A VERY USEFUL ENGINE

~ Iain Kelly

Weary Thomas trundled down the track.

It had been a busy day on the island of Sodor.

All the children had been to visit and have their photo taken with the No. 1 engine.

The Fat Controller had been very proud of Thomas.

Left alone at the end of the day each engine puffed away quietly from Tidmouth sheds to the tunnel. Thomas rolled in. James puffed smoke, Edward had cracked open a barrel of the black stuff and Emily was stoking Gordon’s pistons.

‘Another day,’ Percy said, as Toby injected him with a chilled smack of water.

‘Over 70 years of this,’ Thomas groaned.

rr-tracks-at-harpers-ferryc
Copyright Dawn M. Miller

Written as part of the Friday Fictioneers challenge hosted by Rochelle Wisoff-Fields (more details HERE). The idea is to write a short story of 100 words based on the photo prompt (above).

To read stories of 100 words based on this week’s prompt, visit HERE.

When I was a kid, I read and played and watched ‘Thomas The Tank Engine’, 35 years later I’m getting to know them all again with my kids. I do wonder how Thomas and Friends have coped with it all over all this time… Thomas The Tank Engine Wikipedia

My new novel, ‘A Justified State,’ is now available in Paperback and on Amazon Kindle – An ideal Christmas gift!
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download‘a first class read from start to finish’ – reader review
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Published by Iain Kelly

39 year old writer, avid film viewer and book reader, employed in the media industry as a television editor.

110 thoughts on “A VERY USEFUL ENGINE”

  6. This is funny. My buddy and I just were riffing on this the other day, questioning the slavery of Sir Topham Hat and making fun of Gordon, whom we believe is closeted and would very much like to cut loose. Well done.

    Liked by 2 people

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    1. I reckon all these children’s characters would love to cut loose, I like to imagine what they would all really be like when the cameras stop 🙂

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  14. All my grands went through their Thomas the Tank period. We live near Strassbourg, PA where Thomas makes an appearance now and then. So I truly enjoyed your story as it evoked some most pleasant memories.

    Liked by 1 person

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  20. No criticism of your story, Iain, as well crafted as always, but I can’t stand Thomas and co.
    I always found the books deadly dull compared to, for example, Julia Donaldson’s works.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. Oh, you’re cold-hearted! Certainly the writing is nowhere as good, although they were written a long time before Julia Donaldson and co. came along. Nowadays ‘Thomas’ seems to be more of a TV and film (and toys) creation rather than literary. Big fans of Julia Donaldson in this house too.

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  22. This was such a hoot.. ummmm a toot! I read this story countless times and even made a cake in the shape for my son. I’m sure I didn’t contemplate just how they spent their time after hours… 😉

    Liked by 1 person

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    1. Thanks Dale, I have been revisiting a lot of my own childhood favourites with my own kids – nostalgia, but at the same time you realise how ridiculous a lot of these programmes are!!

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  23. I’m not familiar with Thomas (my kids and I watched different shows when they were little) but I certainly recognized the weary, end-of-the-day feeling and the dread of knowing it starts up again in the morning.

    Liked by 1 person

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  47. Interesting. Connie and I recently bought a 70 year old pick-up truck that we are working to get back on the road. It’s had plenty of rest (close to 50 years in a barn). Hopefully, it will be happy to get a new engine and be back on the road.

    Liked by 1 person

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