The Twin Engines

"The Twin Engines" was first published in 1960. It was written by the Reverend W. Awdry and illustrated by John T. Kenney.

=Stories=

"Hullo Twins!"
The engines are getting dragged down by the amount of work they have, and they are pleased to hear a goods engine is arriving from Scotland. However, the Fat Controller is surprised to hear two engines have arrived. He goes to meet the engines, but only manages to discover they have "lost their numbers", as they put it, and they have themselves Donald and Douglas. The Fat Controller orders for them to have numbers painted on them, and leaves.

The Missing Coach
Donald and Douglas (now #9 and #10 respectively) realise they don't have their names painted on, when they are sent to work with Duck, who warns them to look out for the big engines. They heed his advice, and later imtimidates Gordon and Henry for making fun of their whistle sounds.

One afternoon, Douglas is shunting in the Yard and worries about being sent away, unfortunately forgetting to shunt Thomas' special coach. The twins decide to swap tenders so as to convince the Fat Controller that Donald has taken his goods train, but he isn't fooled, and reprimands Douglas severely.

=Break Van=

The Fat Controller threatens to send one of the twins away, and they behave their best, until a spiteful brakevan delays Douglas' goods train. Luckily, Donald soon puts the van right, and things go better.

But then, Donald crashes into a signalbox, and James has to do his goods work. The brakevan and the trucks hold back, and Douglas has to help as a banker. The brakevan holds back again, but gets its comeuppance after Douglas accidentally crushes it. The Fat Controller comes to supervise the cleaning-up, and tells Douglas that he doesn't know what to think.

=The Deputation=

Winter comes early, and Donald and Douglas ask to help clear the line. They manage to rescue Henry, who was trapped in a snowdrift, but are still worried that they will be sent back. Edward tells Percy that they need a "deputation", and the big engines elect Percy to their "disputation", as Gordon says. After Percy tells the Fat Controller that Donald and Douglas will be scrapped if they returned, the Fat Controller gives the twins a new coat of paint, and allows them to stay.

=Featured Characters=
 * Thomas
 * Edward
 * Henry
 * Gordon
 * James
 * Percy
 * Duck
 * Donald and Douglas
 * The Spiteful Brakevan
 * Annie and Clarabel (do not speak)

=Goofs=
 * When Percy, Gordon and Henry mix up the pronounciation of "deputation", Edward is visible in the Shed; however, he doesn't correct them.