Mail Trouble

**Mail Trouble** is the ninth episode of Season 1 of Sudrian Stories.

## Synopsis

Percy has to deliver more mail than ever before and becomes overwhelmed so Sir Topham Hatt asks Thomas to help him out. Thomas, wanting his rest, is reluctant to help but agrees in the end. Later that night, Percy reminds Thomas where to stop to let him pass but Thomas is fast asleep. When Thomas wakes up, he soon realizes his mistake.

## Plot

Percy has been pulling the mail train for years, but sometimes it can be more work than he can handle. The next morning, Percy's driver asks Sir Topham Hatt if another engine could help him pull the mail. Later that day in the yards, Percy encounters Thomas and tells him the news, that Sir Topham Hatt has chosen him to help with the mail. Thomas is surprised and says he isn't able to, as he needs sleep for his passenger runs. Percy reassures Thomas that his portion is only down the branchline so the work can get done faster between the both of them. Thomas still isn't sure but Percy reminds him of how they used to pull it together years ago, and Thomas finally gives in.

Later that night, Thomas woke up and headed to the station, tired. Percy went over the plan before they set off, but Thomas fell asleep. Percy whistles, waking him up, but Thomas promises he heard everything. The two engines set off into the night, splitting up to deliver the mail. As Thomas continued on, his eyes grew heavier and heavier. He began to roll through Elsbridge and doze off. Thomas slept through Percy's instructions about stopping at Elsbridge so he could pass through, and Thomas continued to roll through the station asleep. Percy blasted his whistle, trying to stop Thomas. Finally, he opened his eyes and stopped, but it was too late. Thomas screeched to a halt, slightly bumping into the side of Percy's mail vans, causing the doors to swing open.

A few hours passed, and soon everyone was back on the rails and everything was put in its right place again. Sir Topham Hatt was cross but decided to let it go. Thomas finished the rest of the route down the branchline, and headed to Knapford to drop off the vans. Thomas apologized to Percy for falling asleep and not being much help, but Percy didn't mind since Sir Topham Hatt had another idea. Occasionally, a mail van would be attached to Thomas' train as he headed down the branchline each morning, only for the first train. It didn't seem like a good idea at first, but it allowed Thomas to get enough sleep while still decreasing Percy's workload in the end.

## Characters

* Thomas
* Percy
* Philip
* Thomas' Driver
* Percy's Driver
* Thomas' Fireman
* Sir Topham Hatt (*does not speak; speaking role cut from script*)
* Gordon (*cameo*)
* James (*cameo*)
* Emily (*cameo*)
* Nia (*cameo*)
* Rebecca (*cameo*)
* Annie and Clarabel *(cameo)*
* Terence (*cameo*)
* Henry (*cut from script*)

## Cast

* LittleBlueTrain67 as Thomas
* Ilovetrains323 as Percy
* EpicLafiteau as Philip
* MainlandStudios as Thomas' Driver
* TheEngineShed as Percy's Driver
* RailsmithCreations as Thomas' Fireman

## Trivia

* This is the first episode written by TheEngineShed, although he co-wrote The Good Old Days.
* Henry was originally suppose to be in the episode to help out Percy with the mail, but Thomas replaced his role.
* This episode was planned to be a Season 2 episode, but it was decided to release the episode for Season 1.
* This is the last episode filmed in *Trainz 2009*.
* LittleBlueTrain67 joins the cast and takes over the role of Thomas in this episode.
* RailsmithCreations temporarily joined the voice cast for this episode.

## References to the Official Show

* Percy references *Thomas, Percy and the Mail Train* when he reminds Thomas of how they used to pull the mail together.