Chapter 239: Thomas and the Jet Engine

"Speed," Gordon remarked one evening, "Is everything. If you're not fast, then what's even the point."

His coworkers just rolled their eyes. Gordon had once again set the island speed record, and wouldn't shut up about it. Normally, they would just let him ramble, but today he was worse than normal.

"Yes sir, I'm the pride of the line! I don't know what Sir Topham Hatt would do without my engine's speed."

"Speed isn't everything," Henry piped in. "It doesn't matter how fast your engine can go if it isn't strong enough to pull a train."

"Don't forget about being clean!" James chimed, causing a collective groan from everyone present.

"What's really important is being really useful," Thomas said. "All three of those things are important too, but as long as we put our best foot forward, then that's all that counts."

But Gordon was too caught up in his dreams too care, and the topic was dropped. Later that evening, Thomas was doing some light reading before bed when Emily came in.

"Whatcha reading, Thomas?"

"Huh? Or, just this book about famous historical locomotives. Did you know that they used to put aircraft engines and propellers on the back of locomotives to make them go faster?"

"Really?"

"Yeah. Take this one from Germany, for example. It reached 143 MPH thanks to its propeller!"

"Wow! I wonder why there haven't been more of them?"

"Safety concerns, mostly. Crowded stations plus spinning fans equal nothing good. Still though, imagine if we had something like that on our railway? Gordon wouldn't be so boastful then!"

The two of them shared a good laugh before heading off to sleep. The next morning, Sir Topham Hatt gave Thomas an important job.

"I need you to go to Brendam Docks and pick up a jet engine and take it to Dryaw Airfield. They're trying out an experimental aircraft, and they need it for testing."

Thomas was delighted, and quickly set off for the Docks. He found his load being prepped for transport. Currently, the workmen were loading the jet fuel. It was supposed to be transported in fuel drums with the jet engine, but the foreman was in a hurry to get the job done.

"Just dump it into the engine. We've got enough work to do without wasting it on this job."

"Are you sure? That doesn't sound safe-"

"Oh please, what's the worse that can happen? Think of it this way, we're saving the workmen at the airfield some trouble. Now just hurry up and do it already!"

"You're the boss."

And so they did, but the workmen were still a little apprehensive. A little while later, they were almost ready to go, but Thomas was getting impatient. He had no idea what they had done.

"Are you lot almost done yet? I was supposed to leave 20 minutes ago! If I'm late-"

"Hold your horses, bub! This is dangerous work, we gotta be careful, otherwise-"

In his rant, the foreman accidentally flipped the switch to on. Slowly, the engine whirred to life. Thomas began to worry.

"Um, guys? Is it supposed to do that?"

Nervously, the workmen began to back away.

"Seriously guys, what's going-"

At last, the jet engine roared to life, sending Thomas and his engine flying down the line.

"-OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOONNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN!"

The workmen could only watch as Thomas raced away. The foreman facepalmed in disbelief.

"I'm so fired."

Thinking quickly, they telephoned down the line, and every signalman cleared the line. Poor Thomas was in such shock that he didn't know what to think. He raced past James, and soared through Maron Station.

"Good lord, what was that?"

Bertie drove up to the level crossing. Seeing Thomas approaching, he got an idea.

"Hey Thomas, how about a race?"

WHOOOOSH!

"Um, never mind."

Farther up ahead, Gordon was racing down the mainline with the express. He was having the time of his life.

"I'm the fastest on the island! No one can top my engine's speed!"

"Hi Gordon, Bye Gordon!"

Gordon was shocked out of his own grandeur at the sigh of Thomas whizzing past him. He didn't know what to think.

"Wh-what was that!"

After a while, Thomas's good fun had to come to an end. Slowly, the friction began to grind his engine's wheels to nothing, and at last he fell right onto the tracks, the jet engine finally running out of fuel.

"Finally! I thought I would never stop!"

Percy soon arrived with the breakdown train, as well as Sir Topham Hatt. Thomas was afraid he would cross, but he was very understanding.

"The accident wasn't your fault, Thomas. The foreman did a rushed job, and he has been given the slip. Once Victor has a look at your engine, it'll be good as new."

And it was. When Thomas returned to work a few days later, he arrived into Knapford Station to a round of cheers and applause.

"Let's hear it for Thomas, whose set the new Sodor land speed record!"

Gordon huffed indignantly, but secretly he was impressed. Emily came up to her husband.

"Well Thomas, I guess you got your wish after all."

"Yeah, and lets hope it never happens again!"

Everyone laughed, even Gordon. But Thomas truly did hope there wouldn't be a next time.