Story number 4. This one is one of my favourites from canon material.

Thomas and the Breakdown Train

Narrator: Nearly a week passed since Thomas's mishap with the trucks. Although the Fat Director was stern with, Thomas he understood that Thomas was in need of a change in scenery from his job at Vicarstown Station. He allowed Thomas to stay at Wellsworth to learn how to become a really useful engine. At that time, William was called away to Vicarstown for special job. So Rachel was enlisted to help Thomas learn the ways of the really useful engine. Twilight Sparkle and Pinkie Pie helped out and so did Edward and Fluttershy. Everyday, The Fat Director came to the station to catch his train. He always said, "Hullo" to Thomas and asked him how he was getting on. One of the jobs that Thomas had to do was shunt trucks. There were lots of trucks in the yard. Different ones came in every day and Thomas had to push and pull them into their right places.

Twilight Sparkle: And... perfect.

Rachel: Well done Thomas. You really have made a lot progress these past few weeks.

Twilight Sparkle: Heheheheh this definitely reminds me of organizing my bookshelves.

Pinkie pie: Wow we made it. Just in time for lunchtime.

Thomas: I know, and to think I've been shunting trains for years. But once you understand the techniques of trucks, It really helps to sharpen your shunting skills.

Narrator: Thomas was right. He worked very hard. He knew now that he wasn't as clever as he thought. Besides, the Fat Director had been kind to him, and he wanted to learn all about trucks so as to be a really useful engine. Meanwhile, at Vicarstown station, William and Rarity were waiting for the fat director when heard an unusual whistle. Then, a black tender engine puffed into the station. The Fat Director climbed down and introduced the newcomer.

Fat Director: Here is our new engine. We've just purchased him from the Lancashire and Yorkshire railway. He is a modified class 27 steam locomotive with leading wheels added.

William: So, what's your name?

?: I don't have name just yet. But I'm willing to prove myself.

William: I see. That's good. I'll call you by my middle name, James. How does that sound?

James: I like that, thank you driver.

Fat Director: Good. James it is then.

Narrator: Rarity then inspected James.

Rarity: Well he seems in order, but the black paint is kind to bland and a bit of a bore, but don't worry after your trial run, I'm sure you'll get new coat. I don't fancy these wooden brake blocks though . They make him look a little off in design.

James: I was made with these as an experiment. The other engines just laughed at me.

Rarity: I'm terribly sorry about that darling. They shouldn't do things like that.

Narrator: At that moment a horrifying realisation hit William.

William: WAIT A MINUTE! WOODEN BRAKE BLOCKS!? THAT'S VERY DANGEROUS! Sir, shouldn't we have him refitted with iron brake blocks?

Sir Topham hatt: Your right. We should….

Narrator: But before they do anything else, Henry puffed in from Alresburgh with a passenger train. He looked very poor.

Applejack: Sir, Henry's tubes are a leaking. We need to take the slow goods train to Kanpford.

Fat Director: I see. Well, William, as Simmors, Gordon and Edward are busy elsewhere, I'm afraid we'll have to use James right now. I'm sorry about this. We'll refit him tomorrow.

Narrator: He then walked away, concerned. William and Rarity each got a fire extinguisher and reluctantly, they coupled James up to goods train once Applejack took Henry off.

William: We'll just have to take it slowly. If we go too fast, the brakes may catch on fire.

Rarity: Oh dear. Perish the thought.

Narrator: The guard gave all clear, William took a deep breath and soon they set off.

William: Here we go Rarity.

Rarity: Ready James?

James: (Uncertain) Em, ready Rarity.

Narrator: The trucks overheard about James's wooden brake blocks and decided to used this as advantage for tomfoolery.

Trucks: We'll get that engine on the hill. He won't be able to stop us. (snickering)

Narrator: Unfortunately, Rarity, William and James hadn't heard them as they went along the line. Meanwhile, back at Wellsworth, Thomas was shunting with Twilight Sparkle, Rachel, and Pinkie Pie.

Rachel: There you go. That's right. Those trucks go into that goods siding.

Twilight Sparkle: I must say, your doing even better than what I can do in my library.

Pinkie Pie: Or how I plan parties.

Thomas: Well thank you.

Narrator: Thomas then saw so a strange line of trucks .

Thomas: Hhhmmm. What are those over there? I've never seen trucks like them before.

Twilight: I don't think you should touch those trucks.

Narrator: They consisted of a small coach, a couple of flat trucks, two tool vans, and two strange things that Rachel called cranes.

