Thomas and Friends Storytime.
Thomas and the Elves.
A Fairy Tale for Kids Starring Thomas, the Tank Engine, Based on the Railway Series by the Reverend W Audrey, Created by Britt Allcroft, Read by Mark Moraghan and Friends.
One evening on the island of Sodor, Thomas was just settling down in his shed when Sir Topham Hatt appeared.
Ah Thomas, I just noticed the shunting yard is a bit messy and I was wondering if you would tidy it up first thing in the morning before you start your other jobs.
No problem at all, sir.
I'll have it spick and span in no time.
Oh, that's what I like to hear, Thomas.
Good night, sleep tight and don't let the shedbugs bite, said Sir Topham Hatt, amused by his own joke.
And Thomas, wanting to be really useful and not let Sir Topham Hatt down, decided to wake himself up extra early.
BELL RINGS
First to the shunting yard.
But when Thomas got there, he found no mess whatsoever.
All the cars were neatly lined up in rows.
Thomas had never seen the yard looking so tidy.
How strange.
Just then, Percy came past.
Morning, Thomas.
What are you doing up so early?
I came to tidy the shunting yard, but it looks like someone beat me to it.
Was it you, Percy?
Not me, Thomas.
I've just finished delivering the mail.
That's taken me all night.
Oh yes, of course.
Bye, Percy!
So Thomas carried on his way.
But he couldn't help wondering, who must have tidied away those cars?
That evening, as Thomas settled down in his shed, Sir Topham Hatt appeared again.
Ah, Thomas, thank you so much for tidying up the shunting yard earlier.
There's nothing I like more than a neat row of cars.
Oh, um, thank you, sir, said Thomas, feeling a little bit guilty.
Although I'm afraid to say it's become rather messy again.
I was wondering if you would be able to tidy it up before your other jobs again.
Yes, of course sir, you can always count on me, But this time Thomas decided to wake himself up even earlier than before, Right to the shunting yard.
Thomas raced away quickly in the hope he would find the shunting yard just as messy as Sir Topham Hatt said it was.
But when Thomas got there, he couldn't believe his eyes.
There wasn't a single car out of place.
They were all neatly lined up in rows, just like before.
It was the spiccest and spannest shunting yard Thomas had ever seen.
This is very strange indeed.
Just then, Nia came past.
Good morning, Thomas.
What are you doing up so early?
Oh, good morning, Nia.
I came to tidy the shunting yard, but it looks like someone beat me to it.
Again.
It wasn't you, was it?
No, Thomas, it wasn't.
Although I'd have been happy to do it.
At least now you have more time to do your other jobs.
See you later, Thomas.
And with that, Nia chuffed away and Thomas was still confused.
Who could possibly have tidied away those cars?
That evening, Sir Topham Hatt appeared for a third time.
Ah, Thomas, another impressive day's work I see.
That shunting yard was the tidiest it's ever been.
Although, I'm afraid to say it's got messy again.
I was wondering if you would, well, you know... Consider it done, sir.
And once again, Thomas decided to wake himself up extra early.
Although this time, he decided to wake himself up much, much earlier than before.
Here we go again!
Thomas was desperate to catch the mystery engine, But when he arrived at the shunting yard he couldn't believe it.
Everything was tidied away just like before.
Oh, I give up.
That's when Diesel came past Thomas!
What are you doing up so early?
Up to no good, are we?
I don't suppose you tidied up the shunting yard, did you Diesel?
Why would I do that?
I know I like to play tricks, but tidying up for a steamie would just be silly.
Diesel scurried away.
Thomas was baffled.
This was very strange indeed.
Thomas needed an idea, and right there, and then one flew into his funnel.
Thomas raced away to tell Percy.
I have a plan, Percy.
Tonight I'm going to hide at the shunting yard and keep a close watch.
I can come with you, Thomas.
You might find it a bit scary on your own.
So that night Thomas and Percy went to the shunting yard and found a perfect hiding place behind a shed.
From there they could see the whole of the shunting yard.
And what a mess it was.
There were cars scattered all over the place.
When someone comes to tidy them up, we will catch them red-handed.
You wait and see.
And with that, they waited and watched, and watched and waited.
Until suddenly... Percy jumped!
It's only the town clock striking midnight, Percy.
Nothing to worry about.
But it wasn't entirely nothing, because from out of the shadows came something moving.
Percy, over there!
It looks like a tiny little engine.
Sure enough, the tiniest engine they had ever seen came chuffing into the yard.
In the moonlight, Thomas could see it was being driven by two tiny elves, a boy and a girl, dressed in torn clothes and covered in soot from head to toe.
Fizzling fireboxes!
Fizzling elves, more like.
As Thomas and Percy looked on in amazement, the two little elves in their little engine started to push the cars neatly into rows.
And as they went, they danced and skipped and sang.
Something makes us happy we never ever know.
But we'd be even happier with a railway of our own, with a railway of our own.
And no sooner had the cars been placed into rows, and they were as neat and tidy as cars have ever been, did the two little elves and their little engine disappear into the night?
Well, that was really useful.
And so kind.
We must show them how grateful we are, Percy.
And for the second time in one day, another idea flew into Thomas' funnel.
The next morning Thomas told Sir Topham Hatt about the little elves and their magical little engine and asked for his help.
I'd be delighted to, Thomas.
Oh, imagine that!
Two little elves driving an elf train on my railway.
You don't see that every day.
Sir Topham Hatt gathered up some tiny railway tracks and a shiny little guard's whistle, while Lady Hatt helped by sewing together some little railway conductor outfits and some little red and green flags.
Then everything was packed into two little railway cars, which were put out in the shunting yard.
That night, Thomas Percy and Sir Topham Hatt hid behind the shed where they waited, and watched, and watched and waited until, As the clock chimed midnight, out from the shadows came the little elf train driven by the two little elves.
Look, there they are.
Oh, shh, shh, nobody move, nobody say anything.
The little elf train was about to push the first car into the siding when the elf saw the two tiny cars.
Curiously, they chuffed over to them.
When they looked into the cars and saw what was inside, they were at first puzzled and then delighted.
Railway tracks and proper clothes!
And flags and a whistle!
Our very own railway!
Thomas Percy and Sir Topham Hatt were very happy to have made the little elves' wish come true, So exciting.
Dancing and skipping with joy.
The elves dressed themselves in their new outfits.
Then they coupled their elf train up to the tiny cars, waved their little flags and chuffed away into the night, never to be seen again.
Although if you listen very carefully, you can often hear a distant peep-peep of the little guard's whistle being blown.
The End Listen out for other adventures with Thomas and Friends Storytime.
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