01x15 - Tenders and Turntables

[bunniefuu]

Henry and Gordon were lonely
and missed Thomas.

They had more work and had to fetch
their own coaches.

James grumbled too. "We get no rest!"

The coaches laughed.
"You're lazy and slack!"

The engines were causing
the Fat Controller trouble.

The end stations each have a turntable,

so the tender engines
can be turned round.

They can't go fast backwards.

t*nk engines don't need turntables.
They can go backwards.

Gordon thought that he had been given
a tender to show how important he was.

"You don't understand, Thomas.
We have a position to keep up.

"To be made to shunt trucks
and fetch coaches - it's not proper."

Thomas chuckled and went off
with Annie and Clarabel.

"Disgraceful," Gordon hissed
at the turntable.

The turntable was in a windy place,

and if he wasn't on it right,
he put it out of balance.

Gordon was in a temper
and the wind was fierce.

Gordon wasn't trying to stop
in the right place.

The fireman couldn't turn the handle.

"Your tender upsets the balance.
A t*nk engine would be all right.

"You'll have to go backwards."

Some boys called, "A t*nk engine!
Oh, it's Gordon, back to front."

"Hello!" called Thomas.
"Playing t*nk engines? Sensible engine."

Even James laughed at him.
"You might stick too!" hissed Gordon.

"No fear. l'm not so fat as you."

"l mustn't stick!" thought James
and stopped in the right place.

Gordon arrived in time to see everything.

James turned too easily.
The wind puffed him round like a top.

"Well," said Gordon,
"Are you playing roundabouts?"

Poor James, feeling giddy,
rolled off to the shed without a word.

The three engines had a meeting.

"lt's shameful to treat us like this -
Gordon going backwards,

"James spinning round,

"and the Fat Controller making us shunt
in dirty sidings."

Gordon whispered something
to the others.

"We'll do it tomorrow."
The engines had decided to go on strike.