1. IN SPRINGTIME
Copy !req
2. RUSTY LOVES
TO VISIT A FAR AWAY PLACE.
Copy !req
3. IT'S FILLED WITH BLUEBELLS.
Copy !req
4. THE AIR SMELLS SWEET
Copy !req
5. AND RUSTY THINKS THERE IS
NO BETTER PLACE TO BE.
Copy !req
6. ONE DAY THOMAS WAS PASSING BY
Copy !req
7. JUST AS RUSTY
WAS HAVING A DRINK.
Copy !req
8. "PEEP PEEP,
GOOD MORNING.
Copy !req
9. "YOUR DRIVER LOOKS
A LITTLE WORRIED.
Copy !req
10. I WONDER WHY?"
Copy !req
11. "I DON'T KNOW,"
Copy !req
12. SAID RUSTY.
Copy !req
13. "BUT I SOON WILL."
Copy !req
14. "EXCUSE ME,"
Copy !req
15. SAID RUSTY,
Copy !req
16. "BUT IS SOMETHING WRONG?"
Copy !req
17. "YES INDEED,"
Copy !req
18. REPLIED THE DRIVER,
Copy !req
19. "THEY NEED ANOTHER ENGINE
TO HELP RUN THIS SPECIAL LINE."
Copy !req
20. "A BLUEBELL ENGINE!"
Copy !req
21. LAUGHED RUSTY.
Copy !req
22. "MAYBE I CAN FIND ONE."
Copy !req
23. LATER RUSTY SAW
DOUGLAS AND PERCY.
Copy !req
24. RUSTY HAD AN IDEA.
Copy !req
25. "CAN YOU HELP ME
FIND ANOTHER ENGINE?"
Copy !req
26. "WHERE?"
Copy !req
27. "WHERE YOU FOUND OLIVER."
Copy !req
28. "YOU MEAN
ON THE OTHER RAILWAY?"
Copy !req
29. "YES, I'M LOOKING
FOR A BLUEBELL ENGINE,"
Copy !req
30. AND RUSTY
EXPLAINED EVERYTHING.
Copy !req
31. "I'D LIKE TO HELP
BUT THESE DAYS
Copy !req
32. IT'S ONLY DIESELS
THAT GO THERE."
Copy !req
33. THEN RUSTY DECIDED.
Copy !req
34. "SO THAT'S WHERE I'LLGO."
Copy !req
35. "TAKE CARE."
Copy !req
36. RUSTY TOLD THE DRIVER
ALL ABOUT THE PLAN,
Copy !req
37. AND THAT NIGHT
HE CAME BACK TO THE SHED.
Copy !req
38. "THE MANAGER SAYS HE'LL MAKE
A HOME FOR A BLUEBELL ENGINE
Copy !req
39. IF YOU FIND ONE."
Copy !req
40. "RIGHT,"
Copy !req
41. SAID RUSTY,
Copy !req
42. "WE'LL FIND ONE TOMORROW."
Copy !req
43. IT TOOK THEM
ALL OF THE NEXT DAY
Copy !req
44. TO TRAVEL TO THE OTHER RAILWAY.
Copy !req
45. DARKNESS FELL
AND THE COLD WIND BLEW.
Copy !req
46. "OHH...
WHAT'S THAT?"
Copy !req
47. BUT IT WAS ONLY THE SOUNDS
OF THE LONELY SCRAP YARD.
Copy !req
48. DIESELS, SILENT AND STILL,
LINED UP ON GUARD.
Copy !req
49. "WHO ARE YOU?"
Copy !req
50. RUSTY PLUCKED UP COURAGE.
Copy !req
51. "I'M A SHED AND SIDINGS
INSPECTION DIESEL.
Copy !req
52. HAVE YOU ANY ENGINES
IN THE SHED?"
Copy !req
53. "NO—NONE!"
Copy !req
54. RUSTY RALLIED AGAIN.
Copy !req
55. "THEN, UH,
WHAT ABOUT THE SIDINGS?"
Copy !req
56. "ONE...
Copy !req
57. WE HAVE ONE."
Copy !req
58. RUSTY GREW BRAVER STILL.
Copy !req
59. "THEN I'LL JUST GO
AND INSPECT."
Copy !req
60. A SMALL ENGINE
WITH A TALL FUNNEL
Copy !req
61. STOOD SAD AND ALONE
IN THE SHADOWY SIDING.
Copy !req
62. HIS DRIVER WAS HUDDLED
IN THE CAB, KEEPING HIM COMPANY.
Copy !req
63. "EXCUSE ME,"
Copy !req
64. SAID RUSTY.
Copy !req
65. "DO YOU LIKE BLUEBELLS?"
Copy !req
66. THE ENGINE LOOKED STARTLED.
Copy !req
67. "YES, BLUEBELLS
ARE BEAUTIFUL."
Copy !req
68. "THEN YOU'RE SOON GOING
TO SEE LOTS OF THEM
Copy !req
69. BECAUSE I'M GETTING YOU
OUT OF HERE!"
