Autumn was approaching on the Island of Sodor. The fields were slowly changing from green to varying shades of brown, and the leaves were starting to fall off of the trees, leading to the national joke of leaves on the line rearing its ugly head once more.
One day, Thomas and Twilight stopped at a red signal, and saw a most unusual site sitting there in a neighbouring field. It was a road machine, that was painted orange, and had a long bonnet, at the end of which sat a face mounted atop the grill. It had sideboards, and an open cab, and was covered in orange cladding. However, it had no wheels at all, instead a series of long rubber things.
“Hello!” said the road machine. “My name is Terence.”
“Hello Terence!” called Twilight. “Do you mind if I ask what you are?”
“He’s a Caterpillar Model 70 tractor,” replied the driver. Only now was the attention of Thomas and Twilight drawn to the driver. He was a young man with light pink skin and orange hair, and a pair of green eyes. He was very big and very strong, and was wearing red and white trainers, a pair of blue jeans, a white T-shirt, and a red jacket on top of that. “Mind if Ah ask yer name?” he asked.
“Of course,” Twilight nodded. “Twilight Sparkle. My real name is Twyla but almost everybody I know calls me Twilight.”
The young man nodded. “Mah name’s James MacIntosh, but almost everybody refers ta me as Big Mac. Ah believe ya know mah sister Applejack?”
Thomas whistled. “Of course! She’s Edward’s driver!” He then looked over. “Thomas. Thomas the Tank Engine. I’m a London, Brighton and South Coast Railway E2 class tank engine.” He then looked at Terence. “What great ugly wheels you've got.”
Twilight had no idea how Thomas could so easily veer from polite to rude in the space of a short conversation. But Terence simply took it in his stride. “They’re not ugly,” he said. “They’re called caterpillar tracks. I can go anywhere without needing rails like you.”
“I don’t want to go anywhere, thank you,” Thomas said. “I like my rails, thank you very much.” And he puffed away as the signal had changed.
Terence watched them go. “Shall we get back to work?” he asked.
“Eeyup.”
A few weeks passed, and autumn turned to winter as snow began to settle, with ominous dark clouds covering everything.
“I don’t like this Thomas,” Twilight said, worried. “They’re forecasting a heavy fall, and I want to be ready.”
“When are the weather forecasters right?” Thomas laughed. “Besides, the silly soft stuff can’t stop me in any way. I’ll just bash my way through it and make it to the other side.”
By the time they had got to Ffarquhar, the snow had settled even more, and the countryside was covered in the stuff. It was no longer safe to proceed without any form of protection, and cars already had winter tires fitted, as well as wheel chains to help grip the grit on the roads.
Twilight got out of Thomas’s cab, and went over to a group of workmen. “Can you help me fit Thomas’ snowplough?” she asked.
“Sure thing!” the workers replied, and went over to help. But Thomas looked horrified.
“Surely you can’t expect me to use that thing! The snow won’t stop me!” he exclaimed.
“You’re wearing the snowplough and that is final,” Twilight told him. “And stop calling me Shirley!”
Thomas had no intention of keeping that snowplough on, as it was hot, heavy, and uncomfortable. So, he shook it and banged it as he rolled along, and by the time they reached Tidmouth sheds it was in such poor shape it had to be removed and hammered back into shape.
As if to add insult to injury for Twilight, there was no snow on the track.
“Honestly Thomas!” she snapped. “Why can’t you behave?”
“There wasn’t any snow,” Thomas snapped back, “so wearing the snowplough was completely pointless!”
“I’ll see you tomorrow,” Twilight answered, and slammed the shed doors with a bang.
The next morning, they were no closer to fixing the snowplough, and it couldn’t be used. Twilight came extra early, but even she couldn’t fix it in the time, and so they had to go without it. Thomas was beside himself with glee.
“I shan’t have to wear it, I shan't have to wear it!” he said happily.
Annie and Clarabel, not surprisingly, did not share Thomas’ sense of optimism. “I hope it’s alright, I hope it’s alright!” they said to each other, concerned.
Twilight was worried too, as the train pulled out of Knapford Junction. “The snow is OK here, but the cutting will be bad, I’m willing to bet,” she said.
Thomas ignored her. “Silly soft stuff!” he exclaimed. “I didn’t need that stupid snowplough yesterday, and I shan’t need it today. Snow can’t stop me!” As they flew along the line, all seemed OK, and they reached the tunnel before Ffarquhar station. As Thomas went in, Twilight switched on his front lights, and they could see clearly. But trouble lay ahead.