Rachel: That's the breakdown train. When there's an accident, the workmen get into the coach and the engine takes them quickly to help the hurt people and to clear and mend the line. The tool vans carry the the workmen's tools. The cranes are for lifting heavy things like engines, coaches and trucks.

Pinkie Pie: Or even the Marzipan Mascarpone Meringue Madness?

Rachel: The what?

Pinkie Pie: Oh it was a giant cake that my friends Mr. and Mrs. Cake made for a national dessert contest.

Narrator: And she told Rachel and Thomas all about it.

Rachel: Oh that does sound delicious. I'm glad you and Twilight found the culprits and found out whom ate the other desserts.

Narrator: A few hours later, the 4 friends were just shunting some more trucks around Wellsworth yard, when suddenly they heard a engine whistling.

James: HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHEEEEEEEEEEEEELLLLLLLLLPPPPPPPPP!

Narrator: And a goods train was rushing through much too fast. The engine of course was James. He, along with Rarity and William were frightened out of their wits.

William: RACHEL! HELP US!

Rachel: WILLIAM, RARITY! PUT THE BRAKES ON!

William: WE DID! BUT THEY CAUGHT ON FIRE!

Narrator: And he was right. James's wooden brake blocks were on fire. Smoke, sparks and flames streamed out on each side.

Rarity: OH SOMEONE OR SOMEPONY HELP US!

JAMES: THEIR PUSHING ME! THEIR PUSHING ME!

Trucks: ON! ON! ON! ON! (Maniacally laughter)

William: SOMEONE CALL AN AMBULANCE!

Rarity: CALL THE ROYAL ARMY!

William and Rarity: CALL MY MOTHER!

James: HHHHHHHHHHEEEEEEEEEEEEEEELLLLLLLLLLLLLLLPPPPPPPPPP!

Narrator: Still whistling and screaming frantically, poor James, Rarity and William disappeared under the road bridge. Thomas, Twilight Sparkle, Pinkie Pie and Rachel stared in horror.

Thomas: I'd like to teach those trucks some manners.

Twilight Sparkle: Your not the only one Thomas. Those trucks are pain.

Rachel: Not to mention completely danger mad.

Pinkie: Your right Rachel. William and Rarity were working with him too, so they're in trouble too.

Narrator: In the signalbox, the signalman got a very distressing call.

Signalman: HE WHAT!? BRAKE FAILURE?! ! A COW PASTURE! OH GOOD LORD!

Narrator: He pressed a button and a bell rang out the alarm!

Signalman: THOMAS! GET THE MAINTAINENCE CREW AND THE BREAKDOWN TRAIN ON THE DOUBLE! JAMES' HAS BEEN THROWN OFF THE LINE AND INTO A COW PASTURE AT CROSBY! HURRY! THERES NO TIME TO LOSE!

Narrator: The four friends were horrified!

Rachel: GREAT SCOT! William!

PINKIE PIE: Oh no no no no! Not good! Not good! Not Good!

Twilight Sparkle: Calm down girls! Lets just go. There's no time to lose.

Thomas: Twilight, Pinkie Pie, Rachel, into my cab, now!

Narrator: So Thomas was coupled on, the workmen piled into their coach and off they went. Thomas worked his hardest. His wheels pounding the rail.

Thomas: HURRY! HURRY! HURRY!

Narrator: And this time he was not pretending to be like Gordon. This time he really meant it.

Thomas: Bother those trucks and their stupid tricks. I hope poor James isn't hurt.

Twilight Sparkle: Or Rarity.

Rachel: Or William.

Pinkie Pie: Yeah me too. I hope no is hurt.

Narrator: James and the derailed goods train were at a bend in the line. Fortunately, William and Rarity weren't hurt at all, just shaken a bit, the brake van and the last few trucks were on the rails. Rarity and William had used the fire extinguishers to put out the fire on James's brake blocks, but the front trucks were piled in smashed heap and the damage was done. James was in a field leaking steam in all directions as a cow was staring at him inquisitively. William and Rarity checked to see if James was hurt.

Rarity: Oh are you alright James darling?

James: Oooohhh I don't know, I'm so sorry about this. Ooooh I suppose there goes my trails.

William: Nevermind James, it wasn't your fault. It just those wooden brakes they gave you. We said that they were no good.

Rarity: Anyway, I'm sure The Fat Director will give you another chance. He knew about your wooden brakes too.

Narrator: Just then Thomas, Rachel, Pinkie Pie and Twilight Sparkle arrived.

