The Grey Controller

***The Grey Controller*** is the second episode of the tenth series.

## Plot

One day, Dennis was alone at Tidmouth Sheds when the Fat Controller's car pulled up. Dennis was very surprised to find Lady Hatt instead of the Fat Controller. Lady Hatt explained that the Fat Controller had lost his voice, so he was off sick today. Lady Hatt told Dennis to give some of the engines their instructions; Diesel 10 was to pull trucks of china plates and cutlery to Brendam Docks and must go slowly and carefully, D199 was to shunt coal trucks at the coaling plant and must be as busy as a bee, and Salty was to collect holidaymakers from Maithwaite, take them to Callan Castle and be as fast as Diesel 10's express. Once Lady Hatt left, Diesel arrived and Dennis told him that he was controller for the day. Diesel asked if Dennis needed any help, but Dennis neglects his assistance.

Dennis found Diesel 10 at Knapford and told him to pull slow goods. Diesel 10 was not very happy about this. Next, Dennis found D199 at the washdown and told him to be a busy bee. D199 gasped and asked if he has to be repainted yellow and black. Dennis says yes and sternly rolled away. Finally, he found Salty at Arlesdale End and told him to pull Diesel 10's express. Salty was very surprised as Dennis rolled away.

Dennis then went to check up on the other engines. On a bridge, Dennis said hello to some children, but the children were laughing at a "slowcoach" Diesel 10 and D199 "the stripy-bee engine". Then Salty arrived with the express, and then they noticed the children and Dennis. Diesel 10 complained to Dennis that he was supposed to be the fastest engine on Sodor, and not the slowest. D199 moaned that he was meant to be the blue and yellowest engine on the island, but now no one recognized him. And Salty explained that he wasn’t not strong enough to pull the express. Dennis realized that he was in a muddle and when Diesel arrived, Dennis asked for his help. Diesel suggested to go back in his tracks; he might find something that may help him remember. Dennis thought this was a good idea.

First, Diesel and Dennis went to Knapford to find see Diesel 10's cargo of china. Dennis remembered that Diesel 10 was to take trucks of china to the Docks. At the coaling plant, they saw trucks waiting for D199 to shunt them. then Dennis remembered that D199 was to be as busy as a bee shunting trucks. Finally, at Maithwaite, Diesel and Dennis saw holidaymakers waiting for Salty. Then Dennis remembered that Salty was to be as fast as Diesel 10's express while taking holidaymakers to Callan Castle. Diesel congratulated Dennis for remembering all three jobs.

At last, Diesel 10, D199 and Salty were doing the right jobs.

Later that evening, the Fat Controller congratulated Dennis for being really useful. And Dennis was just happy that the Fat Controller had found his voice and hoped that he would never lose it again as being controller for the day was harder than he thought.

## Characters

* Diesel
* Diesel 10
* Diesel 199
* Dennis
* Salty
* Sir Topham Hatt
* Lady Hatt
* Troublesome Trucks (*do not speak*)
* BoCo (*cameo*)
* Daisy (*cameo*)
* Refreshment Lady (*cameo*)
* Cyril the Fogman (*cameo*)
* The Storyteller (*cameo*)
* The Ice-Cream Factory Manager (*cameo*)

## Trivia

* This episode has a similarly to the fifth episode, The Green Controller from the tenth series of *Thomas & Friends*.