Branch Line Engines

"Branch Line Engines" was first published in 1961. It was written by the Reverend W. Awdry and illustrated by John T. Kenney.

=Stories=

Thomas Comes to Breakfast
When Thomas' Driver jokes Thomas does need him anymore, Thomas misinterprets it and boasts to Percy and Toby that he can go anywhere without needing a driver. The next morning, after a careless cleaner fiddles with Thomas' controls, he tries to move by himself, and does, but can't stop, and runs off the rails into the stationmaster's house as his family sits down for breakfast. Donald and Douglas pull him out, and he is sent to the Works.

Daisy
Thomas' replacement, Daisy, arrives, and Percy and Toby show her around. She refuses to sleep in the engine shed, but finds the carriage shed good, except for some "rubbish" (Annie and Clarabel and Henrietta). Percy and Toby are tired after staying up late to cheer them up, while Daisy is ready for anything. She prepares for her first train when they attempt to couple a milk van to her. She refuses to pull it, saying it's "bad for her swerves", and even though it's not true, she doesn't have to pull it anyway.

Bull's-Eyes
Daisy makes fun of Toby's cowcatchers and sideplates, saying he's scared of getting hurt. Toby tells her they're for stopping him from hurting animals if they go on the line, but Daisy says that animals will move anyway if you "toot and look them in the eye". Later, Daisy is asked to "shoo" a bull called Champion to his owner, but he is too busy eating grass to notice. Daisy goes back to the station, and Toby "shoos" Champion for her. That evening, Daisy sees some boys enjoying some sweets called "bull's eyes", and gets huffy.

Percy's Predicament
Daisy has neglected to take the milk again, and Percy is in a bad mood. Toby decides to take it for him, so he can take his trucks from the quarry. Percy speaks rudely to the trucks, and they plan to get revenge. As they slow down at a sign, the trucks barge forward and push Percy down the line and into a train of stone trucks. The Fat Controller tells Percy off, and Daisy too for being lazy, but gives her a second chance for her work after Percy crashed. Thomas comes home the next day, Percy is sent to be mended, and Toby teaches Daisy the finer points of branch line life.

=Featured Characters=
 * Thomas
 * Percy
 * Toby
 * Daisy
 * Annie and Clarabel
 * Henrietta
 * Donald ad Douglas (do not speak)

=Trivia=
 * For the remainder of the Railway Series (excluding "Really Useful Engines"), Thomas' front and rear bufferbeams are the same height, instead of the front being shorter than the rear.