Trouble in the Shed
The Fat Controller was in his office looking at some papers. Suddenly he heard a knock at his door.
The Fat Controller: Come in!
Tramp: Hello sir; is it alright if I speak with you for a bit?
The Fat Controller let Tramp in and he walked to his desk.
The Fat Controller: Something the matter?
Tramp: Well you see sir it's the mainline engines sir. We're worried for them and for you.
The Fat Controller stared.
Tramp: Forgive me sir, but this past week has not been good for us; they've been complaining about the shunting business and I understand because my son and Thomas have a branch line and you don't have enough money for a new engine, but they don't seem to understand that. It's not just me; Pongo and Jock have the same trouble with their engines as well, and we would like something to be done about this sir.
The Fat Controller was about to say something, when he and Tramp heard some angry passengers in his office, just then the station master came in.
Station Master: Pardon me sir, but there's trouble in the shed sir. Henry is sulking, there is no train, and the passengers are saying this is a bad railway.
This made Tramp and the Fat Controller worried.
The Fat Controller: I see; then will you go and try to quite the passengers please. Me and Tramp will go and speak to Henry.
Pongo and Jock were trying their best to get Henry, Gordon, and James to work, but to no avail.
Pongo: Come on Henry; do you want to lose your job?
Just then they saw the Fat Controller and Tramp coming this way.
Tramp: What's wrong?
Jock: How do you think; we were worry something like this would happened and now they refused to work at all.
Tramp: Where are their drivers and firemen?
Pongo: They lied to them saying that it's their day off.
The Fat Controller and Tramp just faced palmed.
The Fat Controller: That's the last time I hired someone straight out of high school. Come along Henry it's time your train was ready.
Gordon: Henry is not going! We won't shunt like common tank engines; that was Thomas and Scamp's job. We are important tender engines; you fetch are coaches and we will pull them.
Tramp: You're kidding right? Come on Gordon this is silly and you know it, times change and the Fat Controller still hasn't enough money to get another engine, if we don't hurry we're going to be late and we'll be out of a job soon.
Gordon: That's not our problem; it's not our fault that he hasn't enough money, unless you get someone to fetch our coaches, then we refused to move. Tender engines don't shunt.
The Fat Controller: Oh indeed. We'll see about that. Engines on my railway do as they are told.
And he hurried away, with Tramp following behind.
Tramp: What now sir?
The Fat Controller: Well we'll have to find some help, until I can get enough money to buy an engine.
Tramp: It's a shame it has to be this way. It wasn't like this before, and it would never happen if Thomas and Scamp didn't get their branch line.
The Fat Controller: Now come on don't talk like that. You said it yourself that time changes we can't help that. It's best if we leave Thomas and Scamp alone for now; they've got their own work to deal with, but I know someone that isn't busy.
They've reached the yard and found Edward shunting and Lady in his cab. She was surprised to see her husband and the Fat Controller.
The Fat Controller: Leave those trucks please Edward; I would like you and Lady to work with Tramp and the others in the yard.
And they told them what had happened.
Lady: Thank you sir, I would love to work with my husband and his friends for a change.
The Fat Controller: There's some useful workers; off you two go then.
So Edward found coaches for the three engines and from that day the trains ran as usual.
But next morning both Edward and Lady looked unhappy, Tramp was in Edward's cab confronting the two. Gordon came clanking by, hissing rudely at them.
Gordon: HISS!
Tramp: Gordon!
The Fat Controller: Bless me; what a noise.
Edward: They all hiss at me and Lady, sir. They say tender engines don't shunt.
Lady: Oh its horrible sir, and a few hours ago they said that I was the tramp.
Tramp: There, there Pidge, it's not true; you're way better than any girl I've dated.
Pongo: Sir! I'm sorry to say this sir, but this has gone far enough!
Jock: Indeed; I'm sorry sir, but if you don't do something about this, then I quit!
The Fat Controller sighed.
The Fat Controller: I know I'm sorry this has not been a good week for all of you. I thank you all for putting up with this nonsense. You're right Edward tender engines do shunt, but all the same I think you and Lady would happier in your own yard. Very well let me see how much money I've got and I'll buy another tank engine, he'll probably need a dog as well, so see if there's a friend or anyone in your family that would love to work here.
So Pongo went back to the farm looking for his son.
Pongo: Lucky, Lucky; where are you?
Lucky: Over here dad!
He found him watching Thunderbolt.
Lucky: What's up dad?
Pongo: Well I've been thinking and I've realized I haven't been spending that much time with you. So I found a way that you can spend more time with me.
Meanwhile the Fat Controller took a look had his bank account and he had enough for a tank engine, so he called up Roger and they went to a workshop.
Lucky: Dad, are you sure this is okay?
