Mr Perkins enters the Common Room.
Mr. Perkins: Hello there, it's me Mr. Perkins. Welcome back the Engine Driver's Common here at Knapford, it's a pleasure to see you. I've just had a very busy and very exhausting morning. Edward's driver was ill so I had take him and some Troublesome Trucks to Brendan but the truck were... well, troublesome! We managed to keep them under control until we reached Wellsworth, were they started pushing Edward done the line. We almost went flying through the crowded Sudery station at full speed which is very dangerous. Thankfully we managed to get them back under control before we reached Brendam, where he gave them a stern talking to. I've taking him back to Tidmouth Sheds for a rest, which I also plan on-
He hears the telephone ringing.
Mr. Perkins: Sounds like I won't be having a rest. Excuse me a moment.
He answers the Telephone.
Mr. Perkins: Hello, Engine Driver's Common Room, Knapford Station, Gilbert Perkins speaking. Sir Topham Hatt, sir! Good d- Oh, thank you sir. You know me sir, always in control. Hmm, you want a favour from me sir? I suppose I could do it sir, but I was planning on having a- Oh thank sir, most kind. Goodbye Sir.
He turns to the viewer.
Mr. Perkins: That was Sir Topham Hatt. He wanted to congratulate me and Edward for stopping those trucks causing an accident. He also asked me if I could take out Thomas on a afternoon passenger train to Ffarqhar. While it means I won't be able to have a rest, he said I could have the rest of the day off. I have about- Hmm, I might not have enough time for a rest I do have enough to make a cuppa tea. While I do that why don't you see Thomas. Perhaps he could tell you about his first train.
Thomas' Train: Written by the Rev. W. Awdry.
Thomas the Tank Engine was grumbling to the other engines.
"I spend all my time pulling coaches about ready for you lot to take out on journeys"
The other engines laughed.
"Why can't I pull passenger trains too?"
"You're too impatient." They said "you'd be sure to leave something behind."
"Rubbish!" said Thomas. "You just wait, I'll show you!"
One night he and Henry were alone in the Shed. Henry was ill. The men worked hard but he didn't get better. He felt no better the next morning. Henry usually pulled the first train of day and Thomas had to get his coaches ready
"If Henry is ill" he thought" perhaps I shall pull his train" Thomas ran to find the Coaches
"Come along, come along!" he fussed.
"There's plenty of time, there's plenty of time!" grumbled the coaches.
He took them to the platform and wanted to run around in front at once. But his Driver wouldn't let him.
"Don't be impatient Thomas!" He said
So Thomas waited and waited. The passengers got in the coaches, the Guard and Stationmaster walked up and down, the porters banged the doors and still Henry didn't come. Thomas got more and more excited every minute. The Fat Controller came out of his office to see what was the matter, and the Guard and the Stationmaster told told him about Henry.
"Find another engine!" he ordered.
"There's only Thomas, sir" the Stationmaster said.
"You'll have to do it then, Thomas. Be quick now!"
So Thomas ran 'round to the front, and backed down on the Coaches ready to start.
"Don't be impatient" said his driver "Wait till everything is ready"
But Thomas was too excited to listen.
Then, he heard a guard's whistle so he started. But it wasn't his Guard's whistle, it was Edward's, and he'd started so quickly that they hadn't had time to couple Thomas to train, so he left his coaches behind!
As Thomas passed the first signal box, signalman waved and shouted at Thomas but he didn't stop.
"They're waving because I'm such a splendid engine." thought Thomas importantly "Henry says it's hard to pull trains but I think it's easy. Hurry, hurry, hurry!". He puffed, pretending to be like Gordon. As he went along he saw more people waving bat him.
"They're pleased to see me" he thought "they've never seen me pulling a passenger train before, it's nice of them to wave" and he whistled "Peep, peep, thank your."
But then he came to a signal at "Danger".
"Bother!" he thought. "I must stop, andI was going so nicely too! What a nuisance signals are!" And he blew an angry "Peep, peep" on his whistle. The signalman came up to Thomas.
"Hello Thomas" he said "What are you doing here?"
"I'm pulling my very first train" said Thomas proudly "can't you see?"
"Where are your coaches, then?"
Thomas looked back. "Why bless me!" He said. "If we haven't left them behind!"
"Yes" said the signalman "you'd better go back quickly and fetch them". Poor Thomas was so upset that he nearly cried.
"Cheer up!" said his driver. "Let's go back and try again."
At the station, all the passengers were talking at once. They were telling the Fat Controller what a bad railway it was. But when Thomas came back and they saw how sad he was they couldn't be cross. So they coupled him to the train, and this time, with a lot of effort, he really pulled it. But for a long time afterwards the other engines laughed at Thomas and said:
"Look! It's Thomas who wanted to pull a train, but forget the coaches!"
Mr. Perkins: Ah, your back. Thomas can be a silly engine sometimes can't he? I hope the same thing doesn't happen today or I won't be able to go home early. Anyway I have had a nice cuppa and I'm now ready to be Really Useful again. Now I must get Thomas ready for the train. Goodbye and come back soon.