Thomas and the Shepherd

Thomas and the Shepherd is a magazine story.

Plot
Thomas is feeling upset; Annie and Clarabel are currently being cleaned and he has been instructed to take trucks. Although Thomas' driver reminds him trucks can carry many important things, Thomas clarifies that people are not one of those things. In the sheds that night, Gordon teases Thomas for having to deal with trucks and The Fat Controller informs him that Annie and Clarabel will not return to service until next week.

The next day is grey and rainy. Thomas does not want to work in this weather but he knows The Fat Controller wants him to be Really Useful. Thomas is coupled up to a long line of trucks that are full of supplies for the hill farms. Thomas makes his way down the countryside and passes below a sheep cliff. Suddenly, Thomas' driver spies a shepherd waving for help.

The shepherd explains he's been trapped on a ledge for hours after trying to rescue a sheep. Thomas' driver gets an idea and he collects a thick layer of hay to spread on the floor of an empty truck. Thomas sets the truck level with the ledge and the shepherd jumps down into the truck. Thomas is proud to have learned trucks can indeed carry and even save people.

Characters

 * Thomas
 * Gordon
 * Sir Topham Hatt
 * Annie and Clarabel