I do not own Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends. They are strictly the property of both the Awdry Family and Britt Allcroft, this story is purely for entertainment and never ever profit.
Episode 26: Down the Mine, Original Airdate: 5th January 1985
It was a cloudy day on the Island of Sodor. Thomas had just arrived at the Rainbow's End Nursery and Creche to pick up Lucy and to tell one of his stories.
He arrived at the playschool, he then knocked at the door and was let in by one of the teachers who brought him into the main room where the children were with Reverends Awdry and Boston, Lucy was among them. When she saw her father, a smile came to her face before standing up and waddling over to him.
"Daddy" she said happily.
"Hello Lucy" said Thomas as he scooped her up in his arms, "have fun today?".
"Fun daddy" she replied.
Reverends Awdry and Boston gave a smile at this warm scene before they came over to Thomas themselves.
"Hello Mr. Billinton" greeted Reverend Boston, "you ready to tell us the story you had promised".
"I sure am Reverend Boston" replied Thomas.
"Finding Nemo daddy" said Lucy.
"You watched Finding Nemo today Lucy sweetie?" asked Thomas.
"That's right young Thomas" replied Reverend Awdry, "Lucy's favourite scene was the seagulls saying mine, mine, mine".
Upon hearing the word, mine Thomas now had the idea of which story he would tell the children.
"Say how about I tell you the story of how my engine once fell down a mine?" asked Thomas.
"Mine daddy" said Lucy excitedly.
"Your engine fell down a mine young Thomas?" Reverend Boston asked Thomas curiously.
"Gather everyone together and I'll tell you" said Thomas.
Reverends Awdry and Boston soon got all the children and teachers together. As usual the children and teachers sat in a semi-circle around Thomas who sat in his chair, Reverends Awdry and Boston also sat in a chair each.
"Alright is everyone sitting comfortably?" asked Reverend Awdry.
All the children and teachers said yes. Satisfied with the answer Reverend Awdry turned towards Thomas.
"Alright young Thomas" he said, "take it away".
"Right then" said Thomas as he began his story, "this all began a week after Gordon's incident with the ditch".
(Story Begins)
That morning after his engine had been rescued from the ditch. Gordon quietly snuck into the kitchen at the bunkhouse at Tidmouth to make himself some breakfast, he was currently dreading whatever Sir Topham Hatt was going to say to him about his little stunt. As he made himself some buttered toast and bacon, he heard the voice he had been dreading all night.
"Gordon" came the voice.
Gordon then went pale as he turned around. Surely enough, standing there was Sir Topham Hatt. He had the "I'm not pleased" look on his face, Gordon and the other drivers all knew that when he had that look on his face, they were screwed.
"Sir Topham Hatt" said Gordon nervously, "this is a pleasant surprise. What brings you here?".
"You know why I'm here" said Sir Topham Hatt.
"Yes Sir" replied Gordon sadly.
"Your little stunt yesterday caused confusion and delay, you and the other drivers know that I do not accept that" said Sir Topham Hatt crossly.
"Yes Sir" replied Gordon, now fully ashamed of his actions.
"So that is why of this very moment you are on goods work until such time" said Sir Topham Hatt, "perhaps that might knock some senses into you Mr. "I'm much high and mighty to be pulling goods trains"".
One bright day on the Island of Sodor a week later, Thomas and Howard were waiting at Lower Tidmouth Station. Annie and Clarabel were with them as it was their day off and so they were Thomas' stewardesses for the day. As they were waiting for the passengers to board the coaches, Gordon shuffled in with some trucks.
True to Sir Topham Hatt's word, Gordon had been pulling goods trains for the past week as part of his punishment, whilst Henry and James were charged with taking the express. As he hopped down from his engines cab, Thomas caught a whiff of something.
"What on Earth is that funny smell?" asked Thomas.
"What funny smell son?" asked Howard.
"Can't you smell it dad?" asked Thomas.
"I can't smell a smell" said Annie.
Gordon heard them talking about it and knew what it was. The ditch had been very dirty and even though he had helped Alf and Bert to clean it the smell was still there.
"Nobody until you did" he called across the rails, "it must be yours Thomas".
"Annie, Clarabel and Dad, do you know what it is?" asked Thomas.
"No what is it Thomas?" asked Clarabel.
