journeys the other engines
left why can't I pull passenger trains too you're too impatient they said you'd
be sure to leave something behind rubbish said Thomas I'll show you one
night he and Henry were alone Henry was ill the men worked hard but he didn't
get better
he felt just as bad next morning Henry usually pulled the first train and
Thomas had to get his coaches ready if Henry is ill he thought perhaps I shall
pull his train Thomas ran to find the coaches come along come along he fussed
there's plenty of time there's plenty of time they grumbled Thomas took them to
the platform and wanted to run round in front at once but his driver wouldn't
let him don't be impatient Thomas Thomas waited and waited the people got in the
guard and station master walked up and down the Porter banged the doors and
still Henry didn't come Thomas got more and more excited the fat controller came
to see what was the matter and the guard and the station master told him about
Henry find another engine he ordered there's only Thomas they said you'll
have to do it then Thomas be quick now so Thomas ran round to the front and back
down on the coaches ready to start don't be impatient said his driver wait till
everything is ready but Thomas was too excited to listen what happened then no
one knows perhaps they forgot to couple Thomas to the train or perhaps the
driver pulled the lever by mistake anyhow Thomas started as he passed the
first signal box men waved and shouted but he didn't stop they're waving
because I'm such a splendid engine he thought importantly Henry says it's hard
to pull trains but I think it's easy hurry hurry hurry he puffed pretending
to be like Gordon people have never seen me pulling a train before it's nice of
them to wave and he whistled peep peep thank you
then he came to a signal at danger bother he thought I must stop when I was
going so nicely to what a nuisance signals are he blew an angry peep peep
on his whistle the signal man ran up hello Thomas he said what are you doing
here I'm pulling a train said Thomas can't you see where are your coaches
then Thomas look back why bless me he said if we haven't left them behind yes
said the signalman you'd better go back quickly and fetch them or Thomas was so
sad he nearly cried cheer up said his driver let's go back quickly and try
again
at the station all the passengers were talking at once they were telling the
fact-controller what a bad railway it was but when Thomas came back they saw
how sad he was and couldn't be cross he was coupled to the train and this time
he really pulled it
but for a long time afterwards the other engines laughed at Thomas and said look
there's Thomas who wanted to pull a train but forgot about the coaches
every day the fact-controller came to the station to catch his train hello he
always said to Thomas remember don't be impatient Thomas you could never be a
strong and fast as Gordon but you can be a really useful engine don't let the
silly trucks tease you there were lots of trucks and Thomas worked very hard
pushing and pulling them into place there was also a small coach and two
strange things his driver called cranes that's the breakdown train he told
Thomas the cranes offer lifting heavy things like engines and coaches and
trucks one day Thomas was in the yard suddenly he heard an engine whistling
help help a good strain came rushing through much too fast the engine was
James and he was frightened his brake blocks were on fire they're pushing me
they're pushing me he panted on on on laughs the trucks still whistling help
help poor James disappeared I'd like to teach those trucks a lesson said Thomas
the tank engine soon came the alarm James is off the line the breakdown train
quickly
Thomas was coupled on and off they went
Thomas worked his hardest hurry hurry hurry he puffed he wasn't pretending to
be like Gordon he really meant it bother those trucks and their tricks I hope
poor James isn't hurt
James's driver and fireman were feeling him all over to see if he was hurt
never mind James they said it wasn't your fault it was those wooden brakes
they gave you we always said they were no good
Thomas pushed the breakdown train alongside then he pulled the unhurt
trucks out of the way oh dear oh dear they groaned serves you right serves you
right puff Thomas he was hard at work puffing backwards and forwards all
afternoon this will teach you a lesson this will teach you a lesson he told
the trucks and they answered yes it will yes it will they left the broken trucks
then with two cranes they put James back on the rails
he tried to move but he couldn't so Thomas helped him back to the shed
the fat controller was waiting anxiously for them well Thomas he said I've heard
all about it and I'm very pleased with you you're a really useful engine James
shall have some proper brakes and a new coat of paint and you shall have a
branch line all to yourself oh thank you sir said Thomas now Thomas is as happy
as can be he has a branch line and two coaches called Annie and Clarabelle he
puffs proudly backwards and forwards with them all day he is never lonely
Edward and Henry stop quite often and tell him the news Gordon is always in a
hurry but never forgets to say poop poop and Thomas always whistles peep peep in
return
James was enjoying his life on the island of Sodor, but he still had a lot to learn.
