Snowblast

One winter's day, there is a lot of snow on the ground as it had snowed heavily last night. So the engines had to work extra hard to clear the railway lines. Donald and Douglas took turns to clear up one snowdrift at a time.

At the same time, the other engines were getting ready to start their really cold and freezing day.

On the Arlesdale Railway, Jock and Etsuko had already started snow- ploughing their little railway. "It's not a difficult job," Jock said to Etsuko. "You're right, Jock," Etsuko said.

Also, on the Skarloey Railway, Duke and Bertram had started ploughing the narrow gauge railway. "Duke," Bertram said, "You've got to take it easy with yourself." "I know," Duke said, "You don't need to remind me." "I'm just looking out for you," Bertram said.

On the Fat Controller's railway, many of the engines set out to help Donald and Douglas with ploughing the railway. First, Percy and Gordon set out with some parts of the railway together. "Gordon," Percy said to himself, "Please don't show off to me like you did with the passengers that day."

"Ugh," Gordon shivered as the two set off together, "Very well, come on then."

On another part of the railway, Thomas was getting his snowplough fitted. Thomas grumbled about having to wear a snowplough. "Bother this snowplough!" Thomas said out loud. "Sorry, Thomas," said his driver, "We don't have a choice. Remember the very first time?" "Yes," Thomas said, embarrassed.

Just then, Salty arrived. "Arr," he said, "Don't fret, Thomas. With that snowplough, you'll cut through the snow very easily." "Yeah, I know," said Thomas, "No problem." "Anyway," Salty said, "Ready to tackle snowdrifts?" "Yes," Thomas agreed and the two set off.

First, Thomas left to get his coaches, Annie and Clarabel.

Meanwhile, Gordon and Percy were charging through snow banks on another part of the railway. Percy charged through one snowdrift as Gordon ploughed through another. "There," Gordon said.

"Ok," said Percy, "We're doing a good job, right, Gordon?" Gordon looked to see James picking up some passengers from Peter Sam's train. "We are, Percy," Gordon said, "Come on, we got a lot more to do." "Right," Percy replied.

At that moment, Thomas arrived at the first station with his passenger train. "There," Thomas said. "Not a problem," Clarabel said. "Yeah," Thomas replied. "Good job, matey," Salty called to Thomas.

Then Thomas watched as Gordon and Percy ploughed through the heavy banks of snow. "Good luck, Percy and Gordon!" Thomas called out to the two. "You too!" Salty added. "Thanks," Percy answered back and the two engines continued on.

However, they both came across a giant snowbank. "Look!" Gordon boomed. "Wow!" Percy said. "Eh," Gordon scoffed, "This is nothing to me!" "Uh, Gordon," Percy said. "Hah!" Gordon boasted, "This should be easy as pie! Percy, please stand aside while I turn this snowdrift into a nice path!" Gordon steamed up to get ready.

"Ready," Gordon muttered to himself. "I don't know," Percy said to himself. "Charge at full blast!" Gordon boomed and he charged at the big snowdrift. "Faster!" Gordon called out, "Faster! Faster! Faster!" "Oh dear," Percy whispered. Gordon wasn't stopping now.

At last, Gordon ploughed right through the big snowdrift, but it didn't clear up completely. Worse still, the huge snowbanks on the sides crashed onto Gordon, completely burying him and his crew alive. "Gordon!" Percy cried.

"Oh, the indignity!" Gordon cried from inside the snowdrift. Luckily, no one had been hurt and Gordon's crew managed to survive. "I'll get you out of there!" Percy said and he raced to Gordon. Luckily, the back of his tender was still visible.

Percy coupled up to it and he tried to pull Gordon out of the snowdrift. But he couldn't do it all by himself. "I need help," Percy said. Soon enough, Henry arrived. "What the?!" he exclaimed. "Gordon is trapped!" Percy shouted, "I need help!" "Ok," Henry replied. "What?" a voice called from behind.

It is Duck with James and Edward who were pulling their trains. Donald and Douglas and Oliver arrived as well. "What happened here?" Douglas asked. "Gordon tried to clear this drift!" Percy answered, "Please help me!"

"That's what happened," Henry said. "We will help!" Edward called out. "I hope my coat doesn't get all dirty," James said. "Enough, James," Duck said, "Let's help Gordon. We'll have to leave our trains behind in a siding. Luckily we're not working right now."

So together, all of the engines helped to pull Gordon out of the giant snow bank. But try as they might, they couldn't budge Gordon an inch. "Oh no!" cried Percy.

Meanwhile, Sara had finished taking a good train to Culdee Fell Mountain Station. With her snowplough, the job is easy for her. "My brother sure likes to fuss about this 'silly soft stuff'," she chuckled, "Oh well, must carry on. You know what Sir Topham Hatt says, 'Really useful engines work hard whatever the weather'."

