Okay this chapter is the fusion of two episodes as Darkknight55 points out 'Henry & The Elephant' came before Tender & Turntables in the Railway Series, but in the TV show it was in Season4 instead so they moved it around while I decided to fuse it with Tender & Turntables.
Next chapter coming up right now.
I do not own Thomas the Tank/Thomas & Friends or I would have kept them in their models forms.
Ever since Thomas left to run his branchline both Henry and Gordon found more work on themselves as they had to fetch their own trains and had to do shunting jobs more often. They complained about this and everyone thought they were complaining because they had to do hardwork, but there was more to it; Gordon sometimes had to do double the work as Henry was still having steaming problems with Number which means Gordon found himself rushing to make sure everything is on time which puts a lot of stress onto Number 4 and Henry of course his engine was still having troubles so a lot of strain went onto his engine.
James at first was fine with the extra work, but over time he too started feeling the stress of all this too much work.
All the stress and strain on them made them snappy and easy to anger. Which they took out on each other a lot and others while complaining a lot.
"You don't understand our problems Thomas!" Gordon shouted as he was at Elsbridge as he took a local train there to drop passengers off for Thomas. He wasn't enjoying it especially he knows he has to rush back to get a goods train ready than has to take the Express than has to rush back to handle another goods train.
So clear to see he was a not happy chap right now.
"Tender Engine drivers shouldn't be doing shunting and shouldn't be overworked like this. We have an image to maintain and all this crap is ruining it." He growled greatly annoyed before driving off and Thomas couldn't help, but shake his head amused by all of this.
Later on, Gordon was at Knapford sheds and pulling his engine onto the turntable to it can be turned around as it was dangerous for Tender Engines to go backwards very fast. So, they had to use turntables to turn around so they can be the right around to do their work effectively. They had to do this much before, but now they had to and Gordon hasn't exactly been frilled about it.
Because they to make sure to stop on the turntables at the right spot to actually turn. Problems was Gordon's engine was big so he had to stop at the exact right spot and other problem was Knapford sheds was near the sea so the winds from there made stopping just right a problem.
And today the wind was especially bad as no matter how much Gordon tried to pull his engine to a stop the wind kept pushing him just off right before he came to a stop. He growled annoyed as he kept bring his engine to a stop, but the wind just kept pushing him off so either his front or rear was sticking out of the turntable.
Those that operator the turntable sighed as they couldn't get it to move because Number 4 just jammed it as it stuck out.
"I'm sorry Gordon, but we can't get you turn around. You will have to take your next train backwards. If you were a tank engine this wouldn't be a problem."
Gordon groaned loudly at this. "This day just keeps getting better…"
Later that day Gordon pulled up to Elsbridge with his local passenger train and he had an annoyed look as he was turned around as he pulled the coaches while going backwards.
"Hey look there's a new tank engine!" A young boy called before answered back laughing. "No, it's only Gordon back to front!"
Thomas laughed as he saw this. "Well, well, Gordon playing Tank Engine are you? Here's some advice scrap your tender and get yourself a bunker like me." He laughed while Gordon doesn't answer as he just plains ignores everything around him.
Later on, as he pulled up to Knapford Station he was expecting James and Henry to be ready to tease him about his situation, but was surprised and glad they were busy with an with their own conversation.
"What's wrong Henry? There's no rain today." James said to Henry as he watched the taller man stood there with his engine.
"You know as well I do that my engine's steaming problems makes work hard for me. What about you huh? Afraid to damage things again because you're out of bootlaces?" Henry retorted back and both of them went back and forth which Gordon sighed in relief as that meant they were distracted and won't notice his situation.
As he got of Number 4's cab to grab a cup of coffee from one of the station's stores something hanging up caught his eye. As he looked at it, he raised his brow at before calling out to the other two.
"Hey check this out!" He called and both Henry and James came over to see what he was looking at. They saw a poster advertising a upcoming circus.
"Topham's Circus?" James asked curious about this event that was coming to Sodor.
"Ahh I see you saw my surprise." A voice sounded and the three turned to see Sir Topham Hatt standing there. "Indeed, the Topham Circus, which has no relations to me, is coming to Sodor and I have organised all engines to help unload it from Knapford Docks." He said and they three nod in agreement and excitement seeing despite it meant more work for them, but it was something different and special it was a exciting for them.
Soon not long after that day Gordon, Henry and James were hard at work pulling Goods Trains full of Circus equipment, special trains to help transport the animals around carefully and Passenger Trains for those working in the circus. They didn't complain once about the work as they were happy to help out though Gordon and James being the usual selves bragged about themselves while Henry just worked on.
