If there is one thing that Thomas loves more than his Branchline, it's his coaches Annie and Clarabel. They are two of his dearest friends, and the three can often be seen singing as go up and down the line.
One day however, Thomas was late after working with BoCo at Wellsworth filling in for Edward, who was sick. So he was hurrying back as fast as he could.
Due to an increase in tourists and other passengers on Thomas' Branchline, James had been brought in to help out with the workload.
Unfortunately, James was dreaming about the passengers complimenting on his lovely red paintwork, that he never noticed that he was coupled up to Annie and Clarabel.
The shunter was new to the job, so he wasn't aware of what happened, and the two coaches were still dozing.
Likewise, Thomas was in such a hurry that he never noticed two shiny red scarlet coaches being coupled up to him either!
...
The fireman was the first to notice after Thomas' fire ran out of fuel, so they to stop to collect more coal from his bunker.
The fireman got to his engine's bunker- and cursed.
"What's wrong mate?" Asked the driver.
"We picked up the wrong coaches!" Replied the fireman, crossly. "James usually has the red coaches, not us!"
Thomas was worried now.
"If I have James' coaches, then he must have mine! We have to get Annie and Clarabel back!" He cried determinedly.
...
James was whistling a merry tune down the line with what he thought were his coaches rattling behind him.
But Annie and Clarabel were unhappy. James did not listen to them no matter how many times they insisted he had the wrong coaches, and they wanted Thomas back.
Suddenly they heard a familiar whistle.
"It's Thomas!" They whispered, feeling hopeful.
Thomas drew up alongside James
"James stop- You have my coaches!" Thomas shouted.
"What -no I don't."
"Yes you do!" The other three retorted in unison.
The driver was forced to agree.
"Alright, I'll give them back at the next station." James said sheepishly.
...
Once they arrived, the two were given coal and water whilst Percy swapped their coaches- once everyone due for that stop had disembarked.
"I'm sorry about taking your coaches Thomas." James said sadly.
"Aw James don't worry, it was an accident." The tank engine replied kindly. "It could have happened to any engine."
So from then on, the two engines checked that they had the right coaches needed for their journey.