Edward and Rebecca had been working hard. They were too tired to go back to their Sheds, so they were spending the night with Salty and Porter at Brendam Docks.
"I saw you talking with Bill and Ben earlier, Rebecca," said Porter. "I hope they weren't giving you any trouble."
"Of course not," chuckled Rebecca. "I like those engines; they're so silly and fun."
"They can be," agreed Edward, "but you should be careful. Bill and Ben love to play tricks. Although, given how well you can manage trucks, troublesome or not, maybe I shouldn't be worried."
"Aye, matey," added Salty. "Those two play tricks on every engine they come across."
"It's a good thing I was there when Thomas first met them, or who knows what would've happened."
"What do you mean?" asked Rebecca. "What happened?"
"I'll tell you." And Edward began.
One morning, the Fat Controller came to see the engines. "The Branch Line bridge beyond Elsbridge Junction needs repair, so I shall have to make a weight limit across it for a while. Percy, Toby and Daisy will be alright, but you, Thomas, are too heavy." Thomas looked anxious. "How would you like to go and help Edward for a while?"
"Can Annie and Clarabel come?" asked Thomas.
"They'll be needed here, I'm afraid. Toby and Daisy can't carry all your passengers on their own."
Percy promised to look after Annie and Clarabel, but they were sorry to see Thomas go. To cheer Thomas up, Edward took him to see Bill and Ben. Thomas hadn't met them before.
"Oh dear," said Bill cheekily, "not another blue engine. First Edward and now-"
"Don't forget Gordon," interrupted Ben. "He came here by mistake once, so he said. I don't think he enjoyed it much." The Twins both chuckled, remembering.
"No, but seriously, Edward," said Bill, "why doesn't the Fat Controller paint engines a proper colour, like us for instance?"
Thomas let off steam indignantly. "Let me tell you-"
"All right, you two," laughed Edward. "Go and move those trucks or there won't be room for anymore." Bill and Ben went off happily. "You just don't have to take them so seriously," explained Edward.
Thomas smiled, ruefully. "I wish I knew how you deal with them," he said.
Near Brendam Docks, the line crossed a lane, and the crossing had no gates. One morning, a farmer had trouble starting his lorry. It was loaded with milk, butter and eggs. At the crossing, the lorry lurched across the rails when its engine made a terrible noise and stopped. The back of the lorry was still blocking the line.
The farmer tried to restart the engine, but it would not go. He just got down to telephone for help when he heard a train approaching.
Thomas was bringing some empty trucks from Wellsworth. He wasn't going fast, but when he saw the lorry, he braked hard, but he couldn't stop and hit the lorry with a loud crash. The lorry spun round, splintered wood flew everywhere, and eggs, butter and milk flew all over Thomas. "Ugh!" he groaned.
"What a way to make an omelet," said the farmer.
Thomas wasn't hurt, but his Driver couldn't help laughing. "You look just like a scrambled egg, Thomas."
Thomas was most uncomfortable. His Driver and Fireman tried to clean him, but the heat from Thomas' boiler had cooked the eggs and they were stuck fast, so they went on.
At the Docks, Thomas went to be cleaned. Then, Bill and Ben arrived.
"What's this?" said Ben.
"It must be a new engine," said Bill.
Ben looked all over Thomas. "No, Bill, it's Thomas."
"But it's our colour, Ben, and Thomas doesn't think our colour is proper for an engine."
Suddenly, they heard a grinding noise. "Are your joints stiff, Bill?" asked Ben, but it wasn't Bill's joints. It was Thomas…gnashing his teeth. Luckily for the Twins, he said nothing.