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The Spotless Record is a story from the 2005 annual.
Plot[]
Arthur the big tank engine has just come to work on The Fat Controller’s railway and speeds across the line, not wanting to be late on the first day. The Fat Controller tells Thomas and Percy that they are lucky to have Arthur working with him as he has a spotless record. The three engines are sent to work at the docks, with Thomas and Percy bumping the trucks around. They know it is naughty, but it was good fun and ask Arthur to join them. However, he refuses as he doesn’t want to spoil his spotless record.
Arthur’s first job is to push a fruit train to the market, with the trucks sining a rude song at him. Thomas gets a naughty idea and tells Arthur that he must not let the trucks to sing or else he would be in trouble with The Fat Controller. Arthur crossly orders the engines to truck while hauling them across the line, with the trucks deciding to get back at him. They make it hard for him to push them, with Arthur struggling to get up Gordon’s Hill and ending up rocketing down the other side.
The trucks crash into a stopped train at the bottom of the hill, with the fruits landing all over Arthur. It was his first day and he had already lost his spotless record. The Fat Controller arrives on Thomas and crossly asks what has happened, with Arthur saying that he tried to get the trucks to stop singing. Thomas felt sorry for Arthur and admits that he played a trick on Arthur. The Fat Controller tells Arthur that he still has his spotless record and orders Thomas to clear the mess with Harvey.
That night, Arthur was having squash melon removed from his funnel when Thomas arrives to apologize to him. Arthur thanks him for owning up so he wouldn’t lose his spotless record, with Thomas joking that he didn’t have a spotless record to lose.
Characters[]
- Thomas
- Percy
- Arthur
- Troublesome Vans
- Sir Topham Hatt
- Harvey (does not speak)
- Henry (cameo)
Locations[]
Trivia[]
- Unlike the original episode, Arthur still keeps his spotless record after Thomas admits to tricking him. It is possible that detail this was originally present in an earlier version of the story.
Gallery[]
