BAD DAYS FOR THOMAS AND HIS FRIENDS
(2001)
Written by Christopher Awdry
In 2001, Christopher Awdry wrote three special stories centred around the theme of promoting Railway Safety, with new character, Policeman Len, taking centre stage and showing the children of Sodor how to behave responsibly around the Fat Controller's Railway
Story Summaries Written by R Healy
A NEW COAT OF PAINT FOR ANNIE & CLARABEL
Thomas's Coaches admire the painters at the big station when they see them painting the station and ask if they can have some new paint too.
However, during the night, the Fat Controller and Policeman Len find that the Station has been vandalised by spray paint. And the following night, Annie and Clarabel find they are being given a new coat as well - but fortunately Policeman Len is on hand to catch the boys in the act. Annie and Clarabel feel uncomfortable with the spray paint, but the Fat Controller promises them a new coat of paint to make up for the damage.
A NEAR MISS FOR DAISY
Daisy the Diesel Railcar is upset that she hasn't met she hasn’t met Policeman Len yet, and feels that nothing exciting ever happens to her. But when children are found throwing stones at Thomas, Policeman Len uses Daisy to go on patrol and catch them in the act. But as they make their way along the line, they find something else waiting for them – some children have laid a loaded shopping trolley across the line! Daisy manages to stop in time, but Policeman Len makes it very plain to the children that what they did was very dangerous.
LUCY TO THE RESCUE
When Andrew and his dog Lucy are out for a bike ride, he becomes curious when he sees a path leading down to the railway line and decides to follow it. Lucy cleverly hangs back, but when Andrew comes to bother at a set of points, which trap his bike, it’s up to his faithful dog to warn Thomas and his crew as they approach the old mine before Andrew finds himself in a perilous situation!
