The line to the quarry continues onwards from Ffarquhar Station, at the end of Thomas' branch line, and runs over a stream partway through its journey. This stream , which is situated at the top of the valley, is crossed on a small wooden bridge with stone supports, and normally has no issue with water. However, the snowfall from earlier in the week had started to melt, and the snow turned into a horrible slush that turned the water an unpleasant brown colour. The water level rose higher and higher, rushing down the valley to meet the River Ell at the bottom. Percy didn't like the look of the stream when he passed over the bridge towards the quarry. The water level was very high.
"I hope we'll be able to make it back!" he said to Pinkie Pie. "The water level looks dangerously high, and me and these empties may get stranded at the quarry!"
"There are worse things than being stuck at the quarry," Pinkie Pie replied. "Running out of cupcakes is one of them. But I wouldn't worry if I were you. The water will have to come a lot higher before it can stop us!"
"I would hope so too," Percy said. "I remember all too well that time we got stuck in the flood whilst getting the children home for Thomas. And when we fell into a harbour. And got covered in dust and crashed into a chocolate factory."
"Oh well, that's all behind us," Pinkie laughed. "When the skies are dark and grey, remember to smile! That'll cheer everybody up!"
Percy had no idea how his driver could stay so jolly at all times, but decided to keep it to himself. He was shunting wagons at the quarry when Toby arrived with a fresh load to relieve him.
"Hello!" Flash called. "Mavis and I will handle the quarry for the rest of the day. You two can head back to Knapford now."
"What about the stream?" Pinkie asked.
"The water level's very low," Toby said. "You'll be safe to cross for the forseeable future."
Percy and Pinkie started the return trip. There is no turntable at the quarry, so engines heading back down the line must proceed bunker first (or, on the rare ocassions that tender engines use the line, tender first). Percy couldn't easily check the stream as he saw the world roll away from him rather than toward him, as was usually the case, but Pinkie seemed pleased.
"Hooray!" she said. "The water level is much lower than this morning! We're good to go!"
Percy felt a lot better after that. They sped down to the junction, coupled up to Annie and Clarabel, and were simmering nicely when Henry rolled in with a stopping service.
"Henry, why do you still have the wrong lamp on?" asked Percy. "Your lamps have you as a Class J working, not a Class B."
"Oh dear," said Henry. "Do you know when Thomas is coming back? I miss him terribly."
"I wouldn't be surprised if he chose to stay as a museum piece!" Pinkie joked. "He's old enough!"
"Remembering that the youngest operational engine we have on the island is over fourty, most of the engines are," Fluttershy noted, as she swapped the lamps around. "See you later!"
Unfortunately, Percy didn't set off on time. There was a fault with the signal that took several minutes to clear, and then he had to get water at Ellsbridge, which delayed him further still. All the while he continued to get more and more worried. "I can't be a really useful engine if I'm late!" he said. "What would Sir Toppham Hatt say?"
"There's lots of padding built into the timetable, so we just cut the stop at Ffarquhar short by a few minutes," Pinkie said. "Besides, we don't need to go any further than that, as the quarry is no longer a problem!"
Percy felt better after that. He ran much more smoothly. As he rolled into the platform at Ffarquhar, a foreman was waiting at the end of the platform.
"Sorry to bother you," he said, "but there's something we need your help with. The workmen need a ride home, so could you pick them up?"
"OK," said Percy, and he set off. As he puffed closer, he reached the bridge and rolled onto it. There was a loud creak, and a sudden groan.
"What was that?" asked Annie.
"I sounded like a creek!" said Clarabel.
"I believe you meant with an E and not an A," said Annie.
"It doesn't matter which spelling she meant, keep moving!" Pinkie shouted. "Don't stop, Percy! The bridge may give way at any moment, and that would spell doom for us!"
"I have no intention of stopping!" Percy cried.
"But doom isn't spelled using the same letters as the word 'creek', Annie said, confused.
Percy paid them no heed as he roared over the bridge. It continued to sway and groan, until moments after Clarabel's rear bogie had cleared the bridge, it collapsed into the stream with a crash.
Pinkie went back to look, and gasped. "The bridge is out!" she cried. "We're not going back today, that's for sure. I'll need to telephone back down the line for a rescue crewe, but my cell is out of range. Come on, we need to get to the quarry."
Upon arrival at the quarry, Pinkie telephoned the workmen, and Sir Toppham Hatt closed the line whilst a new bridge was installed, an all steel structure that was engineered to take forces far fiercer than any that the stream would provide. Eventually, operations returned to normal, with Toby going back to quarry work, Percy pulling passengers trains alongside Daisy, and Mavis shunting trucks. The bridge and the stream were a lot safer now, as most of the slush was gone and down in the sea, where it was somebody else's problem. Even so, Percy was extra careful when he crossed the bridge, as he recalled the time he nearly had an unexpected bath!