The Viaduct!

"You're just a scaredy-buffers, Percy!"

- James

The Viaduct! is a magazine story.

Plot
Workmen are working hard to open an old freight line and Percy is busy delivering equipment to a viaduct where workmen are laying new tracks. As Percy approaches the viaduct, he stares up at it. He feels dizzy and is determined that no one will make him go on the tall viaduct. That night, Percy cannot sleep and he tells James that the viaduct had made his wheels wobble just looking at it. James assures Percy that the viaduct is safe.

Next morning, Percy has to deliver more supplies to the viaduct and, at last, the work is completed. The Fat Controller declares the line open and thinks it is only fair that hard-working Percy should take the first freight train across the viaduct. Percy quickly tells the Fat Controller that a splendid engine like James should go first. The Fat Controller is puzzled, but agrees.

Later, James sets off from the main station yard with some trucks. On his way out of the yard, he cannot resist calling Percy a "scaredy-buffers". James steams along the newly opened line and across the viaduct. But as he is rounding a bend, his load shifts and one of his trucks topples off the rails. James' driver shuts off steam and applies the brakes before running to summon help.

At the station yard, the Fat Controller approaches Percy. He tells the little green engine that James urgently needs help. Percy is soon coupled up to the breakdown crane and he, the Fat Controller and some engineers set off to help James. Percy hurries across the viaduct. He is so worried about James that he forgets to be frightened and soon meets James and the derailed truck. Percy explains that he had thought James had fallen off the viaduct and that is why he was so worried that he forgot to be frightened of the viaduct. James apologises to Percy for teasing him and Percy thanks James for curing his phobia of the viaduct.

Characters

 * James
 * Percy
 * Sir Topham Hatt

Trivia

 * Some aspects of the plot are similar to that of the seventh series episode, The Old Bridge.

Goofs

 * An express coach replaces the works unit carriage for some reason.
 * James' bufferbeam looks slightly elongated in the third image.
 * In the final image, the engineer looking out of the carriage window is not coloured.
 * In the third illustration, Percy is missing his lamp.
 * In the close-up of The Fat Controller, the rails behind him aren't coloured in.