Eric and the Thunderstorm

Eric and the Thunderstorm is a Thomas and Friends episode idea thought up by BiggestThomasFan.

Characters

 * Etienne
 * Ernest
 * Culdee
 * Eric
 * Marge, Ernest's Coach
 * Catherine
 * Sandy, Eric's Coach
 * Mr. Walter Richards
 * Ivan (cameo; seen passing through Kirk Machan)
 * Wilfred (cameo; seen at the beginning)
 * Shane Dooiney (cameo; seen at the beginning)
 * Patrick (cameo; seen at the beginning)
 * Alaric (cameo; seen at the beginning)
 * Gene the Mountain Diesel (cameo; seen at the beginning)
 * Godred (mentioned)

Voice Cast

 * Mark Moraghan as the Narrator
 * Rob Rackstraw as Etienne and Mr. Walter Richards
 * Tim Whitnall as Ernest
 * Matt Wilkinson as Culdee
 * Jamie Campbell Bower as Eric
 * Lucy Montgomery as Marge
 * Rachael Miller as Catherine
 * Rebecca O'Mara as Sandy
 * Ian McCue as the Kirk Machan Stationmaster
 * Keith Wickham as Male Passengers
 * Teresa Gallagher as Female Passengers

Transcript
Narrator: Eric loves working on the Culdee Fell Railway. He works with his coach, Sandy. Sandy used to work with the number 1 engine, Godred, before his accident years ago. Eric loves working in sunny weather, but he doesn't like it when there are thunderstorms.

Eric: Oh, how I'd hate to work in this weather.

Narrator: One cloudy day, Eric and Sandy arrived back at Kirk Machan station. The stationmaster had news for them.

Stationmaster: There's a big group of people up at the Summit. They were having a party, but it's almost over. They want to go home before the thunderstorm hits.

Eric: I'll go tell the others at the sheds.

Narrator: Mr. Walter Richards is the new controller of the Culdee Fell Railway. He was talking to Culdee and Ernest when Eric arrived.

Eric: Sir, sir.

Mr. Walter Richards: Is something wrong, Eric?

Eric: There are some people at the Summit that need to come down the mountain right away. We must help.

Mr. Walter Richards: Right! You, Culdee and Ernest must get your coaches and head up to the Summit and bring the people down.

Culdee: Come on, now.

Ernest: Let's go.

Narrator: Culdee and Ernest felt brave, but Eric didn't. He had always been afraid of thunderstorms. The three engines got their coaches, and got ready to go, just as it started to rain.

Culdee: Ready, Catherine?

Catherine: Ready, Culdee.

Culdee: Alright, off we go!

Ernest: We're coming too.

Marge: Let's get those passengers.

Sandy: Eric, aren't we going to go up as well?

Eric: Well... um... We can't.

Sandy: Why not?

Eric: Because I'm afraid. I can't go up in this storm. Thunderstorms are very scary.

Narrator: Eric puffed into a siding with his coach to hide.

Eric: No one can see us here.

Sandy: Eric, you need to be brave. Think about the people up at the Summit that need to come down.

Eric: I'm sorry, Sandy. But I'm not going anywhere until this storm has cleared.

Narrator: Culdee and Ernest arrived at the Summit, and picked up some passengers. There wasn't enough room for all the passengers in the two coaches. So some had to wait while Culdee and Ernest puffed away from the Summit and down the mountain. They soon arrived at Kirk Machan, where Etienne was waiting.

Etienne: Make sure you get the rest of the passengers.

Ernest: Don't worry, Etienne. We're going back up.

Narrator: And so they did. But a little later, when Culdee and Ernest returned to Kirk Machan with more passengers, there was trouble.

Culdee: Oh dear. I can't move a wheel.

Ernest: I may still have some fuel in my boiler.

(Ernest moves forward a few inches, but stops)

Ernest: I guess not.

Catherine: This is terrible. There are more people up at the Summit.

Mr. Walter Richards: And the fuel tank nearby is empty.

Culdee: What are we going to do?

Marge: Where's Eric? I thought he and Sandy were helping up.

Ernest: I haven't seen him since the first time we went up the mountain.

Culdee: Nor have I.

Narrator: Eric had heard everything, and he felt terrible.

Eric: This is all my fault. If I hadn't hid in this siding, all the passengers would be brought back down by now. I wanted to help the passengers, and I wanted to help my friends. But I haven't helped any of them. Sorry about this, Sandy.

Sandy: Well, you know there's only one thing to do, don't you?

Eric: Yes, I do.

Narrator: Eric puffed out of the siding, and towards his friends.

Culdee: Did you collect any passengers?

Ernest: We didn't see you.

Eric: No. I was too scared to go up the mountain, so I hid. And because of me, there are still people up at the Summit who need to come. So I'm going up to get them.

Narrator: Lightning flashed and thunder roared, but Eric took no notice. He bravely climbed the mountain up to the Summit.

Eric: Sorry to keep you all waiting, but I'm going to bring you down the mountain and to Kirk Machan.

Passengers: Hurry!

Narrator: As soon as the passengers had boarded Sandy, Eric set off back down the mountain.

Eric: You know, Sandy? I've realized that I'm braver than I thought.

Sandy: Good for you, Eric. That's being a really useful engine.

Narrator: They soon reached Kirk Machan, and the passengers climbed out.

Male Passenger: Three cheers for Eric!

Passengers: Hip, hip, hooray! Hip, hip, hooray! Hip, hip, hooray!

Culdee: That was very brave of you, Eric. Going up the mountain in this storm to help bring the passengers home.

Eric: It felt good to help them. I feel like the happiest engine on Sodor, and I'm no longer afraid of thunderstorms.