Moral: safety first/always be careful with snow
Short Synopsis: Mike, Rex and Bert deliver coal to all the stations around Arlesburgh during winter nights but Mike gets fed up with wearing his snowplow and decides to make his delivery without one…until disaster strikes with a surprise snowstorm.
(Scene starts with snow falling upon the Arlesburgh line. Oliver and Donald pass by each other with trucks of coal and whistle)
Winters on the Island of Sodor can be very cold. It is around this time of year when the engines are deliver coal to the stations in the evening to keep the passengers warm.
(Ryan brings coal to a station by Arlesburgh and the next scene cuts to passengers sitting by the fireplace)
This way, they can have toasty warm fires to sit by in the evening.
(Duck and Donald pass by each other in the snow with trucks of coal)
No matter what the weather, the engines always make their deliveries on time. That is…when they have snowplows.
(Scene cuts to Mike huffily plowing his way through the snow)
Some engines don't mind snow, but they also don't enjoy wearing their snowplows. Mike, from the Arlesdale Railway, was one of those engines. He didn't mind the snow one bit but he hated wearing his snowplow.
(Mike grunts as he pushes his plow through the snow. Rex is on the other line and whistles at him as they both stop at the signal)
Rex: (teasingly) Enjoying the snow there, Mike? (chuckles)
Mike was very indignant.
Mike: You may think this is very funny, Rex, but you wouldn't be laughing if you had so many snow drifts to plow through on YOUR track, now would you?
Rex: I wouldn't find it very reliable either. (his signal turns green and he whistles) That's why I'm always careful when the snowy weather occurs. (chuffs away, laughing)
(Mike rolls his eyes and whistles and chuffs away as soon as his signal turned green. Next scene cuts to Duck and Oliver on their branch line when they both arrive at a signal)
Meanwhile, Duck and Oliver were busy clearing snowdrifts along the tracks of the "Little Western" branch line when they met each other at a signal.
Duck: (whistles) Good evening, Oliver. Good evening, Toad. How have you two been enjoying your passenger trains today?
Oliver: Same as always, Oliver. Everything is fine. But all this snow makes my boiler feel chilly. Not only that but we have much more passengers to carry. Isabel and Dulcie are packed and I bet your coaches Alice and Mirabel have the same feeling.
Alice: Quite right, Oliver.
Mirabel: It's always the same with these cold winters.
Isabel: Same here. We've felt so full the entire day, right, Dulcie?
Dulcie: (sighs) You can say that again, Isabel.
Toad: I know how you ladies feel. It's a little hard for Mr. Oliver and I to deliver coal in this weather.
Duck: Well, we'll just have to put up with it, Toad. Anyway, we're not the only ones delivering coal tonight. Douglas is bringing coal up to Arlesdale so that the engines who work up there can deliver coal as well. I'm off to bring Alice and Mirabel back to the yard. You best be doing you're the same with your coaches, Oliver. (whistles and chuffs away when his signal turns green) Later, you two.
Oliver: (whistles) Bye, Duck.
Toad: Bye, Mr. Duck.
(Oliver chuffs away as soon as his signal turns green. Next scene cuts to Douglas bringing coal up to Arlesdale)
Meanwhile, Douglas was bringing several trucks of coal up to the Arlesdale railway where the smaller engines worked. This way, the stations on Arlesdale could keep warm as well. Bert, Rex and Mike gave him a warm welcome when he arrived.
Bert,
Rex And (blowing their whistles) Good evening, Douglas.
Mike:
Douglas: Good evening, ya three. Here is yer coal trucks, all for the long wintry night. My twin Donal' is busy delivering coal to all the stations by the harbor. Eh, isn't this weather a fine sight?
Mike: Not when it's blistering cold, Douglas.
Bert: (sighs) What Mike means to say is that he doesn't really enjoy the cold weather.
Rex: Like he doesn't act cold enough as it is (chuckles, while Mike just looks away indignantly)
Douglas: (chuckles) Well, I don't blame the wee lad. I mean, Donal' and I, we're used to snow and we always make sure we have our snowplows are fitted when we go out in this weather.
