Percy, James and the Fruitful Day

Based upon the story by Andrew Brenner, David Mitten and Britt Alcroft

Adapted by Rachel Ravens

Takes place between UWS and STLOE


The cleanup was still going on the North Western Railway following the storm, and the viaduct was being given repairs so it wouldn't collapse like it did when Duck was new to the railway. Things had been improving drastically with all seventeen engines working together.

"Do you need more tiles for the roof?" asked Percy to one of the workmen fixing up Ffarquhar station.

"We've got all the tiles we need for now, thank you Percy." He replied. "Do you think you can get some more bricks for the wall?"

"I'll see if there's some at the builders," called Percy. He puffed away to the builder's yard to collect some, and he found Thomas coming from the other direction with some timber.

"Hello Thomas," greeted Percy. "What's all that for?"

"Hello Percy. This is for Farmer Finnley's roof." he explained, "some of his crops that were growing in the greenhouse were destroyed due to the storm."

"And not long to go before market day!?" cried Percy. "Oh no!"

"I know," sighed Thomas. "This is not good. Some of his animals were in shock because of the storm too."

"I'm getting more bricks to fix Ffarquhar station," said Percy. "Do you think it will take a long time before we get the railway back to normal?"

"I personally don't think it will take as long as last time," said Toby as he trundled in with Henrietta to pick up some workmen. "Besides, with Donald and Douglas here now, things should be a lot smoother."

"Indeed," agreed Henrietta. "I'm more concerned about Sir Handel and Peter Sam. They do need more help to clear up their railway."

"It's a pity the only thing we can really do is get goods and workmen to Crovan's Gate to help them." sighed Thomas. "We can't go on their tracks."


Indeed, the clean up on the Skarloey Railway wasn't going nearly as well as that on the North Western Railway.

"Right before market day!?" Peter Sam was fretting to James at Crovan's Gate with his passenger train. "How will we run all the trains smoothly and clear things up with just the two of us?"

"If only engines could change sizes," sighed James, "then we could all help you."

"That would be handy," said a voice from the back of the train.

James' eyes nearly popped out. "You're not Beatrice!" he exclaimed when he saw a reddish brown guard's van.

"Beatrice is in for minor repairs," explained the guard's van. "My name's Cora."

"Oh, yes," said Peter Sam. "James, this is Cora. She was my guard's van from my old line. Cora, this is James. He's the only red engine on the North Western Railway at the moment."

"And I plan it to stay that way," James said proudly. "It makes me stand out from the others. The Midland engines are painted in a darker red to me."

"If you say so," Cora rolled her eyes.


Market day came sooner than expected. Percy was delivering some building materials to Dryaw station and the airfield.

"Hello, Harold," Percy greeted. "How are you handling this storm damage?"

"The workmen had pumped out the water from the station," said Harold, "but some of the walls are a bit unstable."

"Good thing I have this lot here, then," said Percy. "Sorry it got delayed. There were some track repairs down at Troyreck station." The little green engine shuddered when he mentioned the station's name.

"Still on your mind, chap?" asked Harold quietly.

"Y-yes…" he sighed. He was so lost in thought that he didn't notice the station master walk over.

"Percy," he said, snapping the little green tank engine out of his thoughts. "You're to collect some vans full of fruit and vegetables from Farmer McColl's and take them to market."

"Oh, yes station master," said Percy. He puffed away to fetch the box vans.


Percy buffered up to the vans and smiled as he saw Farmer McColl, who started to load his cargo into the vans.

"I'm glad to see your crops didn't get destroyed in the storm," he commented.

"Indeed," he agreed. "You three have been a massive help to get things back up and running on the branch line. Keep up the good work, Percy."

"I will." Percy smiled. It wasn't long before the guard's whistle blew and he was away. He was cheerfully making time along the line, but he didn't realise the trucks were chatting to each other.

"Hey," said one. "It's been quite a bore with the engines constantly running off to fix the railway up."

"Yeah," added another, "Percy should have picked us up ten minutes ago!"

"And he tells us not to cause confusion and delay." muttered a third.

"Let's pay Percy out for being late," said a fourth.

The trucks all giggled and whispered to each other, their breaks seeming to squeal as Percy pulled the train.

"Oh, come on!" snapped Percy. "You stupid things. We've got time to make up!"

