Behind Schedule is a magazine story.
Plot
One day, Thomas is making his way down the main line with a goods train when he comes across a goat on the line. The goat had strayed from a nearby field that also contains a herd of cattle because of an open fence gate. Thomas' driver is anxious and hopes the goat does not make Thomas late. Then suddenly, Percy arrives on the opposite line. Percy's driver shouts at the goat but to no avail.
Thomas' driver decides to go and lead the goat away himself but he just ends up being chased back to the cab, declaring that to not be a good idea after all. He then decides to take his sandwich he was going to have for lunch and leaves a trail of crumbs to the field. The goat follows the trail and the driver ties the gate shut once it is back in the field.
In the sheds that night, Gordon teases the two tank engines and says a small animal would never cause him any delays. Unfortunately for Gordon, he is late the following morning and explains to The Fat Controller how the goat had chewed through the gate's string which caused the cattle to wander onto the line.
Characters
- Thomas
- Gordon
- Sir Topham Hatt
- Percy (does not speak)
Goofs
- In the final illustration, Gordon has Henry's face.