Mike: Hmph! Well, I think snowplows are useless. They're not much fun to wear and very uncomfortable if you ask me.
Bert: But Douglas is right, Mike. Snowplows are essential to every engine no matter what the condition is.
Rex: The only problem I have with the snow is that sometimes I have traction trouble. The cold weather is not always adjustable to it.
Douglas: Aye. But we must always be prepared for this weather regardless of how we feel aboot it. (whistles) Good night, you all. (chuffs away)
Bert: (sighs) Well, come on, you two. Let's get to work. We have many stations to deliver coal to.
(Bert, Rex and Mike whistle as they get ready for their journey)
And so the three engines worked all through the night to deliver coal to all the stations around the railway. Mike found the journey most uncomfortable.
Mike: (fuming) This snowplow makes me feel awkward!
(Mike approaches a station with his coal trucks. A Christmas tree is standing tall there)
He felt much better as he pulled into the station and saw the beautiful Christmas tree that stand in the center. The men got to work at unloading coal. It wasn't long before they were finished.
(Mike whistles as he chuffs away)
Man #1: Thank you, Mike.
Man #2: Yeah, thank you, Mike. Goodbye now.
Soon Mike finished making his deliveries and he returned his trucks to the yard. After that, he headed home to the sheds. When he got there, Bert was already waiting.
(Mike chuffs into the middle berth beside Bert)
Mike: Phew, glad that's over.
Bert: Oh, are you now, Mike?
Mike: Why is it always when around this time of year where the cold weather starts picking up a bit more?
Bert: It's just how the season works, Mike, young fellow. And it can very hard for an engine to deal with too.
Rex: (whistling while chuffing into the left end berth of the shed, teasingly) Having trouble with the snow again, Mike?
Mike: (sighs) You said it, Rex. I can't wait for this weather to be over.
Rex: I sometimes have a few troubles with gripping my wheels in the snow as well, you know, but I don't let snow get the better of me.
Mike: Well, it looks like I'm not the only one who has a problem with the weather.
Bert: Snow can be a problem for any engine, Mike. But the best way to prevent it is by using safe precautions at all times. We should go to sleep now, you two. And don't worry. Things are bound to look better in the morning.
Mike: (yawning) Whatever…you say…mm…Bert. (closes his eyes and quickly goes to sleep.
With that, the three fell asleep as the snow continued to fall. It covered the whole railway from all around.
(Scene cuts to morning. Mr. Duncan arrives at the sheds)
The next morning, The Small Controller, Mr. Duncan arrived to see his engines.
Francis: Good morning, Mike, Rex and Bert. I bet you'll be glad to hear that we have no snow falling all day.
Mike: That's great news, sir.
Francis: However, tonight there may be a chance of snow and it could be serious so please, wherever you go, please wear your snowplows. That's all for now.
Mike: I don't think we'll need our snowplows today, sir. The weather looks fine.
Francis: I check the weather report every morning, Mike. And the forecast for tonight looks in no way fine. You must wear your snowplow in the winter whatever the weather.
Mike: But, sir…
Francis: (firmly) That's an order, Mike.
(Mike sighs and leaves the shed, blowing his whistle, Mr. Duncan watching after him. Next scene cuts to a view over Arlesburgh with Mike chuffing along the track)
Mike chuffed on his way to the fitter's yard. As he looked up to the sky, he was most indignant.
Mike: Not a snowdrop in sight. Mr. Duncan's always assuming too many things all at once.
Mike arrived to the fitter's yard to get his snowplow fitted. Bert and Rex arrived shortly afterwards. Mike was getting very impatient as the workmen set to work with fitting his snowplow on.
Mike: Come on, hurry up! (whistling impatiently)
Rex: (chuckling) Why the rush, Mike?
Mike: If I'm gonna get this silly little thing fitted on, then it might as well be done quickly so that I can get on with my work.