“SNOWDRIFT!” Twilight cried, and slammed Thomas’ brakes on. But to no avail. Thomas crashed into the snowdrift and stalled, his wheels spinning furiously in place as he tried to dislodge himself.
“I’m stuck!” he cried.
“Back Thomas, back!” Twilight exclaimed. Thomas’ wheel spun, but he was jammed solid in the snowdrift and couldn’t extricate himself from the mass of silly soft stuff.
The guard went for help whilst the passengers got shovels, and tried to dig Thomas out. But it was no use, as the snow simply piled up even further when they moved it away. Thomas was completely buried.
“What a mess!” he said sadly. “I’m going to be stuck here forever. Oh, why does life have to be so ironic?”
“Now where have I heard that before?” asked Twilight.
A red bus came by to rescue the passengers, but then a cry came down the tunnel. “Do ya need a hand?”
And sure enough, who should appear but Terence and Big Mac!
“Looks like you’ve got yourself in a bit of a pickle Thomas!” Terence said. “Never mind, we’ll have you out in no time.”
Using some chains, which he had borrowed from the local farmer, Big Mac hooked up Terence to the coaches, and then proceeded to drive Terence away, towing the coaches away from Thomas and back to the other side of the tunnel.
Then he came back for Thomas, whose wheels were still stuck in the snow. Terence was hooked up, and he slipped and tugged and tugged and slipped (or was it the other way around?), and at last pulled Thomas clear of the snow, ready for his journey home.
Terence then backed out through the tunnel, so that Thomas could resume his journey to Tidmouth. Thomas ran back and coupled up to Annie and Clarabel.
“Terence, thanks for saving me,” said Thomas. “Those caterpillar tracks are splendid.”
“Hey, don’t worry about it,” Terence replied. “I live on Sweet Apple Acres in Alresburgh if you ever want to call by.”
“There’s no railway line there,” Big Mac pointed out.
“Well, the Apples can always go and see Thomas then! Terence answered.
“I hope you’ll behave now,” Twilighr said sternly.
“I will,” Thomas replied, and puffed away.
I think BBC3 showed that film a few years ago - the engine that got snowed in is now at the Great Central Railway.
“You’re a very naughty engine!”
-You know who you are.
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Correct. 78018 is now a regular performer at the GCR.
10034754
That story hasn't happened yet, Scimitar.
Another of my favourite episodes done great.
10035110
Thanks. Tomorrow, we see the only railway series story that was not based on a real event.
10035021
I guess I’ll have to wait my turn ‘till later.
10035347
It'll be worth the wait, trust me.
You know in the United States a similar incident occurred for the Union Pacific/Southern Pacific/C&NW streamlined passenger train named the City of San Fransisco when it got snowed in on Donner Pass at Yuba Pass, California around January 13th of 1952. The train was stuck there for several days until January 19th when rescuers arrived to free the train. In fact this story from both the show and the books involving Thomas getting stuck in snow was based off the event that the City of San Fransisco went through. I'm suprised that Adry based one of his stories in his Railway Series on a event in American Railroading history. Also that event was also documented by a Southern Pacific promotional film called Snow On the Run which tells the story of the SP making sure their trains get over Donner Pass and the snow fighting equipment they used to clear the tracks.
10036844
I did not know that. Thanks for sharing.
Here's the documentary of Southern Pacific's battle with snow in 1952 & 1953 with videos of extra footage during that time.
10036848
Your welcome.
10053321
Awesomr.
2 Things:
1. Heh, I'm surprised you didn't used Thomas's famous catch phrase: Cinders and Ashes!
2. It's still something that some still debate that this was the first onscreen crash in the series. Obviously we know that it still isn't true given that, well, Thomas only got stuck and didn't derail at all.
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It is the first collision. It is entirely possible for two trains to crash and remain on the rails (Hull Paragon collision, 1927, for instance).
10053335
This was around when Southern Pacific was still using steam power like their famous AC class 4-8-8-2 Cab Forward articulated locomotives including the last survivor of that class AC-12 No: 4294, the GS class 4-8-4 Northerns including GS-4 No: 4449 and GS-6 No: 4460, their MT class 4-8-2 Mountain types, 2-8-0s, and their 2-6-0 Moguls. Also this was when the railroad's in the US were begining to change to diesel power locomotives.
So Big Mac handles Terence the Tractor? Kind of suits him.
Huh, should of expected he'd make his appearance soon. Now I'm curious as to who apple bloom will be the driver for. 🤔
What was it you were saying Thomas? Silly soft stuff? Well look where it's gotten you now that you didn't listen!
Your missing a "