Rarity: Oh look here comes Thomas, Rachel, Twilight, and Pinkie Pie.

Pinkie: We're here.

Rachel: Oh thank goodness you and Rarity are alright William.

Twilight: Don't worry. We'll have this mess sorted out before you know it.

Narrator: Thomas pushed the breakdown train alongside, then he took the unhurt trucks out of the way.

Trucks: Ooooh Dear….. Ohoohhh Dear….

Thomas: Serves you right! Serves you right!

Twilight: I hope you all learnt your lessons.

Pinkie Pie: Yeah so do I.

Rachel: That makes three of us.

Narrator: When the men put other trucks on the line Thomas pulled them away too. He was hard at work puffing backwards and forwards all the afternoon.

Thomas: This will teach you a lesson! This will teach a lesson,

Narrator: And gave them a hard bump!

Pinkie: Yeah!

Twilight: Got it?!

Trucks: (In a sad creeky voice) Yes it will! Yes it will!

Narrator: They left the broken trucks and mended the line. Then with two cranes, William and Rachel put James back on the rails.

Rarity: Oh thank goodness that's over.

Pinkie Pie: I don't know about that.

Twilight Sparkle: What do you mean?

Narrator: James tried to move but he couldn't .

Pinkie Pie: That. It was scripted.

Twilight Sparkle: (Sigh) Typical Pinkie.

Rachel: Say, Rarity and William would you two care for a lift home in Thomas?

William: Sure thing.

Rarity: If Thomas will let me of course.

Thomas: Of course. You more than welcome to come aboard.

William: Well then much obliged.

Narrator: So Thomas helped Rarity, William and James back to the sheds. The Fat Director was waiting anxiously for them.

Twilight: Thomas has been outstanding today Sir. He has just helped that new engine James out of a nasty accident.

Pinkie Pie: Yeah we're all very proud of him.

Rarity: I know indeed. That is very good work Thomas.

Rachel: Definitely, you've really proven yourself really useful in my... (Pulls out a book that she and William have been working on.) ...books.

Pinkie Pie: (Comedy drums)

(Everyone laughed at the joke.)

Thomas: Ok Rach, that's a good one.

William: Anyway, in all seriousness though, you have done very, very well.

Thomas: You really mean it?

William: Yes I do Thomas. You were quick, smart and diligent in an emergency. You've made me and Rachel both proud to be your drivers.

Fat Director: Well Thomas I've heard all about the rescue too in a phone call from Cronk station, and I am pleased with you as well. You are now a really useful engine outside of your shunting duties. James shall go to the works to have proper brakes and a new coat of paint, and you Thomas, shall have a branchline all to yourself.

Thomas: Oh thank you sir! Can I pick my coaches from the yard tomorrow? I have 2 in mind.

Fat Director: Go for it.

Narrator: Now Thomas is as happy as can be. He has a branch line all to himself and puffs proudly backwards and and forwards with two coaches all day.

Pinkie Pie: See Thomas? Twilight was right.

Thomas: She is. All good things come to those who wait.

Twilight Sparkle: And that's a lesson well learned. Thomas, you've made me feel so proud.

William: That's right Thomas you truly are a really useful engine.

Narrator: They are never lonely, because there is always somengine or somepony to talk to at the junction. Edward & Fluttershy and Henry & Applejack stop quite often to tell him the news.

Applejack: Woohee! You must be mighty proud of that there branchline of yours, huh Thomas?

Thomas: Indeed I am Applejack.

Henry: I couldn't be more proud of you Thomas. We all knew you could do it.

Narrator: Gordon and Rainbow Dash are always in hurry and do not stop,but they never forget to give him the good word.

Rainbow dash: Hey guys. Later guys. Congrats on your new branchline Thomas!

Gordon: Congratulations Little Thomas.

Thomas: Thanks Rainbow Dash! You too Gordon!

Narrator: Eventually, William James Holden and Rachel Marie Raven moved over to Ffarquhar because it was close enough to Knapford university where they went to school at and also because the main headquarters was eventually reallocated to Knapford station. Soon the ponies eventually started staying at Knapford Hotel so that it would be easy access to get to work and to make it easier to see their number one really useful friend, Thomas the tank engine.

The End...

...Of this saga. Yes, the coaches that Thomas has now are coaches 7 and 8 from previous stories. I'll probably get into that story another time. For now, let's jump into "James The Red Engine" next. I'm not sure why the Rev Awdry has it as his least favourite of the books he's written, because it's by no means bad or anything. Anyway, stay in harmony everyone.