Percy Runs Away (magazine story)

Percy Runs Away is a magazine story.

Plot
Gordon, Henry, and James are miserable; they had been shut in the shed for going on strike and longed to be let out again. The Fat Controller tells them that they can come out if they promise to be good and stop all the "no shunting" nonsense. The Fat Controller then tells Thomas, Percy, and Edward they can go and play on the branch line for a few days. Thomas goes to find Annie and Clarabel while Percy and Edward play with trucks. Then, Edward takes some trucks to the Quarry, leaving Percy alone. Percy didn't mind, he liked watching the trains and being cheeky to the other engines. After a great deal of shunting, he began to be rather careless.

Percy is waiting for the signalman to set the points so he could go back to the yard. Unfortunately, Percy forgets to whistle and the busy signalman forgets he's there. Then, he looks down the main line and whistles in horror! Rushing straight towards him is Gordon with the express. Percy's driver turns on full steam, but Percy's wheels would not turn quickly enough and Gordon couldn't stop. Percy waited for the big crash while his driver and fireman jump clear. Luckily, Gordon manages to stop with Percy's buffers just inches from his own. Percy begins to move and reverses right through Edward's station and up Gordon's Hill without stopping. After this, he was very tired, but couldn't stop without his driver or fireman. A signalman sees that Percy is in trouble and sets the points to an empty siding. Percy rolls into the siding and ends up in a big bank of earth.

Some workmen start to dig Percy out of the mud. Presently, Gordon arrives. He praises Percy for starting so quickly, preventing a nasty accident. Percy aplogises for being cheeky and Gordon pulls him out of the bank of earth. Nowadays, Percy is still cheeky because he is that sort of engine, but he is always most careful on the main line.

Characters

 * Gordon
 * Percy
 * Sir Topham Hatt
 * Thomas (does not speak)
 * Edward (does not speak)
 * Henry (does not speak)
 * James (does not speak)
 * Annie (does not speak)
 * Clarabel (mentioned)