Copy !req
70. EVERYONE WORKED FAST.
Copy !req
71. IT WAS DIFFICULT
TO SET THE FIRE,
Copy !req
72. BUT SOON IT WAS GLOWING HOT
Copy !req
73. AND STEPNEY HAD
A GOOD HEAD OF STEAM.
Copy !req
74. RUSTY'S ENGINEER AGREED
TO BE STEPNEY'S FIREMAN,
Copy !req
75. SO OFF THEY SET,
Copy !req
76. PAST THE BLEAK AND BROODING
LINES OF DIESELS.
Copy !req
77. "WHERE IS HE GOING?"
Copy !req
78. THEY HISSED.
Copy !req
79. "JUST DOWN THE LINE,"
Copy !req
80. REPLIED RUSTY.
Copy !req
81. AND THEY CHUFFERED
QUICKLY AWAY.
Copy !req
82. "WE'VE DONE IT,"
Copy !req
83. WHISPERED RUSTY.
Copy !req
84. "WE'RE OVER THE BORDER
AND BACK ON OUR OWN RAILWAY.
Copy !req
85. MISSION ACCOMPLISHED."
Copy !req
86. WHEN RUSTY AND THE ENGINE
ARRIVED IN THE VALLEY,
Copy !req
87. A BIG WELCOME AWAITED THEM.
Copy !req
88. "WE SHALL MEND YOU AND GIVE YOU
A NEW COAT OF PAINT,"
Copy !req
89. SAID THE MANAGER.
Copy !req
90. HIS DRIVER WAS DELIGHTED.
Copy !req
91. "YOU LUCKY OLD ENGINE.
Copy !req
92. YOU'VE BEEN SAVED
BY THE BLUEBELL RAILWAY!"
Copy !req
93. "AND MY FRIEND RUSTY.
Copy !req
94. I WOULDN'T BE HERE
IF IT WEREN'T FOR RUSTY."
Copy !req
95. NOW THE LITTLE ENGINE
IS AS HAPPY AS CAN BE
Copy !req
96. AND HELPS ALL THE PASSENGERS
WHO VISIT AT "BLUEBELL TIME."
Copy !req
97. HIS NAME IS STEPNEY,
Copy !req
98. BUT EVERYONE CALLS HIM
THE BLUEBELL ENGINE.
Copy !req
99. THOMAS THE TANK ENGINE
Copy !req
100. WAS FEELING VERY HAPPY.
Copy !req
101. HIS BLUE COAT SHONE
IN THE SUN,
Copy !req
102. HE WAS RIGHT ON TIME
Copy !req
103. AND ALL AROUND HIS BRANCH LINE,
Copy !req
104. THE COUNTRYSIDE SEEMED PRETTIER
THAN EVER BEFORE.
Copy !req
105. "PEEP, PEEP,
GOOD MORNING, PERCY,"
Copy !req
106. HE WHISTLED.
Copy !req
107. "MY BRANCH IS THE PRIDE
OF THE LINE,
Copy !req
108. WOULDN'T YOU AGREE?"
Copy !req
109. "UH, YES, THOMAS,
OF COURSE, BUT..."
Copy !req
110. "BUT WHAT, PERCY?
Copy !req
111. OUT WITH IT."
Copy !req
112. "WELL, THERE IS ANOTHER ENGINE
WITH A FAMOUS BRANCH LINE TOO."
Copy !req
113. "WHO? WHERE?"
Copy !req
114. "HIS NAME'S STEPNEY,
HE'S FAR AWAY
Copy !req
115. BUT SIR TOPHAM HATT
SAYS HE MAY VISIT US."
Copy !req
116. "WHEN?"
Copy !req
117. "OH, SOME DAY,"
Copy !req
118. AND PERCY HURRIED AWAY.
Copy !req
119. MEANWHILE STEPNEY WAS PUFFING
STEADILY ALONG HIS LINE.
Copy !req
120. IT ISN'T VERY LONG
Copy !req
121. AND THAT MADE HIM
FEEL A LITTLE SAD.
Copy !req
122. LATER, HE SAW RUSTY.
Copy !req
123. THE LITTLE DIESEL HAD HELPED
SAVE STEPNEY FROM SCRAP.
Copy !req
124. "EVERYONE'S BEEN SO KIND,
Copy !req
125. BUT MY RAILWAY IS SO SHORT
AND I DO MISS A GOOD LONG RUN."
Copy !req
126. "I THINK YOU SHOULD
TELL DRIVER TOO,"
Copy !req
127. REPLIED RUSTY.
Copy !req
128. "I'M SURE
HE'LL UNDERSTAND."
Copy !req
129. STEPNEY SOON DISCOVERED
THAT INDEED HE DID.
Copy !req
130. "DO YOU KNOW, STEPNEY,
I FEEL JUST THE SAME WAY."
Copy !req
131. THAT EVENING,
HE HAD EXCITING NEWS.
Copy !req
132. "GUESS WHAT, STEPNEY.
Copy !req
133. "SIR TOPHAM HATT HAS INVITED US
TO VISIT THE OTHER ENGINES
Copy !req
134. "ON HIS RAILWAY.
Copy !req
135. "MANAGER AGREED.
