Middle engine
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00:00The Fat Controller's engines love their work.
00:05Gordon likes pulling the express.
00:08Thomas likes his branch line.
00:12And Percy likes taking the mail.
00:15But none of them likes being a middle engine.
00:19It's no fun being stuck in the middle.
00:22One morning, Percy was cheerfully collecting coal trucks from the smelter yard where Harry and Bert worked.
00:28They like to play tricks on steam engines.
00:31Percy didn't want to fall for their tricks again.
00:34But before he knew it, he was stuck in the middle.
00:38Oh, bother! chuffed Percy crossly.
00:42Little green piggy in the middle, Harry teased.
00:45Percy's driver was cross.
00:47With trucks in front of him and trucks behind, Percy had to go slowly.
00:54James was in the yard when Percy steamed slowly by.
00:58It's slow coach Percy, James laughed.
01:01You wouldn't be laughing if you were stuck in the middle, Percy fumed.
01:05And he fumed all the way to the coaling plant.
01:09One by one, he shunted his trucks onto the tipper's loading ramp.
01:14And the coal was unloaded.
01:16Percy was not allowed to cross the loading ramp until the tipper had been turned off.
01:22It was against the rules.
01:24But as soon as his driver and fireman left, there was trouble.
01:29Henry arrived to pick up coal.
01:31He bumped into the trucks and the trucks bumped into Percy.
01:36Percy was pushed onto the loading ramp.
01:42Help! cried Percy. I'm not a truck.
01:45But no one heard him.
01:49Percy was hoisted up.
01:53Tipped over.
01:59And brought back down again.
02:02After Percy was lowered back onto the ground, the manager was very cross.
02:07You have caused confusion and delay, he said.
02:10I'll have to report this to the Fat Controller.
02:13That night, the Fat Controller spoke severely to Percy.
02:17I'm very disappointed in you, Percy, he said.
02:20You know it's against the rules to go on the tipper's loading ramp.
02:24Sorry, sir, Percy said sadly, but it wasn't my fault.
02:28It's because those diesels made me a middle engine.
02:31Nevertheless, you will shunt trucks in the yard until I can get to the bottom of this.
02:37Pa, said James, thinking no one could hear.
02:40I could handle those diesels with bent buffers and a busted boiler.
02:44Then you will do Percy's run to the smelter.
02:47Yes, sir, said James.
02:50The next day, James arrived at the smelter.
02:53He was determined not to be tripped by Harry and Bert.
02:58Hello, James, oozed Harry.
03:01Can't I learn a thing or two from those who know?
03:04Just get my trucks ready and stay out of my way, puffed James importantly.
03:09Yes, sir, Bert chimed greasily.
03:14James cheerfully backed away.
03:17James cheerfully backed up to his trucks.
03:20He was certain he had fooled Harry and Bert, but he was wrong.
03:25Little red piggy in the middle, chortled Harry.
03:29Just like Percy, cheered Bert.
03:32I am not like Percy, puffed James.
03:34I am not a middle engine and I'm not moving.
03:38And he didn't.
03:40When the Fat Controller heard the news, he sent Percy to fetch James.
03:45This made Percy happy.
03:48He buffered up to James and took him along with all the trucks to the docks.
04:05Right on time, said the manager.
04:07But what is that big red engine doing in the middle?
04:10Learning, Percy replied.
04:12Learning what?
04:14Learning to be a middle engine.
04:16James covered himself in steam, hoping no one would recognise him.
04:20But it was no good.
04:22There is only one big red engine on the island and everyone knows his name is James.