I do not own Thomas the Tank Engine & Friends. They are strictly the property of both the Awdry Family and Britt Allcroft.
Episode 11: Thomas and the Guard, Original Airdate: 13th November 1984
It was a cool day on the Island of Sodor. Thomas was on his way to pick Lucy up from Playschool, he had also promised Reverends Awdry and Boston that he would tell one of his stories. He soon reached the Rainbows End Creche and Nursey, he then parked his car and then he remembered that Rev. Awdry asked him for something, but he could not remember what it was.
"It's probably not important" Thomas said to himself.
One of the teachers answered and then lead Thomas into the main room where Reverends Awdry and Boston were showing the children some pictures of trains. Lucy then saw her father and stood up and waddled over to him with her arms stretched out.
"Daddy" Lucy chirped happily as Thomas took her in his arms.
"Ah young Mr Billinton" smiled Rev. Awdry as he came over to them, "you ready to tell us another one of your stories".
"That I' am Reverend," said Thomas.
"Did you bring the cookies that we asked you to buy?" asked Reverend Boston.
Thomas then realized that the cookies were what he was supposed to get. However, he was in such a rush to get to the playschool that he had forgotten.
"Oh no, I'm so sorry Reverend I forgot about" said Thomas apologetically, "me and dad finished a little later then I thought, and I was in such a rush to get here that I forgot".
"That's okay Mr Billinton" said Reverend Awdry, "we were given some chocolate bourbons and custard creams earlier by the refreshment lady as she had too much for her tea shop".
Thomas was relieved that Reverend Awdry was understanding of him finishing late. However, at the thought of him rushing and forgetting, an idea clicked in his head for which story to tell.
"You know my rushing and forgetting has given me the idea of which story to tell," said Thomas.
"And what story is that young Mr Billinton?" Reverend Boston asked.
"Get Lucy and everybody together and I'll tell you it," said Thomas.
Reverends Awdry and Boston got Lucy and all the children in Rainbows End to sit together. They then pulled with three chairs for them and Thomas to sit.
"Alright boys and girls, for today's story I will tell you of how I left my guard behind" said Thomas as he began his story.
(Story Begins)
Thomas was every proud of his branch line. He had been given it as a reward by Sir Topham Hatt for helping James after he been rushed off the line by some trucks due to his engine's faulty brakes. He had now been working on it for six weeks and had always been on time with both his passenger and goods train.
"My branch line is the most important line on the whole of the North Western Railway" Thomas would declare proudly to Howard, Annie and Clarabel who just smiled at his enthusiasm.
"I'm sure it is" smiled Howard to his son.
Thomas continued happily on with his work. His E2 had two coaches, a pair of LMS Suburban Coaches with Annie and Clarabel as their stewardesses. Annie's coach could only take passengers, but Clarabel's coach could take passengers, luggage, and the guard. Both the coaches were old and in need of new paint but Thomas, Howard, Annie and Clarabel loved them all the same.
As the family ran up and down the branch line, they would sing little songs to each other. When ever they would start from the stations along the branch line, Thomas would sing.
"Oh come along we're rather late, oh come along we're rather late" he sang from his cab.
"We're coming along, we're coming along" they would sing back from the coach windows.
Annie and Clarabel did not mind Thomas saying this to them. They knew that he was trying to please Sir Topham Hatt, they also knew that if he was indeed cross it was not with them.
One day they were waiting at Elsbridge Station for Henry to come in with his train. Usually, Henry would be waiting at the platform with his passengers, however today he was not there. Thomas was not worried as they were quite early. So, they decided to wait for Henry to come, however ten minutes had passed, and Henry had not arrived. This made Thomas quite cross
"Where on Earth is Henry" Thomas asked crossly, "doesn't he know that Sir Topham Hatt is relaying on me to run my branch line?".
"Take it easy son" Howard told him, "Henry's probably just running a little later, you know we can't always be on time when we want to".
Thomas knew that his father was right. But he also had a schedule to keep, and he knew that the passengers would complain if their trains were running late, and Sir Topham Hatt would be cross with him. Five minutes later and Henry still had not arrived, Thomas was starting to get impatient. He wanted to leave but he had to wait for Henry's passengers.
Soon they heard a whistle and Henry's engine came pulling into Elsbridge Station pulling three old green coaches. Thomas was about to walk up to the cab and give Henry quite a talking to, however he saw Henry down from the cab with a depressed look on his face his anger at him being late faded and was replaced with a look of concern. The passengers exited his coaches and headed over to Thomas' coaches, some of them scolded Henry whilst others gave him angry looks which made him feel worse. Seeing Thomas began to feel sorry for Henry and decided to see what made his friend so sad.
