DAISY'S DINER

It was a late Friday evening in Autumn on the Island of Sodor. The sun was setting beyond the rooftops of the houses that stood beside the track and the branch line was at peace. Although their drivers and firemen had left hours before, Thomas, Percy and Toby couldn't sleep. They were simply too excited.

"Can you believe it?", asked Thomas excitedly, "Railway enthusiasts coming here just to see us!"

"My driver says they have come all the way from England", added Toby, "Apparently, they work for a popular railway magazine!"

News had spread quickly down the branch line that a group of well known railway enthusiasts who worked for a railway magazine were coming to visit the line for the weekend. They planned on visiting every inch of the line in order to write a detailed article. Thomas was more chuffed then any of them.

"That means we'll be famous all over again!", squeaked Percy, "Sir Topham Hatt will be pleased with us! But, who's going to be collecting them tomorrow?"

"That would be me of course", chuckled Thomas smugly, "It is my branch line after all"

Percy looked sadly down at his buffers.

"Never mind Percy", smiled Thomas, taking back his joke, "The Fat Controller has asked that you fetch the buffet carriage for the return journey"

Percy looked up quickly, but it seemed he couldn't decide whether to be confused or delighted.

"A buffet carriage?", he asked timidly, "What's that?"

"It's a very special type of carriage", explained Toby, "Passengers can eat in it whilst they are travelling on their train. There are some on the mainline, but this will be the first one we've had here on the branch line"

"In addition", added Thomas proudly, "Sir Topham Hatt has asked me to pull it on the return journey back to Knapford. We wouldn't want our visitors to go hungry"

"Certainly not!", squeaked Percy, "It must be a privileged to pull a buffet carriage. It would be just like pulling the express!"

Daisy, who had been trying to sleep in the carriage shed next door snorted loudly. The three engines jumped. They had forgotten about her presence.

"Nonsense", she snorted, "Buffet carriages! Whatever next?" "What's wrong Daisy?", asked Toby.

"You may think that pulling a buffet carriage is a privilege", said Daisy, "But you'll only end up in disgrace"

"Why would you say that?", asked Thomas hotly.

"To begin with", Daisy went on, "Food can be very messy! In addition, it leaves smells which drive your passengers away, especially fish!"

"I always thought it would increase passenger traffic", muttered Percy thoughtfully.

"You'd never find me serving food in my saloon!", concluded Daisy, "It would be most berating!"

Thomas and Toby exchanged glances.

"You can never tell until you try it Daisy", said Toby, "Who knows, you might even find it makes you even more dignified then you already are"

Daisy muttered crossly to herself as Thomas and Percy chuckled. She tried to sleep, but the three branch line engines talked of nothing but food and buffer carriages.

*

The next morning, Thomas, Percy and Toby were being cleaned by their crew. Daisy's fitter hadn't arrived yet and she was beginning to fee; rather anxious. Thomas could tell that she was worried.

"You'd better hope your fitter arrives soon", he called cheekily, "It would be most berating if you were to leave without a proper maintenance check"

Toby and Percy chuckled discretely, but Daisy fumed crossly. She was trying her best to ignore them. A short while later, the Fat Controller arrived at the sheds to inspect his engines.

"I'd like you all to be on your best behavior for the next two days", he explained, "If all goes well, these kind gentlemen have agreed to publish an article about us in their magazine. That means no horse play"

"Don't worry sir", said Thomas proudly, "We won't let you down"

"I am sure you will", smiled the railway man kindly, "But Thomas, Percy and Toby. The three of you must be very cautious at the water towers. A recent case of 'boiler sludge' has been effecting engines who take on water at any of the branch line stations. We cannot afford to have any incidences"

The engines agreed to be careful and were soon on their way. Daisy was glad to see them leave. Sir Topham Hatt turned to her. "As for you Daisy", he said, "I would like you to take these gentlemen on a tour of our branch line. Thomas will be bringing them to Ffarqhar from Knapford and bringing them home again. I'd like you to collect them from Ffarqhar and show them around"

Daisy was delighted. "Thank you sir", she said happily, "I won't let you down"

*

Once her fitter had finally finished checking her over, Daisy purred proudly away to Ffarqhar to wait for Thomas to arrive from Knapford. When she arrived, she was surprised to find him already there with a special train. Annie and Clarabel had been decorated with banners and their brass railings shone brightly. Behind Clarabel was the buffet carriage, which was the most decorative part of the train. Daisy case a dark look at it as she passed.

"Don't worry Daisy", tooted Thomas, "It won't bump you!"

Daisy fumed crossly as the passengers from Thomas' train crossed over the footbridge and onto the platform beside her. They were very excited, taking photographs of the trains and the station building. Daisy soon forgot to be cross when they began to ask her questions and take photographs of her from very angle.

"Such a beautiful engine", said one man, "And a lovely name too"

Daisy blushed modestly.

"I hear she was once confronted by a bull somewhere down the line", whispered another, "And had to be helped by another engine"

Thomas immediately burst into laughter as Daisy's motor growled with fury. After a short while, the visitors climbed into her saloon and she set off down the line, not daring to look back. She was feeling most embarrassed.

The visitors had a wonderful time, touring the line, taking photos, interviewing the station staff and locals. Toby took them at the tramway terminal on a special trip to the quarry aboard Henrietta where they interviewed Mavis and took many photographs. They especially enjoyed brake van rides through the shafts. When evening came, Daisy brought the visitors back to Ffarqhar where they stayed over night in a hotel. But she was still upset about that morning and couldn't sleep.

