Sorry I haven't done this in awhile. Motivation has been at an all time low these days. Enjoy! :)


Constant Trouble

Thomas and Toby enjoy working on the Ffarquhar Branchline together. Toby made the silly troublesome trucks behave even better than Thomas did. At first Thomas was jealous on Toby's first day on the Fat Controller's railway. But the next day Toby rang his bell and made a young constable jump and that pleased Thomas greatly. Since then they have been firm friends ever since. Toby taught Thomas his ways on handling Trucks and Thomas soon found it to be easy.

Later that night, Thomas and Toby were talking like old friends.

"You did wonderfly with those trucks, Thomas." Toby said.

"Thank you Toby. Your wisdom has become invaluable." Thomas said. "I never knew you could handle trucks so well."

"Oh. Years of practice." Toby said, modestly. "You get the hang of it too."

Thomas then looked at his buffers and frowned in shame. Toby noticed this.

"What's wrong?" Toby asked.

"I… I was a bit jealous…" Thomas said.

Toby chuckled.

"Oh that's alright." Toby said. "I knew you were jealous anyway."

"Y-You… You were?" Thomas asked in surprise.

"Of course. But I didn't mind. I know you're trying to be a really useful engine and please the Fat Controller. That is very admirable of you." Toby said modestly.

Thomas smiled widely.

"Thank you, Toby." He said. "You're very kind. But today I'm no longer jealous. Because you frightened that horrible constable."

"I sure gave him a jump." Toby chuckled.

The two engines laughed at the time Toby rang his bell and frightened the policeman.

"Incidentally. Why was that policeman after you?" Toby asked.

Thomas then told Toby all about it. He was once friends with the old constable who retired. A new and younger constable replaced him. Thomas peeped a friendly hello, but the constable complained he didn't sleep a wink last night and took it out on Thomas as he said he was a danger to the public and a regular lawbreaker because he didn't have cow catchers and side plates. That was the reason Toby was saved and given work on Thomas' branchline of Ffarquhar.

Toby seethed with anger.

"Disgraceful!" He said. "Such childish behavior for an adult policeman! Why in my young days, policemen always followed the law with honor and humility!"

Thomas was very surprised, but also amazed.

"I agree." Thomas said. "What makes policemen act that way."

Toby pondered.

"I've had plenty of years of experience to come up with many possibilities as to why." Toby began. "1.) is that it gives them a sense of power and as a result makes them very arrogant. Why, they behave no better than the criminals. 2.) They're afraid if there is no more crime they would be out of a job. Makinations fueled by paranoia if you ask me. Or 3.) They become so committed to law and order that they become obsessed and as a result view anything as criminal. Dictations of madness."

"You truly are a wise engine, Toby." Thomas complimented. "Whichever one that constable is wouldn't surprise me in the least."

"I agree."

"I hope he gets his comeuppance." Thomas said crossly.

"Don't worry, Thomas. He will." Toby said assuringly.

But they both pondered when it would happen.


That day came sooner than expected. In the quiet town of Ffarquhar, the same young constable looked at the geometry of the community with an arrogant smile.

"I show this town how to follow the law. And once I do I'll get a promotion and a reputation of zeal." He said to himself.

And so he set to work to make an example of the community. His plan was perfect.

But he reckoned with laws that weren't out of date.

As the days went on the young constable went around Ffarquhar enforcing out-of-date laws which had been quietly forgotten. He nearly drove Ffarquhar innkeepers crazy with obscure points in the Licensing Laws. As a result the entire community of Ffarquhar began to complain to the police department. They now knew how Thomas felt when that same young constable mistreated him.

I'm sorry to say his behavior didn't improve at all. He never learned sense. One time He was out patrolling the same part of the line Thomas went on. He was surprised to see Thomas running on that line again. The reason for this was because the Fat Controller wanted to change things up for the day. So he had Toby run passenger work and Thomas doing goods work at the Quarry. Thomas didn't want to go in fear, but the Fat Controller assured him. The policeman scowled in fury.

