I do not own Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends. They are strictly the property of the Awdry Family and Britt Allcroft, this story is purely for entertainment and not profit.
Episode 5: Thomas's Train, Original Airdate: 23rd October 1984
It was a sunny afternoon on the Island of Sodor. Thomas had just finished work for the day and on his way to pick Lucy up from Playschool. He stopped outside Rainbows End Creche and Nursery and walked up to the door before knocking on it. A male teacher opened the door and saw Thomas standing there.
"Mr Billinton how nice to see you" said the teacher politely, "you here for Lucy".
"That's right" said Thomas happily.
"Well in that case please follow me" said the Teacher.
Thomas entered the nursey and followed the teacher into the main room where Lucy was. She was playing with some of the other toddlers whilst a female teacher was singing and playing her guitar as the children all joined in, she had just finished when Thomas entered, and Lucy saw her daddy before standing up and waddling towards her father with her arms stretched out.
"Daddy" said Lucy happily as she waddled towards her father.
"Lucy" said Thomas happily as he knelt down and took his daughter in her arms and gave her a huge hug. Lucy happily returned her father's hug.
"Have a good time today sweetie?" asked Thomas.
"Fun day" Lucy giggled to her father.
Thomas smiled at his daughter. As he picked up her bag Reverends Wilbert W. Awdry and Teddy Boston the founders of the Rainbows End Creche and Nursery entered, they both saw Thomas and smiled.
Reverend Wilbert Awdry was a slim man in his late fifties with gray hair and wore glasses, Reverend Teddy Boston who was in his mid forties was stout and had dark brown hair and like Reverend Awdry wore glasses. Both men however were kindhearted and were big railway enthusiasts, this was due to them be seen around the railways and hanging out at the stations on their days off.
"Ah young Thomas, picking up your pride and joy I see?" asked Reverend Awdry.
"That I' am Reverend Awdry" replied Thomas, "has Lucy also being behaving herself?".
"We think that you'll be pleased to know that she has being" replied Reverend Teddy with a smile.
As Thomas took Lucy's hand and her bag and was about to leave the playschool when Reverend Awdry remembered something.
"Mr Billinton remember you said that you might tell a story whilst you were picking up Lucy one of these days?" he asked.
"Why so I did" Thomas said giving a smile, "should I tell one?".
Reverend Awdry turned to face the other children who were in the playschool and the teachers.
"Would everyone like Lucy's daddy to tell us a story?" Reverend Awdry asked the children in the room.
"Yes please" they said happily clapping their hands.
Smiling Reverend Awdry turned to face Thomas and Lucy.
"Well, if they want to hear a story I better get started" said Thomas smiling as he pulled up a chair and sat down on it, whilst Lucy and the other children all sat in a semi-circle round Thomas.
"How about the first time I pulled a train?" Thomas asked.
"Yes please" Lucy and the other children clapped happily.
"Well then, shall we begin?" Thomas said as he began his story.
(Story Begins)
Thomas had been working on the North Western Railway for three months now. He was a hard worker, arranging trains for Gordon and Henry to take away. Even though he loved his job he wanted to prove himself to Sir Topham Hatt by proving that he too could pull trains. Gordon on the other hand could not help but rub it in his face.
"You're too impatient little Thomas" said Gordon one day, "you are bound to leave something behind".
As Gordon's engine puffed off with the express, Thomas just signed unhappily to himself. Lady was getting some lunch for them when she saw how unhappy he was, Lady and her guardian and fireman Burnett Stone were both given permission to help Thomas with the shunting at Knapford for the day.
"What's wrong Thomas?" Lady asked her boyfriend with concern.
Thomas then told Lady all about his wish and why. Lady looked at him with a kind and understanding look on her beautiful face.
"I know you want to pull a train Thomas" Lady said kindly, "I'm sure that Sir Topham Hatt will give you a chance pull one soon".
