The Lost Engine!

The Lost Engine! is a magazine story.

Plot
The Fat Controller always wants good clean coal for his steam engines and, one day, Thomas collects a fresh shipment from the harbour. Unfortunately, this shipment of coal proves to be trouble as all the engines begin to make thick black smoke. Gordon's smoke makes his passengers cough and splutter while Percy's spoils washing hanging on lines in the yards of cottages near the railway.

The Fat Controller receives many complaints about the issue and orders new coal immediately. Unfortunately, there is too much work to be done for the steam engines to stop working all together so they must all try to cope for the rest of the day.

James is on his way to the timber yard when he ends up switched on to an unfamiliar line due to repair work on the other. James goes as far as he can until he reaches the siding at the end of the line. James tries to back up when, suddenly, a connecting rod breaks, leaving James well and truly lost! It is lucky for James that Thomas is sent out to find him after the timber yard manager has telephoned The Fat Controller and the dirty smoke makes James easy to locate. Thomas has to admit that the bad coal proved to be surprisingly useful.

Characters

 * Thomas
 * James
 * Sir Topham Hatt
 * Gordon
 * Percy