A Big Day for Thomas

**Ringo Starr**: Thomas the tank engine was grumbling to the other engines.

**Thomas**: I spent my time pulling coaches about ready for you to take out on journeys.

**Ringo Starr**: The other engines laughed.

**Thomas**: Why can't I pull passenger trains too?

**Gordon**: You're too impatient.

**Ringo Starr**: They said.

**Gordon**: You'd be sure to leave something behind.

**Thomas**: Rubbish!

**Ringo Starr**: Said Thomas.

**Thomas**: I'll show you.

**Ringo Starr**: One night, he and Henry were alone. Henry was ill. The men worked hard, but he didn't get better. He felt just as bad next morning. Henry usually pull the first train, and Thomas had to get his coaches ready.

**Thomas**: If Henry is ill.

**Ringo** Starr: He thought.

**Thomas**: Perhaps I shall pull his train.

**Ringo Starr**: Thomas ran off to find the coaches.

**Thomas**: Come along, come along.

**Ringo Starr**: He fussed.

**Coaches**: There's plenty of time, there's plenty of time!

**Ringo Starr**: They grumbled. Thomas took them to the platform and wanted to run round in front at once. But his driver wouldn't let him.

**Thomas' Driver**: Don't be impatient, Thomas.

**Ringo Starr**: Thomas waited and waited. The people got in, the conductor and stationmaster walked up and down, the porter banged the doors and still Henry didn't come. Thomas got more and more excited. Sir Topham Hatt came to see what was the matter, and the conductor and stationmaster told him about Henry.

**Sir Topham Hatt**: Find another engine.

**Ringo Starr**: He ordered.

**Conductor and Stationmaster**: There's only Thomas.

**Ringo Starr**: They said.

**Sir Topham Hatt**: You'll have to do it then, Thomas. Be quick now!

**Ringo Starr**: So Thomas ran round to the front and back down on the coaches ready to start.

**Thomas' Driver**: Let's not be impatient.

**Ringo Starr**: Said his driver.

**Thomas' Driver**: We'll wait till everything was ready.

**Ringo Starr**: But Thomas was too excited to listen. What happened then, no one knows. Perhaps they forgot to couple Thomas to the train; or perhaps the driver pulled the lever by mistake. Anyhow, Thomas started without his coaches. As he passed the first signal tower, men waved and shouted, but he didn't stop.

**Thomas**: They're waving because I'm such a splendid engine.

**Ringo Starr**: He thought importantly.

**Thomas**: Henry says it's hard to pull trains, but I think it's easy. Hurry, hurry, hurry!

**Ringo Starr**: He puffed, pretending to be like Gordon.

**Thomas**: People have never seen me pulling a train before. It's nice of them to wave.

**Ringo Starr**: And he whistled.

**Thomas**: Peep, peep! thank you.

**Ringo Starr**: Then he came to a signal at "danger".

**Thomas**: Bother!

**Ringo Starr**: He thought.

**Thomas**: I must stop, and I was going so nicely, too. What a nuisance signals are!

**Ringo Starr**: He blew an angry "peep, peep" on his whistle. The signalman ran up.

**Signalman**: Hello, Thomas!

**Ringo Starr**: He said.

**Signalman**: What are you doing here?

**Thomas**: I'm pulling a train.

**Ringo Starr**: Said Thomas.

**Thomas**: Can't you see?

**Singalman**: Where are your coaches then?

**Ringo Starr**: Thomas looked back.

**Thomas**: Why bless me!

**Ringo Starr**: He said.

**Thomas**: If we haven't left them behind!

**Signalman**: Yes.

**Ringo Starr**: Said the signalman.

**Signalman**: You better go quickly and fetch them.

**Ringo Starr**: Poor Thomas was so sad he nearly cried.

**Thomas' Driver**: Cheer up.

**Ringo Starr**: Said his driver.

**Thomas' Driver**: Let's go back quickly and try again.

**Ringo Starr**: At the station, all the passengers were talking at once. They were telling Sir Topham Hatt what a bad railway it was. But when Thomas came back, they saw how sad he was and couldn't be cross. He was coupled to the train, and this time he really pulled it. Afterwards, the other engines laughed at Thomas and said.

**Henry and James**: Look, there's Thomas who wanted to pull a train, but forgot about the coaches.

**Ringo Starr**: But Thomas had already learned, not to make the same mistake again.