"Should have thought about that before being late for us." retorted the first van.

"That's because I was helping to take supplies to Dryaw station!"

The arguing and holding back continued as Percy tried his best to get the train moving properly. Percy didn't dare bump the trucks, as he knew the crops could be ruined.


Later on, James had finished his passenger run and was on his way to collect some fruits and vegetables that had been growing on Farmer Collet's farm with some empty fruit and vegetable vans in tow. But much to his shock, his signal was red.

"You know, I may like being red, but I sure don't like the signals red when I'm in a hurry," he grunted.

"We can't help it, James," said the driver. "The line must be blocked or there's another train coming."

"Probably that Percy," James muttered. "I swear, what's kept him this time?!"

About five minutes later, Percy struggled out of the junction onto the main line.

"You should be at the next station by now!" snapped James. "You're late!"

"I know!" Percy retorted, "but I had to deliver supplies to Dryaw to help mend the station and air field, and these trucks have made things worse!"

"That's no excuse, Percy! Nothing should stop us." James grunted. "Sir Topham Hatt relies on all of us to be on time."

"Bossy buffers," muttered Percy. "I'll be on my way now!" But he was still struggling to get the trucks moving.

Just then, Donald was coming into Knapford with the red coaches, Sean, Mick, Harry and Dexter.

"Dae yi''ll need a buffer, Percy?" he asked kindly. "Ah will be oan break wance ah drap aff thae passengers."

"Yes, please, Donald." he smiled weakly.

After Duck collected the empty coaches, Donald gently buffered up in front of Percy. The trucks all shuddered when they saw him.

"Remember when Ol' Spiteful was bumped by him?" gulped one of the trucks.

"And his twin crushed him to bits," added another. "Watch your backs with this one."

Donald and Percy were away, and James could finally get moving.

"Took him long enough," he said to himself.


James eventually arrived at Farmer Collet's farm.

"Ah, James," he smiled, "glad you finally made it."

"Percy held me up," he grunted, "that's why I'm late."

"Only by a minute or two," shrugged Farmer Collet. "Let's get these fruits and vegetables loaded into your vans."

He and a few farmhands carefully loaded the goods into James' vans. Several types of produce were seen: apples, oranges, melons and bananas were the majority of what James saw.

"We'll be able to make a fruit salad with those," said James' driver.

"Not unless we buy them," chuckled the fireman. "Though I'd prefer if I made a smoothie with them myself."

"We've got time to make up," said James. "Sir Topham Hatt relies on us to be on time!"

"Calm down ol' boy," soothed the driver. "We've got plenty of time, and we can't go too fast. There are some repairs that we still haven't tended to."

After what seemed like an eternity for James, the driver and fireman hopped back into the cab and he started off again.

"Really reliable, that's me," James was boasting as he passed by Douglas who was waiting with Judy and Jerome in a siding; they were heading for the viaduct which was still under maintenance. "Pity the same can't be said for Percy. Goodbye."

"What was all that about?" gasped Judy.

"Yeah, I'm puzzled too," added Jerome.

"That wis trauchle." said Douglas with a chuckle. "Trauchle fur Jamas. Juist wait 'n' see."

Douglas was right, as James continued down the line, he found himself slowing down.

"Hey!" cried James, "What's going on? Why aren't I moving?"

"Oh, bother!" groaned the driver. "Your brakes are jammed. I can't release them."

"Well that's just great." muttered James. "What am I supposed to do now?"

An impatient whistle came from behind him.

"James!" snapped Gordon. "What is the meaning of this? The express is behind!"

"Er… sorry, Gordon."


Meanwhile, Donald and Percy arrived at the market, where porters started unloading the produce from the vans.

"Thank you, Donald," said Percy. "I didn't bump the trucks because I was worried the produce would have been damaged."

"Di nae fass yerself, Percy." smiled Donald. "Ah completely ken whit yer mean."

The Scottish engine then went to get some coal and a drink before he was due to go back to Tidmouth, and Percy did likewise to take the vans back to the yards. Before either engine could depart, a signalman came up.

"James has jammed brakes down the line," he explained. "We need help right away."

"Och, A've git anither goods train very soon," Donald realised. "Ah canae dae it."

"I've just got to deliver my empty vans back," said Percy. "Donald, you're on your way back to Tidmouth to collect your train, right? You can take the empty vans back, and I'll go help James."

