Chapter 285: The Spotless Record

Sir Topham Hatt had bought a new tank engine to help with the increased workload. When it pulled into Brendam Docks, everyone gasped in surprise. The engine was the biggest tank engine they had ever seen! Stepping down from the footplate was a man with neat brown hair and glasses.

"This," introduced Sir Topham Hatt, "Is Arthur. He comes highly recommended from his railway, where he has a spotless record."

Percy looked puzzled.
"What's a spotless record?"

"It means I've never had an accident or made a mistake," Arthur said, a little too proudly. Bill and Ben, who had brought trucks into the harbor, had heard everything and were not impressed.

"No accidents? Who does he think he is, coming here and making the rest of us look bad!"

"We ought to teach him a lesson."

Later that day, Arthur was told to take some trucks full of fruit to the market. Bill and Ben saw a chance for some mischief, and were delighted.

"Say Arthur, you should push the trucks there. It'll be much easier to unload them when you get there."
"Are you sure that's alright? Isn't there a hill on the way?"

"Oh, don't worry, it'll be fine! Isn't that right, Ben?"

"Oh yes, Bill. We do that all the time!"

Arthur wasn't sure, but he wanted to fit in. So he drove his engine up to the train and began pushing it out of the docks.

"Thanks for the tip, guys!"

Bill and Ben watched as he left the docks, then snickered to themselves.

"So much for his spotless record."

"Oh, he will look silly."

Soon, Arthur reached Gordon's Hill. Since he was pushing the train, he couldn't see the line ahead. This made him slightly worried.

"I'm sure it will be alright. After all, I have the guard keeping watch."

But he didn't realize just how much trouble he was in for. As they crested over the hill, they picked up speed rapidly on the way down. Arthur tried to brake, but it did little good. Worse still lay ahead. Duck was at the bottom of the hill, waiting for the signal to drop. The guard saw this and tried to warn Arthur, but it was too late. With a loud crash and a SPLAT! The trains collided, the guard having just enough time to jump clear. Fruit splatted and squashed all over the insides of the trucks, their remains leaking out onto the ground. Arthur felt very silly indeed.

"Oh dear," he moaned. "What will Sir Topham Hatt say?"

He soon found out, because he arrived with Percy when he brought the breakdown train.

"Arthur, what happened? Just look at this mess!"

"I'm sorry, sir. I was pushing this train, and-"

"Pushing your train? What on Earth possessed you to do that?"

"Those two nice gentlemen told me that's how it's done."

"Did they happen to be identical twins driving two yellow tank engines?"

"Err, yes, I believe so."

Sir Topham Hatt sighed crossly.

"Bill and Ben, I should've known. I'll discuss this with their manager later. But for now, you should clean up this mess."

Arthur sighed and got right to work. His Spotless Record was broken, but he could always start over. But for now, he was thinking of what he would say to those two when they next met.