Thomas and Friends Fanfiction Series 1

A Turntable for James

A Turntable for James

On the Island of Sodor, it is important for the engines to use a turntable to face the right way when pulling trains. For engines with tenders, such as James or Edward, this is most essential, as it is less safe for them to pull loads backwards.

James was pulling the Express, while Gordon was having a rest, having his worn parts repaired at the Steamworks.

James loved pulling the Express. It made him feel important and he loved going fast along the main line.

It was James' last day to get to pull the Express before Gordon returned to work. The Fat Controller arrived. He had bad news for James.

"James, the turntable at Tidmouth Sheds has jammed. You will not be able to pull the Express today as it will take a long time to fix it."

James was disappointed. "But sir. Who will pull the Express instead?"

"We are!"

Thomas and Percy whistled in.

"Thomas will go in front, while Percy is his back engine. I chose them because they are more safe to take the Express whatever position they are in, and they are facing the right way." said the Fat Controller, "Now, Thomas and Percy, I need you to be very careful. My grandchildren will be on the Express today with their school class. I want them to have a safe journey."

"Yes, sir." said the two engines.

James sulked away. He found it very unfair that he had lost his Express job just because the turntable had jammed.

James pulled into Knapford Station. He could see the coaches for the Express waiting. The passengers had just arrived.

"Thomas and Percy must be on their way." said James.

Then an idea flew into his funnel. James quickly switched to the same line as the coaches and coupled on, but was facing the wrong way round.

"All aboard the Express!"

The passengers were anxious. They could see that James was coupled backwards, but they wanted to be on time, and they hadn't been told that Thomas and Percy were supposed to be pulling the Express. So they climbed aboard the coaches. James felt triumphant.

(Stephen and Bridget Hatt and the Teacher are among the passengers)

James pulled away from the station, just as Thomas and Percy arrived. They were surprised to see James disappearing with the Express.

"James, stop!" shouted Thomas.

But James didn't listen and he puffed out of sight. Thomas and Percy were cross.

"The Fat Controller will have to find out about this, Thomas." said Percy.

"Yes, he will, Percy!" replied Thomas.

James was pulling the Express speedily along the line, backwards.

"I am a very clever engine!" he boasted, "And I'm having no trouble pulling the Express backwards. And I didn't need a silly, creaky turntable!"

But James was becoming too confident. He was puffing too carelessly because he could hardly see where he was going and kept bumping his passengers! The passengers were worried and furious. The children were enjoying it, but soon grew a bit ill.

But James never noticed. He was feeling too proud of himself.

Meanwhile, the Fat Controller arrived at Knapford.

"Thomas, Percy? Where's the Express?"

"James took it, sir." said Thomas.

"And he was going backwards, sir." added Percy.

The Fat Controller was furious. "My grandchildren are not safe. Come on, let's stop James!"

The Fat Controller climbed aboard Thomas' cab and the two engines gave chase.

James was still rolling backwards along the line. He had just dropped off and collected passengers from Wellsworth Station. Now he was heading towards Gordon's Hill.

"I'll put my brakes on when I go down the hill." he said.

James reached the top of Gordon's Hill and rolled down the other side, but immediately set his brakes. The heavy weight of the coaches made it difficult, so James was still going fast, but not so much that he'd crash.

Then there was trouble. Edward was coming up from the opposite direction, bringing a goods train to Wellsworth.

James was going backwards and couldn't see Edward or the signal!

He raced past it and Edward saw him.

"James, stop!" he cried.

The signalman, however, saw James and quickly switched him off the main line into a siding.

James was shocked. "Why am I on a siding?!" He applied his brakes but it was too late! James hit the buffers hard and came off the rails into a stony ditch.

Luckily, no one was hurt and the Express coaches and passengers were still on the rails.

James felt silly. "Oh no!"

Just then, Thomas, Percy and the Fat Controller arrived. They were all very cross.

"James, how dare you disobey my orders?" bellowed the Fat Controller.

Both James' and the Fat Controller's faces were redder than James' paintwork.

"I-I-"

"I told you that you couldn't pull the Express backwards. It's not safe as was proven just now! And my grandchildren and the other passengers have been given a very bumpy ride! Thomas and Percy will now take charge of the train. And you, James will go to the Sheds and stay there until you are wanted!"

"Yes, sir. Sorry, sir." sighed James sadly.

When James was rescued, he slunk into the Sheds. The turntable had been mended. As James spun on the turntable to go into his berth, he thought of how he had behaved and how it was going to be a long time before the Fat Controller would trust him to pull the Express again, but he also learned a lesson: turntables were very essential and important to tender engines such as himself.

(The End!)