Bill and Ben the Tank Engine Twins usually work at the China Clay Works near Brendam Docks, but sometimes, they work elsewhere on Sodor, especially at Ffarquhar Quarry when there is too much work for Mavis to handle alone.
One day, James was asked to take some empty trucks up to the Quarry. James wasn't fond of going up there, but it was a busy day, and he was the only engine available. When he arrived, Mavis, Bill and Ben were waiting in their sheds.
"Good morning, James," said Mavis politely.
"Good morning," answered James, but he didn't sound cheerful.
The Quarry Master appeared. "I'm afraid Mavis is having engine trouble. Thomas will be here to collect her shortly, but I need you to help Bill and Ben for a while."
James didn't like the sound of that. "Why me?" he asked. "Why can't Thomas do it?"
"Because Thomas has to collect more passengers after fetching Mavis," explained the Quarry Master. "Also, there is a big order to fill today. We might need a stronger engine like you around. Besides, I need an engine to keep an eye on the Twins."
Bill and Ben liked the sound of that.
"Now we'll get to have even more fun," whispered Bill.
"With Mavis gone and another engine to trick," added Ben.
The three engines were soon at work, but James wasn't really paying attention to the Twins.
Suddenly, Bill raced in front of James with his trucks. "What was that for?" James asked.
"Sorry, you'll have to be quicker next time," Bill called back. James grunted.
Next, Ben shunted his empty trucks in front of James'. "Why did you do that?" asked the red engine.
"You're going to the hopper with your trucks," said Ben. "I have to help Bill fetch some more from the other side of the Quarry." And he raced away.
This went on and on and by the afternoon, James had had enough. "Those troublesome twins," he wheeshed. "I wish I could put them in their place." And then, an idea began to bubble in his boiler.
When James went to take on water, he found Bill. "Bill, the trucks in the north of the yard need loading after mine. Can you fetch them, please?"
"Of course, James," said Bill, but inside, he was planning another trick.
James collected some loaded trucks and then saw Ben. "Ben, some empty trucks in the south end of the Quarry must be loaded after mine. Please collect them."
"Right away, James," sniggered Ben, but he too was planning his next trick.
James continued making his plan. He shunted his trucks under the hoppers to make it look like they were being loaded. "Now they'll both have to use the other hopper," James puffed to himself. James took some more trucks and blocked the points, leaving the only empty line leading under the hopper.
Bill and Ben had each collected a line of empty trucks and were shunting them towards the hopper.
What's going on? thought Bill. Those tracks were clear earlier.
On the other side, Ben thought the same thing. With all the lines blocked, neither of them could see the trucks James said he was loading, and they couldn't see each other either. James watched them silently.
Then, it happened.
Bill and Ben raced towards the hopper and their trucks bashed into each other. They jumped off the rails and shook the ground. The shaking rattled the hopper and suddenly, stone began pouring down with dust flying everywhere.
When the dust settled, James could not believe what he saw. There were the trucks piled in a heap with all the stone from the hopper on top of them. Bill and Ben were derailed and were covered with dust from cab to crankpins. "Bust my buffers!" cried James.
The Quarry Master heard the news and telephoned for help and soon, Mavis arrived, fresh from the Dieselworks, with Harvey and Rocky.
"Bill and Ben, what have you done?!" Mavis cried.
"That's what I would also like to know," said the Quarry Master.
"We were bringing these trucks to be loaded," said Bill.
"But we couldn't see each other and then, we crashed," added Ben.
James didn't like the Twins playing tricks on him, but now, he felt worse than ever. "It's my fault, Sir," he said and explained what he had done. "I wanted to get back at the Twins for their tricks, but I didn't know mine would go this far."
The Quarry Master was upset. "James, you have caused confusion and delay. You will help clear this mess and then, you shall work in the Quarry for the rest of the day."
"Yes Sir," said James quietly.
Harvey and the workmen cleared the stone away while Rocky put Bill, Ben and their trucks back on the rails. The undamaged trucks were soon loaded, and James shunted them away.
When the mess was cleared, James continued working with Mavis and the Twins and this time, James did pay attention to them, and he saw how Mavis kept them in line. He was impressed.
The next time Ben came up behind him with some trucks, James said, "No, please get back to work." And when James saw Bill approaching the points, he said, "No Bill. My trucks are first, and you must wait your turn."
James and Mavis were the first engines in the sheds that evening. "I'm sorry about the earlier, Mavis," he said. "I didn't know how you handle those two and I thought tricking them would put them in their place."
"But as you saw, that only caused more trouble," replied Mavis. "And you were right to follow my example. All you need to do is be firm with them and show that you're in charge."
James' face went as red as his paintwork. "Thank you."
When Bill and Ben arrived, the three engines made up and instead of joking about James' mistake, they started telling him about some of their adventures. Mavis had to smile. Not only had the Twins gained respect for someone new, but they had also gained a new friend in James the Red Engine.