I do not own Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends. They are strictly the property of both the Awdry Family and Britt Allcroft, this story is purely for entertainment and never profit.
Episode 38: The Runaway, Original Airdate: October 22nd, 1986
It was a cool afternoon on the Island of Sodor. In Ffarquhar, Thomas was on his way to pick up Lucy from Rainbow End and to tell one of his stories to the children there. He arrived at the playhouse and was let in by one of the teachers. He entered the main room where he found Lucy playing with some of the other toddlers, as soon as Thomas entered the room, Lucy stood up and waddled over to him.
"Daddy" she said excitedly.
"Hello Lucy" said Thomas as he picked up his daughter, "you and your friends have a fun day?".
"Fun day daddy" said Lucy.
"And your daddy is going to tell you and your friends one of his stories" said Reverend Awdry as he and Reverend Boston entered the room.
"That I' am Reverends" replied Thomas, "you guys got the milk and cookies".
"That we do young Thomas" replied Reverend Boston with a smile.
"Good now let's get everyone together and get this party started" smiled Thomas.
Reverends Awdry and Boston and the other teachers soon got all the children sitting in a semi-circle with a glass of milk and two cookies each. Thomas sat on a chair looking at everyone as he thought of a story to tell, he then got the idea of which one to tell".
"Alright children" said Thomas, "are we all sitting comfortably?".
"Yes" the children said.
"Are you all ready to hear my story?" asked Thomas.
"Yes" said the children again.
"Well how about I tell you the story of how my engine ran away?" asked Thomas.
"I'm sorry Thomas" asked Reverend Awdry, "but did I hear you say that your engine ran away?".
"That it correct Reverend Awdry" replied Thomas, "I'll tell you and everyone here of how it happened".
"Okay then" said Reverend Awdry, "please be so kind as to take it away".
"Right then" said Thomas as he began his story, "it all began one day when my engine wouldn't start up".
(Story Begins)
One day Thomas' E2 wouldn't start. He and Howard tried everything, but nothing seemed to work, they phoned Sir Topham Hatt who came with some workmen. The workmen tried to make it work but it was no use.
"I'm afraid Edward must take your E2 to the works" said Sir Topham Hatt at last.
"Botheration" said Thomas, "this was the last thing that I needed".
"Sorry son" said Howard as he comforted him, "but it happens".
Thomas' E2 was then loaded onto a flatbed so that Edward could take it to the works so that it could be mended.
"Don't worry Thomas" said Edward kindly, "you'll have your E2 back in a few days I'm sure of it".
"Thanks Edward" replied Thomas.
Edward then hopped into his K2's cab and headed off for the works, Thomas' E2 on the flatbed in tow. Over at Tidmouth sheds, Duck was tending to his 57xx class tank engine when Sir Topham Hatt came into the sheds.
"Hello there Sir" greeted Duck politely, "is there something you want me to do?".
"There is Duck" replied Sir Topham Hatt, "I want you to help Percy, Toby and Burnett on the Ffarquhar branch line whilst Thomas' E2 is being repaired".
"I will leave for Ffarquhar right away Sir," said Duck.
"That's what I wanted to hear" replied Sir Topham Hatt.
Sir Topham Hatt then turned and left the sheds whilst Duck got his 57xx's fire started, once it was burning nicely, he hopped into its cab and headed for Ffarquhar. He arrived at Ffarquhar sheds where he met Thomas, Percy, Toby, Lady, and Burnett.
"Hello Duck" greeted Percy.
"Hello Percy" replied Duck as he parked his 57xx in Thomas' E2's berth and hopped down from its cab, "Thomas".
"Duck" Thomas greeted.
"Toby, Lady and Burnett" said Percy, "I'd like you to meet my friend Duck".
Duck then shook Toby's, Lady's and Burnetts hands each politely.
"A pleasure to meet you all" said Duck politely.
"Likewise," replied Toby.
"So what's my first job here?" asked Duck.
Thomas then showed Duck a list of jobs that Sir Topham Hatt had given him for the day, but because his E2 was at the works being mended, it was Duck who had to do them for the day. Duck took the list and looked over it very carefully.
"Seems simple enough to do," said Duck.
Duck then hopped back into his 57xx's cab and when to pick up Thomas' LMS Suburban coaches. Annie and Clarabel were the stewardesses for the day, they were both just getting ready when they saw Duck coming into the carriage shed.
"Whose he Annie?" asked Clarabel.
"I don't know Clarabel" replied Annie.
Duck then stopped his 57xx and hopped down from its cab so that he could couple it to the coaches, as he did, he noticed Annie and Clarabel.
"Hello there" he greeted them, "you're not Annie and Clarabel by any chance?".
"We are" replied Annie, "and what's your name?".
"I suppose introductions are in order" said Duck, "I'm Duck Collett and I will be your engine driver for the day".
"But where's Thomas and Dad?" asked Annie.
"They're usually the ones who pull us," said Clarabel.
Duck then explained of how Thomas' couldn't work that day due to his E2 being at the works, this made Annie and Clarabel feel sorry for their older brother. Annie and Clarabel then hopped into their coaches and Duck into his cab and headed off.
Much to their surprise, Duck was very gentle with the coaches and gave them a smooth ride. Over the new few days, he made friends with Toby and Bertie. Terence even gave him a big welcome when Duck passed his farm one day and stopped whilst the signal was up.
"Please take care of Annie and Clarabel" said Terence, "he's sure to miss then whilst he's off".
"That I will and it's sure is a pleasure to met you Terence if I'm not wrong," said Duck.
