Another Thomas rewrite, this time it's "The Trouble with Mud" from Season 3, with added lines by tate310. Enjoy and comment.

One morning, Thomas was being cleaned at the wash-down when Gordon arrived. He was covered in mud from foot-box to fender.

"Hello Gordon!" called Thomas. "You look really dirty. Care for a nice, gentle wash-down?"

Gordon snorted.

"I don't have time for a wash-down!" snorted Gordon as he puffed away.

Later, it became very windy.

"Slow down Gordon!" called his driver.

This made Gordon very cross.

"Now I'll be dirty and late!" he hissed.

James watched as Gordon pulled alongside him at the wash-down. In front of James was a large sign that read.

ALL TRAINS MUST

WASH DOWN DAILY

James had just finished being cleaned.

"Come on Gordon!" said his driver. "You'll feel much better after a nice wash-down!"

"NO!" hissed Gordon, and he let off a cloud of steam, which covered James in dirt from foot-box to fender.

"You are a really naughty engine!" snapped Gordon's driver. "Now James is gonna need another shower, and you'll have to wait 'till later!"

"Good riddance!" huffed Gordon. "I'm far too busy to waste time with water!"

Gordon finished his journey safely and steamed into Knapford Station, where Sir Topham Hatt was waiting.

He was surprised to see Gordon dirty.

"You can't pull the Express if you are that dirty!" said Sir Topham Hatt. "Henry will have to pull the Express!"

"Sorry sir." mumbled Gordon.

"You must be cleaned at once!"

Gordon was soon being washed-down.
"Watch my eyes!" he grumbled.

Then, Sir Topham Hatt ordered him to pull freight cars for the rest of the day.

"I hate freight trains!" he grumbled.

He was so cross, that he banged the freight cars!

"Cars will be cars!" laughed James.

"They don't mess with me!" snorted Gordon. "I'll teach them!"

Henry had other work to do, so James was asked to take the Express.

Then, Gordon returned from pulling freight cars.

"Be careful!" warned Gordon. "The hills are slippery, so you might need help!"

"I don't need help on hills!" replied James.

Earlier, a thunderstorm with heavy winds had blown leaves onto the tracks, which made them slippery.

Even though the storm had passed, the hill was still difficult to climb.

James knew this.

The signal was cleared, so James went faster.

"I'll do it, I'll do it!" he puffed.

But halfway up, he wasn't so sure.

"I must do it, I must do it!"

But his wheels slipped on the wheels, and he couldn't pull the train at all!

"Help, help!" cried James.

His wheels were turning forwards, but James was being pulled backwards by the heavy coaches.

The driver applied the brakes, and was able to stop the train just in time!
Gordon had saw everything.

"I'll push behind to help you!" puffed Gordon.

Clouds of smoke and steam bellowed from the two engines as they puffed up the hill.

"We can do it!" puffed James.

"We will do it!" puffed Gordon.

At last they reached the top.

"Goodbye!" whistled James.

"Goodbye!" replied Gordon.

That night, Sir Topham Hatt came to see the engines.

"Please sir." said Thomas, "can Gordon pull the Express again?"

"If you understand my rule about the wash-down, then yes Gordon, you may pull the Express again."

"Thank you!" grunted Gordon. "I am the most famous engine on Sodor!"

But no one heard him. They were all sound asleep.