Now time for another chapter.
Here we go.
I do not own Thomas the Tank/Thomas & Friends or I would have kept them in their models forms.
Thomas grumbled angrily as he pulled into Knapford Station pulling some express coaches in to be ready for Gordon who was waiting.
"All I do is bring trains in for you to take out on journeys." He grumbled loudly and Gordon simply chuckled at that making Thomas more cross.
"Why can't I take passenger trains out too?" He asked angrily.
"You're too impatient you're sure to leave something behind, but if you really want to get out more I can take you on another ride." Gordon said grinning and Thomas grumbled, but wisely went quiet as he did not want repeat of last time. "That's what I thought." Gordon said smugly before he started leaving with his coaches leaving Thomas fuming at the station.
"Rubbish… I'll show you." Thomas mumbled as he watched Gordon leave with the express.
Later that night Thomas was at the bunkhouse checking his schedule for tomorrow when he saw Henry walk in. He smiled at him at first, but dropped his smile when he saw the distressed look on Henry's face.
"What's wrong Henry?" He asked worried about his friend seeing despite he can at times have a ego like Gordon, but Henry was always kind to Thomas and treated him well.
"My engine was having troubles steaming today. I was supposed to pull a goods train today, but I could barely make it to Gordon's Hill and once I got there I had to require Edward to help me up it." Henry answered sadly as he sat down on the coach. "Number 3 was always a bad steamer, but ever since I got her out of the tunnel it has gotten worse and problems keep happening so much now. I fear Sir Topham Hatt might have her scrapped… I had been driving her since I first started here… I can't bear that thought." He said sadly as he feared that likely outcome.
"Don't worry Henry I'm sure everything will be alright." Thomas said hopeful for his friend and tried to cheer him up.
Henry smiled at him. "Thanks Thomas."
"So, where's Number 3 now?"
"She's getting looked at by the mechanics to see if they can try to get her fixed for tomorrow, but so far it doesn't look good at the moment." Henry sighed before getting up to head to bed for the night. "Night Thomas."
"Night Henry." Thomas said watching the taller man go to get some sleep while worried that Henry's engine might not be ready for tomorrow morning as he always pulled the first train. He though he did have one thought go through his head. 'Maybe I might be able to pull it.' With that thought he headed to bed and waited for tomorrow morning come.
Soon morning did come and when Thomas got Number 1 ready he could see Henry watching the mechanics still working on Number 3. By the distressed look on his face, it doesn't look like his engine still wasn't ready and Thomas felt sorry for him before leaving while still wondering if he will pull train if Henry couldn't.
He soon pulled four Green Express Coaches to the station platform and waited there to see if Henry will show up.
Ten minutes passed with no sign of him and the passengers started getting impatient to the point. They complained so loudly that Sir Topham Hatt had come out of his office to see what the problem was.
"Where is Henry? He's supposed to left with this train already." He said wondering where the driver was and the Stationmaster came over to him. "Got a call from the sheds and they say they still can't get his engine ready."
"Botheration." Sir Topham Hatt said annoyed and sighed while pinching his nose annoyed. "Who is available?"
"Gordon had already left with a goods train and Edward is about to leave with another goods train. Thomas is the only one left."
Sir Topham Hatt looked at the Number 1 Engine driver. "I was planning on you eventually pulling passenger trains soon, but this a bit earlier than I planned. You think you could pull this train Thomas?"
"I will try sir." Thomas said determined making Sir Topham Hatt smile as his determination and Thomas soon starts pulling his engine up front of the coaches. He was very happy to finally get the chance to pull passenger trains finally, but he was too excited and let it get to his head.
Proof of this was when Thomas heard Edward's guard blow his whistle only a few moments after Thomas had brought his engine into position and Thomas mistook this for his guard's whistle. He started off immediately and didn't wait to see if he was coupled to the coaches…which he wasn't as he left the coaches and passengers behind on the station platform. The passengers all called out to him and even both Sir Topham Hatt and Edward tried to call him back, but Thomas was too excited he didn't hear them.
"This is easy!" Thomas said happy as he raced down the rails and still oblivious to his coachless train.
"Gordon makes it out to be hard to pull coaches, but this is easy."
He was having such fun that he saw the signal stopping him which made him mad as he had to come to a stop.
"Bother, I was making such great time too." He said as he blew his engine's whistle to let the signalman know he was there. Soon the signalman had come out and came over to him.
"Hello Thomas, what are you doing here?" He asked confused on why he was not at Knapford.
"I'm pulling coaches. Can't you see?" He said excited, but got confused why the signalman looking back with a amused raised brow than looked at him. "Then where are your coaches?" He asked and Thomas was more confused so he leaned out to look…to only see his mistake.
"Oh no…" He said very sadly as he was close to crying for screwing up so badly here. He wanted to proof he could handle big tasks like this, but he just blew it badly.
"Cheer up Thomas I'm sure they will understand you didn't mean to." The signalman said to him trying to cheer up the young driver as he could see he was terribly sad about this.
Thomas nods slowly and reversed his engine all the way back to Knapford.
When he got back the passengers were complaining how bad this railway this was, but when they saw how sad Thomas was about his mistake they all went silent and saw it was simply a mistake as they got back into the coaches.
Sir Topham Hatt looked at Thomas who tried to not look back at him as he was ashamed of himself. Seeing this Sir Topham Hatt knew it was a simple mistake and forgave the young driver for this as he clearly needs some more experience to handle coaches in the future.
Soon Thomas was off again, but this time was coupled up to the coaches and he did enjoy the chance of pulling passenger trains. He knew he had to be more patient in the future so this mistake never happens again.
However, Gordon would tease him relentlessly about this while Edward comforted him telling him he made a mistake like that before when he first started. Henry teased him, but only slightly as he did thank Thomas for covering him seeing he couldn't be there.
Thomas hopes again to pull passenger trains again, but he will make sure to make another mistake like this ever again.
Hoped you all enjoyed