Bert: These things take time, Mike. It's best to be patient about it unless you actually want to cause a disturbance.
(Mike huffs before rolling his eyes and looking away)
The workmen were struggling with fitting on Mike's snowplow. It was taking a long time. At last, the manager came over.
Manager: (sighing) I'm sorry, Mike. It seems that my men cannot fit your snowplow on properly.
Workmen #1: It looks damaged to us. You've shook it hard enough to damage it enough, Mike.
Workmen #2: Indeed. You must be careful with this thing, Mike.
Manager: Much agreed. We'll have it done by tonight. You'll have to do for today without a plow
Mike was very happy with this.
Mike: That's alright, sir. I'll manage without one.
Manager: But…you must come back tonight to collect your snowplow. Orders from Mr. Duncan. (firmly) And be careful with it, too. My men work hard on mending these things, you know.
(Mike groans. Bert and Rex laugh. Mike whistles and chuffs away)
Mike was happy that he didn't have to wear his snowplow for a day. But he knew deep down that it wouldn't last long. Once at the yard, he went to collect his coaches and backed roughly up to them.
Mike: (to himself) I wonder what's the point of pulling passengers every morning. Must be part of the new seasonal timetable. (whistling and chuffing away) In fact, Bert and Rex like it better than I do. I enjoy a nice goods train when the time allows it.
Then Rex arrived to pick up his coaches.
Rex: (whistling as he backs up to his coaches, teasingly) Mind the snow, Mike. (chuckles)
Mike just ignored Rex and chuffed out of the yard. He fumed all the way to Arlesburgh Junction, where Donald was waiting with a goods train.
Donald: (whistles) G'day, Mike. (gasps) Aye, weer's yer snowplow? All engines must wear snowplows during the winter, ya know.
Mike: It's at the fitter's yard being repaired, Donald. (sighs) And unfortunately I have to go and pick it up again tonight for my coal deliveries.
Donald: Ooh, well, maybe ya wouldn't hate it as much if ya knew how useful it was.
Mike: Pfft, well unfortunately for you, I don't see the point in wearing one.
Donald: Think about it this way, Mike. Yer lucky to even be standing on your own wheels.
Mike: And you're lucky to even be pulling goods, Donald.
Donald: Whaddaya mean?
Mike: I prefer goods train to passengers. Bert and Rex know me well enough to realize that.
Donald: Yer turn will coom up soon. Ya wait and see, Mike. (whistles and chuffs away)
(Mike whistles as his passengers exit the coaches the guard's whistles blows. Then he carries on)
Mike thought hard all morning about what Donald had said.
Mike: Silly big engines. Who's he to tell me how lucky I am. Donald's a big engine with big jobs. I'm a smaller engine with simpler jobs to do. He doesn't realize how much more difficult the snow can be for me.
(Scene cuts to Arlesburgh Junction with Bert dropping off passengers as Mike chuffs in)
Mike delivered the last of his passengers to Arlesburgh Junction. He met Bert who was also dropping off passengers.
Bert: Feeling any better, Mike?
Mike: Not a bit, Bert. It's nice to have a break from my snowplow but for it to only last the entire afternoon isn't quite enough for me.
Bert: You'll get used to it some time around, Mike. (guard's whistle blows and Bert blows his whistle) Just remember how lucky you are to even be standing on your own wheels. (chuffs away)
And he chuffed away to return his coaches to the yard. Mike thought he would do the same thing.
(Mike whistles and chuffs away as soon as his guard's whistle blows. Next scene cuts to Mike being uncoupled from his coaches in a siding and chuffing away)
Mike returned his coaches to the yard and then went to collect his goods train.
(Scene cuts to Arlesburgh Harbor with Mike pulling in with his good train)
Mike arrived at the harbor to drop a shipment ready to be brought out to sea.
(Oliver whistles as he stops on the track across from Mike)
Oliver: Hello, Mike. How's your day going?
Mike: (sighs) Better now that I don't have to wear my snowplow, Oliver.