When the day of the Circus came Sir Topham Hatt allowed his employees go attend the event.
It was a great time as all the drivers enjoyed themselves though they all admit no one enjoyed it more than Annie and Clarabelle who couldn't contain their excitement.
Eventually the event had to come to an end and both Gordon and Henry were jealous that James was selected to take the Circus people to the boat as Edward and Thomas handled the other things.
Both drivers were glad at least they got the day off which they gladly took to rest up from all the stress they had got from all the burdening work.
However, the phone rang and Henry answered it.
"Henry, there's a block at your tunnel. I know it's your day off, but we need that tunnel unblocked because it's on the main line."
"Understood sir." Henry said before hanging up and sighed annoyed as his day off was now ruined, but orders are orders.
Sometime later he was pushing some trucks with workmen and equipment up to his tunnel. He brought the train to stop just outside of it and watched as the workmen start unloading before they head into the tunnel to start their work. Henry poured himself and Marcus, who had come to oversee the unblocking, a cup of coffee as they waited for the men to be done.
But both jumped in surprise when they heard the men scream and were shocked when they saw the workmen come running out of the tunnel.
"What's going on?" Marcus demanded from his workers who all start shouting at once, but he quickly shut them up so one of them can speak.
"We started digging at the block…than it moved!" One of them shouted and Marcus had a look of confusion and disbelief on his face.
"Nonsense!"
"It's not nonsense and we aren't going back in there!"
Marcus rubbed his temple annoyed before looking at Henry. "Henry I will ride in the front truck and you push, we'll push this block out."
"What? I don't want to go in there." Henry said admitting he was a bit scared.
"Neither do I, but we got a job to do." Marcus replied back and Henry sighed as Marcus climbs into the front truck as Henry starts pushing from behind. They entered the tunnel and as they crept slower and slower through it Henry eventually felt himself bump into something.
A loud bellow sounded out and Marcus admits now he was scared. "Back up Henry!" He shouts and Henry didn't need to be told twice as he makes his engine go backwards than they were out of tunnel very quickly.
But they weren't a lone…
What came out of the tunnel after them was a large African Elephant that trumpeted loudly.
Everyone there were astonished to see such a magnificent large animal right there in front of them.
But now the question was, what do they do now?
Marcus called up Sir Topham Hatt about it as the workmen carefully made sure the Elephant didn't run off and stayed calm as they heard how dangerous they can be if mad. Luckily at that point Sir Topham Hatt had received word from those that ran the Topham Circus that one of their elephants was missing.
After some time one of the Animal Keepers arrived and the Elephant was happy to see them before they were gentle loaded onto a train. Once safe and secured the workmen came over to see the animal up close. The Elephant was given some food and a pale of water to quench its first, but at it drank Henry's engine let off some steam scaring the animal.
Henry looked out of the cab right as the elephant sprayed water out of its trunk…and all that water landed on Henry, soaking him from head to toe.
The workmen laughed as the animal was taken away and Henry was fuming.
Later on that night, Gordon wanted to chuckle at the fuming Henry after he heard the story, but he himself wasn't in a good mood as he too got called on his day off to do some work and again he found himself taking his train in reverse so he wasn't in a good mood either.
"First rain now an Elephant…whatever next?" Henry grumbled annoyed as he changed into some new dry clothing and Gordon shrugs as right now he didn't plain care as both engine drivers were mad.
Right at that time James was pulling up to the sheds and both drivers looked out the window to see him stop Number 5 on the turntable. He stopped right in the right spot so the turntable could turn easily, but…the wind picked up again and the turntable turned very easily.
James suddenly found himself spinning faster and faster as turntable kept spinning nonstop while those that operated it tried to stop it.
After a minute, the wind died down allowing James to come to a stop, but his world was turning before him and he bolted off his train to go puke into a bin nearby. Henry feeling sorry for him drove James's train in the sheds as Gordon helped James into the bunkhouse and this was the final straw.
"That does it! We get overworked and get no rest! I am forced to drive my train backwards, Henry gets sprayed by an elephant and James is spun around on the turntable like some spinning toy while everyone laughs at us!" Gordon angrily shouts and both Henry and James nod their heads in agreement with him as he declared next. "We are going on strike! Sir Topham Hatt will now look like a fool and see our problems now."
And thus, troubles in the shed has begun.
I hope you all enjoyed.
