Hay

"Hay" is a story written by Loco123456.

Story
The Sodor Hay Company was back in business, making hay for all the farms on Sodor. Lorries would arrive and get loaded hay bales, along with Percy, who pulled three hay three trains a week, due to hay being popular again. But there was one small problem; the hay deliveries ran on a timetable that made it two minutes ahead of Thomas' passenger train. "Hurry up slow coach!" shouted Thomas as he waited in a passing loop for Percy to pass by on the line he was going to run on. "Relax Thomas; he's surely not the one who is entirely at fault." "And hay is just as important as passengers, especially at this time of year," added Clarabel. When Percy arrived at Knapford Yards he spotted Sir Topham Hatt. "Sir, are my trains important?" grumbled Percy. "Of course the hay deliveries are important. Who told you otherwise?" "Thomas Sir," and he explained everything. "I see...I'll make sure that this doesn't happen anymore Percy." And with that he ran to his office.

In his office Sir Topham Hatt looked at the timetable for the hay trains. "If Percy uses the line that avoids Knapford station from Knapford Harbour, he can get to Crowe's Farm thirty minutes early, and then..." He soon was making telephone calls to signalmen and the farmers, and the Harbour Master at Knapford Harbour in order to make sure the new timetable worked as smoothly as possible. The next morning Percy collected the first load of hay. He neared a junction, and instead of being switched onto a line that lead to Knapford station, he was switched onto another line. "What's going on?" he exclaimed. "We're using an avoiding line," explained his driver, "avoiding lines help to make journeys shorter." "Oh...oh...we'll definitely be faster than Thomas now!" said Percy cheerfully. Meanwhile Thomas was expecting to be diverted onto passing loops, but today found himself going steadily down his branch line without stopping. "I wonder where Percy is," wondered Thomas, now feeling a little concerned.

That night Thomas spoke to Percy at the sheds. "Where were you today?" "Oh, I'm using a different route, so I'm now much faster than you," he boasted. "Rubbish! My passenger train is faster than your slow hay train!" "Is not!" "Is too!" "Fine then, we'll race tomorrow and see which train is faster," said Percy crossly. The next morning Percy started at the Sodor Hay Company's loading area and set off, while Thomas started at Ffarquharr station, to pull his stopping passenger train. "Must beat Percy. Must beat Percy," he panted as he puffed along. Meanwhile Percy was already leaving Crowe's Farm and was heading off to Farmer McColl's Farm. As for Thomas, he was held up at a red signal. "What's happened?" he grumbled. "A cow strayed onto the line," explained the signalman. Soon the line was clear, but Thomas was going a little faster than he could handle. "Thomas, be careful. You might get yourself into-" began Annie and Clarabel. But it was too late; Thomas heard a loud HISS from his cab. "You've burst your safety value," said his driver sternly. "Now we'll need help."

Percy, who had arrived at Ffarquharr Yards, was having a rest when the Yard Manager came to see him. "Thomas has burst his safety value near Maithwaite. You're to shunt him to the Steamworks." Percy set off; he soon found Thomas looking miserable in a nearby siding. "This is partially my fault," said Percy as he coupled up to Thomas. "If I hadn't made us do this race, you're passengers would have arrived on time." "I'm partially to blame too," added Thomas. "I could have said 'no' to racing you." As the two friends puffed towards the Steamworks, they both realized something; both trains are important, and that it's more important to do a good job rather than prove who's the best. Furthermore, they no longer get cross at someone for a delay; they understand that there are many things that played a role in making the delay happen.