Too Tired!

Too Tired! is a magazine story.

Plot
One Friday morning, Gordon announces to the other engines in the shed that he's to have a service. This would mean he wouldn't be able to pull the express until the following weekend. The engines wondered who'd be given the job of being Gordon's replacement. Henry is nervous as he might be chosen, but James is confident he'll be chosen for the special job.

Sure enough, James was soon waiting in the Main Station yard while Percy fetched the express coaches for him. Before long, boastful James was coupled up to the coaches and soon on his way. It had rained heavily overnight and the rails were wet and greasy. Up Gordon's Hill, James' wheels kept spinning and he lost a lot of time. The Fat Controller tells James, when he returns to the Main Station, that it shouldn't happen again. James wondered what the Fat Controller had meant by his remark and didn't sleep a wink for fretting about it. At last, James dozed off, but he began to have nightmares. He imagined all sorts of delays whilst pulling the express. Next morning, James could hardly keep his eyes open.

Yawning, James followed Henry to the yard. It was a bright and sunny day and the Fat Controller tells the engines that there should be no slipping wheels today. James realised that the Fat Controller was referring to the weather when he made his comment the previous day. James tells the Fat Controller that he spent all night worrying. The Fat Controller decides that an exhausted engine couldn't possibly pull the express, so he gives the important job to Henry. The Fat Controller goes on to tell James that he should relax more like Henry. James was left sulking as Henry pulled away.

Characters

 * Henry
 * Gordon
 * James
 * Sir Topham Hatt
 * Percy (does not speak)