James and the Trouble with Trees

Thomas & Friends is copyright to Mattel and the Awdry family. I own nothing.

Thomas the Tank Engine had been working at the coal mines all day. The little blue engine was covered in dirty black coal dust. "We can't clean you up tonight, Thomas." said his driver. "You'd hardly believe it with all this rain we've had today, but there's a problem with the water mains."

"Bother!" grumbled Thomas. "A bath would've made me feel much better. Now the others will be sure to make fun of me."

But when Thomas came home to the sheds, the other engines were too busy arguing to notice him. James was talking loudest of all. "I deserve a new coat of paint." he was saying. "The Fat Controller says I'm the pride of the line, and..."

"Rubbish!" huffed Henry. "We're all the pride of the line. All you ever do is strut about showing off!"

"It's been like this all day." confided Percy to Thomas. "James is getting a new coat of paint tomorrow and he just won't stop bragging about it."

"Why James?" huffed Thomas. "I'm the one who needs a new coat. Look at me!"

"I'd rather not." retorted James in a condescending way. "You look like something a diesel dragged in and wouldn't understand the needs of a really important engine."

Thomas was furious. "You just wait, James." he seethed. "One day, you'll be laughing on the other side of your smokebox."

~8~

Next morning, as James was being repainted, Henry had an accident nearby. He'd been pushing some trucks along a siding when the first truck derailed and the others piled up in a heap behind it. James had seen everything. "If you can't push trucks properly, Henry, why not talk to a tree instead?" he said. "You know much you love the forest."

"As a matter of fact, Bossy Boiler, the Fat Controller is inspecting the island for trees that're too close to the line." retorted Henry. "He's worried they might cause trouble."

"Pah!" laughed James. "If I came upon a tree, I'd just push it aside."

"Huh, I'd love to see you try." replied Henry sceptically.

~8~

Soon, James was showing off his new paintwork. He had to stop at the bottom of Gordon's Hill, where Thomas, Percy and Terrence were helping to clear away old trees that were too close to the line. "Make way for an important engine." boasted James.

"You wouldn't feel so important if one of these trees crashed on you; you'd feel hurt." reproached Percy.

"Rubbish! It wouldn't dare!"

"You should be careful, James. Trees can be just as powerful as engines." advised Terrence.

"Pah! snorted James. "Now if you'll excuse me, the Fat Controller needs me to pull the Express."

"Or to just make the place look good." said Thomas sweetly as James puffed away in a dignified manner.

~8~

But when James arrived at the Big Station, he found that there had been a change of plan. "You must go to the docks to collect an important goods train, James." said the Fat Controller. "It's heavy, so be careful."

"But sir, I've just been repainted!" protested James. "Can't Thomas or Percy do it? They're dirty and like playing about with trucks."

"Really useful engines don't argue." said the Fat Controller firmly, and so James didn't.

By the time he reached the docks, it was raining. "Your colour's nice, James. It's a pity about ya face, though." said a truck, and the others guffawed with laughter.

James took notice. He was coupled to the trucks and he set off. On the way, the weather grew worse. Soon, they came to a hill and his driver knew that they were in for a difficult time.

An old tree, close to the line, was being blown by the strong wind and rain had weakened the slope. James, his driver and fireman all saw it together; the tree slid down the slope and settled right on their line. The driver quickly shut off steam and applied the brakes. James slid to a stop with his buffers just a few inches from the tree. "Ooooh! Help! cried James. "Go away!" But, of course, the tree couldn't. James then tried to reverse away from it, but his train was too heavy and his wheels just slipped on the damp rails.

Then he heard a familiar whistle, "Peep, peep!"

"It's Thomas." realised the driver, and sure enough, Thomas came steaming into view. The guard flagged him and explained the situation.

"So much for just pushing trees aside, eh, James?" chuckled Thomas. James didn't answer. "Ah well," continued Thomas, "as Gordon would say, we live and learn." He buffered up behind the brake van and his fireman sanded the rails. "Peep, peep, I'm ready." whistled Thomas.

"So am I." James replied, then looked at the rotten tree. "As ready as I'll ever be."
The two engines puffed and pulled as hard as they could and managed to back away from the tree just in time before it toppled over and crashed to the ground where James had been standing just moments earlier.

~8~

Later, James spoke to Thomas. "Percy and Terrence were right to warn me." he said. "Thank you for helping me, Thomas."

"Oh, that's alright. We engines must pull together whatever the weather." said Thomas modestly. "Besides," he went on, "you'd just had a new coat of paint. It would've been a pity if the tree fell on you and scratched it."

Just then, Edward bustled in. "The Fat Controller thinks you're both really useful engines." he reported. "Thomas, you're going to have a new coat of paint and James, the Fat Controller says that tomorrow, you will pull the Express."

Everyone was very happy.

Author's notes: Thought I'd do another Thomas episode adaptation, this time series 5's James & the Trouble with Trees. Fun fact, this episode was based on the personal experience of series 5's railway consultant, David Maidment. He'd formerly served as the stationmaster at Aberdeeg in the Welsh Valleys and one rainy evening in November 1964, he received a call about an obstruction on the line, so he set out to investigate and found a tree standing in the middle of the running line. The embankment had slipped and the tree had slid upright onto the line, straight into the path of a goods train which only just managed to stop in time. In fact, several of series 5's episodes were based on Maidment's personnel experiences. There's never a dull moment on the railways! Anyway, see you in the next story.