Hector is the biggest truck on the Fat Controller's Railway. Unlike most trucks, Hector has great respect for the engines. Whenever he is around, he makes sure the other trucks behave themselves. The engines are grateful and see Hector as a friend.

Bradford is a brake van who lives with Samson on the Mainland. Samson is a very hard-working engine, but he is also proud, and this causes him to make mistakes. So, his Manager sent Bradford to work with him. Bradford does his part to keep Samson in line and while he can be stern, he does care for his friend.

One day, Samson arrived at Knapford Yard with a delivery from the Mainland. The Fat Controller had asked him to deliver some stone from the Blue Mountain Quarry before he left.

Samson shunted Bradford into a siding and went to sort his trucks. Hector was there too. "Good morning," he said. "Who are you?"

"Uh, Bradford. Who are you?"

"I'm Hector. I haven't seen you around here before. Welcome to the Railway."

Bradford was surprised. He had never known a truck to be friendly before. "I've…been here before…but thank you. I've seen trucks like you on the Mainland; Very strong and sturdy, but I hope you don't use those qualities for causing trouble."

"Of course not. It's the other trucks that love playing tricks. When I saw how useful the engines are, I felt sorry for them, so I always try to keep the other trucks in line."

Bradford sniggered. "Smart move, ma' boy. Those trucks need discipline if they are to be of any use."

Samson sorted his trucks and started collecting empty ones for the Quarry, but there was a problem. "Oh dear."

"What is it, Samson?" Bradford asked.

"I don't think I have enough trucks for the Quarry. We might need more than this."

"Can I help?" asked Hector. I'm empty and I can carry more than two smaller trucks."

"That's the ticket," said Bradford. "Couple 'im up, Samson."

So, Samson collected Hector and Bradford was coupled behind. The trucks started chattering.

"Oh look, it's Samson."

"He thinks he's strong, but he makes so many mistakes."

"He's not Really Useful at all!"

The trucks giggled in their silly way. "All right, you lot!" shouted Bradford. "There will be none of that while I'm around! No, laughing, no bumping, no trouble!" The trucks went silent. "Now, move out, Samson!"

As Samson started off, Hector looked at the trucks in front of him; they were trembling. "Bradford, there was no need to go that far," he frowned. "You've frightened them." He looked to the trucks. "Calm down. There's no need to be scared. Just behave yourselves and we'll get the job done quickly." The trucks knew to listen to Hector and stopped shaking.

"What do you call that?!" Bradford asked. "These trucks clearly have no sense of respect! They must learn!"

"But you can't just scare them like that!" Hector protested.

"You must be firm, or they'll play tricks on you!"

The trucks were so surprised and confused they stayed quiet all the way to the Blue Mountain Quarry. Samson collected the stone as quickly as he could.

Hector was the last to be loaded. "Ready to go, Samson," he said at last.

"Halt!" called Bradford. "Hector, that load of yours is too high. Some of that stone must be removed and placed in another truck."

"Nonsense, I've carried loads as big as this many times before; even bigger."

"No! there will be no accidents on my watch! Samson, fetch another truck."

It took some time to arrange another empty truck and make Hector's load smaller. The big truck frowned all the while.

When everything was ready, Samson was running late. "Good work, Samson," said Bradford firmly. "Gently does it; slowly now."

Out on the Main Line, Hector was cross. "Well, Bradford, now, we're going to be late."

Bradford was stern. "When I am on duty, Hector, we obey all rules of the railway."

"I've carried loads bigger than this and never had an accident."

"Then you're lucky you're still in one piece! I was assigned to Samson to keep him safe! It is my duty as his brake van, and I shall abide by it! He's lucky I'm here with how much trouble this railway sees every single day!"

"BE QUIET!" bellowed Hector and he gave a sharp jolt.

Bradford's buffers clashed. "I say! that was uncalled for!"

"I know how to keep truck in line and be reliable! You say trouble is everywhere! Well, there's more than one way to do things you know!"

"I should've trusted my instinct! You're as troublesome as the rest of the lot!"

Then they neared Gordon's Hill. "This is a heavy load, Samson!" called Hector. "Speed up!"

"Samson! Proceed slowly!" called Bradford. "The rattling of this load will snap the couplings!"

"I've been over this hill more times than you, Bradford, and I'm a very heavy truck! Any slower and we'll get stuck! Faster, Samson; faster!"

Samson didn't know what to think, so he gathered speed up the Hill. "Samson!" shouted Bradford, "you will lose your load at this speed!"

"Keep going!" Hector insisted.

"That's it!" Bradford's brakes came on and sparks flew from the rails.

"Stop it!" fumed Hector and he gave another jolt urging Bradford forward.

When they neared the top, Bradford's brakes came off and he snarled at Hector. "You, Sir, are the most despicable truck I have ever met! Never before have I seen such form of retaliation! Now, stay…in…LINE!" And he bashed Hector hard.

"Guys…," whispered Samson. "Uh…guys!" But Hector and Bradford were so cross with each other and bashing around so much that they didn't notice they were rattling down the Hill much too fast. Samson was out of control. He took the biggest puff he could and whistled long and loud. "Bradford! Hector!" he cried, "stop arguing and help me!"

"Brakes, Samson! Brakes!" shouted Bradford.

They were going so fast, even the other trucks were scared, but Hector knew what to do. "Hold back!" he called to them. "Hold back!"

"Hold back! Hold back!" called the trucks to each other.

At Crosby Station, Rebecca was getting ready to leave with her passengers. The Guard blew his whistle and she pulled hard.

Suddenly, they heard a horrible noise as Samson and his train rattled into view. Rebecca tried to go faster, but her wheels slipped fiercely. "Oh, slow down, slow down!" she cried.

Samson came nearer and nearer to the Station…and was only a few inches clear of Rebecca's brake coach when his train finally stopped.

When they arrived at Knapford Harbour, they explained what had happened. The Fat Controller was cross. "Hector and Bradford, you two have caused confusion and delay. Because of your arguing, there might have been a serious accident."

"I must apologize, Sir," Bradford sighed, "and I owe you an apology as well, Hector. If you hadn't encouraged those trucks to pin down their brakes, we would've been in terrible trouble. Your quick thinking saved us all. I suppose I can be too strict and particular sometimes…and I'm sorry."

Hector smiled. "And I'm sorry for getting cross. You are a visitor to our Railway, and I shouldn't have been so quick to criticize you. I see now that you do care a lot about others. I shouldn't have snapped at you."

"It seems that you both learned a valuable lesson today," said the Fat Controller, "and in spite of your quarrel, you still managed to save Samson along with Rebecca and her passengers. You two may have your differences, but you are still Reall Useful."

Samson, Bradford and Hector are now firm friends. Hector respects Bradford for his deep care for others and Bradford respects Hector for showing him that not everything has to be done his way. Bradford can still be strict, because he is that sort of brake van, but he now tries to be more careful to listen to others.