Thomas Terence and the Snow
Autumn at come to the North Western Railway, the leaves were changing from green to brown.
The fields were changing too from yellow stubble to brown earth.
Every day when Thomas puffs along his branch line he and the dogs would hear a "chug, chug, chug" of a tractor hard at work.
One day stopping for a signal they saw the tractor close by.
Tractor: Hello; I'm Terence, I'm plowing.
Thomas: I'm Thomas, I'm pulling a train.
Scamp: Hello I'm Scamp and I'm a guard dog for Thomas.
Danielle: I'm Danielle.
Collette: And I'm Collette.
Annie and Clarabel: They're our guard dogs.
Terence: Nice to meet all of you.
Thomas notice Terence's wheels.
Thomas: What ugly wheels you've got.
Collette: Thomas, how could you?
Danielle: I think they look nice.
Scamp: They do look strange though, what are those?
Terence: These are caterpillars.
Scamp: What you kill caterpillars?
Collette: No silly, it means he moves like a caterpillar.
Terence: Well sort of; it means I can go anywhere, on roads, fields, and rails too.
Dogs: Cool.
Scamp: Wow you're very lucky to go wherever you want.
Terence: Thanks, but I like working at the fields, I don't need rails.
Thomas: Well I don't want to go anywhere; I like my rails thank you.
Thomas and his friends saw Terence every day, although they say hello, Terence never answered.
Winter was here now; Scamp's yard was covered in snow. The dogs had mixed feelings towards the snow, they like to play in it, but they hate on how it slows them down, making it hard for them to walk considering on how deep it was, and causing lots of trouble for them.
Most engines hate snow, the rails would be very slippery and they had to be extra careful or they could get stuck, this would often make them late; Thomas didn't mind the snow, but his driver was worried.
Thomas' Driver: I don't like it; a heavy fall is coming I hope it doesn't stop us.
Thomas: Ha! Soft stuff, nothing to it!
And Thomas puffed on feeling cool but confect.
They finished their journey safely, but by now the country was covered.
Scamp: Holy, look at that!
Thomas' Fireman: You're right that snow is much too heavy for us to go though.
Thomas' driver went to the station and got out a snowplow.
Thomas' Driver: You'll need this for your next journey Thomas.
Thomas: Pah, snow is silly soft stuff it won't stop me!
Thomas' Driver: Listen to me, we're going to put your snowplow on and I want no nonsense please.
Thomas: I won't, Scamp do something.
Scamp: I'm sorry, but he's right, that snow is too heavy and you'll get stuck there easily, so be a really useful engine and listen.
The snowplow was heavy and uncomfortable and made Thomas cross. He shook it and he banged it and when they got back it was so damaged that the driver had to take it off.
Thomas' Driver: You're a very naughty engine.
And shut the shed door.
Next morning Scamp and sisters saw that Thomas' driver and fireman came early and work hard to mend the snowplow.
Thomas' Driver: Come on Thomas you have to wear it.
Thomas: No I don't, it's just silly soft stuff.
Scamp: Come on Thomas; look we're wearing snow boots, we're being useful.
But no matter how hard they tried Thomas still refused to wear his snowplow, so they gave it up and got ready for the first train. Thomas was pleased.
Thomas: I shan't have to wear it; I shan't have to wear it.
But Annie and Clarabel were worried.
Annie and Clarabel (Whisper): I hope it's alright, I hope it's alright.
Collette and Danielle (Whisper): Me too, me too.
The driver was worried too.
Thomas' Driver: It's not bad here, but it sure to be deep in the valley.
Scamp: I hope you know what you're doing Thomas.
Thomas: Silly soft stuff, silly soft stuff. I didn't need that stupid old thing yesterday and I shan't today; snow can't stop me.
He rushed into a tunnel thinking how clever he was.
At the end of the tunnel Thomas saw some snow.
Thomas (Thinking): Silly soft stuff.
He charged at it.
POOF!
Thomas: Cinders and Ashes, I'm stuck!
And he was.
Thomas' Driver: Back Thomas, back!
Thomas tried, but his wheels spun and he couldn't move.
The guard went back for help, while everyone else tried to dig the snow away.
Scamp: Silly soft stuff; I didn't need a stupid old snowplow uh?
Thomas' Driver: That's enough Scamp, we must try to dig Thomas out.
Scamp and his sisters help, but as fast as they dug, more snow slipped down, till Thomas was nearly buried.
Thomas: Oh my wheels and coupling rods I shall have to stop here till I'm frozen; what a silly engine I am.
And Thomas began to cry. Scamp tried to cheer him up.
Scamp: Hey don't worry, it's not like I've done something stupid as well, we'll get you out.
At last they heard a honk and saw that a bus came to rescue the passengers, then who should come to Thomas' rescue, but Terence, snow never worries him.
He pulled the empty coaches with Scamp sisters away then came back for Thomas and Scamp.
Thomas' wheels were cleared, but still spun when he tried to move.
Terence tugged and slipped and slipped and tugged and at last drag Thomas clear of the snow, ready for the journey home.
Scamp: Thank you Terence.
Thomas: Yes thank you, I'm sorry about what I said about your caterpillars they're splendid.
Terence: That's aright I'm glad to help.
Thomas' Driver: I hope you'll be sensible now Thomas.
Thomas: I'll try.
And he puffed happily away.