All the engines on the Island of Sodor have jobs they like the best, Gordon likes pulling the Express, Thomas likes working on his Branch Line and Percy likes taking the mail, but none of them like being a middle engine. To them, it's no fun being stuck in the middle of their trains.

It seems that Percy loves working on Sodor more than any other engine; he loves being Really Useful and doing almost any job the Fat Controller gives him. Still, he thought being a middle engine was no fun at all.

One morning, Percy was cheerfully collecting empty coal trucks from the Smelter Yards…where 'Arry and Bert worked. The two diesels liked the grim area where they worked, collecting old scrap and engine parts and melting them down. They were always telling the steam engines how they would all be scrapped too one day and when they weren't doing that, they liked to play tricks on them.

Percy didn't want to fall for 'Arry and Bert's tricks again, but he was enjoying himself so much…that he didn't notice the smirks on the diesels' faces. As he backed onto his trucks, he looked back in confusion. I was sure I had to collect more than this, he thought…and before he knew it, another line of trucks bumped into him from the front.

"Oh bother!" huffed Percy crossly; he was stuck right in the middle of his trucks.

"Li'l green piggy in the middle!" 'Arry teased.

Percy's Driver was cross. There was no time to rearrange the trucks, so Percy had to travel as he was and with trucks in front of him and trucks behind, he had to go slowly as well.

James was in the Yards at Callan Station when Percy steamed by, slowly and crossly. "It's Slowcoach Percy!" James laughed.

"You'd be laughing on the other side of your buffers if you were stuck in the middle," Percy fumed.

"He wouldn't be laughing at all," said his Driver and Percy fumed all the way to the Coaling Plant.

The Coaling Plant is where coal from the Mines is collected and delivered across the whole island. One of the hoppers has a special tipper for unloading trucks. One by one, the trucks are shunted onto the tipper's loading-ramp and are secured. Then, the tipper lifts the trucks up and dumps their loads into the hopper.

Percy knew engines were not allowed to cross the loading ramp until the tipper had been turned off. It was not meant to hold the weight of an engine and a load that was too heavy could damage it.

When Percy arrived, trucks were everywhere. As his Fireman refilled his tank, the Driver searched for an empty track…but the only room was on the other side of the loading ramp. So, Percy's front trucks were uncoupled, and he gave them a push. All the trucks rolled across the loading ramp and stopped on the other side.

"We'll ask the Manager where to leave the other trucks after our tea break," said the Driver…but as soon as he and the Fireman left, there was trouble.

Henry arrived to pick up coal, but the Yard was so full, he didn't see Percy. Unbeknown to him, he bumped into a line of empty trucks…and the empty trucks bumped into Percy.

Before he knew what was happening, Percy was pushed onto the loading ramp. Suddenly, he felt himself being secured…Then, he was lifted into the air. "HEEELP!" cried Percy, "I'M NOT A TRUCK!" But no one could hear him. Percy was hoisted up…and tipped over. His coal was dumped into the hopper, and he was brought back down again. He was so shaken, he didn't know which way was up and which was down.

After Percy was lowered back onto the ground, he saw his Driver and Fireman with the Manager. The Manager was very cross. "You have caused confusion and delay," he said. "Now, the tipper will have to be inspected. I'll have to report this to the Fat Controller."

That night, the Fat Controller spoke severely to Percy. "I'm very disappointed in you, Percy," he said. "You know it's against the rules to go on the tipper's loading ramp."

"I'm sorry, Sir," Percy said sadly, "but it wasn't my fault. It's because 'Arry and Bert made me a middle engine and then, I was pushed from behind."

"Nevertheless, you will shunt trucks in the Yard until I can get to the bottom of this."

Pah!" wheeshed James, thinking no one could hear, "I could handle those diesels with bent buffers and a busted boiler."

"Then you will do Percy's next run to the Smelter," said the Fat Controller. "There's a load steel and supplies that must be delivered to Brendam Docks tomorrow."

"Yes, Sir," said James, sounding a little less sure of himself.

The next day, James arrived at the Smelter; he was determined not to let 'Arry and Bert get the better of him. "'Ello, James," oozed 'Arry, "come to learn a thing or two from those who know?"

"Just get my trucks ready and stay out of my way," huffed James importantly.

"Yes, Sir," Bert chimed greasily.

Soon, James cheerfully backed up to his trucks. He was certain he had fooled 'Arry and Bert…but he was wrong. 'Arry suddenly rolled up in front of him with a line of loaded trucks and bumped him hard.

"Li'l red piggy in the middle!" chortled 'Arry.

"Just like Percy," jeered Bert.

"I am not like Percy," huffed James. "I am not a middle engine and I'm not moving." …And he didn't.

When the Fat Controller heard what was happening, he had no choice but to send Percy to fetch James. This made Percy happy; he was glad to be out of the Yard and he thought what happened to James was very funny. He buffered up to James and took him along with all the trucks to the Docks.

"Right on time," said the Dock Manager, "but what is that big red engine doing in the middle?"

"Learning," Percy replied.

"Learning what?"

"Learning to be a middle engine," laughed Percy.

James covered himself in steam hoping no one would recognize him, but it was no good. There is only one big red engine on the island, and everyone knows his name is James.