Thomas has always loved his coaches, Annie and Clarabel. He loved taking them along his branchline, to and fro from station to station. Speeding alongside Bertie, talking to them in the yards and at red signals, Thomas always knew they liked them, and he liked them too.
One day, after pulling a train with Annie and Clarabel, the Fat Controller stepped up and talked to Thomas. He needed Thomas to pull a goods train from the Quarry down to Arlesdale End. Thomas had to obey his orders, and went off to collect his train. He was soon coupled up and set off. The trucks were unusually quiet and calm, so Thomas was nervous pulling the train. He started thinking of the ways the trucks could cause an accident with him, when suddenly, a loud whistle blew!
Henry was ahead with a large train of vans. Thomas whistled and shrieked, but the trucks pushed him onward. Henry, shocked, stopped abruptly, while the momentum of the train pushed him into Thomas.
Thomas had broken both of his side rods and smashed part of his boiler and dome. He was taken to the Steamworks and had to be repaired.
The Fat Controller had heard all about the crash. He had been told that Thomas would be in the works for a few weeks, and someone else would need to pull Annie and Clarabel. He had looked all over Sodor, but only Diesel was available. The Fat Controller had never liked Diesel, but he had to have someone pull Thomas' trains. He stepped into Winston, and they were off.
Diesel was parked outside the Dieselworks, shunting the fuel tankers about. He stopped when he saw the Fat Controller. "H-hello S-sir." he stammered, but still in a disgusted attitude. The Fat Controller explained the situation. "O-oh. Ye-es, sir." He had never pulled a passenger train before.
Diesel pulled up alongside Annie and Clarabel. They looked over, shocked. What had happened to Thomas? Diesel tried explaining himself, but he really just couldn't do it, and just pulled in front of Annie and Clarabel. He was coupled up, but had no idea how to act. He wasn't sure if he was to bump and bash them like trucks, or to just be as careful as possible. In the end, it came out as a mix of both.
Annie and Clarabel did not like Diesel pulling them. He had been careful, but also came to a stop too soon, causing Clarabel to bump into Annie who bumped into Diesel. The passengers were complaining, though a few children described it as a 'Theme Park Ride' to their parents, and wanted to go again. Diesel knew he didn't please the passengers, but he really had no idea how to act.
This is going to be a long two weeks. Diesel thought.
At the end of the day, Diesel shunted Annie and Clarabel into the Coach Shed, and not knowing where the nearest shed was, he had to sleep there. It was an awkward silence. Neither talked to each other. Everyone stood still, staring at each other. Finally, however, Diesel spoke up. "I-I'm sorry if I bumped you today. I don't know how to pull coaches. I have only shunted trucks before.". Annie and Clarabel looked over. They had never heard a diesel be truly sorry before, and were surprised beyond all things.
After Diesel explained what happened to Thomas, Annie and Clarabel decided to help Diesel learn to pull coaches, and he progressed quite quickly.
After Thomas came back from the works, they said goodbye and hoped to talk again.
Even in an unlikely spot, friendships have always formed.