*

The next day following day was Sunday and it was the visitors final day on the line. Daisy was to take them to the goods yard were Percy worked before bringing them back to Ffarqhar for Thomas' return train to Knapford. Thomas, who had over slept the previous night, hurried down the line with Annie, Clarabel and the buffet carriage.

"I mustn't be late! I mustn't be late!", he panted sleepily. "You should have slept earlier! You should have slept earlier!", grumbled Annie and Clarabel in chorus.

Thomas had been in such a hurry that morning that his driver had thought it best to by-pass taking on water, which they did routinely every morning. His tank was low.

"We'd better stop for water", said the fireman, glancing at the gauge, "Thomas won't be able to bring the visitors home on such a low amount"

"Your right", agreed the driver, "We'll stop when we see a water crane"

They found one a short way down the line on a maintenance siding. Thomas rolled slowly alongside and his fireman filled his tank. He felt a lot better after that and was soon ready to move off.

"We'd better hurry though", called the driver as they set off once again, "Daisy is due to leave in fifteen minutes"

*

The Fat Controller glanced at the station clock and tapped his feet impatiently.

"Where is Thomas?", he whispered to Daisy's driver, "We are due to depart in a matter of minutes"

Daisy had just arrived back from the goods yard and the visitors were waiting excitedly on the platform. There were looking forward to a fish and chip supper in the buffet carriage on the journey to Knapford. But Thomas still hadn't arrived.

"We aren't sure sir", replied Daisy driver, "But he'd better arrive soon, or the food will go cold"

Moments past and still there was no sign of Thomas or his train. The Fat Controller was about to call for another train when the station signal changed to stop. With thick, grey smoke pouring from his funnel, Thomas steamed slowly into the station. He was panting and wheezing terribly, his expression reflecting the utmost pain. The visitors instantly began to snap away with their cameras as the Fat Controller crossed the footbridge and scrambled into the cab.

"What is going on here?", he asked impatiently, "This train is ten minutes late!"

"I'm sorry sir", said Thomas' driver, "But we seem to be having a problem. Something appears to be irritating Thomas' system".

The stationmaster called for an inspector, who arrived moments later in a car. He scrambled across the line and with a ladder propped up against his side, peered into Thomas' tank.

"Just as I suspected", he said at last, "That water you took on was bad. Now the tank is blocked with grit"

Thomas gave an ill hiss of steam as the Fat Controller scratched his head.

"Now what are we to do?", he pondered as the visitors broke out into a buzz of excited chatter, "If Thomas is unwell, then we must find an engine to replace him. But who? Percy is shunting in the yard and Toby is at the quarry. Neither of them will be able to get here in time. The boat for the mainland leaves in two hours"

Suddenly, Daisy had an idea.

"Excuse me sir", she said, "Why don't I take the visitors to Knapford?"

"Are you sure Daisy?", asked the Fat Controller, "It will mean you having to take the buffet carriage"

Daisy hesitated for a moment, then an idea clicked into place. She chuckled to herself before speaking again.

"Don't worry sir", she continued, "I won't need a silly buffet carriage. Before I arrived here, I used to serve hot drinks and snacks in my saloon on long journeys"

Thomas looked up in confusion, but before he was too ill to speak.

"Then it's settled", smiled Sir Topham Hatt, and he turned to the visitors, "Gentlemen, I would like to announce a change in plan. You will no longer be returning to Knapford with Thomas. Instead, you shall be riding with Daisy"

"But what about the fish and chips?", cried one of the men anxiously.

"There is no need to worry", continued the good railway man, "Daisy has agreed to serve your meal in her saloon. Please kindly make your way to the platform"

But his last words were drowned out as with cheers and applause, the visitors scrambled across the foot bridge and took their seats in Daisy's saloon. Her motor chugged with content as the station master helped Daisy's driver to bring the trolleys of food across from the dining carriage and the refreshment lady at the station agreed to join the crew. A little later then planned, yet to a chorus of "Daisy, Daisy", the diesel rail car glided out of the station and out of sight. Thomas could only watch with bewilderment.

*

Daisy backed slowly into the coach shed with a proud and happy smile. Thomas was already in his own shed next door. The workmen had cleared his tank of grit and he was feeling much better.

"You were splendid today Daisy", he whispered as she came to a halt in her shed, "I'm sorry I was rude to you"

"That's alright", smiled the diesel railcar, "I'm glad I could have helped you out, and given the visitors a nice ride home. They enjoyed the food a lot. They say I should open a diner"

Thomas laughed, but suddenly remembered something.

"Daisy, there's something I don't understand", he asked, "Why is it that you told us you though buffet carriages were berating, when you used to serve food on your old railway"

Daisy chuckled happily and closed her eyes.

"I had a little accident with it once", she explained, "I was taking some passengers on a long journey across-country. Everything was going well when one passenger pulled the emergency brake by accident. We had to stop so suddenly that the food went everywhere. The manager was cross and we never served food again...until today that is"

*

A few weeks later, Daisy was waiting at the terminus. James was scheduled to arrive with passengers for the branch line at any moment. Suddenly, a group of boys on the platform came timidly over to her.

"Excuse me", one of them said, "But is this Daisy's Diner?"

"Daisy's Diner?", repeated the driver, scratch his head, "What's all this about?"

The first boy reached into his pocket and produced a rolled up magazine. It was the same one that the important visitors who had come to the branch line worked for. On the front was a big photograph of Daisy, with a subtitle of Daisy's Diner.

"Well I never Daisy", said her driver, "I thought you didn't like being a buffet carriage"

Daisy smiled modestly to herself, but she never told anyone why. That's just our little secret.

*****