AUTHOR'S NOTE
This one-shot is based on the 'Thomas The Tank Engine' story, 'Thomas Comes To Breakfast'. When I watched this story on VHS back in the early 90s, I was not too keen on it, as I hated to see poor Thomas get into so much trouble. Also, in regard to the continuity of the TV adaptations, it did not make sense that Thomas would try to move without his driver, since he already had a similar disaster in 'The Runaway'.
So, I got the idea of writing an alternate version, in which Thomas is not so conceited, and a larger role is given to the careless cleaner who had caused Thomas' accident in the first place.
I take no credit for the original material written by Rev. W. Awdry. This story is written purely for entertainment purposes, with no copyright infringement intended.
Thomas the Tank Engine has worked his Branch Line for many years. He really enjoyed his work there as it made him feel like a really useful engine.
"You know just where to stop, Thomas!" laugher his driver one day, as they paused by a signal on the way home. "You could almost manage without me!"
The Driver was only joking, but Thomas was not amused. Not too long ago he almost had an accident, because of a mishap with his stiff brakes that caused him to speed along the line without his driver and fireman. Thomas did not want something like that to happen again.
As Thomas reached the shed, Percy and Toby were already there. They looked quite unhappy about something.
"Hello, you two!" chuffed Thomas happily. "What's the matter?"
"We've just heard who's going to be cleaning us first thing tomorrow morning," said Percy. "It's Grumpy Old Albert."
'Grumpy Old Albert', as he had come to be known, was a railway workman who regularly cleaned various engines and coaches. He was not very popular. He was always rude to everyone, and constantly found something to complain about and insult, particularly the engines.
"He once called me a gardening shed on wheels," grumbled Toby. "And he also said Henrietta should be chopped up for firewood."
"He's not very good at his job either," added Percy. "He's always leaving some mess to cause trouble. One time, my Driver tripped over because Albert left one of his buckets lying around."
"Pooh! Just ignore him!" said Thomas. "With luck, he'll be gone by the time we wake up tomorrow."
The engines had a pleasant sleep that night in the sheds, and were still dozing when Grumpy Old Albert arrived, shortly after the Fire-lighter had been.
"Wretched lumps of scrap metal," he sneered, as he clambered aboard Thomas with his buckets. "Why I ended up with such a pathetic job like this, I'll never know."
Albert had never been keen on steam engines, and he only did cleaning jobs on the railway because he needed the work.
Albert set to work cleaning Thomas' cabin, glad of the warmth coming from the boiler. He didn't know about Thomas' stiff brakes, and he was in such a hurry to get his job done, that he carelessly fiddled with the controls. Albert continued muttering crossly to himself, and was so engrossed in his cleaning, that at first he did not notice that Thomas was starting to move forward.
Just then, Thomas awoke and was surprised to find that his pistons and wheels were moving. He was further alarmed when he found himself moving right out of the shed and down the rails.
"Bust my boiler!" cried Thomas.
He tried to "wheeeesh", but he couldn't. He tried to stop, but he couldn't. He just kept rolling along.
By now, Albert had also realised that something was happening, and as he peered out, he was dismayed to find that he had somehow gotten Thomas moving.
"Cor blimey!" Albert exclaimed. He pulled on Thomas' controls, desperately trying to get the Tank Engine to stop. But Albert didn't understand how the controls worked and only succeeded in getting Thomas to go faster.
"Never mind, the buffers will stop this blue rust-bucket," Albert thought hopefully.
But the siding had no buffers. It just ended at a road, and directly ahead was a house, belonging to a stationmaster and his family.
"Horrors!" exclaimed Thomas, and he shut his eyes as his wheels left the rails and crunched the tarmac.
Foolish Albert was so scared at this point that he didn't think to jump out. He just held on tight to Thomas and closed his own eyes, not daring to look at what was coming next.
Inside the house, the station-master's family were having breakfast, when there came a tremendous crash, as Thomas collided into the building. The house rocked, broken glass tinkled, plaster was everywhere. Thomas had collected a bush on his travels. He peered anxiously into the room through its leaves. He couldn't speak. The stationmaster quickly strode out and shut off Thomas' steam, before helping Albert inside. The cleaner wasn't hurt, but he felt very dazed from the crash.
Everyone was very cross with Albert. It was clear that this accident was entirely his fault.
"You miserable cleaner!" scolded the stationmaster's wife, thrusting a plate in front of Albert's face. "Just look what you've done to our breakfast! Now I shall have to cook some more."
As she went out, she banged the door. More plaster fell right on top of Albert's head.
Thomas felt depressed. The plaster was tickly. He wanted to sneeze, but he didn't dare in case the house fell on him.
"Don't worry, Thomas, we'll get help to get you out," said the stationmaster soothingly, recognising that Thomas had never meant to come down on his own.
Meanwhile, Grumpy Old Albert was in disgrace. A policeman had come over and now spoke severely at the cleaner, making a list in his notebook as he did so.
"Driving a steam engine without permission... Property damage... Reckless endangerment of the public... You, sir, are in a lot of trouble!"
Thomas had to wait for a long time, but at last, workmen propped up the house with strong poles and laid rails through the garden. Meanwhile, Donald and Douglas arrived.
"Dinnae fash yourself Thomas! We'll soon have you back on the rails!" they laughed.
Donald and Douglas, puffing hard, managed to haul Thomas back to safety, before taking him back to the shed. Bits of fencing, the Bush and a broken window frame festooned his front, which was badly twisted. The twins laughed and left him.
Poor Thomas was still feeling very miserable when the Fat Controller came to see him. He was worried that he would be sent away in disgrace.
"I'm very sorry, sir." Thomas's voice was muffled behind his bush.
"Cheer up, Thomas, the accident wasn't really your fault," said the Fat Controller kindly. "Albert's clumsiness was to blame. But I'm afraid you will have to go to the Works, and have your front mended, as well as those stiff brakes of yours, so something like this doesn't happen again. It will be a long job."
"But what about my passengers?" asked Thomas worriedly.
"Don't worry, I'll see about getting another engine to mind your Branch Line while you're being mended," assured the Fat Controller. "Now, I shall have to go and have words with Albert."
The Fat Controller found Grumpy Old Albert at the police station and was very cross with him indeed.
"You have caused a great deal of trouble. Not only does Thomas now need repairing, but so does the stationmaster's house. I shan't be letting you clean on my railway again. I hope this will teach you to be better tempered and less careless in future."
Albert bowed his head dismally, as the Fat Controller turned on his heel and walked sternly away.
When Thomas came back from the Works a couple of weeks later, he felt much better, especially now he was back home on his Branch Line. He soon heard that Percy had had an accident of his own and needed to be sent to the Works too, while Daisy, the Diesel railcar who had been sent to cover Thomas while he was away, had been very lazy and rude, especially to Annie and Clarabel. Thomas had at first been cross with Daisy, but when he learnt how sorry she was and how hard she had worked after Percy's accident, he soon made friends with her.
Annie and Clarabel were delighted to see Thomas again and he took them for a run at once. When they reached the first station on their way, Thomas was surprised to see that a large crowd of cheering passengers had gathered to greet him.
"Daisy wasn't too bad in the end," they said. "But we're ever so glad to have you back for our train rides."
This made Thomas feel very happy. As for Grumpy Old Albert, he didn't show his face again on the railway, and that made all the engines very glad indeed.
