Derek's Favorite Tree

Derek's Favorite Tree is a fan-made Thomas and Friends episode idea thought up by BiggestThomasFan.

Characters

 * James
 * Neville
 * BoCo
 * Derek
 * Paxton
 * Philip
 * Harold
 * Sir Topham Hatt
 * Gordon (cameo; seen at Knapford Station)
 * Duck (cameo; seen at Knapford Station)
 * Harvey (cameo; seen at the shunting yards)
 * Emily (cameo; seen at the shunting yards)
 * Murdoch (cameo; seen looking surprise when Derek has collected all the trucks he needs)
 * Molly (cameo; seen at the shunting yards)
 * Belle (cameo; seen passing Derek at the beginning)
 * Sidney (cameo; seen when Derek picks up Paxton's trucks)
 * Rocky (cameo; seen lifting the logs onto Derek's flatbeds)

UK and AUS

 * Mark Moraghan as the Narrator
 * Rob Rackstraw as James
 * Steven Kynman as Neville, Derek, Paxton and a workmen
 * Bob Golding as BoCo
 * Rasmus Hardiker as Philip
 * Keith Wickham as Harold, Sir Topham Hatt, the Yard Foreman and a workmen

US

 * Mark Moraghan as the Narrator
 * Rob Rackstraw as James
 * Steven Kynman as Neville, Paxton and a workmen
 * Bob Golding as BoCo
 * David Menkin as Derek
 * Rasmus Hardiker as Philip
 * Kerry Shale as Harold
 * Keith Wickham as Sir Topham Hatt, the Yard Foreman and a workmen

Transcript
Narrator: Derek the Diesel loves working on the Island of Sodor. He also has a fondness of trees, and even has a favorite one; the big oak tree by the main line between Maron and Cronk. Seeing the tree standing proud and tall makes Derek feel happy.

One night, there was a storm on the island. The wind blew hard, and the rain poured down. The next morning, Sir Topham Hatt came to see Derek at the shunting yards.

Sir Topham Hatt: Derek, the big oak tree by the line between Maron and Cronk got struck by lightning last night. I need you to take some workmen over to the tree so they can cut it down.

Derek: Yes, sir.

Narrator: But Derek was very sad that his favorite tree had to be cut down. On the way to pick up the workmen, Derek met up with Paxton.

Paxton: Hello, Derek. I've broken down. Can you take these trucks to the shunting yards for me, please?

Derek: Sorry, Paxton. But if I do that, I'll be late to pick up the workmen.

Narrator: Then Derek had an idea.

Derek: Actually, Paxton, I can take your trucks.

Paxton: Thank you.

Narrator: So Derek was coupled up to Paxton's trucks, and hurried away.

Derek: If I block all the tracks and junctions by the big oak tree with trucks, no one can get to it and the tree won't get cut down. But first, I need more trucks.

Narrator: Then Derek saw BoCo up ahead.

Derek: Hello, BoCo. I'll take your trucks for you, if you don't mind.

BoCo: Thank you, Derek. They need to go to Brendam Docks

(Derek collects BoCo's trucks and continues on)

Derek: James, I'd like to take your trucks for you, if you don't mind.

James: Thank you, Derek. I have enough jobs to do as it is. These trucks are needed at the quarry.

(Derek collects James' trucks on continues on)

Derek: Hello, Neville. May I take your trucks for you?

Neville: Of course, Derek. Thank you. These trucks need to go to the steamworks

Narrator: Derek had the longest line of trucks a big engine could pull. He arrived at one junction around Maron Station. He left Neville's trucks on it. Then Derek went up the line, and left BoCo and James' trucks on another junction. And then, he left Neville's trucks on a junction around Cronk Station.

Derek: Now no one can get to the big oak tree. It's safe now.

Narrator: Back at Knapford Yards, the workmen were wondering where Derek was.

Workman #1: Where's Derek?

Workmen #2: He was supposed to take us to the tree, wasn't he?

Yard Foreman: Philip, you'll have to the workmen.

Philip: Yes, sir.

Narrator: But when Philip arrived near Maron, the line was blocked by trucks.

Philip: The junction's blocked, and I can't get around the trucks. You might have to walk.

Workman #1: We can't walk, Philip. It's too far.

Narrator: Meanwhile, Derek was still feeling pleased with himself. Then Harold hovered overhead.

Harold: Derek, the workmen can't get to the tree. If they can't start their work, they won't be able to plant a new tree to replace it.

Narrator: Derek started to feel bad for what he had done.

Derek: I'm the only one who can put things right. I must clear all the lines and deliver all the trucks.

Narrator: So Derek delivered the trucks as quickly as he could. He delivered Neville's trucks to the steamworks, BoCo's trucks to Brendam Docks, James' trucks to the quarry and Paxton's trucks to the shunting yards. When Derek returned to the tree, he saw that the workmen had started their work.

Derek: It looks like they've finished cutting the tree down. And now, they're going to plant that new tree.

Sir Topham Hatt: (clears throat)

Derek: Oh! Sir.

Sir Topham Hatt: Derek, I'm very cross with you. You've caused confusion and delay by leaving trucks stranded and junctions and blocking the lines.

Derek: I'm sorry, sir. I just didn't want my favorite tree to get cut down. But now I see there was really nothing I could do to save it.

Sir Topham Hatt: Right! Now, I want you to take the remains of the big oak tree to the lumber mill. Then you must take the workmen back to the yards.

Derek: Of course, sir.

Narrator: So Derek took the remains of the big oak tree to the lumber mill, where it could be turned into furniture and other things. Once that was done, he picked up the workmen. Before he left, Derek took one good look at the new tree.

Derek: I've decided that this new tree can be my new favorite one on the island.

Narrator: Derek left feeling much better.