Pongo: Well you've always said you wanted to be like me and your hero Thunderbolt, now this is your chance. Come on, I'm sure they won't mind us coming along.
The Fat Controller entered the office.
Boss: Good day sir, how can I help you?
The Fat Controller: I'm looking for a tank engine to help out in the yard and this dog here would like to be the helper for the engine.
Boss: I see, I've heard about you're railway; very well come with me and I'll show you our engines.
They follow him to the shed and showed him all sorts of tank engines.
Boss: Look sharp you engines, we have guest and they're here to buy.
Tank Engines: Hello there!
Pongo: Alright Lucky; you can help the Fat Controller pick out an engine you think would be suitable for you.
Lucky looked at the engines, he saw some happy ones and some sad ones; he also saw some looked at him anxiously, hoping he would chose them. So far he didn't like the look of the engines, till at last he saw something that caught his eye.
He saw a smart little green tank engine with four wheels.
Lucky: This is him dad, that's the one I want.
Pongo and the Fat Controller looked at the green engine.
Pongo: Are you sure son?
Lucky: Yes, look at him he looks like your engine, but smaller and I bet he's fast too, so he must be really useful.
The Fat Controller: He does look useful indeed.
The engine was flattered.
Boss: Ah, you picked a good choice; this right here is a GWR Avonside saddle tank engine. He's a very good shunting engine, and although he might not be strong, he is fast for a tank engine.
Lucky: See I told he's perfect, can we buy him please?
The Fat Controller: Well that depends, if I chose him will he work hard?
Green engine: Oh sir, yes sir I will work hard.
Pongo: And the same goes for you Lucky, you going to have a big responsibility now; do you think you can handle it?
Lucky: With this engine by my side, I'll work extra hard for you pop.
The Fat Controller: That's settled then, I would like to buy this engine.
Boss: You made a good choice sir. He's all yours.
Lucky: Do you have a name?
Green engine: I don't.
The Fat Controller: Then I'll call you Percy. Do you like it?
Percy: Oh yes sir, thank you sir.
The Fat Controller went back and told Roger that Lucky would be working now and he promised to have come home at 3. So Roger left, while the Fat Controller, Lucky, and Pongo brought Percy back to the yard.
The Fat Controller: Edward, Lady; here's Percy. He's our new tank engine.
Lady: My, isn't he a handsome fellow.
Pongo: And this here is my son Lucky.
Tramp: And he also has a strong dog with him.
Both Lucky and Percy felt flattered.
The Fat Controller: Now Edward; would you and Lady show these two around?
Edward and Lady: Yes sir.
Percy and Lucky soon learned what they had to do and they had a happy afternoon.
Pongo: Getting the hang of this son?
Lucky: You bet this is easy.
Then Henry came by hissing as usual.
Percy: WHEESHHH!
Lucky: BARK, BARK, BARK!
Henry jumped and ran back to the shed.
Edward (Laughing): How beautiful you wheeshed him.
Lady (Laughing): Yes, where you learned to bark like that Lucky?
Lucky: I have lots of brothers and sisters in the house; you have to bark really loudly to make yourself heard.
Percy: And you should hear me at the workshop, you also have to wheesh loudly to make yourself heard.
Later Thomas and Scamp arrived.
Scamp: Hi mom, hi dad.
Tramp: Well what are two doing here?
Thomas: The Fat Controller send for us, we expect he wants help.
Scamp: Hello, who are you?
Lucky: I'm Lucky; I'm the new worker around here and this is my engine Percy.
Scamp: Wow other tank engine; looks like we got a new friend Thomas.
Lady: Hush you guys, here comes the Fat Controller.
The Fat Controller: Thank you Thomas and Scamp for being here, and I see you guys have met Percy and Lucky; now listen, Henry, Gordon, and James are sulking; they say they won't shunt like common tank engines. So I have shut them up and I want Thomas and Edward to help the mainline, your father will be going with you Scamp, and Jock will go with Lady helping with the coaches.
Thomas: Common tank engines indeed!
Scamp: Just they wait, we'll show them.
Jock: Ay, we will.
The Fat Controller: And I want Pongo to be with Lucky and Percy as well.
Pongo: Right away sir.
Percy: Yes sir.
Lucky: Thank you sir.
So Thomas and Edward work the mainline with their dogs at work too, and they greeted each other as they pass by.
Percy and Lucky would sometimes work on Thomas and Scamp's branch line, Thomas and Scamp were both nervous, but the driver, guard, and Pongo promise to take care of the coaches and Scamp's sisters.
There were fewer trains, but the passengers didn't mind, they knew the three other engines were having a lesson.
Henry, Gordon, and James in the shed, feeling cold, lonely, and miserable; they wish now they hadn't been so silly.