Thomas and Friends Fanfiction Series 7

A Digger in Trouble

Thomas has good friends all over the Island of Sodor. He has his steamie friends, some diesel friends and many children as friends. But he also has friends who run on roads or who even build roads and railway lines alike. 

The Sodor Construction Crew love to build and demolish across the Island. They are also always happy when Thomas takes them to their jobs if it is too far to travel. 

One day, Thomas was delivering Jack and Alfie to a new construction site. They were to build a new signalbox near Crosby. 

"I can't wait to get building," said Jack. 

"I can't wait to get dirty," giggled Alfie. 

"More work means more dirt, more dirt means more fun," teased Thomas and Jack in unison. 

Soon, Thomas delivered the two machines to the site. Miss Jenny Packard was already there with Oliver, Max, Monty, Darcy and Brenda. 

"Ah, Jack and Alfie, splendid!" said Miss Jenny. 

"We're ready for work, Miss Jenny," they declared. 

"We only need to wait for one more now," said Miss Jenny. 

"Who?" asked the machines. 

"Marion's coming from the Clay Pits to help load dirt and earth into Max and Monty." 

"Oh no," groaned Max. 

"Not Marion," grumbled Monty. 

"What's wrong with Marion?" asked Darcy. 

"All she ever thinks about, talks about, digs about...is digging," moaned Monty. 

"And she is far too cheerful," added Max. 

"But she is Really Useful and gets on with her work, which is often more than can be said for you two," snapped Oliver. 

Max and Monty gulped. 

"Now," continued Miss Jenny sternly, "once Marion arrives, she will help you, Oliver, Jack and Alfie to dig up the embankments to make space for the new signalbox, and you two will take the debris to the dump. Darcy, you will drill any rocks that may be too much to remove, and Brenda, once the foundation is set up, you can level the ground." 

"Yes, Miss Jenny!" chanted the machines. 

Thomas smiled and pulled away just as Marion arrived. 

"Hello, there! Here for duty, and of course, for digging! Oh, hello, Oliver! I can't wait to show you what's in my shovel today!" 

"Dirt," mumbled Jack, Alfie, Max and Monty quietly. 

"Right then, Marion, let's all get started!" said Oliver. 

As the machines began work, Percy brought building materials from the Docks to build the signalbox. 

(Kelly can be seen too, unloading the materials.)

The work was progressing nicely. The excavators all worked hard digging up the earth for the foundations, Marion played Guess What's In My Shovel, and Miss Jenny made sure that everybody, even Max and Monty, were putting safety first. 

Whenever there were big rocks that the machines couldn't dig up, Darcy drilled them to rubble. 

"Aim and drill!" 

Soon, the excavation was nearly complete. Jack just had to make sure that the walls of the trench were flat and secure. He eased into the trench, and felt the walls with his flat bucket. 

But then there was trouble! 

The walls were not secure. There was a loose rock inside one of them and as Jack banged into it with his bucket, the earth began to collapse!

"Oh no!" 

Jack was only a small digger and the trench was deep. The earth fell in and buried him wheel deep. 

"Oh bother!" 

Jack revved his engine to try and get out, but his wheels couldn't turn in the mud. 

"Are you alright, Jack?" asked Miss Jenny. 

"Yes, but I'm stuck," grumbled Jack. 

"I can't level that trench with Jack stuck in it," said Brenda. 

"Well, I know what this emergency calls for," said Marion cheerfully, "dig-dig-digging! Come on, Oliver and Alfie, let's get to work!" 

Oliver and Alfie smiled. Digging Jack out was the only option and Marion was taking the initiative. They weren't making fun of Marion talking about digging anymore. They thought she was being very sensible and enthusiastic. She made the emergency of Jack being stuck seem like no trouble at all. 

With Marion's huge shovel, and Alfie and Oliver's buckets, Jack was soon being rescued. 

It took almost no time at all. Jack was soon able to steer himself out of the trench and onto solid road again. 

"Hooray!" he cheered. "Thank you, Marion! Thank you all!" 

"Well done, Marion," said Miss Jenny, "you knew just what to do and dealt with the incident without any delay. You are a very level-headed and Really Useful steam shovel." 

Marion blushed. 

"Thank you, Miss Jenny," she said sweetly. 

It took some time, but the trench was evened out again and after Brenda levelled it, the workers were soon able to start building the new signalbox. 

A few days later, Thomas saw the signalbox had been fully built and all the machines were very proud. 

Thomas was pleased to see Jack was alright. He had heard about the accident and of how Marion came up with the idea of how to rescue him. 

"Well done, crew," said Miss Jenny proudly, "the signalbox is finished. You have all been Really Useful in your own ways, even you two haven't caused much trouble." 

Max and Monty blushed a little. 

With the job done, Thomas was ready to take Jack and Alfie back to the yards. Marion went alongside them as they told Thomas the full story of what had happened. 

"...and then Marion led us in digging Jack out," said Alfie. 

"She was so helpful," said Jack gratefully. 

"It was nothing," said Marion, "we all pulled through together." 

"So, Marion, can we guess what's in your shovel?" suggested Thomas. 

Marion was delighted and nobody was thinking badly of her now and they enjoyed the game, knowing that Marion may be a huge fan of digging, but in her big heart, she shows more devotion to being useful. 

(The End!)