Disclaimer: I still do not own Thomas the Tank Engine.

Chapter 17: Trouble in the Shed

The next day Sir Topham Hatt was in his office doing paperwork when he heard a loud commotion coming from the platform. The stationmaster came in looking worried.

"There's trouble in the shed, sir," he began, "Henry is sulking, the train is not ready, and everybody is complaining about what a bad railway this is."

"Oh bother," said Sir Topham Hatt, "Let's go set this straight."

When they got there they found the three engine drivers standing in front of their engines.

"Come on Henry," said Sir Topham Hatt, "It's time for your train and your engine isn't even in steam."

"I refuse to go," said Henry indignantly, "We're sick of how we've been treated."

"That's right," said Gordon, "we refuse to use our engines to fetch our own trains. That's what Thomas and his engine were for."

"Right," said James, "You fetch our coaches and we will drive them. Tender engine drivers don't use their engines for shunting."

"Oh really?" Said Sir Topham Hatt, "We shall see about that! Employees on my railway shall do as they are told."

With that he got in his car and headed to Wellsworth. "Things just haven't been the same since Thomas left to run his branchline."

He reached Wellsworth to find Edward using his engine to shunt trucks around the yard and into their proper sidings.

"Leave those trucks here, Edward," he told him, "I need you to push coaches for me at the big station."

"Right away, sir," said Edward, "I could use a change in scenery."

"Good man," said Sir Topham Hatt.

With Edward handling the shunting the main line drivers finally agreed to go back to work, and everything went back to normal. The peace didn't last long, however, and within a week Sir Topham Hatt noticed that Edward had begun to look depressed. Gordon drove past and made his engine blow steam at him.

"Goodness gracious!" said Sir Topham Hatt, "What a noise!"

"It's the same with the others as well," said Edward, "They say that tender engine drivers don't use their engines for shunting! When will they learn that we are all the same?"

"I don't know, Edward," said Sir Topham Hatt, "But even so we could do with another station pilot. Fortunately I have recently bought one from the workshops. I just need someone to act as the driver."

He held employee interviews that afternoon. He found that most of the employees, while they had a relatively good amount of railway experience, felt that they were above driving a tank engine. The last one was a young man, perhaps as old as or a little bit younger than Thomas. He had brown hair, green eyes, and looked keen to work.

"Hello there," said Sir Topham Hatt, "What is your name?"

"Percy Smith, sir," said Percy.

"Nice to meet you. Now, how many years of experience have you had driving an engine?"

"To be honest, not much," said Percy, "I was just recently promoted to driver a few months ago. But I am dedicated to learning the ways of your railway and promise to be a valuable member."

"That's what I like to hear," said Sir Topham Hatt, "You're hired. Come with me and I'll introduce you to Edward. He'll show you what to do."

They found Edward near the sheds.

"This is Percy, our new engine driver," Sir Topham Hatt, "I need you to show him around and teach him what needs to be done."

"Yes sir," said Edward, and he began coaching Percy on what needs to be done, and together they made everything go like clockwork. The other drivers, however, looked down on Percy and continued their stubborn ways.

A few days later Thomas pulled into the yards with his engine.

"Hello there," he spoke to Percy, "You must be the new employee. I'm Thomas, and I run a branchline here."

"Hello," said Percy as he shook Thomas's hand, "I'm Percy. Edward has told me some great things about you. What brings you here?"

"Sir Topham Hatt told me to come," replied Thomas, "I don't know why though. Oh, here he comes."

"Ah, Thomas, glad you could make it," said Sir Topham Hatt, "Listen. Since Gordon, James, and Henry refuse to do any shunting I have decided to suspend them from work and I need all of you to help run the railway. Do you think that you can do it?"

"Yes sir!" The three shouted at once, and they all set off to work.

Edward and Thomas ran the mainline trains, while Percy ran Thomas's branchline. Annie and Clarabel were still in school and therefore could not go with Thomas, but Percy promised to look after them well.

Due to the shortage of engines there were fewer trains, but the passengers didn't mind. They knew that the other three drivers were receiving their just deserts.

Gordon, James, and Henry were miserable. They were stuck cleaning the house, and were bored dreadfully. They now wish they had never been so silly.