You're a special mixed traffic engine, said the Fat Controller.
You can pull coaches or trucks quite easily, but you must learn by your mistakes.
James knew what the Fat Controller meant.
He could well remember that dreadful accident on his first day.
Be careful with the coaches, James, said Edward.
They don't like being bumped.
Everyone came to admire James.
I'm a really splendid engine, he thought, and suddenly let off steam.
A shower of water fell on the Fat Controller's nice new top hat.
Just then the guard blew his whistle, and James thought they had better go.
Go on, go on, he puffed to Edward.
Don't push, don't push, replied Edward.
The coaches were grumbling too.
Don't go so fast, don't go so fast, but James didn't listen.
When at last they stopped at the next station, two coaches were beyond the platform.
They had to go back to let the passengers out, but no one seemed to know about the Fat
Controller's top hat, though James felt happier.
Presently they came to the station where Thomas was waiting with his two coaches.
Hello, James, said Thomas, feeling better?
That's right.
Oh, that's my guard's whistle.
I must go.
I don't know what the Fat Controller would do without me to run this branch line, and
he puffed off importantly.
Then James passed the field where James had had his accident.
The fence was mended and the cows were back again.
They ended their journey and rested before setting off for home.
James was still wondering what the Fat Controller would have to say about his top hat.
Next morning, the Fat Controller spoke severely to him.
If you can't behave, I shall take away your red coat and have you painted blue.
James didn't like that at all.
He was very rough with the grumbling coaches as he brought them to the platform.
Don't talk, come on, he called to them.
Gordon never has to fetch his own coaches, he thought to himself, and he's only painted
blue.
To make James even more cross, this time no one came near him.
I'll show them, he thought.
They think Gordon is the only engine who can pull coaches.
Hurry, hurry, hurry, puffed James.
You're going too fast, you're going too fast, replied the coaches.
James laughed and tried to go faster, but the coaches wouldn't let him.
We're going to stop, they said, we're going to stop.
What's the matter, James asked his driver.
The brakes are hard on, leak in the pipe most likely.
You've banged the coaches enough to make a leak in anything.
How shall we mend it, said the guard.
We'll do it with newspaper and a leather boot lace, replied the driver.
Well, where is the boot lace coming from, asked the guard.
Ask the passengers, said the driver.
You have a leather boot lace there, I see, sir, said the guard to a smartly dressed man.
Please give it to me.
I won't, said the man.
Then said the guard, I'm afraid the train will just stop where it is.
The passengers all said what a bad railway it was.
Then they told the man how bad he was instead.
Everyone was very cross.
At last he handed his laces over.
The driver tied a pad of newspaper tightly around the hole in the brake pipe and James
was able to pull the train.
But he was a sadder and wiser James and took care never to bum coaches again.
Thanks for watching.
James had not seen the Fat Controller for several days, he was left alone for being
naughty and was not even allowed out to push coaches and trucks in the yard.
Oh dear, he thought, I shall have to stay in the shed for always and no one will see
my red coat again.
All because I went so fast I made a hole in one of my coaches that had to be mended with,
of all things, a passenger's boot lace.
At last the Fat Controller arrived.
I see you are sorry, James, he said, I hope now that you will be a better engine, you
have given me a lot of trouble, people are laughing at my railway and I don't like that
at all.
I'm very sorry, sir, said James, I will try hard to behave.
That's a good engine, said the Fat Controller, I want you to pull some trucks for me.
James was delighted and puffed away.
Here are your trucks, James, said Thomas, have you got some boot laces ready?
And he ran off laughing.
Oh, oh, oh, said the trucks, we want a proper engine, not a red monster.
James took no notice and started as soon as the guard was ready.
Come along, come along, he puffed.
We won't, we won't, screamed the trucks.
But James didn't care and he pulled the screeching trucks sternly out of the station.
The trucks tried hard to make him give up but he still kept on.
