I do not own Thomas the Tank/Thomas & Friends or I would have kept them in their models forms.
Gordon, Henry and James sat in Sir Topham Hatt's office at Knapford after he had called for the three Mainline Tender Engine drivers to come. They admit they were a bit worried though it was just natural for a employee to be nervous when their employer personally called for them to speak with them.
"Thank you, you three for coming on short notice." Sir Topham Hatt smiled at the three as he spoke and the three drivers listened intently. "As you know ever since the Fraquhar branchline has close down for now some of the Passenger and Goods Trains have been diverted onto Mainline services. I must say I have been impressed with you three managing to handle the sudden growth work while Thomas and Toby handle work around the yards. For this I am giving you three a reward for your hard work as I am giving you all two weeks off for holidays and you will still be paid during those times off. You will be one at a time as I can't stop the Express so two you will work and the other will be taking time off, than when they return someone else will have time off and so on." He said explaining the nice thing he is doing for his employees who all smiled at that.
Later on, Gordon was packed and heading off on his holiday as he will be the first to go than it will be followed by James than Henry. The usual passengers that would take the Long Green Express were diverted onto the Long Whites and Long Reds which will make work a bit harder for James and Henry, but they were fine with it.
Though Gordon with gone for now James did become more prideful as he handled the extra with ease and got a big head about it more than usual as he would brag about it to the other drivers. Today was no exception as he and Toby were at Knapford that morning as James was waiting for the first Long White Express to be ready and he bragged to Toby about his recent great work.
"You know what Toby? I'm an very important worker. Everyone knows it. I'm regular as clockwork. Never late, always on time!" James bragged loudly to which Toby just rolls his eyes as like everyone else he is use to James's boasting while only giving a simple reply. "Says you."
"Toby." Sir Topham Hatt calls as he came over to the Number 7 driver who looked over at his boss when he heard his named called. "Time for Number 7's maintaince so take her over to Crovan's Gate."
"Understood sir." Toby nodded before hopping into Number 7 and got her going down the line to the destination. He would liked to bring Henrietta with him so she could learn more as she wanted to be a engine driver like him, but she's at school and he heard they might be at Crovan's Gate already on a trip so he might see how she is doing later.
However, he was running into some troubles as he neared Maron. Number 7 always had trouble with water storage as it couldn't hold much water in its tanks so Number 7 needed regular filling up compared to the other steam engines. Toby looked at the gauge and saw Number 7 will be needing filling up soon.
He saw Maron up ahead and starts thinking he can get her filled up enough so he can continue on to Crovan's Gate, but however as he pulled one of the Station staff came up to him and told him leave. This person never seen Toby before as Toby was not this far on the Mainline so they didn't know about Number 7's problem and claimed Toby was in the way of James & the Long White Express. Toby tried to explain, but it was no use so he was forced to continue on and hoped that just maybe he has enough water to get to his destination.
He hoped.
He continued on while keeping an eye on the water gauge and sweated nervously as he watched it get lower and lower. Than it was out all together and Number 7 came to a stop on the tracks and he groaned as he rubbed his face with his hands as he knew this was going to happen. Now he was stranded and will have to find a way to alert Maron to inform James that he was stranded and in James's way.
Luckily for Toby right at the very moment Henry was coming back down the line with the Long Reds and he saw Toby's problem which had him shout out he will pass the message down to which Toby was grateful.
James however was fuming when he heard the news as Henry told him.
"I'm going to be late!" James exclaimed annoyed and he got even more annoyed when the station staff who shooed Toby away revealed he was the one who caused the problem. The Stationmaster suspended from work right there on the spot because of that.
"James you will have to give Toby a hand and push him to Crovan's Gate while pulling your train." Henry said to James who looked at him shocked. "What me?! Push him and pull my train too?!" He complained, but he ceased that nonsense when Henry scowled at him and suddenly the usually peaceful Henry looked like a tall intimidating figured right now making James sigh. "He's right down the same track I'm on?" He asked in a defeated tone of voice before he got in his train and drove onwards to help Toby out.
Not long after Toby saw James pulling up and James simply nods to him before having Number 5 start pushing Number 7 down the Mainline while pulling Long Whites right behind it.
Sometime later both engines arrived at Crovan's Gate where Toby was right Henrietta's class were there and she saw the situation to which she grinned.
"Coo! The Long White express is late and it's got two engines! I think James couldn't pull it on his own, so my dad had to help him!" She shouted out loud and many of her class joined in on the teasing to which Toby sent a stern look her way before smiling at a grumpy James. "Forgive her and the other children, they're only joking."
"Oh haha!" James shouts out a sarcastic laugh now wishing his holding comes much sooner and Gordon was back now.
I hope you all enjoyed it.
