2One morning in Knapford Yards, Stanley was helping Philip shunt some freight cars, when the little boxcab pulled up next to him.
"Hello, Stanley", Philip said.
"Oh, hey, Philip", Stanley said.
Philip noticed that something was bothering Stanley.
"What's wrong, Stanley", Philip asked, "you don't look very happy."
"I'm not very happy, Philip", Stanley said, "it feels like all I ever do is shunt coaches and freight cars."
"What's wrong with shunting", Philip asked.
"Well, it's just not the work I enjoy doing", Stanley said, "you see, I used to pull passengers and freight cars a lot, but nowadays, I've been stuck working here in the shunting yards."
"I see", Philip said, "why don't you tell Sir Topham Hatt about this?"
"I've tried, but he won't let me do other work", Stanley said, "he says that my work in the shunting yard is important, which I find hard to believe."
"Well, your work is essential to the railway when you think about it", Philip said, "I mean, it's because of us shunting the coaches and cars that everything runs right on time."
"Whatever you say, Philip", Stanley said.
"Well, I'm off to fetch Gordon's coaches", Philip said, "see you around."
"Yeah, you too", Stanley said.
A little later, Stanley was shunting a train of vans, when he noticed a train of tar and fuel tankers waiting at a platform, but without an engine.
"That's strange", Stanley said, "what are those still doing here?"
Stanley puffed over to the platform, and saw the stationmaster looking anxious.
"What's the matter", Stanley asked.
"Sidney was supposed to take this train of tar wagons and fuel tankers to the depot, but he hasn't showed up yet", the stationmaster said, "I guess he must've forgotten about it."
Then, an idea flew into Stanley's funnel.
"Maybe I could take the tankers", Stanley said.
But his driver wasn't so sure about this.
"We can't, we have work to do in the shunting yards", Stanley's driver said, "I'm not sure Philip can manage alone."
"Oh, I'm sure he'll be fine on his own for a little while", Stanley said.
"Very well", the stationmaster said, "you may take the tankers."
"Alright", Stanley said.
Stanley was soon coupled up to the train of tankers, and as he pulled out of the platform, Sidney arrived.
"Here I am", Sidney said, "now, where's the train of tar and fuel I'm supposed to take?"
"I'm afraid you're too late, Sidney", the stationmaster said, "Stanley's already taken them."
"Aww", Sidney said.
Meanwhile, Stanley was enjoying himself immensely.
"It feels so good to be doing more important work, and not pushing coaches and cars all the time", Stanley said.
Soon, Stanley dropped the tankers off at the depot and went on his way, and pretty soon, he came across Henry, who was looking bothered.
"Hello, Henry", Stanley said, "is everything okay?"
"No, Stanley", Henry said, "I've broken one of my siderods."
Stanley was very sorry to hear this.
"James took my crew to the Steamworks to get me a new one, but by the time they get back and have my siderod fixed, I won't be able to get these logs delivered to the timber mill on time", Henry said.
Then, another idea flew into Stanley's funnel.
"I'll take them for you, Henry", Stanley said.
"Really", Henry asked, "I mean, if it's not too much trouble."
"Oh, it's no trouble at all", Stanley said.
"Okay, then", Henry said, "thanks, Stanley."
And so, Stanley was coupled up to Henry's log cars, and he set off for the timber mill.
"Two trains in one day", Stanley said, "could this day get any better?"
After dropping off the logs, Stanley passed by Crovan's Gate, where he saw a bunch of passengers waiting impatiently on the narrow gauge platform, and Skarloey looking worried.
"What's going on here", Stanley asked.
"The train that was supposed to take these passengers home hasn't arrived yet", Skarloey said, "if they don't get home on time, they'll complain and say what a bad railway this is."
Stanley noticed some red branch line coaches in a siding and, as you might've guessed, yet another idea flew into his funnel.
"I could take the passengers home", Stanley said.
"Oh, thank you, Stanley", Skarloey said, "that would be grand."
Once Stanley collected the coaches, the passengers boarded them, and he set off for Knapford Station.
"Now this is the life", Stanley said, "pulling passengers and freight all day."
When Stanley got to Knapford, he saw many engines waiting crossly and impatiently at the platforms.
"Where are my freight cars", Rebecca asked, "I'm going to be late with my goods train."
"And I'm going to be late delivering the mail", Percy said.
"And me with the evening express", Gordon said.
Stanley puffed up to the platform to let his passengers off, and Thomas pulled up on a platform near him.
"What's going on here", Stanley asked.
"Philip's engine overheated, and now the shunting yards are in a mess", Thomas said.
Stanley was very shocked to hear this.
"I've been helping to sort everything out", Thomas said, "but now, I'm late with my branch line work."
As soon as his conductor blew his whistle, Thomas puffed away with his passengers, desperate to make up for lost time.
"Have things really gotten that bad", Stanley asked.
Stanley puffed into the shunting yard, and his question was soon answered.
"Oh my word", Stanley said.
The yard was in a mess: coaches and freight cars were all over the place.
"Did you listen when I warned you that leaving the shunting yards was a bad idea", Stanley's driver asked, "no, why would you?"
"Now's not the time", Stanley's fireman said.
"He's right", Stanley said, "I have to fix this."
Stanley soon set to work sorting out all the rolling stock in the yard, and he managed to get Rebecca's goods train, Percy's mail coaches, and Gordon's express coaches shunted just in time.
"At last", Gordon said.
"Now I can pull the mail on time", Percy said.
"Thank you, Stanley", Rebecca said.
The three engines all whistled, and Stanley beamed from buffer to buffer.
"Thanks, you guys", Stanley said.
Later, Sir Topham Hatt came to see Stanley.
"Stanley", Sir Topham Hatt said, "I heard about what you've done today."
"Yes sir", Stanley said, "I'm very sorry I left the shunting yards, sir."
"I appreciate your apology, Stanley", Sir Topham Hatt said, "but why did you leave?"
Stanley told Sir Topham Hatt about how he took the tar and fuel to the depot, took Henry's logs to the timber mill, and brought Skarloey's passengers to Knapford.
"I don't like having to shunt all the time", Stanley said, "I want to do more important work."
"Stanley, every job on the railway is important", Sir Topham Hatt said, "it's because of yours and Phillip's shunting work that everything keeps right on schedule, otherwise, there would be a lot of confusion and delay."
"Just like Philip said", Stanley thought.
"So remember", Sir Topham Hatt said, "even if it's a small job, your work on my railway is very much appreciated."
This made Stanley very happy.
"Oh, thank you, sir", Stanley said.
Now that Stanley knows how important shunting is, he works hard in the shunting yards, and every now and then, as a reward for all his hard work, Sir Topham Hatt allows Stanley to perform mixed traffic duties, which makes him very happy indeed.