"It's ditch water," laughed Thomas at Gordon.
The guard then blew his whistle as Thomas and Howard hopped back into the E2's cab and Annie and Clarabel into the coaches. As they pulled out of the station, Howard noticed Gordon's depressed look and look disapprovingly at Thomas.
"You shouldn't have said that Thomas" he said sternly, "it was quite rude".
"Come on dad" said Thomas, "take a joke".
Howard just looked sternly at his son. Although Thomas was usually a kind person, he could sometimes be quite cheeky and that would sometimes lead him to trouble.
"He's dreadfully rude, he makes us quite ashamed" Annie and Clarabel complained to their father when they arrived at Knapford.
"Don't worry girls" Howard told his daughters, "I'm sure Thomas will come to his senses soon enough".
Tanya then came to bring Annie and Clarabel home. Whilst Thomas and Howard then left the coaches and then set off to Toywreck mine to fetch some trucks. When they arrived at the mines, they saw a line of trucks waiting for them to take away, the foreman came up to Thomas' E2.
"There's your trucks lads," said the foreman.
"Thanks foreman," said Thomas.
The foreman then headed back to his office, as Howard then hopped down from the cab to couple up the trucks to Thomas' E2. Whilst he was doing that, Thomas noticed a white sign with big red letters on it which read "DANGER ENGINES MUST NOT PASS THIS BOARD".
"Dad what do that sign mean?" asked Thomas curiously.
"That's a warning for engine drivers not to go beyond the point" replied Howard.
"But why, is there something wrong up there?" asked Thomas.
"I'm afraid the ground there can't take your engines weight" Howard told his son.
Seeing that Thomas was confused, Howard then explained the situation. Long ago, miners digging for lead had made tunnels under the ground. Although the roofs were strong enough to hold the weight of trucks, they couldn't support the weight of engines. Because of it a large was put to warn engine drivers not to enter the area.
"And so, if you went past the board son" finished Howard, "the roof could give way and your engine could fall into the mine tunnels and be lost forever".
Thomas was shocked upon hearing that. His E2 was the second thing he treasured more than anything in the world, Lady been the one thing he treasured even more then his E2. He then decided that it would be in both his best interests to obey the warning sign.
However, one day he did go past the sign, although quite by accident. Three days later, Thomas and Howard were told to collect some trucks from the mine. When they arrived at the mines, Thomas was looking quite uncomfortable. He and Howard had just been Burger King for lunch, with Thomas having a large Coco-Cola to drink. Now it wanted out, when they arrived at the mines, Thomas was desperate for a piss.
"Dad I really need to use the toilet" he told his father.
"Well I did tell you not to get that large Coke son" said Howard with an amused look on his face.
"I was thirsty, give me a break" said Thomas in annoyance.
They then brought Thomas' E2 to a stop and hopped down from the cab. Howard went to switch the points, whilst Thomas, the moment they stopped immediately bolted for the toilets that were nearby. However, he was in such a rush that he forgot to apply the brakes. He entered the toilets and once at the urinal, undid his fly and relieved himself.
"Oh God that's good" said Thomas in relief.
He soon finished and after washing his hands left the toilets, where he found his father waiting for him at the entrance.
"Have a good time there son?" Howard asked in amusement.
"The best" replied Thomas sarcastically, "now lets get my engine coupled to those trucks and, "HOLY SHIT".
Howard then turned around to see what startled Thomas. Sure he enough he saw that Thomas' E2 was moving by itself.
"Shit you must have forgotten to set the brakes son" said Howard in alarm.
Both Thomas and Howard then bolted after it. The E2 then went past the warning board where the ground then gave way, the E2 fell into the resulting hole with a CRASH!
"HOLY SHIT" exclaimed Thomas.
"Holy Shit indeed son" replied Howard.
"What happened here?" asked a very familiar voice.
Thomas and Howard both turned to see Sir Topham Hatt standing there, with a shocked expression.
"It was my fault Sir" said Thomas.
"How so?" asked Sir Topham Hatt.
Thomas then explained to Sir Topham Hatt how he was in such a rush to use the toilet that he had forgotten to set his E2's brakes, Sir Topham Hatt then looked at him with a stern expression.
"I know you were bursting young Thomas" he said sternly, "but you should always remember to set your engines brakes, no matter what the situation".
