Thomas' Christmas Party
Based upon the story by Rev. W. Awdry
Adapted by Rachel Ravens
Takes place between TACO and LECDBT
It took a while for Toby to have his worn parts replaced. The summer rush was long over, but the slow days of autumn had given way to the first frosts of winter.
"Okay, girls," said Thomas as he gently buffered up to the three coaches. "The Christmas rush will be starting any day now, so be prepared."
"Oh no…" groaned Annie and Clarabel.
"Where's your Christmas spirit, you two?" asked Henrietta.
"I don't know. The North Pole?" chuckled Thomas as he puffed away with the trio of coaches in tow. Henrietta couldn't help but laugh at Thomas' joke too.
The four of them eventually came into Knapford onto platform five. The big station was in full swing for Christmas.
"Got the coaches, Henry!" called Percy as he shunted Sean, Mick, Harry and Dexter behind him. "There was a lot of ice on the rails, so I used up a lot of sand to get them out."
"Thank you, Percy," smiled the bigger green engine.
"One of my truck's couplings nearly froze off on my goods train this morning," said James as he came in with some vans. "It could have caused a runaway."
"That's the last thing we need right now." Edward grunted; he had Audrey, Hilary and Mark coupled behind him. "We need to keep everything in top condition, especially as Toby's not back from the Steamworks yet."
Just then, the engines and the coaches heard a familiar sounding bell.
"Toby!" cried Henrietta in joy.
"Henrietta!" the tram engine smiled. "It's so good to see you."
"Well, flatten my funnel," chuckled Edward. "I spoke too soon. Nice to see you, Toby."
"Welcome home, Toby," Thomas grinned. "Let me guess, you want Henrietta back now?"
"You'd do the same thing if it were Annie and Clarabel," Toby said in a joking way.
"Touché," chuckled Thomas. Henrietta was uncoupled from Clarabel, and Thomas, Annie and Clarabel moved onto platform four out of the way. Toby then coupled up.
"Good to have you back, little Toby," said Gordon. "And just in time for the Christmas rush."
"Yeah," agreed Percy. "Christmas isn't the same without the whole family together."
Just then, the guard's whistle sounded out, and Gordon raced out of the station. "Yuletide Express coming through!" He called as he flew past the signals.
The Yuletide Express wasn't really an express. It was actually a passenger train designed to stop at all stations on the mainline to help get passengers home for Christmas. Between the 1st of December and the 24th of December, this train ran twice daily; once at the start of the day and once at the end of the day. Regardless, this was a clear indication to the other engines that the Christmas rush had truly begun.
"We'd better keep on our wheels," said Toby as his guard's whistle blew for the branch line with Henrietta in tow. "Was Thomas good for you, Henrietta?"
"Oh, yes, Toby," smiled his coach. "He was very careful the whole time I was being pulled by him. And it was good to be chatting with Annie and Clarabel too. But I'm very glad to be back with you."
"I'm glad to hear that," said Toby.
After collecting some parcels and letters in some trucks, Toby and Henrietta trundled up to a cottage near Hackenbeck station. A familiar woman was waving from the porch.
"It's Mrs Kindley!" cried Toby, happily ringing his bell.
"Welcome home, Toby," greeted Mrs Kindley. "It's so good to see you're back. And hello to you too, Henrietta."
"It's good to be back too," agreed the tram engine.
"Nice to see you, Mrs Kindley." called the coach.
Thomas, Annie and Clarabel - also with trucks of parcels and letters - came by the cottage too.
"Nice to see you, Mrs Kindley!" called Thomas, giving a whistle.
"Hello Thomas, Annie, Clarabel," she smiled at the trio. "I hope the coaches aren't giving you too much grief, Thomas."
"Seeing you always brightens our day." smiled Annie.
"It makes the heavy loads worth it," agreed Clarabel.
"Christmas just wouldn't be Christmas without you," Thomas put in as the trio disappeared through the tunnel. As he came out the other side, Thomas was lost in thought.
Has it really been an entire year since Mrs Kindley saved us from that landslide? Wondered the tank engine. It must be. Toby only arrived last year and just before winter came to Sodor too.
At the end of the day, Thomas and Toby came back to Tidmouth sheds to see all their shedmates.
