The Winx Club's Sodor Adventures - Season 2

Episode 15: Better Late Than Never

The engines and fairies were finding life difficult. Workmen were mending the viaduct on the main line. The arches needed strengthening. Sir Topham Hatt did not want to close the railway while the work was done. And so repairs took a longtime. The engines and Fairies had to take great care when crossing the viaduct and the delay often made them late on their journey to the junction where they knew Thomas and Bloom would be ready to collect their passengers.

Thomas grew crosser and crosser. "Time's time," he grumbled.

"Listen, Thomas!" said Bloom, who had enough of Thomas' complaints. "Safety comes first before being on time!"

"I don't care!" shouted Thomas. "Why should we keep our passengers waiting while our friends dawdle about all day on viaducts?"

"Don't blame us, Thomas!" scolded Flora. "It's not our fault that the viaduct needs to be mended every several years! Stones don't last forever!"

"Flora's right," agreed Henry. "If we hurried across the viaduct, it might collapse, and then you and Bloom would have no passengers at all! What would you do then?"

"Run our train on time for one thing," retorted Thomas. He hurried away before Henry and Flora could answer.

Bertie and Daphne were impatient too. They was timed to arrive just after Thomas and Bloom. Their passengers found that, instead of going straight from the bus to their train, they were kept waiting till Thomas arrived.

Soon Bertie and Daphne grew cross with Thomas and the repairs on the viaduct.

"Late again!" Bertie remarked.

"That's the third time this week!" said Daphne. "When are the repairs of the viaduct going to be finished?"

But before Bertie could answer Daphne's question, Thomas panted wearily in. "Twenty minutes late," he panted.

"I feel absolutely exhausted," sighed Bloom.

"We may be friends, but I thought you could go fast, Thomas. It's time we had another race. I reckon I can beat you now."

"Like that could happen," smirked Daphne.

Thomas let off steam loudly. "Rubbish!" he hissed fiercely. "It's those mainline engines. They dither about on the viaduct, and they blamed Sir Topham Hatt's workmen. It's just an excuse for laziness, if you ask me."

"That's enough, Thomas!" scolded Bloom. "If you keep this up, I'll have Sir Topham Hatt shut you up in the shed for the rest of the day!"

Thomas just ignored her, and they puffed crossly away.

One day, James and Stella were later than ever at the junction.

"I'm sorry, Thomas," James puffed. "We were held up at the station, and the viaduct made it worse."

"Yeah," said Stella. "All this speeding and slowing down makes me feel dizzy. I had to work my hands off to help James make up for lost time."

"It's lucky for you I'm a guaranteed connection," grumbled Thomas. Before James and Stella could answer, he puffed importantly away. "Come along! Come along!" He panted to the coaches.

Annie and Clarabel did their best, but Thomas and Bloom soon found that they couldn't save much time.

Suddenly, they saw Bertie ahead at the level crossing with Daphne flagging them down. His radiator was steaming.

"What's the matter?" asked Thomas. "You should be at the station by now. You're late."

"Bertie," said Bloom, "your engine's overheated. What happened?"

"I feel dreadful," moaned Bertie. "All upset inside, and Daphne says she can't make me better."

"And I don't have any water to help cool Bertie's engine down," said Daphne.

"This is serious," said Bloom

"Thank goodness you're late too, Thomas," said Bertie. Can you and Bloom please take our passengers? They'll never get home otherwise."

"Of course," agreed Thomas. He now felt sorry for Bertie, and Bloom promised to get help at the next station. Thomas set off again. Already he felt much more cheerful with Daphne riding in his cab with Bloom, and Bertie's passengers, traveling in Annie and Clarabel all reached home safely.

When Bertie was better, he and Daphne came to thank Thomas and Bloom. "We're sorry we teased you about being late," he said.

"That's alright," said Thomas. "We're glad we can help. There are times when being late isn't such a bad thing after all."

"Why, Thomas, that's the wisest and sweetest thing I've heard from you in a while." said Bloom happily.

And with their last cheerful greeting, the four friends went back to work.

The End