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 not profit.

Episode 30: Cows, Original Airdate: September 24th 1986

It was a bright Saturday afternoon on the Island of Sodor. Thomas and Lucy were both visiting Terence Finney's farm after he had invited them on Thursday after meeting them at McDonalds, they were currently in the farm's dairy, watching Terence attach the milk machine to his cow's udders.

"And once you attach these to the cow's udders little Lucy" explained Terence, "the milk is then sucked out of the cow and collected in the tanker here".

"Cows hurt?" asked Lucy innocently.

"Oh no, no" assured Terence with a smile, "it doesn't hurt them at all. It just tickles a bit".

"What happens to milk?" asked Lucy.

"I can explain that sweetie" said Thomas, "Terence then brings it to the station where it's poured into a tanker which I bring to the dairy each morning".

"That's right Thomas" said Terence, "and once it reaches the diary Lucy, its then put into cartoons and sold to the shops or turned into butter or cheese".

"Yummy" said Lucy.

Terence then brought Thomas and Lucy out of the shed and into the paddock where some cows were nursing their calves. Thomas, Lucy, and Terence went up to the fence to look at the cows, Terence didn't bring them into the paddock as he didn't want to disturb his cows nursing of their young.

However, two of his cows brought their calves to the fence where Lucy petted them on their heads, she gave a giggle when two of the calves began to lick her hand.

"Cute daddy" giggled Lucy.

"It sure is Lucy sweetie" replied Thomas, "seeing these cows reminds me of how Uncle Gordon and Uncle Henry met a cow on the line".

"Cow on line?" asked Lucy curiously.

"That's right sweetie" replied Thomas, "that was quite a story".

"Daddy story?" asked Lucy excitedly.

"Daddy story" replied Thomas with a smile on his face.

"Why don't you tell it to her over some tea, sandwiches and biscuits?" suggested Terence.

Thomas agreed to Terence's suggestion, and he allowed the farmer to lead him and Lucy back to the farmhouse. Once there, Terence made some tea for himself and Thomas, a glass of milk for Lucy, some ham and cheese sandwiches and got out some Mcvities Chocolate Hobnobs. He then brought the drinks and food over to Thomas and Lucy who were sitting at the table.

"Alright then Thomas" said Terence, "please take your story away".

"Right" said Thomas as he began his story, "this all began when Edward was leaving Brendam docks with some cattle trucks".

(Story Begins)

Edward's K2 was getting old. Its bearings were worn, and it clanked as it puffed down the line, but Edward didn't care about that. He loved his K2 very much, it had been in his family for generations, having been built back in 1896.

He was currently taking ten empty GWR MEX B Cattle trucks to a market town. It was a bright clear day as he left Brendam docks, the sun shone, and birds sang in the sky. Edward felt as if nothing could dampen his good mood today.

"It sure is a nice day" he said to himself, "I hope that it doesn't change".

Unfortunately for him it would, right now he was heading for trouble. Some cows were grazing in a field nearby, they weren't used to trains. The smoke and noise that they made disturbed them, this sometimes caused them to stampede, much to the farmers concerns.

This day however, something different was going to happen. As Edward's K2 clanked by, they broke through the fence and ran across the line, a coupling was broken leaving the last three trucks and the brake van behind.

"Wait Edward wait" called Sydney Heaver, but Edward was too far away to hear his shout.

Edward had felt the jerk, but he didn't take much notice of this, he was used to the cattle trucks but not the cows.

"Bother those trucks" he said, "why can't they come along quietly".

But it was when he reached Wellsworth that he finally understood what had happened.

"Bollocks" he said in annoyance to Charlie Sand, "now I'm going to have to go back for Sydney and the trucks and this is going to make me late".

"I'm after so" agreed Charlie.

Edward then hopped back into his K2's cab and went to Sydney and the remaining three trucks. He arrived fifteen minutes later, he found Sydney helping the farmer and his border collie to herd the cows back into their field.

"I'm so sorry about leaving you behind Sydney," said Edward.

"It wasn't your fault Edward" replied Sydney sincerely, "it was those stupid cows that did".

"I'm so sorry about this" replied the farmer sincerely, "my cows have never done this before".

"Well I think that you should build a stronger fence to keep them in" suggested Edward.

"That I will do, no question about it" replied the farmer.

When the cows were back in their field, Edward coupled the last three trucks to his train and set off. When Gordon and Henry heard about the incident, they both laughed and boasted.

"Fancy allowing cows to break your train Edward" said Gordon when he came into the bunkhouse as Edward was about to go home for the night.

"It wasn't my fault Gordon" said Edward in annoyance, "it came happen to anyone".

"Well not me" said Gordon, "they wouldn't dare do it me".

Toby was also in the bunkhouse had heard everything and he was cross. He greatly respected Edward and to hear Gordon's words made him walk up to him and Edward.

"You couldn't have helped it Edward" said Toby kindly, "Gordon here has never met cows before".

"And I suppose you have Toby?" asked Gordon cheekily.

"Yes I have Gordon and I know what trouble they can be" said Toby.