"Whoa!" gasped Thomas when he rolled onto the turntable. "What's happened here? You all look very shiny."
"That's because we've been rewarded for our hard work." Henry explained, "our crews polished us all up."
"They will have to work hard to get you two looking as smart as the rest of us," chuckled Gordon. "I heard word that the Midland engines were being polished down on the Kirk Ronan branch too."
"Oh wow," gasped Toby; Thomas had rolled off the turntable to the track outside his berth, leaving Toby to get on the turntable.
"I know, Gordon," said Thomas; as he was talking, Toby was turned to his berth and he rolled onto the track outside it. "But I've just realised something; it's been a whole year since Mrs Kindley saved Annie, Clarabel and I from that landside when she was ill in bed."
"A whole year?" gasped James. "Are you serious?"
"Yes," Thomas confirmed. "It's gotta be. Toby didn't join us until that year."
"Oh, of course," said Edward. "You told us how Mrs Kindley waved her red dressing gown in front of her window and it saved you from a nasty accident."
"And you and Toby gave Mrs Kindley presents and Sir Topham Hatt sent her to Bournemouth to get better." added Percy.
"But the rest of us…" trailed James.
"We never really had a chance to say thank you." Henry finished.
"Exactly," said Thomas. "So, I was wondering, what if we all had a party, here at the sheds, to thank her?"
"Thomas, that's a great idea!" smiled Toby.
"Let's do it!" cried Percy.
"Excellent suggestion." agreed Gordon.
"That would be wonderful." Edward put in.
"It does sound like fun." added Henry.
"Let's run it through with Sir Topham Hatt." James put in.
"What idea would that be?" asked the controller in question, making the seven engines jump.
Thomas quickly outlined the idea, and Sir Topham Hatt smiled.
"That's a splendid idea, Thomas," he agreed. "We've no trains running on Christmas or Boxing Day. But, many people would want to spend Christmas with their loved ones, so I suggest we have the party on Boxing Day."
In the mail, Mrs Kindley received a letter, and showed it to her husband.
"Look at this, dear," she called, opening it and unfolding the message.
Thomas, Toby and Friends request the pleasure of the company of Mr. and Mrs. Kyndley at a party at Tidmouth locomotive sheds on Boxing Day at 5 PM. RSVP – Sir Topham Hatt, Wellsworth, Sodor.
"Oh, how nice of them," smiled Mr. Kindley. "They didn't have to do that."
"I know, but I'm glad they did," replied Mrs Kindley. "We'll go and visit them all at the party. I hardly ever get to see Percy, Edward and the big engines."
The days went by for everyone involved, and the engines became more and more excited. This excitement was contagious, as even Annie and Clarabel stopped complaining.
"Just think," said Annie, "all fifteen of us together. It will be a massive celebration."
"How close is the day now, Thomas?" asked Clarabel.
"Let's see…" Thomas thought aloud as they came into Knapford, platform 2. "The Yuletide Express started trains on the 1st, and…"
"Christmas Eve Express coming through."
"Oh, thanks for answering my question, Gordon." chuckled Thomas. "It's the 24th - Christmas Eve… Christmas Eve?!" he gasped. "Alright, girls. Let's get into overdrive, lots of passengers to get through!"
The coaches knew that lots of people would be wanting to ride in them today, and Annie and Clarabel set to work with a will. By the end of the day, the work was over, and Thomas shunted the coaches into a shed close by Tidmouth. Toby did the same thing with Henrietta, Edward arranged Audrey, Hilary and Mark and James did the same for the red coaches, Sean, Mick, Harry Dexter and Randolph together.
"When the party is on, we'll come back to get you," said Toby. "This is just to keep you warm."
"Thank you, Toby," smiled Henrietta as the three engines went to Tidmouth sheds.
"Do you think we'll all wear Santa hats?" asked Harry.
"If they can find some big enough to fit the front of us," chuckled Annie.
"How would they even stay on us?" asked Clarabel.
"Maybe we can ask the engines' drivers to wire them down." Dexter suggested.
"Not a bad idea," said Randolph.
"We'll have to ask them when they come back for us," said Mick.