Unbeknownst to either Lady or Thomas that chance was about to come soon. One night a week later Thomas and Howard were working the late shift, since it was too late for them to head home to Ffarquhar they decided to spend the night at Tidmouth sheds. The main sheds at Tidmouth had a bunkhouse for engine crews who were either working late or the night shift. As they backed Thomas' E2 tank engine into one of the berths, they saw Henry with a group of workmen working on his tender engine. Feeling curious they both walked over to see what the story was.
"Evening Henry what's up?" asked Thomas.
"I'm afraid that my engines are blocked" said Henry sadly.
"And it looks like it won't be cleared at all tonight" said one of the Workmen.
That news of course made Henry feel worse. He was supposed to take the first train after Gordon's tomorrow morning, if there was no engine to pull it then that would leave a bad impression with the passengers and could make the North Western Railway look bad. This however gave Thomas an idea.
"Henry how about I take your train tomorrow?" asked Thomas.
"What?" asked Henry in surprise.
"If there are no spare engines that could take your train tomorrow then maybe Sir Topham Hatt might let me take it for you" said Thomas.
"Are you sure that you'll be able to son?" asked Howard.
"Of course, Dad" said Thomas with confidence, "but first we'll have to see how Henry's engine turns out tomorrow".
Both Henry and Howard decided to give Thomas' suggestion a try, late after having some Domino's Pizza for dinner Thomas, Henry and Howard all went to bed. The next morning when Thomas and Howard came down to light the fire to Thomas' E2 they saw the workmen still working on Henry's engine. They then saw Henry coming over to them with a solemn look on his face, Thomas knew this to be hopefully the answer he was waiting for.
"Looks like you and your dad will have to take my train today Thomas" said Henry, "workmen said that the blocked tubes need a thorough cleaning and there's no way my engine will be ready in time".
"Well, I guess we'll have to check with Sir Topham Hatt now" said Howard to Thomas.
Once Thomas' E2 had enough steam they both set off for Knapford station. They brought four green express coaches to platform 1 and waited for the passengers to arrive, which they soon began to. As the passengers began to board the coaches, Thomas having grown more and more excited wanted to couple up to the front of the coaches, but Howard would not let him.
"There's plenty of time Thomas" Howard explained to his son.
"I know dad I'm just so excited" said Thomas who was barely able to contain his excitement.
"I you are son" said Howard softly, "but you must be patient or else something could go wrong".
Soon all the passengers had boarded the coaches. Both the guard and the stationmaster walked up and down the platform making sure everything was in order, the porter slammed the doors of the coaches shut the passengers waited for Henry to arrive, but he did not. As they began to grumble Sir Topham Hatt came out of his office to see what the noise was about, both Thomas and Howard told them about Henry and the problems with his engine. Sir Topham Hatt then sighted with frustration.
"We should find another engine to pull the train" said Sir Topham Hatt.
"I'm afraid that Thomas is the only one Sir" said the stationmaster, "Gordon isn't due for another half hour, Edward has just left with the branch line express, and Lady is busy at Kirk Ronan, I'm afraid that young Mr. Billinton and his engine are the only ones left".
Sir Topham Hatt then turned to face Thomas and Howard who were both standing there. Sir Topham Hatt gave a smile as he noticed the excited look on Thomas' face.
"Do you think that you'll be able to pull the train Thomas?" asked Sir Topham Hatt.
"Oh yes please Sir" said Thomas happily.
"Good, but please remember to be patient" said Sir Topham Hatt.
With that both Thomas and Howard hopped into Thomas' E2's cab and ran round to the front of the coaches and waited for the guard to blow his whistle. What happened next nobody knew, perhaps Howard forgot to couple the coaches or that Thomas was so excited that he pulled the lever by mistake, but for what any reason Thomas's E2 pulled out of Knapford station without the coaches, leaving the passengers standing surprised on the platform. As Thomas and Howard both passed the first signal box the signalman and several workmen began to shout at them, but neither Thomas nor Howard heard them. Thomas thought that they were waving at him pulling his train.
