A/N: Sorry this took so long! I'm wrapping up my semester in college, and I just haven't had much time to update! Here's the next chapter.

Disclaimer: Don't own Thomas and Friends. If I did, people wouldn't complain about the seasons past 7 as much.

Chapter 39: Breakvan

In order to help with the increasing workload, Sir Topham Hatt had hired a new engine driver from the Caledonian Railway in Scotland, as well as purchasing a new engine from that railway as well. He was quite surprised, however, when two drivers arrived with their engines. They were both identical, and he had no way of knowing which one was the one he had hired, he agreed to give the two a trial, with the one who proved to be the least useful would be sent back. This got the two worried.

Douglas: But if we go back, they'll scrap our engines for sure.

Donald: Dinnae Fast, yourself, Douggie. We'll just have to do equal work, that way he'll have to let us both stay.

And so the plan was set. However, neither had accounted for Morris.

Morris was a guard on the railway who had taken a disliking to Douglas. He was nasty man who would do anything to get Douglas in trouble whenever he was on any of his trains. Those trains were late, and Douglas was blamed. When Donald heard about this, he was not pleased and confronted Morris as soon as he could.

Donald: So, Yae think that you can mess with my brother, do yae? You're just an old crockpot who could be replaced in a minute. It's time someone taught you a lesson.

Morris: Ha! You and what army?

With that Donald grabbed his arm and twisted it behind his back.

Morris: Ow! Ow! Ow! Please, please stop!

Donald: There's more where that came from, if yae continue to misbehave.

Morris kept to himself after that. That is until a week later. It had rained the night before, making the rails slick. Donald was moving his engine into a siding by the signal box to rest. He didn't reaized the rails were too slick until it was too late. With a loud crash his engine's tender hit the signal box, sending bricks everywhere.

Luckily, the signalman was getting some coffee and Donald had not been hurt, but he felt rather foolish. He felt even worse when Sir Topham Hatt arrived.

Sir Topham Hatt: I am disappointed in you Donald. I had decided to keep you and send back Douglas, but now that shall have to wait.

Donald: I know, sir. I am sorry sir.

Sir Topham Hatt: I should hope so. Now James will have to do your work as well as his own. He won't like that.

He was right. James grumbled endlessly as he got his next train ready.

James: Anybody would think that Donald had his accident on purpose. Sir Topham Hatt just had to choose me to take over. Why couldn't he chose Percy, or Henry!

Douglas: Because they don't drive their engines into a train of tar wagons.

Gordon and Henry snickered to themselves.

James: Shut up, it isn't funny!

James hated being reminded of his accident with tar wagons, and furiously drove his engine out of the yard.

Morris was the guard on the train, and decided to mess with James. Whenever he got the chance he would slip on the brakes, making the journey go on longer than it needed to. James knew that he would need a back engine on Gordon's Hill. Unfortunately, only Douglas was available.

James: Please give me a hand up the hill. The guard is being unreasonable.

Douglas smiled, and agreed to help. They got no more than halfway up the hill when Morris decided to play his tricks. James struggled to push his engine further, but Douglas pushed on. The van started to buckle, and Morris started to worry.

Morris: Oh man, I really should have thought this through more. (Van starts to fall apart) Screw this, I'm out of here!

He jumped clear just in time as the van went to pieces.

Edward soon arrived with the breakdown train, with Sir Topham Hatt riding in the cab.

Sir Topham Hatt: I should've known it was Douglas who would be responsible for this."

James: Please sir, it wasn't Douglas's fault. The guard held me back, and my engine ran out of puff, but Douglas kept pushing until the end.

Sir Topham Hatt: Hmm, I see. I shall have to talk to that guard. As for you Douglas, I don't know what to do. I want to be fair, but I don't know. I just don't know.

With that, he walked away to do some deep thinking. But that's another story.