Oliver: (confused) Your snowplow? What do you mean by that? Every engine must wear a snowplow in the winter. It's essential.
Toad: Agreed. Like the cold weather isn't bad enough for one's wheels.
Mike: My plow is being repaired at the fitter's yard and I am not supposed to wear it until is fixed later on tonight.
Oliver: (a suspicious look on his face) I see.
Mike: Anyway, I don't see the point in going back for such a silly thing. It's too uncomfortable. Might as well just get my evening train over and done with while I'm still at it.
Oliver: Well, I'd take care if I were you, Mike. I'm not that fond of snow either but I know I'll be safe as long as I have my plow. (whistles and chuffs away) Goodbye, now.
Toad: Goodbye, Mr. Mike. And remember, take care.
(Mike sighs and whistles as he carries on)
Mike was standing no advice from his friends today. He was already in enough of a hurry as it was.
Mike: Maybe if I get all my afternoon jobs done and deliver coal to all the stations early, I won't have to work this evening and neither will I have to worry about that silly old plow.
But he said it too soon. When Mike arrived back at Arlesburgh Junction, Mr. Duncan was waiting for him.
Francis: There you are, Mike. I take it that you don't have many jobs later.
Mike: Um, no, sir. Would you like me to get a head start on the coal deliveries?
Francis: Absolutely not, Mike. That is an evening job. (Mike sighs in dismay) What I would like you to do later is pick up all the passengers and take them home. By the time you get back, Douglas will be here with the coal trucks and the workmen will be on break. You will have plenty of time to ease your axels before your evening journey.
Mike: But, sir, I prefer pulling goods. Can't Bert or Rex do it instead?
Francis: (sternly) Absolutely not, Mike. They have their own jobs to do and so do you.
Mike: But, sir…
Francis: (sternly) Really useful engines don't argue, Mike.
(Mike sighed and whistled as he left the junction, Mr. Duncan watching after him)
Mike felt more indignant than ever. First, he had to take passengers home, which wasn't his favorite job, and then he had to wear his snowplow again in the evening. This did not make him happy at all.
(Scene cuts to the junction with Mike returning his trucks and then chuffing away again)
Soon he was done with his goods trains for the day and then went to collect his coaches. Mike picked up and dropped off passengers from station to station and got it done all in good time. He began to feel a little pleased with himself, but he still tried hard not think about having to wear his dreaded snowplow. Suddenly, on his way back to the Junction, an idea popped into Mike's funnel.
Mike: (to himself, with a grin on his face) Oh, no. I won't be wearing my snowplow tonight. And I'll make sure of it too.
(Scene cuts to dark as Mike arrives back at the Junction with empty trucks between Rex and Bert)
It was dark when Mike arrived back at the Junction. His driver and fireman went away for the workmen's break and soon after, Douglas arrived.
Douglas: (whistling as he chuffs up beside Bert) Good evening, ya three.
Bert
And Good evening, Douglas.
Rex:
Douglas: Here are yer coal cars. Say, the snow's about to fall soon. It's good to see that ya two have snowplows. What about you, Mike?
Mike: (sighs) I guess I'll have to collect mine eventually. It's bound to be fixed by now.
Douglas: (as the coal is shoveled from his trucks into Bert, Rex and Mike's trucks) Aye. But ya'd have to wait for yer trucks first.
The three engines waited as the coal was loaded into their trucks. By this time, the workmen's break was over. Mike was finally setting his idea into action.
Mike: (whistling as he chuffs away when his crew walks up) Have a good night, my fellow engines.
Mike's Driver: Mike, wait!
Mike's Fireman: Wait for us!
But it was too late. Mike had already left, and abandoned his crew.
Bert: He's going to get himself into a lot of trouble now unless Rex or I catch up with him.
Douglas: No. Ya two have coal to deliver so stick to it. I shall take Mike's driver and fireman to find him. We must catch up with him before he digs himself into trouble.
