The Golfers

The Golfers is a magazine story.

Plot
Thomas is puffing along his branch line with a train of trucks. The trucks were not being bothersome and Thomas was happy. He passes two men practicing golf in a field. The golfers stop and wave at Thomas who whistles in return. One of the golfers then hits a bad shot. The ball is sent flying towards the railway line. By now, Thomas and his driver were looking at the track and did not see where the ball lands.

When Thomas reaches the main line, his drivers shovels more coal into the firebox. He is surprised when he finds a small, white piece of coal in Thomas' bunker. Then, Gordon arrives and Thomas' driver shows Gordon's driver the strange piece of coal. The Fat Controller is on Gordon's train and comes to have a look, too. The Fat Controller announces that it is a golf ball, not coal at all. Then, a car stops by the station and a man steps out. He asks, rather embarrassed, if anyone has found a golf ball. The Fat Controller hands him the ball and gives him a telling off for hitting it towards one of his engines. The man apologises and tells the Fat Controller that he didn't mean to, it's just that he isn't very good at golf. The Fat Controller accepts the golfer's apology and offers to have a game with the golfer one day. The two men then begin to talk about golf and became so interested that Gordon has to blow his whistle to remind the Fat Controller to get back on the train!

Characters

 * Thomas
 * Sir Topham Hatt
 * Gordon (does not speak)

Goofs

 * It is said that Thomas' driver is shoveling coal, but that is the fireman's job.