"This is going to be a massive occasion," said Mark.
"Most definitely," said Hilary, "I can't wait."
"Ooh, the decorations will be a sight," smiled Audrey.
"But for now, let's get some sleep," said Sean.
On Christmas Day, the engines were all decorated in a very special way. Their lamp irons had yellow stars, the tops of their smoke boxes had holly leaves and berries - Toby's was just below his roof - and they had silver and gold tinsel on their buffer beams. The shed itself was covered in lights, and there was a Christmas tree standing at the back of the sheds, ready to be brought into the middle for the following day. As they had no trains to take, they all kept themselves entertained by telling each other stories until it was time for Bill, Ben and the Midland engines to join them.
"... And that was when I helped Strandford to the next station," Toby was saying, "he was telling me that festival time was the best time of the year."
"I bet it is," said Percy with a grin. "Oh, did you see some seagulls?"
Before Toby could reply, the door of the sheds burst open, causing the engines to shiver. The sheds had been so warm that they all forgot the weather outside.
"Is it just me, or has the weather turned to a blizzard?!" exclaimed Edward.
"It has, Edward," Sir Topham Hatt confirmed. "Not only that, but Mr. and Mrs Kindley are snowed up at Hackenbeck!"
"WHAT?!" the engines exclaimed in shock, and they started to chatter in an outright panic.
"SILENCE!" Sir Topham Hatt bellowed; he took a deep breath. "We'll need snowplows to rescue them. Thomas, I know you hate your snowplow, but what do you say?"
"I won't give up on Mr and Mrs Kindley." Thomas said determinedly. "Mrs Kindley didn't give up on me when I was in trouble. We must rescue them. We must!"
"Can I lend a buffer too sir?" asked Toby.
"That's a good engine." nodded Sir Topham Hatt.
Early next morning, the two engines were fitted with snow plows and a work van was put between them full of workmen.
"Good luck you two!" called Percy.
"Stay safe!" added Edward.
"Get the Kindleys' back safely too," put in Gordon.
"Watch out for icy rails!" came Henry's voice.
"And don't come off the tracks!" James called.
"Thank you!" called Toby and Thomas as they left.
Thomas and Toby puffed through the snow as best they could.
"I see a snowdrift up ahead, Toby," called Thomas. "If we back up a bit, we may be able to charge it down."
"Okay." Toby called back. "Tell me when to go forward."
The two backed up a bit, and Thomas blew his whistle.
"Now, Toby!"
They charged it, and the snowdrift flew clear.
"Well done, Toby!" Thomas smiled. "Let's see if we can do that again."
Sometimes, they were able to do just that. But some drifts were more solid.
"Bother," sighed Thomas. "Back up a bit, Toby. The workmen need to soften the snow."
The tram engine did so, and when the workmen were able to loosen up the snow and dig the worst of it away, Thomas and Toby tried again.
"Much better," sighed Toby. "I think we're getting the hang of this, Thomas."
"Though we may need some stronger engines to come and clear the snow at some point." Thomas said quietly.
Eventually, they reached the cottage, and the engines could go no further.
"I think the snow is too thick, Toby," sighed Thomas. "Let's try and get the Kindleys' attention from here."
Thomas blew his whistle and Toby rang his bell as loudly as they could. "We're here!" They both called.
"Thomas, Toby," came Mrs Kindley's voice from the upstairs window. "It's so good to see you. I'm not sure how I'm supposed to get out of here though."
Much to the duo's surprise, there was a honking noise from the back of the house. "I'm here too, Thomas and Toby." said a familiar voice, and there clearing the road was…
"Terence!" Thomas exclaimed. "Are we glad to see you!"
"You've done well to make it here," said the tractor, "especially for someone who doesn't like their snowplow."
Thomas blushed in embarrassment at that remark.
Back at Tidmouth, Henrietta was swept and decorated as never before so she could give Mr and Mrs Kindley a ride home. Of course, this was a special honour, but the old coach was fretting.
"Oh, what if Toby's ended up in a snowdrift?" she said worriedly. "Or what if he's come off the tracks? Or what if…"
"Easy, Henrietta," Percy soothed. The green saddle tank engine had a snowplow of his own, and gently buffered up to the coach. "Toby will be fine. He and Thomas both." He added on starting.