"You!? What are you doing on this line!? You're a danger to the public!" He scolded the blue tank engine.

But Thomas, his crew, his coaches, and the workmen ignored him. The constable was not very pleased.

"You'll learn to respect my authority!" He shouted.

Because of Thomas ignoring him, his behavior towards the engines of the Ffarquhar Branchline left a lot to be desired. For the longest time he lurked about the trackside waiting to hit them with some kind of infraction. Unfortunately for him, the engines never gave him the chance.

Then on one Sunday morning he prowled outside Saint Finian's Church. Some of the villagers were attending mass. But the constable was not happy when he saw the lines of parked cars nearby.

"Oh dear. This is not good. Why does everyone in this village want to be criminals?" The constable said. "Still the head of Police will be pleased for my work."

He smiled proudly as he set to work taking the numbers of the cars he saw there, fining ½d each. By the time the sermon was over the constable had booked the last car.

"Perfect. Justice has been served." He said, proudly.

But the churchgoers didn't find anything perfect nor any justice. They all started to growl and yell in utter anger. But the young constable didn't care as he saw it as a sign of criminal behavior. He smiled triumphantly. But not for long as three individuals, who were the most important figures of the community, stormed up to him in anger. They were of course the Vicar of Ffarquhar, John Croarie who is the Chairman of the local Bench of Magistrates, and the Sergeant of Police.

"Constable!" Boomed the Sergeant. "What is the meaning of this!?"

"I'm doing my duty to the law and this community Serg." Said the constable, who was rather confused by his superior's behavior.

"What duty!?"

"Booking cars of law breakers."

"Including mine!?"

The young constable's face went wide eyed and jaw dropping shock.

"What's this!?" He said in response. "Are you three men in cahoots with these criminals!? Oh, Serg! I'm afraid you'll be coming with me!"

But the young constable's anger was drowned by the Sergeant's anger who was seething in rage.

"That is enough!" The Sergeant roared. "You have been using out-of-date laws!"

The constable was confused.

"What out of date laws?" He demanded.

Angrily, the Sergeant and John pulled out their hand books from their pocket and showed it to the constable. After reading it carefully, the constable's eyes widened and jaw dropped again with his face going pale and red at the same time. It was at this moment he knew he messed up.

"Uh, s-sorry s-sir…" He said meekly.

"Sorry isn't good enough!" The Sergeant roared. "You've been nothing but a nuisance since you arrived!"

"I agree!" Put in John. "You've abused your power and title just to gain more! I don't know why you act like this, but frankly I don't want to know!"

"This would probably be the moment where I pacify you gentlemen and say about God forgiving the mistakes of others." Said the Vicar. "But as I recall, God isn't here. It's Sunday, his day off. So you will not be getting ANY forgiveness. Not after what you did to Thomas. You will be facing the consequences."

"Couldn't have said it better myself, Vicar." Said the Sergeant.

"B-But that blue Tank Engine is a danger to the public! He broke the law!" Said the constable desperately.

"The law of not allowing a steam locomotive through the quarry line has been revoked by the council for years!" Scolded the sergeant. "So I will see you in my office on Monday morning!"


The next day, the news soon spread throughout the island. As a punishment for his actions the young Constable was speedily transferred elsewhere and demoted to second class. Everyone in Ffarquhar rejoiced, including Thomas and Toby. Soon a new Constable took the place and much to everyone's relief, he was very friendly. He would always say cheerful hellos and even stops to have friendly conversations. At first it took awhile to gain the community's trust, the new policeman proved to be a gentleman.

Nowadays Thomas and Toby would toot a greeting to the new constable and he would always greet them back. This made the community of Ffarquhar a very nice and safe place to live or visit. And no one would have it any other way.


Hope you all enjoyed that one. See ya! :)