Thomas Goes Fishing
When Thomas puffs along his branch line he and the dogs always looks forward to something special the sight of the river.
As he rumbles over the bridge he would see people fishing, Thomas likes to see the people just sitting down so relaxed and peaceful, while the dogs love to see the others trying very hard to pull the fish out of the water.
They often wanted to stay and watch, but the driver would say…
Thomas' Driver: No; what would The Fat Controller say if we were late?
Thomas thought it would be lovely to stop by the river.
Thomas (Thinking): I should love to go fishing.
Every time Scamp and his two sisters would ask their mother and father if they could go fishing. But they would always say…
Lady and Tramp: Sorry not today.
And every time Thomas met another engine he would say…
Thomas: I want to fish.
But they all answered…
Engines: Engines don't go fishing.
Thomas (Thinking): Silly stick-in-the-muds!
One day Thomas stopped at the usual station to get some water.
The driver turned the pipe.
Driver: Uh that's strange.
Scamp: What's wrong?
Driver: There doesn't seem to be any water coming out from this pipe.
Fireman: It's probably out of water then.
Thomas: Bother I'm thirsty!
Driver: Never mind; we'll get some water from the river.
Dogs: Hurrah we're going fishing!
The driver found a bucket and the fireman found a rope, they tied the rope with the handle on the bucket, then they went to the bridge.
When they arrived the driver let the bucket down to the water. The bucket was old and it had five holes so they had to fill it, pull it up, and empty into Thomas' tank as quickly as they could several times over.
Scamp, Collette, and Danielle watched with excitement.
Thomas' Driver: There's a hole in my bucket dear Lisa, dear Lisa.
Thomas' Fireman: Never you mind about Lisa, you just empty the water before you spill it all over me.
Scamp: Do you think you can catch some fish for us; we're starving.
Thomas' Driver: Sorry this is for Thomas only, we'll stop by a fish restaurant on break.
They've finished at last.
Thomas: That's good, that's good.
Scamp hopped back into Thomas' cab, and the sisters and coaches were running happily behind.
They were running nicely thought the tunnel, when Thomas began to feel a pain in his boil and Scamp heard a crack. Steam began to hiss from Thomas' safety value in a alarming way and Scamp was frightened.
Thomas' Driver: It's okay Scamp, calm down, there's just too much steam in Thomas.
Thomas: Oh dear; I'm going to burst, I'm going to burst!
They damped down his fire, but he still felt a pain.
Thomas: Oh please help me; I don't know how much longer I can feel this pain!
Collette: Well it's a good thing we've just started and we have no passengers yet.
Annie: But we can't just stop in the middle of a railway.
Thomas' Fireman: You're right; sorry Thomas, but we're going to have to head to last station and put you on a siding so we check you. Do you think you can get there?
Thomas: I'll try.
So they struggled on.
Thomas (Thinking): I've got such a pain; I've got such a pain.
They stopped just outside the last station, uncoupled Annie and Clarable, and ran Thomas, who was still hissing fit to burst, on a siding right out of the way.
Scamp: How are feeling?
Thomas: Not good, I still feel this pain.
Guard: Well I'm going to telephone an inspector; he'll make you better in no time.
Collette: Hey I found something.
The driver looked a saw a notice with large letters.
Danielle: Now where did these come from?
Thomas' Driver: I don't know, but I think these will help.
He hung the notice on Thomas' front and behind.
"Danger Keep Away"
Soon the inspector and The Fat Controller arrived.
Inspector and The Fat Controller: Cheer up Thomas; we'll soon put you right.
The driver told them what had happened.
Inspector: So the feed pipe is block, I'll just look in the tanks.
He clumber up and looked in one of the tanks, then he came down.
Inspector: Excuse me sir, please look in the tanks and tell me what you see.
The Fat Controller: Serenely inspector.
He clumber up, looked in, and nearly fell off in surprise.
The Fat Controller (Whisper): Inspector, can you see… fish?
Dogs: What?!
Indeed there were two fish swimming in each of Thomas' two tanks.
The dogs couldn't help but laugh.
The Fat Controller: Graces' Goodness me, how did the fish get their driver?
The driver, fireman, and the dogs pondered for a moment, suddenly Scamp remembered.
Scamp: The bucket!
And he told The Fat Controller what had happened then he laughed too.
The Fat Controller: Well Thomas so you and your friends have been fishing, but fish don't suite you, so we must get them out.
They telephone Jim, who brought fishing poles for the driver and fireman, then they took turns fishing in Thomas' tank, while Jim looked on and told them how to do it.
While they were fishing, The Fat Controller found some wood and started to make a fire, then Jim brought a frying pan, and when they have caught all the fish, the guard, driver, fireman, Jim, The Fat Controller, and even the dogs had a picnic of fish and chips.
The Fat Controller: Hmm, that was good.
Jim: Indeed.
Scamp: I don't think I could eat another bite.
Collette and Danielle: Me neither.
The Fat Controller: But fish don't suite you Thomas, so you mustn't do it again.
Thomas: No sir I won't; engines don't go fishing, it's too uncomfortable.