Sometimes their brakes would slip on and sometimes their axles would run hot and each time the
trouble had to be put right and each time James would start again, determined not to
let them beat him.
Give up, give up, you can't pull us, you can't, you can't, called the trucks.
I can and I will, I can and I will, puffed James and slowly but surely he pulled them
along the line.
At last they saw Gordon's hill, look out for trouble, James warned his driver, we'll go
fast and get them up before they know it, don't let them stop you.
So James went faster and soon they were half way up.
I'm doing it, I'm doing it, he panted, will the top never come?
Then with a sudden jerk, it all came easier.
I've done it, I've done it, he puffed, hooray, it's easy now.
But his driver shut off steam, they'd done it again.
We've left our tail behind, look.
The last trucks were running backwards down the hill, the coupling had snapped but the
guard stopped the trucks and got out to warn approaching engines.
That's why it was easy, said James as he backed the other trucks carefully down.
What silly things trucks are, there might have been an accident.
Shall I help you James, called Edward, no thank you and said James, I'll pull them
myself.
Good, don't let them beat you.
You're doing well, whistled Edward as James slowly struggled up the hill.
I can do it, I can do it, he puffed, he pulled and puffed as hard as he could.
I've done it, I've done it, he panted.
They reached their station safely and James was resting in the yard when Edward pulled
up.
Peep peep, he whistled, then James saw the fat controller.
Oh dear, what will he say, he asked himself, but the fat controller was smiling.
I was in Edward's train and I saw everything, he said, you've made the most troublesome
trucks on the line behave.
After that, you deserve to keep your red coat.
You deserve to keep your red coat.
There's
a line to a quarry at the end of Thomas's branch. It goes for some distance along the
road. Thomas was always very careful to whistle here in case anyone was coming. Early one
morning a large policeman was sitting close to the line. Thomas liked policemen. He had
been a great friend of the constable who had just retired. He whistled good morning. Thomas
expected that the new constable would be friendly too but was sorry to see that he didn't look
friendly at all. He was red in the face and very cross. Disgracefully spluttered. I didn't
sleep a wink last night. It was so quiet and now engines come whistling suddenly behind
me. I'm sorry sir said Thomas. I only said good morning. A policeman pointed to Thomas.
Where's your cowcatcher he asked. But I don't catch cows sir. Don't be funny snapped the
policeman. He looked at Thomas's wheels. No side plates either and he wrote in his notebook.
Engines going on public roads must have their wheels covered and a cowcatcher in front
to protect people and animals from being dragged under the wheels if they stray onto the line.
You haven't so you are dangerous. Rubbish said Thomas's driver. We've been along here
hundreds of times and never had an accident. That makes it worse the policeman answered.
He wrote regular law breaker in his book. Thomas puffed sadly away. The fat controller
was having breakfast. He was eating toast and marmalade. The butler came in. Excuse
me sir you are wanted on the telephone. Bother that telephone said the fat controller. I'm
sorry my dear he said to his wife. Thomas is in trouble with the police and I must go
at once. At the station Thomas's driver told the fat controller what had happened. Dangerous
to the public indeed we'll see about that. The fat controller spoke to the policeman.
But however much he argued with him it was no good. The law is the law he said and we
can't change it. The fat controller felt exhausted. I'm sorry driver he said it's no use arguing
with policemen. We will have to make those cowcatcher things for Thomas I suppose. Everyone
will laugh sir said Thomas they'll say I look like a tram. The fat controller stirred then
he laughed. Well done Thomas why didn't I think of it before. We want a tram engine.
When I was on my holiday I met a nice little engine called Toby. He takes trucks from the
farms but the lorries are taking over most of his work and he needs a change. He has
cowcatchers and side plates. I'll write to his controller at once. A few days later Toby
arrived. That's a good engine said the fat controller. I see you brought your coach Henrietta.
You don't mind do you sir asked Toby. The stationmaster wanted to use her as a hen house and that
would never do. No indeed said the fat controller we couldn't allow that. Toby made the silly
trucks behave even better than Thomas did. At first Thomas was jealous but he was so
pleased when Toby rang his bell and frightened the policeman they've been firm friends ever
since.
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