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.
At the end of Thomas's usual branchline run was the Ffarquhar Quarry that was the main reason why Sir Topham Hatt first had the Ffarquhar line built to collect stone and bring it to Knapford Harbour. As the North Western Railway became more popular and the towns along the Ffarquhar line wanted use of trains there, Sir Topham Hatt had the stations and needed to find someone to handle that line, around that time Thomas had helped James out with his accident. Thus, the rest was history as they say after that.
Thomas handled the passenger trains along his line and the runs from the quarry too. He handled them well though it did make work a big hard at times to handle.
Today he was taking four trucks full of stone and his two orange coaches as he left the quarry as he headed towards Knapford. The coaches had no passengers in them and it was a day off for Annie and Clarabelle so they rode with their brother in the cab.
Thomas was always careful on the line around the quarry as the road also ran close by line here. Thomas always whistled frequently around here so people and animals knew he was coming though. He hasn't a accident around here yet and he plants not to, but trouble of another kind was waiting for him today.
Thomas soon pulled around a bend and saw a police officer sitting on a rock near the track. Thomas was friends with constable who always came by the line to say hello and Thomas was sad when he had retired recently.
Thomas thought this officer would be kind too, though he was going to learn otherwise as he whistled his engine and saw the officer jumped with shock making both girls giggle. Thomas, however, could see trouble coming as the officer signalled for the engine to stop and Thomas brought the train to a stop.
"Disgraceful! I didn't a wink of sleep last night and bloody drivers blowing their whistles ruined the peace and quiet around here!" The officer shouted loudly and madly making the three sibling look at his worried.
"We're terribly sorry officer." Thomas tried to diffuse the tension in the air, but the officer glared his engine and jab a finger at it. "Where's its Cowcatcher?! It's Sideplates?! All trains near public roads must have Cowcatchers and Sideplates to prevent animals and people from getting dragged underneath! It is the law and you are dangerous!"
"Nonsense! We been down this line hundreds of times without any troubles!" Annie exclaimed and followed by her sister shouting. "Yeah!"
"That is worse! Regular Lawbreakers! I will speak with your Railway Controller!" The police shouts before writing a ticket up and shoved it into Thomas's hand who scowled at the officer, but said nothing before getting back on the train and drove away.
Later on, Sir Topham Hatt was at his mansion about to enjoy breakfast with his wife when his butler came in. "Excuse me sir you are needed on the telephone." The butler said with a apologetic look as he didn't want to disturbed his master's breakfast.
"Bother that telephone. Thank you Michael." He said sighing as he got up to answer the phone. After a few moments he returned to fetch his hat. "I am sorry my dear Thomas appears to be in trouble with the law. I best see to this." He said to his wife who nods understanding as he left to see to this problem.
When he arrived at the station he saw his employee arguing with the officer and Sir Topham Hatt got involved trying to resolve the problem.
Eventually the officer left and Topham sighed before looking at Thomas. "I'm sorry Thomas there's no point in arguing with Policemen. Looks we will have to get those side plates and cowcatcher."
"My engine is going to look like a tram after this." Thomas sighed and Topham stood straight as an idea just came to him. "Of course! I know how to resolve this matter!" He exclaimed loudly and Thomas was surprised by his sudden enthusiasm. "I will have this matter solved in no time and don't worry about having those installed Thomas." He smiled to his employee before walking away and Thomas shrugs as he had no idea what his boss was planning.
A few days later Topham received the letter he was hoping for.
A few months ago, he went to the other Standard Gauge railway on Sodor for holiday with his wife and grandkids. There he met the train driver that drove on that railway Toby and Topham took a liking to him straightaway. He tried to see if the controller of that failing line would let Toby go and Topham could hire him, but that controller was too stubborn to see their line was failing and clearly didn't know how to handle it properly. Topham had tried many times, but was refused until Topham had recently heard that line had closed and with them needing an engine with sideplates and cowcatcher it was good timing to hired Toby.
He was happy to see Toby accepted the job offer without hesitation.
Not long after Toby pulled his Tram Engine into the station and he looked at the place impressed as he never worked on a line like this before. Henrietta hopped out of their coach Toby managed to bring with them and save from becoming a Henhouse.
"Ahh Toby I am glad you came." Topham called out to his new employee as he came over to him. He gave Henrietta a quick smiled knowing his grandkids will be happy to have her around before looking to Toby and explained his new job.
Since than Toby worked on Thomas's branchline handling the Goods runs which helped Thomas out a lot as now Thomas can focus on the Passenger runs now. Toby went to the Quarry and delivered the stone to the Knapford harbour in good time without problems. He became good friends with Thomas and Percy pretty quickly as they drove the small engines and saw each other many times during their jobs.
Annie and Clarabelle also became close friends with Henrietta as the three girls became known as the Trio Trouble as they now would pull of pranks on Thomas, Toby and Percy.
And for the police officer? Toby gave him a scary with his bell and when the officer tried to book him claiming he was breaking some law, Topham had arrived with the officer's Captain who explained that law about engines needing sideplates and cowcatchers stopped being in effect long ago. The officer just hated trains and was clearly wanted to make life difficult for the railway and since than the captain had the officer demoted and stuck at desk job.
Serves him right Thomas would happily say anytime he tells the story and he along with the other drivers were happy to have Toby.
Except for one, but that is another story for another day.
I hope you all enjoyed.
Also those that were suggesting ideas how the Police Officers gets handled, I already had this all planned out XD