Mike's Driver: (as he walks into Douglas' cab) Thank you, Douglas. (The fireman walks into the cab after him)
Douglas: (whistling as the shunter uncouples his trucks from him) No problem. Better hurry now. We must not let Mike get delayed. (chuffs quickly away)
(Scene cuts to the fitter's yard with Mr. Duncan and the workmen waiting)
At the fitter's yard, Mr. Duncan was deeply concerned.
Francis: Mike's snowplow has been repaired. I wonder why he's not here now.
Then the manager arrived
Manager: Sir, I've just received a call from Mike's crew over the telephone lines. They say he's left for his evening delivery without his crew and they're heading with Douglas to catch up with him.
Francis: (shocked) Oh, dear. I have to say this was very shameful of Mike. I must find him right away. (walks towards his car, hops in it and leaves)
Meanwhile, Mike was making his coal deliveries to all the stations in good timing and he never had trouble either. But every stop he made, the stationmaster would wonder about his snowplow. When Douglas arrived at each station, the stationmaster would give a similar explanation. At last, they reached the last station before the journey back to the Junction.
Stationmaster: I'm sorry. I have seen Mike tonight but he didn't pay attention when I asked him about his snowplow. What is that engine up to?
Douglas: He doesn't know what trouble he is getting himself into. I must find him, sir. I must. (whistles and chuffs away, the stationmaster waving after him)
Douglas decided he would take the shortcut back to the Junction.
Douglas: Maybe Mike is back by now. Let's just wait and see.
Meanwhile, Mike had finished all his coal deliveries and was taking the usual route back to the junction, which was the long way round. Mike thought he was being very clever. Suddenly, he saw snow falling from the sky.
Mike: Oh, dear. Mr. Duncan was right about the snowstorm.
But Mike didn't give up.
Mike: (boldly) I have been through snowstorms before. I can brave this one too, even without my snowplow.
But Mike soon realized that he couldn't. No matter how hard he chuffed, the snowfall got heavier and heavier until it started blocking the tracks and making Mike's journey a lot more difficult. His wheels tugged and tugged against the heavy snow, but the harder he chuffed, more snow fell on the track until Mike was nearly buried.
Mike: (struggling with his wheels moving against the snow) Oh, dear! I'm snowed under. (as the scene zooms out on him) Help!
Meanwhile, Douglas returned Mike's driver and fireman to the Junction. They were still worried about their engine and Douglas was disappointed that he didn't find Mike.
Douglas: I'm truly sorry. I've tried my best to find Mike and now he's lost.
Mike's Driver: Nothing you could have done, Douglas.
Mike's Fireman: Mike should know better than to take off on us like that.
(Douglas whistles and chuffs away)
Douglas chuffed sadly home. Then Mr. Duncan arrived.
Francis: (slamming the door to his car) Have any of you guys seen Mike? If not, I'm guessing he's in trouble with the snow by now because this is not normal.
Bert and Rex were also worried about their friend.
Bert: (chuffing forward) Please, sir. Can Mike and I go out and find Mike?
Rex: We still have our snowplows fitted.
Francis: (sighs) Very well. But make sure to bring him straight back here once you find him. I need to have a word with that engine.
(Bert and Rex whistle as they chuff away. Next scene cuts to Mike still stuck in the snow)
Meanwhile, Mike was still stuck as his wheels buried within the snow.
Mike: (sighs) Oh, dear. Maybe it was a good idea to wear my snowplow after all. The Small Controller will be very cross with me.
Just then, Rex and Bert arrived.
(Rex and Bert whistle as Bert chuffs up beside Mike and Rex chuffs up behind)
Mike was glad to see his friends.
Mike: Bert! Rex! You guys came to rescue me.
Bert: Of course we did, Mike.
Rex: (teasingly) We didn't want to let you have all the fun in the snow to yourself. (buffers up behind Mike)
With Rex's help, Mike was able to move slower along the track and push some of the snow aside until Bert switched tracks and buffered up behind him.
Bert: (as his crew couples Mike up to him and heads back into the cab) Off we go. (chuffs away with Mike and Rex behind him)
The three friends battled their way through the snow. By the time they got back to the shed, Mr. Duncan was still waiting and so was Mike's crew. They did not look very happy.
