Post by Allosaurus on Jan 20, 2012 6:24:43 GMT -7
We know that. That's because, like Edward, Donald and Douglas, he is a mixed-traffic engine.
I am aware of that. But Henry is also a mixed-traffic engine. Well, here's the next story:
"Thomas Proves his Point"
With Henry away at the works, Sophie had to do his work as well as her own. She didn't mind, and had a great time. She was working very hard, but Percy thought her work was way too easy. "Why does everyone think she works hard?" he asked one morning, "She's just taking her work easily." Toby lost it. "She does work hard," he said, "She's just stronger than all of the Ffarquhar Branch Line engines with James and Henry combined, maybe even stronger." Percy, however, was still bragging. "Well, I could pull, I say, I could pull just as many trucks and coaches that Sophie can pull." he bragged.
Thomas was worried; Percy, let alone, many 0-4-0 saddle tank engines, were not built for strength, but for shunting and sometimes, they also ran on branch lines. But before he could remind Percy of his true purpose, Toby said with a smile, "Very well, Percy. Tomorrow, we will swap jobs. Then we will see if you really are that strong. If you win, you can pull my coaches for two weeks."
Percy, thinking he would win, laughed and said, "OK, Toby! And if you win, you can take my mail train for two weeks." The drivers agreed and Toby's fireman told the Stationmaster. The station master than told The Fat Controller.
The Fat Controller was aware of Percy's boasting from conversations he had with Thomas, and wanting Percy to learn his true strength, he agreed.
When that was done, Percy left to do his jobs. Thomas was worried. "Toby, you know Percy's not that strong." he said to Toby. "Yes," said Toby, still smiling, "that's why I made the bet." Thomas was confused. "I don't get it!" he said.
So Toby explained. "You see Thomas," he began, "the fact that Percy wasn't built for strength means that if he tries to pull all of my trucks at once, he'll be unable to pull them and give up. And although he's pulled my trucks before, he never went to the quarry before, so he'll try to do the job of taking stone trucks to the harbor at the junction his way, and not mine." At that point, Thomas smiled. "Oh, now I get it!" he said excitedly.
For the rest of the day, Toby and Percy wouldn't speak to each other. To make sure that Percy wouldn't win, Toby did not tell him how he got trucks to the harbor. Normally, Toby took them in trains of 5-10 trucks at a time. Today, the first job Thomas had was to assist Toby with his job. When he was done, he had to take his usual passenger train.
James, on the other hand, took the third stopping train on the branchline. James was growing used to Branch line work, but he missed the long runs he used to have on the mainline. As usual, Sophie pulled the freight trains. Percy, on the other hand, took the mail all the way to the big station.
When evening fell, all engines returned to the shed. Their fires were put out for the night and all the engines talked about the days work. Then, when they could talk no more, they all fell asleep.
The next morning, the change took place. Thomas often helped Toby with his work now, due to Mavis being under repair still. Percy did Toby's usual work at the quarry, while Toby did Percy's usual jobs. Thomas was with Percy, but Percy was too excited to listen to his best friends advice. Percy took one set of 6 trucks to the harbor, but the trucks were so troublesome, that when he finally made it, he was late with his other deliveries, so he tried to take all of the stone trucks at the same time.
But the line was so heavy, that Percy found it hard to move. His wheels were starting to strain and he couldn't pull the heavy train. Thomas watched with interest.
Percy lost his patience. "Grrrrrrrrr!" he growled, and he gave a great heave. The trucks moved forward a little. "Oh, oh!" they shrieked, "we can't move, we won't move, we're too heavy for you to pull!" Percy ignored them and Thomas started chuckling. "Ha,ha,ha!" laughed Thomas, "I thought, I say, I though you could the same amount of trucks Sophie could pull." Percy grew very angry, and pulled so hard, he broke a coupling, and shot forward down the line. "WHOA!" he shrieked, "HELP MEEEEEEE!!!!!"
Percy went flying down the line, and in the end, he crashed into Sophie, who was on her way to fetch some trucks from the quarry. Percy had hit her just as she entered the quarry. Thomas, who had seen everything despite the fact he was looking the other way, wasn't amused now. When The Fat Controller arrived, he was very cross.
"Percy," he said, "you have been really naughty! This accident had caused some confusion, not to mention, tons of delay!" Percy was ashamed. "And," continued the Fat Controller, "now you and Sophie will need to be fixed. No engines will be able to enter or exit the quarry until Duck arrives with the breakdown train. And when you're mended, you, Percy, will be shunting in the yard. and doing Toby's quarry work until you've learned how to do the job properly." Yes, sir." said Percy, sadly.
It took Duck several hours to arrive. When he did, he was not pleased. "What happened here?" he asked. Thomas told him. Now Duck was laughing. "So Percy," he chuckled, "I guess you overestimated your own strength. If you were a bear, I'd suggest that you steal some Pic-a-nic baskets. Ha, ha, ha!" When the mess was cleared, and Percy and Sophie were on the flatbeds, Duck took the breakdown crane to the works.
Well, that's it for story three. Oh, and doesn't Percy's speech at the beginning and Thomas's speech when he taunts Percy sound like Foghorn Leghorn? And when Duck tells Percy that if he (Percy) was a bear, he would be stealing Pic-a-nic baskets, we definitely have a reference to Yogi Bear with that line. What's your opinion?