Another Thomas rewrite, this time it's 'Thomas and the Emergency Cable" from Season 18. Enjoy and comment.

Thomas the Tank Engine enjoys working on his branch line. He has done so for many years know, and he knows it very well.

He also enjoys pulling his faithful coaches Annie and Clarabel.

Both Annie and Clarabel are equipped with an emergency cable, which passengers use to stop the train, but only in an emergency.

One day, Annie and Clarabel were watching the passengers at Knapford Station. All sorts of people were boarding them, but one person looked very intesting to them.

"It's the man with the binoculars." said Clarabel.

"What's so special about him?" asked Annie.

"He's a bird watcher." explained Clarabel.

Soon, the conductor blew his whistle, and Thomas steamed away.

The man with the binoculars got off again at each station. He looked through his binoculars for a few minutes, then got back on.

Thomas was puzzled. Who was the man with the binoculars?

Later that afternoon, Thomas went to see the man.

"Hello." he said. "I must ask who you are."
"I'm a bird watcher." replied the man. "I'm trying to find a rare bird on Sodor."

The man then boarded once again, and Thomas steamed away.

Thomas hurried along through the countryside.

But then, it happened. Someone pulled the emergency cable!
The driver applied the brakes as fast as he could, and stopped the train.

Everyone wanted to know what the emergency was.

Thomas's driver went to see who pulled the emergency cable.

"Who pulled the cable?" he boomed.

"It was me sir." said the man with the binoculars. "I pulled the cable because I thought I saw a rare bird. It must have flown away by now."

This made Thomas's driver very cross.

"Seeing a rare bird is NOT an emergency!" he snapped, and he banged the door.

Worse was to come. Thomas tried to start, but he couldn't! His wheels had jammed.

The passengers had to get off the train, and Annie and Clarabel had to be uncoupled and left behind.

Everyone was very cross at the man for pulling the emergency cable.

Sir Topham Hatt was crosser than ever when he arrived.

"You should have known better not to pull the emergency cable for seeing a rare bird! And now you have caused confusion and delay! What do you have to say for yourself?
"I'm sorry sir." said the man. "But I promise I'll never do it again."

"That's fine." said Sir Topham Hatt calm but strict.

That evening, Thomas received new coaches while Annie and Clarabel were sent to the Steam-Works.

He was depressed that he didn't have his faithful coaches with him, and he didn't want to see the silly man with the binoculars again.

But he did see the man with the binoculars again. He was waiting on the platform at Dryaw Station.

Thomas didn't want to pick up the man with the binoculars, and he puffed through the station at warp speed.

But then, someone pulled the emergency cable again! The driver applied the brakes and stopped the train.

The emergency cable was pulled by a lady with a tall hat. She was cross because she wanted to get off at Dryaw Station.

Sir Topham Hatt was waiting for Thomas at Knapford Station. He was very cross.

"Really useful engines stop at every station and pick up every passenger!" boomed Sir Topham Hatt.

"Yes sir. Sorry sir." said Thomas.
"The man with the binoculars said he was sorry." continued Sir Topham Hatt. "I think you have both learned lessons today."

"Yes sir!" said Thomas.

Soon Annie and Clarabel were repaired, and Thomas felt happy to have his reliable coaches back.

And the man with the binoculars got to see his rare bird as well.