Thomas and the Toboggan!

"Engines aren't meant to go tobogganing!"

- Thomas

Thomas and the Toboggan! is a magazine story.

Plot
It is a cold winter's morning and Thomas awakes early. Outside, the yard is covered in snow and big icicles hang from the shed roof. Thomas feels much warmer when the fireman comes to light his fire. Later, Thomas spies Bridget and Stephen playing snowballs in the snow. Thomas' driver warns them to be careful that they do not fall over on the ice. They reply by telling the driver that the ground is great for tobogganing. Thomas wonders what "tobogganing" is, but he does not have to wonder for long. Stephen and Bridget fetch a little wooden seat and they slide down the hill on it. Thomas thinks it looks great fun and wishes he could try it for himself.

The Fat Controller then asks Thomas to collect some trucks from the harbour yard. Thomas secretly hopes that the rails will be slightly icy, so that he could slide like a toboggan. He puffs to the top of Gordon's Hill and rolls down the other side. His wheels start to slip on the icy rails. At first, Thomas thinks it is fun, but soon gets a shock when his brakes do not stop him.

A nearby signalman can see Thomas sliding out of control. He knows that the next signal is at "stop", so Thomas must not slide pass it until the line is clear. The signalman hurries outside and changes the points. Thomas slides down an old, disused siding until the track is blocked with snow. Thomas hits the snow and finally, he comes to a stop. Now he realises that engines are not meant to go tobogganing.

Characters

 * Thomas
 * Sir Topham Hatt
 * Stephen Hatt
 * Bridget Hatt
 * Percy