Chapter 201: Museum Piece

One morning, Sir Topham Hatt gathered everyone at Tidmouth for a big announcement.

"The National Railway Museum at York has written asking if they could please borrow one of my engines and two drivers for a month to give visitors a treat. Now of course a little publicity could go a long way, so I agreed. Now, I've kept this a secret so I could make my decision without input, and I've decided on..."

Everyone leaned in curiously, desperate to hear his verdict. Everyone wanted to go, but they knew he could only send two.

"...Thomas and Emily!"

A chorus of mutters and shocked gasps ran through the crowd But none were more surprised than the chosen couple.

"Us, sir?"

"That is, if you want too. It'll take a little rearranging of schedules, but this is a once in a life time opportunity."

Thomas and Emily shared a look before nodding.

"We're in! Erm, what engine will we be taking?"

"Thomas's. You'll leave in 2 weeks!"

Overall, the reception to the announcement was rather warm, with the others congratulated the two. Gordon, James, and Henry, however, were jealous.

"What's Thomas have that I don't?" Gordon grumbled.

"A girlfriend, a one of a kind engine, and his own TV Show, for one thing," complained James.

"Ah, who cares?" Snorted Henry. "If he wants to turn his engine into a museum piece, then let him."

All the same, the three were happy for them, even if they had a funny way of showing it. Back on Thomas's branchline, Annie and Clarabel couldn't sit still. They were on school break, and couldn't wait to go for a trip.

"How much longer till we go?" They would ask each morning.

"A day less than the last time you asked," came the exasperated reply.

"You know, I've never been to the museum myself," Emily said one evening. "I wonder what famous engines we'll see there. Do you think they'll have The Flying Scottsman? Or maybe The City of Truro?"

Thomas shrugged his shoulders. He didn't have any idea either.

At last the big day came. Thomas and Emily took the controls, while Annie and Clarabel rested in the brakevan. Everyone was there to see them off.

"Good luck, you two! Enjoy yourselves, and make Sodor proud!"

"We will! See you all in a month!"

With that, the small train pulled out of Knapford station to a chorus of cheers and whistles.

The trip would take them two days, but they didn't mind. They had never been off the Island before, and longed for a good run. After a long run across the island, they crossed the bridge and were racing across the mainland. At night, they rested at Carnforth before setting out early the next morning. But as they passed Skipton, it began to rain.

"Just what we need to ruin the trip! At least the cab offers some shelter. If Gordon was doing this, he'd complain about getting wet!"

"Never mind, Thomas. As long as we keep going this way, we should reach York by tea time."

At the signal box up ahead, the signal man stretched as he checked his watch.

"The light train from Sodor will be coming through soon. I'd better open the gates."

He did so before moving to set the signals to all clear. But as he made his way to the Signal Box, he heard a crack and a rattle. Looking back, he gasped in horror to see the level crossing gates being swung open by the wind. The lock had broken, and Thomas would be there at any minute!

"I need to change the signal quick! If Thomas comes through, there'll be trouble!"

Back down the line, Thomas and Emily noticed a signal set to all clear.

"Good, we'll have a clear line. York, here we come!"

But they had just past the signal when they heard a loud clang. They both knew what that meant.

"We need to slow down, Thomas! There's trouble up the line!"

"Bother, and the rain was just starting to let up too. Oh well, the signal man will tell us what's wrong."

But they were rather shocked to see him waving a red flag as the gate banged in the wind. Thomas applied the brakes...

CRASH!

...but it was too late. The signal man leapt back as the train smashed through the gate, destroying it. Annie and Clarabel hopped down, hoping everything was alright.

"You four okay? I wanted to send a message down the line, but..."

"It's alright, none of us are hurt."

"Can't say the same for the engine, though."

Everyone looked at their mode of transportation. Sure enough, the buffers were bent out of shape, one of them being completely broken. They weren't going anywhere.

"Great, that's just what we need!"

Once they moved the train onto a siding, the signal man made a call to the station, and an inspector came to look. He shook his head, sighing with disappointment.

"I'm sorry folks, but I can't let this engine continue down the line. It wouldn't be safe."

"We understand, sir, but how are we going to get to York? We're due at The National Railway Museum, and now we have no way of getting there."

The inspector scratched his head in thought.

"I'll need to make some calls. Don't go any where."

"You four are welcome to stay in the signal box until you get it sorted out. It'd be the least I can do considering how much trouble this is."

With little other choice, the four grabbed their bags and headed into the signal box. Regardless of what the fix for their situation was, Thomas had a feeling he'd never hear the end of it back home!