Thomas and the V.I.P.

Thomas and the V.I.P. is a magazine story.

Plot
One morning, The Fat Controller is having a meeting with a very important person, the director of a new factory that has opened recently on Sodor. The director needs his goods from the factory taken to the harbour but he is unsure if they should be transported by road or rail.

The Fat Controller offers to show the director the station where Gordon is waiting with his express. He snaps at his passengers to hurry up. The director is taken aback at Gordon's rudeness but The Fat Controller informs him that Gordon is a hard worker and he will speak to him about his behaviour later. In the yard, Thomas and Percy are teasing James, calling him a slowcoach. The director believes they are referring to him and huffs off, insisting he will send the goods by road. The Fat Controller is very cross with his engines.

Next week, Thomas is stopped by a level crossing. A lorry trying to cross the tracks has broken down. Behind the lorry is the factory director in his car, cross at the fact he will be late for a meeting. Thomas offers the director a ride on his train. The director accepts but he is still skeptical about the railway.

When he reaches the next station, the director is pleasently surprised that Thomas had a good attitude throughout the journey. Thomas then explains to the director the situation with James and, the next day, the director informs The Fat Controller that he will be giving the goods contract to the railway after all.

Characters

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

Goofs

 * In the first illustration, one of the black parts on Gordon's running board is uncoloured.