Thomas and Friends: The Adventure Begins

Thomas and the Troublesome Trucks

October 9, 1923

That night at Vicarstown Sheds, the other engines thought it was very funny when they heard the story of Thomas' Train.

"I'm certainly glad I came to work on this railway, Thomas," Gordon laughed. "You always give us something funny to laugh about!"

"The Fat Director will never let me pull trains again," Thomas grumbled. "And I'm tired of pushing coaches, I want to go places and do things! I want to see the world!"

The others except Edward didn't take much notice, for Thomas was a little engine with a long tongue.

Edward felt sorry for Thomas.

"Don't be sad, Thomas. If you really want to go out, I've got some trucks to take to Wellsworth tomorrow. If you take them instead, I'll push coaches in the yard."

"Would you do that for me?"

"Yes, Thomas. I would."

"Thank you," said Thomas. "That will be nice. I even wish it was morning already."

So they asked their drivers the next morning, and when they said "Yes," Thomas ran happily to find the trucks. He could hardly contain his excitement.

"Is it these ones?" he asked Edward once they were in the yard. "Is it those?"

"Those over there."

Edward looked over at the train of goods on the siding next to him.

Now trucks are silly and noisy. They talk a lot and don't attend to what they are doing. They don't listen to their engine, and when he stops, they bump into each other screaming, "Oh! Oh! Oh! Oh! Whatever is happening?"

And I'm sorry to say they play tricks on an engine who is not used to them. Edward knew all about trucks. He warned Thomas to be careful.

"I need to tell you something I-"

But Thomas was too excited to listen.

"I know," he interrupted. "I have to be coupled up before I go. You don't have to tell me, I've learned my lesson."

And he bumped the trucks so hard they shouted. "Ow! Oh! Oi! Give it a rest!"

"Troublesome Trucks can play tricks on you, Thomas," Edward warned again. "It's not the same as in the yard. They'll push you off the rails if you're not careful."

"Don't be silly," Thomas giggled. "You worry just as much as Henry."

The shunter fastened the coupling, and when the signal dropped, Thomas was ready. The guard blew his whistle.

"Peep! peep!" answered Thomas and started off.

But the trucks weren't ready.

"Oh! Oh! Oh! Oh!" they screamed as their couplings tightened. "Wait, Thomas. Wait." But Thomas wouldn't wait.

"Come-on. Come-on," he puffed, and the trucks grumbled slowly out of the siding onto the main line.

"Do be careful!" Edward called after him.

Thomas was happy. "Come along. Come along," he puffed.

"All-right!-Don't-fuss. All-right!-Don't fuss," grumbled the trucks.

They clattered through Ballahoo station, and rumbled over the Sodor Suspension Bridge. Then he was out into the open countryside once more.

Thomas whistled "Peep! peep!" and they rushed through the tunnel in which Henry had been shut up.