Copy !req
136. IT'LL BE A REALLY LONG RUN
TO GET THERE."
Copy !req
137. "OH, THANK YOU,"
Copy !req
138. SIGHED STEPNEY.
Copy !req
139. THEY SET OFF NEXT MORNING.
Copy !req
140. BY NOW ALL THE OTHER ENGINES
WERE TALKING ABOUT STEPNEY.
Copy !req
141. "HE RUNS A FAMOUS BRANCH LINE.
Copy !req
142. DID YOU KNOW THAT?"
Copy !req
143. SAID PERCY.
Copy !req
144. THOMAS WAS FEELING
A LITTLE JEALOUS.
Copy !req
145. "HUH,
IT MAY BE FAMOUS,
Copy !req
146. "BUT MY BRANCH
IS THE FIRST ON THE LINE.
Copy !req
147. EVERYONE KNOWS THAT TOO,"
Copy !req
148. AND HE HUFFED AWAY
TO FETCH HIS COACHES.
Copy !req
149. "LOOK,"
Copy !req
150. SQUEAKED PERCY.
Copy !req
151. "WHY HAVE THEY ALL COME?
Copy !req
152. THERE'S NO TRAIN YET."
Copy !req
153. BUT PERCY WAS WRONG.
Copy !req
154. THE SIGNAL DROPPED AND FROM
FAR AWAY AN ENGINE WHISTLED.
Copy !req
155. "HERE HE COMES!"
Copy !req
156. YELLED DOUGLAS.
Copy !req
157. STEPNEY PUFFED PROUDLY
THROUGH THE JUNCTION.
Copy !req
158. "I HOPE YOU'LL MEET THOMAS TOO,"
Copy !req
159. SAID EDWARD.
Copy !req
160. "YOU BOTH HAVE BRANCH LINES
TO BE PROUD OF."
Copy !req
161. THEN STEPNEY SET OFF
TO HELP DUCK SHUNT COACHES
Copy !req
162. IN THE YARDS.
Copy !req
163. AND THEY WORKED HAPPILY
TOGETHER ALL AFTERNOON.
Copy !req
164. AT LAST THOMAS ARRIVED.
Copy !req
165. "SORRY, CAN'T TALK.
Copy !req
166. "IT'S TIME FOR MY LAST
BRANCH LINE TRAIN.
Copy !req
167. MUSTN'T BE LATE."
Copy !req
168. HE WAS HARDLY OUT OF SIGHT
Copy !req
169. WHEN THE ENGINES HEARD SHOUTING
AT THE STATION.
Copy !req
170. MOMENTS LATER CAME THE ALARM.
Copy !req
171. "STOP ALL TRAINS!"
Copy !req
172. THE SIGNALMAN ANSWERED
THE TELEPHONE.
Copy !req
173. "A SPECIAL IS IT?
Copy !req
174. I SEE."
Copy !req
175. THOMAS WAS IMPATIENT.
Copy !req
176. "WHY ARE WE WAITING?
Copy !req
177. MY PASSENGERS
ARE BEING DELAYED."
Copy !req
178. "SORRY, THOMAS,"
Copy !req
179. SAID HIS DRIVER.
Copy !req
180. "WE'RE BEING SHUNTED TO ALLOW
ANOTHER TRAIN TO PASS."
Copy !req
181. SOON, THEY HEARD
AN UNFAMILIAR PUFFING SOUND.
Copy !req
182. THERE WAS STEPNEY
WITH HIS HEADLAMPS SWAYING
Copy !req
183. AND WHISTLE BLOWING.
Copy !req
184. HE GATHERED SPEED
AND DISAPPEARED.
Copy !req
185. "WELL, BUST MY BOILER!"
Copy !req
186. SAID THOMAS THE TANK ENGINE.
Copy !req
187. NEXT MORNING,
HE WAS STILL FUMING.
Copy !req
188. "SHUNTED, AND ON
MY OWN BRANCH TOO!
Copy !req
189. IT'S A DISGRACE!"
Copy !req
190. "I'M SORRY,"
Copy !req
191. SAID STEPNEY.
Copy !req
192. "I WAS A SPECIAL."
Copy !req
193. "WHY?"
Copy !req
194. "AN IMPORTANT PASSENGER
ARRIVED JUST AS YOU LEFT.
Copy !req
195. "HE ORDERED A SPECIAL TRAIN
AND DUCK LET METAKE IT.
Copy !req
196. WE HAD A SPLENDID RUN,
BUT..."
Copy !req
197. "BUT,"
Copy !req
198. FINISHED THOMAS,
Copy !req
199. "IT CAN MAKE AN ENGINE NERVOUS
NOT TO KNOW THE LINE."
Copy !req
200. "EXACTLY,"
Copy !req
201. SAID STEPNEY.
Copy !req
202. "YOU'RE SUCH AN EXPERT."
Copy !req
203. THOMAS FELT MUCH BETTER.
Copy !req
204. HE COULDN'T BE CROSS ANYMORE
Copy !req
205. AND BEGAN TELLING STEPNEY
ALL ABOUT HIS BRANCH LINE.
Copy !req