"They probably waving at me because of what a splendid engine my E2" said Thomas to Howard.
"Well I guess they are" replied Howard smiling to his son.
As Thomas' E2 puffed down the line more people waved at Thomas who then whistled back to them. Thomas thought that they were waving at the sight of him pulling his first train.
"Henry and Gordon said that pulling passenger trains was difficult" said Thomas to his father, "but I think that it's easy".
Soon they came to the next signal box. Thomas was hoping that the signal would be green, however it was red which meant that he had to stop.
"Bother and I was having such a good run" said Thomas annoyed.
"Well, if a signal is red, then you know that we have to stop at it" Howard reminded his son.
At last, the signalman came to Thomas' E2. His name was Bob, although some people gave him the nickname "Bob the Builder" to which even he found funny, he was also a good friend to most of the railway staff on the North Western Railway. He came to Thomas and Howard who were both leaning out of Thomas's E2's cab.
"Hello Thomas and Howard, what are you two doing here?" asked Bob.
"I'm pulling my first ever train" Thomas said proudly.
"Are you now young Thomas?" asked Bob.
Just then Howard looked towards the coaches and his eyes widened in shock.
"EH Thomas where are the coaches?" asked Howard tapping on Thomas' shoulder.
Thomas looked towards where the coaches were and like his father his eyes widened.
"Bless me where are they?" asked Thomas in shocked.
"Oh no you've must have accidently started before I had a chance to couple them" said Howard.
"Well I guess you two must go back and get them" said Bob.
Poor Thomas was so sad that he nearly cried, Howard however told him that it was just an accident as they reversed Thomas' E2 back to Knapford Station. At Knapford all the passengers were angerly telling Sir Topham Hatt about the appalling service and that the North Western Railway was a bad railway, however as Thomas' E2 came back to the station they saw how sad he was and felt sorry for him. They then got back into the coaches as Howard then coupled them to Thomas' E2 as Sir Topham Hatt came up to Thomas in his cab.
"I'm truly sorry Sir" said Thomas sadly to Sir Topham Hatt.
"Cheer up Thomas you were just a little excited" said Sir Topham Hatt kindly, "I hope that this incident will teach you to be a little careful in the future?".
Thomas nodded in agreement as Howard got back into the cab and Sir Topham Hatt then boarded the train himself. At last, the guard blew his whistle and Thomas' E2 pulled out of Knapford station, this time pulling the coaches. However, for a long time after that both Gordon and Henry would tease Thomas and laugh about it.
"Look there's Thomas who wanted to pull a train but forgot his coaches" they would tease.
Both Lady and Edward however both understood that he was just a little excited. Lady told Thomas that she was very proud of him for how well he pulled his first train, which of course made him feel much better.
(Story Ends)
"And after that I pulled trains on occasionally, but soon I would get my branch line" said Thomas as he finished his story.
Lucy and all the other children clapped happily as he finished. Even Reverends Awdry and Boston were impressed by Thomas' story.
"That was a very good story young Thomas" said Rev. Awdry kindly.
"Why thank you Reverend Awdry" said Thomas happily.
"Will you tell us of how you got your branch line next?" asked Rev. Boston.
"Maybe I will" said Thomas with a smile, "but that will have to wait for another day".
Picking Lucy up in his arms Thomas then walked out of Rainbows End to his car. He put Lucy in her car seat before getting into the drivers seat and driving back home.
And done. Sorry that it took so long but as I said I sometimes get distracted, but I promise I am going to keep trying to update as often as I can until I succeed. Also I would like to point out two things, one the Rainbows End Creche and Nursery was where I went when I was very young and I included the Fat and Thin Clergymen because although they didn't appear during the Britt Allcroft years I felt that they were both important enough to make an exception. Anyway, please leave a review for me thanks.