"What's the matter Henry?" asked Thomas feeling concern for his friend as Henry looked at him sadly.
"I'm so sorry if I'm late Thomas" said Henry sadly, "my engines been acting up again".
"Is it her steaming troubles?" Thomas asked as it was well known that Henry's engine suffered from steaming problems.
"It is unfortunately" said Henry, "she has always been a bad steamer and being bricked up in the tunnel has only seemed to have made them worse".
"Really" said Thomas sympathetically to Henry's blight.
"I'm afraid so, I'm also worried that if they are not fully fixed soon then Sir Topham Hatt will scrap her and that I cannot bear" crooked Henry.
"Well, I think that Sir Topham Hatt should scrap that piece of shit and replace it with a proper engine" snapped a disgruntled male passenger unsympathetically.
That made Henry feel even worse as he then began to cry. Thomas gave the passenger a dirty look before giving Henry a comforting hug.
"Cheer up Henry" said Thomas kindly, "I'm sure that Sir Topham Hatt will find a way to fix your engine".
"Do you really think so?" asked Henry as he began to calm down.
"Off course there's no way that he will scrap a perfectly good train like yours" said Thomas told Henry.
Hearing Thomas' kind words made Henry feel a little better. Just then the guard blew his whistle which meant that it was time for Thomas to leave.
"There's the guards whistle" said Thomas as he went to hop back into his cab, "I'll see you later Henry".
"See you later Thomas and thank you for cheering me up" called Henry.
As Thomas was about to depart from Elsbridge Station there was a problem. The guard was about to board the train when his shoelaces came loose, stepping on them he tripped up and fell onto the platform floor. As he tried to get back up, he noticed Thomas was pulling out of the station.
"Wait Thomas wait" he called.
But it was too late. Thomas had already pulled out of the station and did not hear the guard calling him back, Annie and Clarabel however did and tried to tell Thomas.
"Thomas wait we've left the guard at the station, we have to go back for him!" called Clarabel to her brother.
However, Thomas did not hear her due to the sound of his engine. Soon he was puffing down the branch line trying to make up for lost time, Annie and Clarabel tried to tell him that he had left the guard behind at Elsbridge, but he could not here them. Soon they came to a signal that was red and Thomas had to stop much to his dismay.
"Oh, bother that signal" grumbled Thomas in annoyance.
"Cheer up son the guard will soon tell us what the story is" said Howard trying to make his son feel a bit better.
"We can" said Annie as she and Clarabel both came up to Thomas' cab.
"And why's that?" asked Thomas confused.
"Because we left him behind at Elsbridge" cried Clarabel.
"Oh no," groaned Thomas in embarrassment.
"And the day was going so nice too" groaned Howard.
Just then Thomas, Howard, Annie and Clarabel all heard a whistle. They turned to see the guard running down the line with his flags in his hands, the passengers poked their heads out of the coach windows to see what the problem.
The guard soon caught up to them, he was red in the face and panting heavily. One the passengers, an old woman who had been shopping at Elsbridge gave the guard a small milk for him to quench his thirst. Thomas then came up to him looking sorry for leaving him behind.
"I'm so sorry about leaving you behind Jim" Thomas told the guard, "I didn't mean for it to happen".
"That's alright Thomas" replied the guard, "it was actually my own fault for not tying my laces properly.
"Well now that you're back Jim, perhaps we could all finish our journey" said Howard who noticed that the signal was down.
Soon Thomas and everyone were back on board the train and they set off. Annie and Clarabel were both so pleased that the guard was back with them that they both stuck their heads out of the windows and sang.
"Fast as you want, as fast as you want" they sang to Thomas.
Soon they reached Ffarquhar Station quicker then they had ever before. Thomas, Howard, Annie and Clarabel then went to get some lunch in the village before preparing for their return journey.
(Story Ends)
"And after that I was careful never to be impatient again" said Thomas as he finished his story to the group.
"I glad that the guard was so understanding" said Reverend Awdry as he stood.
"And maybe next you'll remember to buy the cookies?" asked Reverend Boston.
"That I will" said Thomas as he stood up and picked Lucy up in his arms, "come on Lucy home time".
With that Thomas left Rainbows End and went to his car. He put Lucy in her seat and drove home.
And done. It took me 11 days to write. You see I'am updating a regular basis, any please be kind to leave a preview and as always see you next time.