Gordon just scoffed rudely and left the bunkhouse and headed home. Henry by now had regrated laughing at Edward.

"I'm sorry for laughing at you Edward" said Henry, "but the whole ordeal sounded so funny".

"That's alright Henry, I forgive you" said Edward with a smile, "but I just wish that Gordon would learn this for himself".

"Here's hoping" agreed Toby.

Fortunately for Edward, that wish would come very soon. Two days later, he was at Wellsworth picking up some passengers when Gordon sped by with the express.

"Boop, Boop" he called from his cab, "Mind the Cows!".

"Oh, bugger off Gordon" called Edward.

Gordon just ignored him and speed off into the distance. His A1 coasted down the mainline on its way to Vicarstown, the green express coaches full of people heading to their destinations. He crossed the viaduct and was soon on his way to Crosby, however he was going to have an unexpected delay.

In the distance there was a bridge, as he got closer to it Gordon noticed that there was something on it. Then much to his shock the object moved, Gordon then squinted to see what it was, he was surprised when he realized what it was.

"It's only a cow" he said to himself.

He then gently brought his A1 to a stop just in front of the cow, who then looked up at him.

"Shoo, shoo" shouted Gordon to the cow.

But the cow wouldn't shoo, she had lost her calf and felt lonely, all she did was moo sadly. Gordon then got down from his cab and tried to shoo her away.

"Go on, get out of here you cow" said Gordon.

But the cow wouldn't move, this was starting to irritate Gordon.

"Oi you silly cow" demanded Gordon crossly, "what part of get out of here don't you understand".

But still the cow didn't move, just then Henry arrived with his passenger train. He was pulling a set of the brand new red express coaches that Sir Topham Hatt had recently ordered for the North Western Railway and he allowed Henry to take them for his passenger train.

"What's this Gordon?" asked Henry cheekily, "a cow".

"Yes it's a cow Henry" said Gordon in annoyance, "I've been trying to get her to move but the silly ass won't".

"Don't worry Gordon, I'll soon settle her" said Henry as he hopped down from his cab and started waving his arms at the cow, "be off, be off".

But the cow didn't move, instead she turned towards Henry and mooed. Henry, worried that she might charge, slowly backed away to his engine and hopped back into his cab.

"Henry where are you going?" Gordon asked as Henry's Black Stanier 5 began to back away.

"I don't want to hurt Gordon" Henry called from his cab, "don't worry I'll get some help at Crosby, just stay where you are".

"That's I can bloody do" shouted Gordon sarcastically.

Henry soon returned to Crosby station where the stationmaster was surprised to see him back. Henry then hopped down from his cab and informed that stationmaster of the situation that both he and Gordon were facing.

"That must be Bluebell" said the stationmaster, "she must have lost her calf".

"So that's why" said Henry, "where is her calf anyway?".

"She's right here ready to go to market" said the stationmaster, "I'll have Percy take it along".

Sure enough Bluebell's calf was loaded into a GWR MEX B cattle truck and Percy took it to the bridge where Bluebell was still holding up Gordon. Once he arrived, the porter let the calf out who then ran to her mother. Bluebell was so pleased to see her calf again and the porter then lead them away.

Gordon and Henry were finally able to continue their journeys, but as they passed each other, Gordon whispered something to him from his cab.

"Not a word, keep it dark" said Gordon to Henry.

They both felt rather silly and hoped that nobody would know about what happened, but the story soon spread. Later that night, Gordon was making his way through the bunkhouse after putting his A1 away for the night so that he could go home. But when he went through the lounge, he saw that Edward and Toby were both waiting for him.

"Well, well, well" chuckled Edward, "two big engine drivers afraid of a cow".

"Afraid rubbish" said Gordon in an attempt to make the situation least embarrassing, "me and Henry didn't want the poor thing to hurt herself by running up against us. We both stopped as not to excited her, you see what I mean my dear Edward".

"Yes, Gordon I do" said Edward with a smile.

Gordon however felt that somehow, Edward "saw" only too well. He then left the bunkhouse and headed for his car before driving home, he knew that it would be a long time before his and Henry's incident with Bluebell would be forgotten about.

(Story Ends)

"Both Uncle Gordon and Uncle Henry were both lucky that they never encountered cows again after that day" said Thomas as he finished his story.

"Funny story daddy" said Lucy with a smile on her face.

"I'm glad you liked it Lucy sweetie" smiled Thomas as he stood up, "anyway its home time now".

"Thanks for coming to visit Thomas" said Terence as he stood up and shook his hand.

"Me and Lucy both hope to coming again" said Thomas as he turned to Lucy, "say thank you to Terence for inviting us Lucy".

"Thank you Mr. Terence" said Lucy.

"You are welcome little Lucy" said Terence with a smile.

Terence then showed Thomas and Lucy the door as they left. They then hopped into Thomas' car and headed for home.

And done. I must say I'm pleased with how this chapter turned out, I would also like to inform you that I deleted that threatening comment that you lot might have seen. Anyway please be so kind as to leave a kind preview and as always, see you all next time.