"Guid idea, Percy," Donald agreed, and the two engines set action to word.


The little green tank engine found James stuck on the line with Gordon still whistling impatiently.

"Got yourself in a jam, eh, James?" chuckled Percy as he went to buffer up to him. "What you might call a 'sticky situation', and not very reliable either."

"Be quiet!" retorted James. "It's not funny having jammed breaks."

Percy moved James out of the way onto a siding and Gordon finally could pass.

"Took long enough." muttered the express engine as he shot off like a rocket.

"I am surprised you let it happen, James." Percy went on, "Nothing should stop us engines-"

"That's enough, Percy," his driver interrupted. "Can you get these trucks to the market?"

"Of course I can," smiled the tank engine. "There's no time to lose. James has done too much of that already." He quickly put James on the next siding - James hissing steam rudely at him as he did so - out of the way and was coupled to the trucks, facing backwards - Not that it mattered, he was a tank engine. Then he puffed down the mainline. "I'll have to go fast to get there in time. These big engines are so unreliable."

"Oh, you are asking for it, Percy…" grunted James.


Percy went as fast as he could down the track, but he wasn't focused on what was going on around him.

"Must make up time, must make up time," he puffed to himself.

"Do be careful, Percy," said his driver.

Unfortunately for Percy, he didn't realise the points hadn't been fixed yet, and he had been diverted onto a siding.

"Look out, Percy!" cried his driver, and shut off steam and applied the brakes. It was too late for Percy, but the crew had jumped clear just in time.

SPLATTER, SPLASH!

Squashed fruit landed all over poor Percy as he broke the first van.

"Ugh…" grunted Percy. "I wasn't expecting that to happen…"

"Looks like Farmer Finnley's not the only one with damaged crops…" sighed the fireman.

Just then, Nicole arrived with some workmen to help fix the points.

"Bust my buffers, Percy!" she cried. "Are you alright?"

"I think my pride is more hurt than anything else," Percy admitted.

"I'll go get help," said Nicole, and her driver quickly set detonators on the main line before she went back to the yards.


Later, Nicole returned with Judy and Jerome, as well as Sir Topham Hatt.

"Percy," groaned Sir Topham Hatt. "You are not to blame for the points failure, but I do not run a jam factory."

"Yes sir… no sir," sighed Percy. He sadly puffed away to get cleaned up.


Later that evening, the engines were gathered at Tidmouth Sheds. Though Thomas, Percy and Toby were going to sleep at Ffarqhuar and the Midland engines were going to sleep at Vicarstown, they were on the sidings outside the sheds to visit before heading there. Unfortunately, there was a silence over the sheds, rather than the usual chatter.

"You know," Thomas said to no engine in particular, "there's more than one way to get jammed. We all learned that today."

Toby smiled and took over. "What's more," the tram engine continued, "we also learn that when engines help each other out of a… 'jam'," this earned him a glare from Percy, "things can still go wrong."

"So?" said James.

"So," finished Duck, "that means we learned a lot today, and therefore,"

"We're all really useful engines after all." The engines choursed together.

"Especially as we're making great progress with the storm damage." Henry put in. "I'm sure we can get this done before the Summer rush hits."

"That's the spirit, Henry," smiled Edward. "Now, I feel we've all earned ourselves a good night's sleep."

The Ffarquhar trio and the Midland quintet happily headed for their respective shed, while the other engines fell sound asleep.

The End


Three S3 originals in a row? Wow.

Okay, this episode is funny, but it did have a couple of problems. What were Thomas, Annie and Clarabel randomly doing on those tracks, for a start? And why are there 11 berths in Tidmouth sheds? Okay, that would be very handy, especially since a certain little Western tank engine has yet to show up, but still.

This carries on from the previous episode's storm damage, which adds more reason as to why Percy's late. There's also a nod to the United We Stand special as Percy remembers Thomas' fall in the mine. I also gave small roles to Duck, Donald and Douglas, as well as Judy and Jerome. Cora also makes her debut here, and we learn that Peter Sam and Sir Handel are indeed struggling with maintenance work and the normal trains with the storm damage.

Well, this is the last one-shot for now. I've caught up with the timeline Zack's set up. Tune in with Zack and I next time for Skarloey, The Little Old Engine mini-special on his account.