"You're quite right my friend" laughed Terence, "and its sure nice to met you too Duck. Percy's told me a bit about you".
The signal then dropped, and Duck continued his journey. Annie and Clarabel were impressed.
"Such nice manners Clarabel," said Annie.
"I quite agree with you Annie" replied Clarabel, "it really is a pleasure to go out with him".
Duck had a great time working on Thomas' branch line. A week later Thomas' E2 was finally repaired, and he was taken to the works by Edward so that he could pick it up. Thomas was so pleased to have it back that he soon forgot to be jealous of Duck, he even thanked him before he returned to Tidmouth.
Unfortunately, the works had left Thomas' E2's handbrake very stiff. It made its breaks seemed if they were hard-on, when in fact they were not. As a result, Thomas and Howard often overran the platform.
"Oh, bollocks we've done it again" said Thomas in embarrassment when they overran the platform again one day.
"We've really got to get your E2's brakes checked" suggested Howard.
Thomas couldn't be in more agreement with his father. But eventually both Thomas and Howard learned to be extra careful. But one day, Thomas and Howard were at Elsbridge when it happened. Howard had just fastened the coaches to Thomas' E2 and joined him on the platform to wait for Henry's passengers, Lady was riding on Thomas' train that day and was waiting in the coaches with Annie and Clarabel.
"Not long now," said Thomas.
"Henry should be here any moment now son" replied Howard.
Sure, enough Henry soon came into view. He stopped his Stanier Black 5 at the platform as he hopped down from his cab and his passengers began to disembark so that they could board Thomas' train. Thomas then went up to greet him.
"Hello Henry" greeted Thomas.
"Hello Thomas how are you?" replied Henry.
"I'm feeling great" said Thomas, "how are you?".
"I'm feeling good too" smiled before he looked up and a look on shock dawned on his face, "Thomas your E2's moving away".
"That's a good one Henry" smiled Thomas, thinking that Henry was joking.
"No, I'm serious look" said Henry in shock.
Thomas turned around and his eyes widened in shock. Sure, enough he saw that his E2 was moving out of the station, all on its own. Lady, Annie, and Clarabel were pounding on the coach windows in horror.
"Shit the handbrake" said Howard in horror.
Thomas and Howard both raced after Thomas' E2 in an attempt to reach the cab and put on its brakes. But it was moving too fast for them, and it was soon in the distance, leaving Thomas, Howard, the guard, and the passengers stranded on the platform.
"LADY, ANNIE AND CLARABEL" cried Thomas in horror at his pregnant girlfriend and younger sisters being on a runaway train.
"QUICK" Howard called to the stationmaster, "RAISE THE ARLARM".
"RIGHT AWAY" called the stationmaster.
The alarm was soon raised as Thomas' E2 raced down the line. Lady was in the coaches as she held a terrified Annie and Clarabel.
"Please help us Thomas" Lady said frightened to herself.
But luckily help was at hand. At Dryaw Airfield, ready for action was Harold. An inspector had arrived at the airfield and together they had made a plan, they then hopped into Harold's helicopter and took off into the sky.
Meanwhile Thomas' E2 was beginning to lose steam and as result was starting to go more slowly, Lady was comforting Annie and Clarabel when she noticed this.
"Look girls we're beginning to slow down" she told them.
"But will we stop soon?" asked Annie worriedly.
Lady didn't know how to answer Annie's question. Just then the trio heard a familiar whirling noise, they looked out the coach window to see Harold's helicopter hovering above them.
"Look its Harold" said Clarabel, "he's going to save us".
Harold then raced forward to Upper Brendam station where he landed and the inspector hopped out, he raced onto the platform and waited for Thomas' E2 to arrive. A couple of minutes later it came into view, it was going slowly enough for the inspector to act.
As it came onto the platform, the inspector, judging his moment, scrambled into the cab and screwed the brakes on, bring Thomas' E2 to a complete stop. Lady, Annie, and Clarabel hopped out of the coach and onto the platform, relieved that they were finally safe.
"Thank you inspector" said Lady.
"You're all very welcome," said the inspector.
"And thank you Harold" said Annie and Clarabel.
"Think nothing of it" replied Harold with a smile, "glad to be of service".
Just then they heard the tooting of Bertie's red bus as it came racing into the station. Thomas, Howard, Tanya, and Burnett hopped out and raced up to Lady, Annie and Clarabel and hug them tightly.
"Oh Lady" said Thomas, "are you and the baby safe?".
"We are Thomas" said Lady as she held her boyfriend.
"Were you two scared?" Tanya asked her two daughters.
"We were mom but we're safe now" replied Annie.
"We must never let this happen again Thomas and Howard" said the inspector, "we must always check to see if the brakes are on properly".
Both Thomas and Howard wearily agreed with him.
(Story Ends)
"And ever since then both me and dad have made sure that the brakes were on properly" said Thomas as he finished his story.
"Were your E2's brakes fixed?" asked Reverend Awdry.
"Oh don't worry they were" replied Thomas as he stood up, "come on Lucy its home time".
"Home daddy" said Lucy happily.
Thomas then picked up his daughter and left Rainbows End and headed for home, where they were going to have a tasty dinner of fish and chips later.
And done, I'm sorry it took so long for me to write but never fear I'm back. This chapter took me two days to write, and I must say I'm please with how it turned out, also I did say that Lady was going to give birth in this chapter, but I've decided to have her give birth in The Missing Coach.. Anyway please be so kind as to leave a preview and as always, see you all next time.