Feeling Fine!

"Pah! Steam engines are so old-fashioned and dirty! Your soot's getting in my eyes!"

- Diesel to Thomas

Feeling Fine! is a magazine story.

Plot
Thomas is sent to the Big Harbour to help Diesel shunt trucks, but the little tank engine is feeling a little unwell. Thomas coughs and splutters and thinks he must have some bad coal. The more he puffs, the more Thomas blows out sparks and thick smoke. Diesel declares that steam engines are so dirty and old-fashioned. Diesel rushes past Thomas to show off the powers of modern diesel oil. Thomas feels worse than ever.

Diesel is coupled to some Troublesome Trucks and then pulls up to his fuel pump to be filled up. Diesel pulls away too soon and oil gushes out of the pipe. It pours all over Diesel's wheels and onto the track. Diesel tries to brake, but to no avail on the slippery rails. At last, Diesel slid to a halt and his trucks bump and spill their load of sand. The sand sticks to the oil that Diesel is covered in. Thomas can't resist a chance to get even with Diesel who's now extremely dirty himself. By now, Thomas is able to chuff more efficiently as his fireman has found some better coal.

The next day, Thomas is washed and polished before steaming to the Big Harbour. At the harbour, Diesel has also been cleaned, but he is still feeling bad-tempered and still has grits of sand between his wheels. Thomas tells him to take things easy today and leave the work to a really useful, old-fashioned steam engine like him.

Characters

 * Thomas
 * Diesel

Locations

 * Knapford Harbour