Francis: (severely) I am very disappointed with you, Mike. Just think about how much danger you've caused to yourself. You must never go out in the snow without a plow and you must never leave your crew behind like that.
Mike sighed and headed sadly to his shed. He was warm and cozy in the shed with his friends all night long, but still wondered on how Mr. Duncan was going to handle the situation of him going into the snow without a plow.
(Scene cuts to morning with Mr. Duncan arriving at the shed)
He found out next morning.
Francis: Morning weather report, my fellow engines; no snow has been reported until tomorrow, so it may be easier for you to do your work.
Mike: That's great news, sir. Will we still need our snowplows?
Francis: Funny how you asked that question, Mike. You won't need your snowplow today because you are not going out today?
Mike: I beg your pardon, sir.
Francis: You are to stay in your shed all day, Mike. Rex and Bert will do all the work in your place.
Rex: (tauntingly towards Mike) I guess I'll be taking the goods then, sir.
Francis: If you wish, Rex.
(Rex looked cheekily over at Mike, who just snorts)
Francis: Much to do, my fellow engines. I'll be off now.
Bert: (sympathetically as he whistles and chuffs away) Don't worry, Mike. It's for the best, you know.
Rex: (teasingly, as he whistles and chuffs away) At least you won't have to wear your snowplow now.
(Bert and Rex chuckle as they chuff away while Mike sighs and looks to the other side)
Mike was certainly not happy about staying his shed all day. The worst part was that Rex, who teased him the most, was allowed to his goods deliveries. But Douglas came to help Bert out at the Junction with passenger trains.
Douglas: (chuffing up near Mike's shed) It's good to see that yer okay, Mike. I've driven your driver and fireman around all night to look for ya.
Mike: Thank you, Douglas. I realized my mistake now. But Mr. Francis believes that a day in the shed will give me time to think things over.
Douglas: Aye, and quickly. I need to get work now. Goodbye, Mike. (whistles and chuffs away, Mike watching after him)
Mike stayed in the shed for the rest of the day so there were one less passenger train, but the passengers didn't mind. They knew that Mike was having a lesson and from the Junction platform, they could see him in the shed and started to chatter about it. Mike's face went as red as his paintwork.
(Mike's face turns red before the scene fades out and cuts to sunset and Bert and Rex reversing into their sheds, Mike in between)
That night, when Rex and Bert returned, Mike had something to say to his friends.
Mike: Thanks for helping me last night. You're both really good friends. I know my actions have given you two extra work to do today and I'm sorry.
Bert: That's okay, Mike.
Rex: (teasingly) Yeah, I had lots of fun taking the goods for you.
(The three engines laugh as Mr. Duncan walks up)
And for the first time all day, Mike actually smiled as he laughed along with his friends. Then Mr. Duncan came up. Mike stopped laughing and looked right at him.
Mike: I'm sorry, sir. I've done nothing useful all day but it taught me a great deal about working in the snow. I hope you can forgive me for my big mistake last night.
Francis: I do, Mike. And I appreciate the fact that you apologized and are willing to come out and be a useful engine again.
Mike: Oh, no problem, sir.
Francis: That's why I've decided to give Rex and Bert the night off and let you take the coal to all the stations around Arlesburgh.
Mike: Sure thing, sir.
Francis: That is…with your snowplow, of course.
Mike: (groaning) My snowplow?
Francis: Yes, Mike. It is waiting at the fitter's yard so hurry. You have a big job to do.
(Rex and Bert chuckle as Mike sighs and whistles before leaving the shed, Mr. Duncan laughing after him)
Mike felt a little worried about having to wear his snowplow again, but as long as he knew that it helped him stay safe in the snow, Mike decided that he would adjust to his plow once and for all. And that, for Mike, was enough to make the best of the winter weather.
(Scene zooms out on Rex, Bert and Mr. Duncan laughing at the shed and Mike chuffing away before it fades to white smoke)