- “There is a backlog of goods trains to be cleared.”
- ― The Fat Controller
The Backlog is a magazine story.
Plot
Lots of visitors have come from all over the mainland for the big harvest festival on the Island of Sodor. It is a very busy week for the Fat Controller's engines with the extra work. But to make matters worse Henry and BoCo are both at the works being repaired and the Fat Controller has to change the timetables. Percy and James are asked to stop their shunting and work for the time being, so they can pull passenger trains.
While the engines are busy the trucks are left behind in the yards with their goods awaiting delivery. At the end of the week, the Fat Controller realises the problem and tells his engines about the backlog of goods trains. Giving the engines their instructions, Percy and James are sent back to shunt trucks, much to James' disappointment! As one goods train is ready, an engine is there to pull it through the night. Even Gordon helps out with the work.
The variety of goods are delivered at all various locations through the night of Sodor. By sunrise all the goods are delivered. The Fat Controller comes to the sheds to congratulate his engines, all except Thomas. However he arrives back after delivering the post train. The Fat Controller is very proud of his engines with their hard work.
Characters
- Thomas
- Edward
- James
- Troublesome Trucks
- Sir Topham Hatt
- Henry (does not speak)
- Gordon (does not speak)
- Percy (does not speak)
- BoCo (does not speak)
- Stephen Hatt (does not speak)
- Bridget Hatt (does not speak)
- Duck (cameo)
Trivia
- It is very likely that this story was written by Andrew Brenner.
Goofs
- Gordon is coloured green and Duck's dome is yellow in the seventh illustration.
- Some of the children are missing their faces while they're merrily dancing in the fifth illustration.