"Yes Sir" said Thomas sadly.
"Sir Topham Hatt" said Howard, "I'm just to blame for this".
"No dad I'm responsible for my E2 getting stuck," said Thomas.
"How about you both share it?" suggested Sir Topham Hatt.
Thomas and Howard both looked at each other in agreement. They then looked back at Thomas' E2.
"Now how do we get Thomas' E2 out of that hole?" asked Howard.
"Well we can't get it out with the breakdown crane, the ground just isn't firm enough" said Sir Topham Hatt as he thought for a moment. "I wonder if Gordon can pull it out".
"Maybe Sir" said Thomas, although he didn't want to me Gordon just yet.
Sir Topham Hatt then gave Gordon a call and informed him of the situation. Gordon then had his tow cable attacked to his A1's front and set off for the mine.
"Down a mine is it?" Gordon chuckled to himself, "ha, ha, ha, what a joke".
Gordon soon arrived at Toywreck mine where he found Thomas, Howard, and Sir Topham Hatt waiting for.
"Boop, boop. Don't worry little Thomas, we'll have your engine out in a couple of puffs" Gordon called out as he came up to them".
Gordon then stopped his A3 a short distance from the back of Thomas' E2. The workmen then fastened the strong cable to the back of the E2 and soon everything was ready.
"Are you ready Gordon?" asked Sir Topham Hatt.
"Ready Sir" replied Gordon.
"Alright then, heave!" said Sir Topham Hatt.
Gordon then began to reverse his A3 and pull Thomas' E2 out of the hole. It was a lot harder then they all thought, Thomas' E2 being much heavier than it appeared. But at last, Thomas' E2 was free. Thomas and Howard both then rushed over to it to see if there was any damage.
"Everything okay?" asked Gordon as he hopped down from his cab and came up to them.
"Its fine Gordon" replied Howard, "nothings damage, although she could use with a bit of a wash".
"I'm sorry I was cheeky to you Gordon" said Thomas sincerely.
"That's alright, you actually made me laugh" said Gordon before he sighed, "although I'm in disgrace".
"Well after rescuing Thomas' E2, you might be on the fast track back to pulling the express" said Sir Topham Hatt.
Gordon was relived to hear this. He then turned his attention to Thomas.
"Say Thomas shall we form an alliance?" he asked.
"An alliance?" asked Thomas.
"That's right" said Gordon as he held out his hand, "you help me, I help you?".
"That does sound like a good idea Thomas" Howard told his son.
"Right you are Gordon" said Thomas as he shook Gordon's hand.
"Good that's settled" replied Gordon, happy that Thomas had accepted his proposal.
"Alright you two" said Sir Topham Hatt, "now that's settled I need you two and Howard back at Tidmouth sheds for a very important announcement".
"What's that Sir?" asked Thomas curiously.
Sir Topham Hatt then decided to tell Thomas, Gordon, and Howard the news.
"Just before your engine fell into the hole Thomas said Sir Topham Hatt, "Mayor Britt Allcroft rang to inform me".
"Inform you what Sir Topham Hatt Sir?" asked Howard.
"That her majesty, Queen Elizabeth will be visiting us in a months' time" said Sir Topham Hatt grandly.
Thomas, Gordon, and Howard all gasped in surprise. The Queen of England herself was coming to the Island of Sodor, this was a very great honour indeed.
"Well then what are we waiting for" said Howard, "lets get back to Tidmouth sheds now".
Thomas, Gordon, and Howard all hopped back into their cabs. Gordon then buffered up his A3 to Thomas' E2 and buffer to buffer the allies puffed home.
(Story Ends)
"And we then headed back to Tidmouth sheds so that Sir Topham Hatt could tell everyone the news" said Thomas as he finished his story.
Reverends Awdry and Boston and the rest of the children were awed at the fact that Thomas was going to meet the queen, Lucy was excited to hear that part of the story.
"Daddy tell Queen story?" asked Lucy excitedly.
"Don't worry Lucy honey, I'll tell you that at bedtime tonight" promised Thomas.
Lucy clapped her hands excitedly as Thomas then stood up from his chair and picked her up. Thomas and Lucy then left Rainbows End and headed for home.
And done. I must say I'm pleased with how it turned out and I hope you all will like it. Anyway please be so kind as to leave a preview and as always see you all next time.