Sara left to continue on with her jobs and would later meet up with Thomas.

On her way, she saw Paxton, Sidney, Norman, Dennis, and Derek, chuffing to some place. "I wonder what they're up to?" Sara asked, "Must be a diesel convention.

Afterwards, she saw Hank following them. "Okay," she added, "Something else."

So, Paxton, Sidney, Norman, Dennis, Derek, and Hank arrived to help pull Gordon out. All of them tried to help pull as hard as they could still, but they couldn't move Gordon at all. "This is impossible!" Dennis shouted. "We need more help!" Paxton said. "We're trying!" Percy called to Gordon.

At the same time, Thomas had finished clearing a good yards of snow. Toby and Emily was there to help him. "Whew!" Thomas said, "This is hard work." "It is," Toby said as he charged through a minor snowdrift, "But the job has to be done."

"I know," Thomas said. "Don't worry, Thomas," said Emily, "It's not bad." "I know," Thomas said, "It's just." "You don't like wearing you snowplough, right Thomas?" Emily asked. "Right," said Thomas.

"Better safe than sorry," Emily said. "Right," Henrietta agreed. "Ok," Thomas said, "Time for more work." And Thomas left with Annie and Clarabel. "Ready?" Thomas asked his coaches. Both coaches agreed and Thomas continued resumed his passenger work.

Meanwhile, most of the other engines tried to pull Gordon out of the snowdrift, but no with luck.

Immediately, every other engine on the railway, including Arthur, Murdoch, Neville, Molly, Rosie, Bill, Ben, Boco, Mavis, Satsuki, Mikan, Gloria, Kayla, Rebecca, Gwenevere, Billy, Whiff, Scruff, Flora, Timothy, Ryan, Stanley, Harvey, Belle, Den, Dart, Bear, Porter, Charlie, Phillip, Diesel, Arry, Bert, Daisy, and Stafford had arrived to help pull Gordon out of the giant snowdrift.

"I can't believe we're going to rescue the engine whom we wanted to dump into the sea," Bill said teasingly. "Yeah," Ben agreed. "Stop it!" Boco shouted at the twins. "All right," Porter said, "Everyone ready?" "Yes!" the other engines whistled in responded.

"Start pulling now!" Mavis shouted. "Pull!" Percy cried.

And together, they tried to pull Gordon free with all of their might. But still, nothing happened. "This is impossible!" James shouted. "We're still going to need more help," said Rosie. "I think I'm gong to blow a gasket again," Derek said.

At the same time, Thomas arrived at the first branch line station with his coaches. "That's good work, Thomas," Annie said. "Yeah, thanks," Thomas replied. "You see," Emily said, "That wasn't too bad at all." "Yeah," Thomas agreed, "It is."

"I don't need to remind you," said Emily. "I know," Thomas smiled, "You were only trying to help me that day." "True," Emily said. "Thomas sure had many adventures," said Toby, "And misadventures."

"Right, Toby," Thomas replied. "Let's head out on more adventures," said Salty. "Right," Thomas agreed. Some time later, Thomas, Toby, Salty and Emily had teamed up with Fergus and Sara.

"Glad to tag along with you," Fergus said, "I'm still working, even though I don't have a cab. "I'll be fine," his driver said. "So, busy, you lot?" Sara asked. "Yes," Thomas answered. "I was, too," Sara said. "You know," Thomas said, "Snow isn't such a bad thing after all." "Yeah," Fergus said, "If you're careful around it." "Right," Salty said.

Soon enough, they came across a long line of engines. "Okay," Salty said, "One misadventure here." "What the heck is going on?" Emily asked. "We're trying to pull Gordon out of that giant snow bank," Stafford answered, "We need a lot more help!"

"Oh my!" Thomas said. "We've got to get him out of there!" Salty said. "If we couple up with everyone else," Fergus and Sara said together. "Yes, let's," Toby answered.

And so they did. "Ready?" Sara called. Every engine agreed and they all started pulling together.

Finally, Gordon moved a bit. "Now!" Thomas shouted and with all of the other engines pulling together, in no time at all, Gordon was pulled free from the snowbank.

"We've done it together!" Thomas shouted and all of the other engines whistled and cheered together.

"That was kind of fun, wasn't it?" Percy asked Gordon. "Ugh," Gordon shivered, "You wish." "Yeah, Gordon," Thomas said, "It was fun." "Looks like you've had a misadventure yourself," said Salty. "Let this day be over," Gordon groaned.

"Don't worry, Gordon," said his driver. "It'll be all right," the firemen added in. "Glad for you two," Gordon said. "You have learned a lot," Sara said to Gordon.

Gordon remained silent and cold for the rest of the day when he had returned home.