*thomas' runaway elephant*

one day thomas was at tidmouth sheds when the fat controller came to see him.

'today a new elephant has arrived on the island thomas i would like you to go to the docks and collect him then i want you to take him to the sodor animal park' said the fat controller.

'right away sir' said thomas.

'please make sure you give him a smooth ride and be careful with him thomas' said the fat controller.

'don't worry sir i will' said thomas.

'there's a good engine right off you go' said the fat controller. and he walked away.

'cinders and ashes a new elephant how exciting' said thomas.

and thomas set off for the docks. soon thomas arrived at the docks. there on a truck was a big tall grey elephant. it had a long grey trunk. big floppy grey ears. and it was munching happily on an apple.

'what a great looking animal' said thomas.

'be careful with him thomas!' said cranky.

'of course thomas will look after him cranky!' said porter.

'i bet he will!' said cranky.

thomas just ignored him. he liked the elephant. soon thomas was coupled up to the truck and was ready to depart.

'good luck with the elephant thomas' said porter.

'thanks porter' said thomas.

and with that thomas blew his whistle and puffed off. soon thomas was puffing through the countryside. the elephant was enjoying the ride.

'i can't wait to get to the animal park the children will love the new elephant' said thomas.

and the blue tank engine continued his way. soon thomas had to stop at a signal. percy was there too.

'hello thomas bust my buffers is that the new elephant' said percy.

'yes it is percy and i am to take it to the animal park' said thomas.

'he looks very tall and grand' said percy.

'indeed he does percy' said thomas.

just then the signal went green.

'well i better get going percy don't want the elephant to be late' said thomas.

'see you later thomas and take care' said percy.

and with that thomas puffed off. soon thomas had to stop at another signal. toby was there with henrietta, victoria and elsie.

'hello thomas flatten my cowcatchers is that the new elephant' said toby.

'yes it is toby and i am to take it to the animal park' said thomas.

'he looks very tremendous' said toby.

'indeed he does toby' said thomas.

just then the signal went green.

'well i better get going toby don't want the elephant to be late' said thomas.

'see you later thomas and good luck' said toby.

and with that thomas puffed off. soon thomas had to stop at another signal. henry was there too.

'hello thomas bubbling boilers is that the new elephant' said henry.

'yes it is henry i am to take it to the animal park' said thomas.

'it looks very strong i still remember the time when an elephant pushed me out of my own tunnel and then it swooshed water into my face' said henry.

'yes henry but it was very brave of you to go into the tunnel if it was james he would of reversed away as fast as he could and burst a safety valve' said thomas.

both engines laughed. just then the signal went green.

'well i better get going henry don't want the elephant to be late on it's big day' said thomas.

'see you later thomas and be careful' said henry.

and with that thomas puffed off. soon thomas was approaching gordon's hill. thomas hated gordon's hill. it was very steep and it made his axles ache. anyhow thomas charged at it. almost instantly thomas could feel the weight.

'cinders and ashes mr. elephant you weigh tons!' said thomas.

but thomas continued his way up. he puffed and panted and pulled and hauled. his wheels clanked and creaked. then there was trouble. just as thomas was about to reach the top it happened. the coupling snapped and thomas was jerked forwards. the elephant blew his trunk in alarm.

'bust my buffers!' said thomas.

the elephant started to race down the hill.

'oh no the truck with the elephant in it has broken away i need to save the elephant!' said thomas.

thomas reversed back down the hill as fast as his pistons could pump. meanwhile gordon was pulling the express when suddenly he saw the elephant heading straight for him.

'oh the indignity there's an elephant on the line!' said gordon.

gordon screeched to a halt. the elephant was switched onto another line and raced past gordon. gordon was surprised. just then thomas raced past.

'coming though Gordon!' said thomas.

'thomas why are you chasing an elephant!' said gordon.

but thomas was already gone. gordon grunted and continued his way. further up the line james was pulling trucks when suddenly he saw the elephant heading straight for him.

'what the heck!' cried james.

james screeched to a stop. the elephant changed tracks and raced past him. james was surprised. just then thomas raced past.

'coming through james!' said thomas.

'thomas what the heck are you doing chasing after an elephant!' said james.

but thomas was already gone. james was cross. spencer was taking the duke and duchess of boxford on a tour of the railway when suddenly he saw the elephant heading right for him.

'flatten my rods elephant at 12'o' clock!' cried spencer.

spencer slammed on his brakes and whooshed to a stop. the elephant changed tracks and raced past him. spencer was surprised. just then thomas raced past.

'coming through spencer!' said thomas.

'thomas what do you think you are up to now!' said spencer.

but thomas raced away. spencer was cross.

'silly tank engine' he muttered.

thomas was catching up to the elephant.

'don't worry mr. elephant i'm coming to save you!' said thomas.

the elephant called out to thomas. he was scared. the elephant disappeared around a bend. thomas rounded it too but when he did the elephant was gone. thomas came to a stop. he was upset.

'cinders and ashes i've lost the elephant there's no way the fat controller will forgive me for it this is a disaster!' said thomas.

just then thomas heard a long low whistle. suddenly hank puffed onto the line with the elephant in front of him.

'howdy there little thomas did you lose a elephant by any chance' said hank.

'hank you saved the elephant thank you' said thomas.

hank smiled. 'anytime happy to help ya partner' said hank.

soon thomas was coupled up to the truck again.

'thanks hank' said thomas.

'your welcome buddy' said hank.

and with that thomas raced away. meanwhile at the animal park gordon was telling the fat controller about the runaway elephant.

'so you see sir thomas is running around the island chasing after elephants!' said gordon.

'that's enough gordon i haven't got time for silly runaway stories' said the fat controller.

'but sir it's the...' gordon was about to say.

just then thomas pulled into the station with the elephant. gordon could not believe it.

'sorry i'm late sir' said thomas.

'see gordon thomas isn't chasing after elephants he is delivering them like a really useful engine' said the fat controller.

gordon was cross.

'maybe you were just dreaming gordon' said thomas cheekily.

gordon was now red in the face.

'well done thomas you got the elephant here just in time you are a really useful engine!' said the fat controller.

'thank you sir' said thomas.

later that day the elephant was unloaded and everyone came to admire it.

'what a grand looking animal!' said the mayor.

'this is going on the front page!' said the photographer.

'look at it's tall trunk!' said the children.

even thomas had to agree that it was the best elephant he had ever soon.

'welcome to sodor!' said thomas.