Early one morning, Thomas was puffing along his branch line. He loved taking passengers on rides, and he always enjoys spending time with his two favorite coaches: Annie and Clarabel. Sometimes, the other engines greet Thomas by a peep from their whistle, if Thomas ever came through a station, or saw them in a siding. People would wave as the saw Thomas steaming by. And every night, when a day's work had ended, Thomas got to enjoy a long, and relaxing sleep at Tidmouth Sheds, so he could do his favorite job all over again the next morning.
One morning, Thomas steamed in to Knapford Station. He was very excited, and couldn't wait for another day's work along his branch line. He was almost ready to leave, when Sir Topham Hatt came to see him.
"There's been a change of plans for you, Thomas. Today, I am expecting a very special person to arrive on the island. He is coming in by freighter, so you will have to travel to Brendham Docks to get him. After you have collected him, bring him back here to Knapford Station, so that Gordon and I can give him a tour of the island."
"Please sir," said Thomas, "can I take Annie and Clarabel? I'm sure they would love to meet him!"
"Of course you can." replied Sir Topham Hatt.
"Thank You, sir!" said Thomas gratefully.
Thomas was so excited to collect the special passenger, but Henry and James became very jealous. They both wanted to collect the special passenger, and they both felt that they were much more important and dignified than little engines like Thomas. They watched jealously, as Thomas wheeshed away in a cloud of steam.
At Brendham Docks, the special passenger was waiting on Thomas, and Cranky the crane looked down on him. Cranky began to tease Thomas.
"Hurry up, Thomas! If you spend any more time here, you'll be late for sure!"
The special passenger, who was called Victor, didn't like Cranky teasing him, and Thomas was cross.
"We'll make it on time!" he said.
"Come on, Thomas!" said Thomas' driver. "Don't bother arguing with him. We will be fine."
Victor quickly got into Clarabel, and Thomas left to return to Knapford Station.
Along the line back to the station, there is what the engines call "The Swaying Bridge" because of the twisty tracks that lead to it. Thomas had to take this bridge in order to reach Knapford Station in time. But because of the hot sun, the tracks on the bridge were bent and rusty, and the supports that hold the bridge up were weakened and torn. The other tracks around the bridge would make Thomas late, and Sir Topham Hatt wouldn't like that at all.
"Be careful going across, Thomas!" called Thomas' driver. But it was too late. Thomas went across the tracks too fast, and had derailed. Thomas was stuck in the middle of the bridge. Then, there was trouble. The supports on the bridge began to crack, and eventually fell apart. The bridge began to cave in, and Thomas almost fell off the bridge. The crew and special passenger had jumped clear before the bridge caved in, and Thomas was stranded. Luckily, no one was hurt. Thomas' driver found a phone nearby, and quickly phoned Sir Topham Hatt.
When the Fat Controller heard the news, he boarded Percy, and left to rescue Thomas.
When he arrived and saw the accident, Thomas quickly apologized.
"I'm sorry, sir." he said sadly.
"Don't worry, Thomas. It wasn't your fault. The bridge is the guilty party in this case."
James soon arrived with the Breakdown train, and when Thomas was back on the rails, Percy and James quickly returned him to Knapford Station.
Later, Thomas was mended, and was soon back on the job. Occasionally, he is told to practice pushing and pulling freight cars. But he still enjoys pulling passengers. The Swaying Bridge was soon rebuilt, and everything was normal again. But Thomas still remembers the old bridge and his accident. I don't think it will happen again. Do you?