Wayward Winston

**Wayward Winston** is the third episode of the eleventh season and the 233rd episode overall.

## Plot

One day, Thomas is taking the Fat Controller and his family to Ulfstead Castle when they come across some very bumpy track. The Fat Controller decides that the bumpy stretch of track must be repaired as soon as possible.

Soon, workmen start to repair the bumpy line. Each day, the Fat Controller inspects the workmen's progress in Winston. The Fat Controller is still unable to operate Winston properly, which causes the engines to tease Winston. Winston also finds himself frequently having to remind the Fat Controller to apply the handbrake. Winston tells Percy that he sometimes wishes that he could go without a driver. Percy tells Winston not to be so silly and Winston and the Fat Controller travel further up the line. When they stop again, the Fat Controller forgets Winston's handbrake again, but this time, Winston does not remind him and he starts to roll away. Just then, Thomas pulls up with a train of stone. The Fat Controller jumps in Thomas' cab and orders him to chase after Winston.

Winston zooms through Wellsworth Station and past Gordon and Emily being closely followed by Thomas and the Fat Controller. Gordon predicts that Winston is heading for big trouble, but Winston is having the time of his life. When a signalman sees Winston without a driver, he tries to switch the runaway track inspection vehicle off of the main line, but inadvertently switches Thomas instead. The signalman then makes an emergency telephone call to another signalbox to explain what is happening. The man in the next signalbox switches Thomas back onto Winston's line. Meanwhile, Bertie pulls up to a nearby crossing, then reverses just as Winston rolls past. The gates start opening again and Thomas zooms through just before they hit him. The Fat Controller yells out to Bertie to stay where he is and not move.

Soon, Winston rolls up to a junction and sees Paxton about to pull onto his line ahead. Winston's signal suddenly turns red, but he cannot stop without a driver. He calls out for Paxton to watch out, and he slams on his brakes. Paxton stops just in time, but is puzzled by what the big rush is. Winston is no longer enjoying his experience and wishes that he had a driver after all.

Winston nears Tidmouth Sheds and is horrified to see a line of trucks ahead on his line. Winston shuts his eyes and prepares for a collision, but instead he starts to make spluttering noises. He rumbles to a stop just in front of the trucks; he has run out of fuel. Then, Thomas and the Fat Controller pull up, and The Fat Controller is very cross with Winston for going off without him. Winston points out that it was not all his fault; the Fat Controller had forgotten to apply the handbrake. The Fat Controller accepts the blame for his part in the incident and Winston admits that he should have reminded him. Winston now realises that he does need a driver, after all.

All of the engines are happy when the work on the bumpy line is complete. They are all glad not to be bumping along like Winston anymore. Winston no longer minds the engines teasing him and is just pleased to have the Fat Controller back in the driving seat.

## Characters

* Thomas
* Henry
* Gordon
* Percy
* Emily
* Paxton
* Winston
* Annie and Clarabel
* Bertie
* The Fat Controller

## Locations

* Kellsthorpe Road
* Wellsworth
* Tidmouth Sheds
* Sodor Suspension Bridge
* Gordon's Hill
* Suddery Junction
* Blue Mountain Junction
* Elsbridge Road Viaduct
* Ulfstead Castle *(mentioned)*

## Voice Cast

* Ben Small as Thomas
* Keith Wickham as Henry, Gordon, Percy, Bertie and the Fat Controller
* Teresa Gallagher as Emily, Annie and Clarabel
* Matt Wilkinson as Winston
* Steven Kynman as Paxton