"But they are usually very punctual," sighed Henrietta. "It's getting very late. What if…"
"We've only just left," Percy reminded her. "We'll get to Elsbridge and wait for them there."
Eventually, the duo got to Elsbridge, and Percy was topping off on water and coal, when he and Henrietta heard a familiar whistle and bell.
"There you two are!" cried Percy.
"Toby!" Henrietta cried, "Oh, thank goodness you're okay."
"And you say I'm the one who worries," Toby rolled his eyes playfully. "Come on; we'll go collect the Kindleys."
"Percy, you take the workman back," said Thomas.
The engines quickly changed rolling stock, and Toby and Thomas headed back for the Kindleys. Percy came back to the sheds after grabbing Annie and Clarabel and arranging them accordingly. James and Edward did the same thing with the red coaches and old coaches respectively. Even Bertie, Algy, Trevor and a few others were invited to the party.
"Okay everyone, be quick," Percy announced, "the party will be starting very soon!"
"I hope Thomas, Toby and Henrietta get back soon," said Annie.
"Buffers crossed, Annie," agreed Clarabel. "I'd hate for them to miss out."
Night had fallen by the time the trio came back to the sheds.
"Oh no!" gasped Thomas. "Are we too late?"
"It seems that way." sighed Toby.
"Oh, don't be so sure," chuckled Henrietta quietly.
The Christmas lights all flicked on, taking the two engines by surprise.
"Merry Christmas, Mrs Kindley!" The engines, coaches and non-rail vehicles all cried happily.
"Well done, Thomas and Toby." smiled Sir Topham Hatt. "I'm most proud of both of you."
"Thank you so much for rescuing me and my husband." said Mrs Kindley, "you were both very brave, as was Terence, who is currently looking after our house."
"So, you're Mrs Kindley," said Percy with wonder. "It's an honour to meet you, Missus. Thank you so much for saving Thomas last year."
"You must be Percy," she replied, "I hear you were a brave little engine too. Bringing Henrietta to collect my husband and I."
The green tank engine blushed modestly. "It was nothing, much…"
"One small act of kindness goes a long way, Mrs Kindley," smiled Edward. "On behalf of all of us, we can't thank you enough for saving Thomas."
"Especially when you were that sick too," said Henry. "You were very brave to use your dressing gown as a red flag."
"We're glad you could be here with us tonight," said Gordon.
"It's an honour to officially meet you," put in James.
"Likewise," she replied. "It's so good to see all of you here in one night for this special occasion."
"Three cheers for Mrs Kindley!" cried Percy, and the engines all gave three whistles - bell in Toby's case and horn for the buses - in acclimation.
Everyone sang carols together in perfect harmony. Many of the classic carols were sung - Jingle Bells, Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer, Deck the Halls, Silent Night, among many others - but they finished up with We Wish You A Merry Christmas.
Before the engines, coaches, Trevor and the buses all knew it, the festivities were over. The coaches were all put away in the carriage shed for the night, Bertie, Algy and the other buses back to their garage, and the engines all went back to their own sheds. Trevor stayed with the coaches that night.
"That was a great party." said Thomas sleepily. "Plowing through the snow was well worth it."
The other six engines had to agree, and they all drifted off happily to sleep. Another year was very close to ending, but a new year's worth of adventures was just around the corner.
The End
Wow, there was a lot of content behind this story. The book was even longer than the episode, and I personally don't think the episode does this story justice. Oh it's not bad, but there's a few details that the episode misses out on. The engines' being decorated for example, and Henrietta was also decorated up for the Kindleys. Some bits came from an audio drama Zack put together back in 2014. I myself voiced Mrs Kindley, Annie, Clarabel Henrietta and Percy for that.
The Yuletide Express is a nod to WildNorWester's series, Sodor the Early/Modern Years. Except his version is just the one train. Mine is a series of trains that take place between December 1st to December 24th each year. Of course, Gordon likes to nickname that last one the "Christmas Eve" express. ;)
That's the last one from this massive block of episodes that take place between TACO and LECDBT. Join me next time for when we see Duck and Harold make their debut in standalone episodes.
