The engines stopped and stared in shock as Thomas said his story. They didn't know Thomas was involved in such a serious accident. Thomas always seemed so happy and bubbly when he arrived on Sodor, but he had such a tough start...
"Oh Thomas..." Edward sighed sadly, "That sounded awful."
Thomas looked over and sighed, "It was...I didn't expect to have my first major accident on my second day..."
"That sounded terrible..." Emily spoke quietly. All the engines agreed.
"What happened after that Thomas?" James asked.
"I was repaired after a few days, but I couldn't shunt...I was terrified." Thomas admitted.
"Terrified? Of what?" Gordon asked.
Thomas shivered a little, "Every time I approached a truck, I just shook. My boiler felt like it would explode, and at times I would just cry for no reason. So the Manager thought it'd be a good idea for me to stay off work for a while..."
"That's a good thing...right?" Henry muttered.
"Not really..." Thomas said, " I felt terrible...Heather had to do my own work as well as her own...she would always return to the shed tired, and I just felt guilty for it..."
A couple of days after the accident, Thomas was in his shed. It was one place he felt safe. Although he felt safe in his shed, he couldn't get rid of the feeling in his boiler.
After his accident, he was terrified of shunting, and couldn't approach trucks the same way any more. Heather had to do his work as well as her own, and Thomas noticed how tired she would be by the end of the day. Thomas just felt awful.
One particular morning, the sky was still crimson red, but all the engines were out – all except Thomas. Thomas was just alone in his shed, only the company of his driver and fireman in his cab, trying to cheer up their little tank engine. But nothing brought back Thomas' cheerful smile.
Slowly, Heather, Jonathan, Charles and Regis approached the sheds. Thomas didn't bother to look up, just looking down at the rails. The engines thought Thomas didn't notice them, and they were glad, they didn't want to make Thomas feel any worse.
"Is he going to be okay?" Heather whispered, worriedly.
"Poor guy took a big hit..." Charles said.
"It's knocked his confidence down so much..." Regis sighed sadly.
Jonathan agreed, "Whatever you say though, don't mention W-A-N-D-"
"It's okay I know who you're on about..." Thomas said sadly as he rolled out of his shed to get some fresh air. The engines watched him sadly – and Charles wheezed Jonathan angrily.
Thomas slowly puffed around the yard. He hated to see his friends worried so much about him, but he couldn't get over the fear of going near trucks. He saw a shed in a lonely corner of the yard.
After the accident, Wanda was put up in the shed, and she hasn't been let out since. Thomas knew Wanda deserved her punishment, but he couldn't get rid of a feeling he had in his dome. He slowly puffed up to the shed.
The doors were open, to let Wanda have some fresh air. But Wanda refused to look up, still consumed with guilt over her actions. She has always been a harsh engine, always using rough treatment and barely caring about other engines feelings, but this accident cracked her boiler open to new feelings. She would do anything to apologise for her actions and make up for what she did, but she couldn't face them, not after what she's put them through.
Thomas slowly approached the tender engine, looking up at her, "Wanda..." he tried to greet, still the expression of sadness in his voice.
"...Hey Thomas..." Wanda grumbled up. She wasn't angry at all, but it was the sense of guilt in her voice.
"...Wanda?" Thomas tried to ask, "Y-You know that-"
"Don't say anything Thomas." Wanda spoke, filled with guilt, "This is all my fault. I am the one who needs to be apologising, there is no excuse not to. I knew you were new and you've never pulled a train but I insulted you anyway..."
Thomas listened to Wanda sadly, he could sense the remorse in her voice, and saw the look of guilt on her face, and he saw tear marks on her cheeks, obviously from signs of crying.
"I can't explain why I do it...I've always been so feisty and tough and hard to work with...I guess it's just the way I am...but it's never resulted in a crash before..." Wanda carried on sadly, "I am so sorry..."
Thomas just looked at Wanda, seeing the remorse in her eyes made him feel somewhat better. Just then, the Manager walked over. He walked to the shed, as Wanda's driver and fireman brought her forward.
"It has been a couple of days now Wanda, and I notice you're looking sorry for your actions." The Manager spoke, still very cross about what happened, "Thomas has been affected by this accident, and there are delays all around the railway now."
"I know sir...I'm really sorry sir." Wanda apologised, scared to look at him.
"I forgive you." Wanda and the Manager looked at Thomas, as he spoke, "I forgive you Wanda."
Wanda just looked in shock, her mouth open from surprise. The Manager just smiled, "Well, now that this is settled, I hope this means you will be a useful engine from now on Wanda. If you agree to do so, then I'll allow you out of your shed."
Wanda looked over eagerly, "I will sir, thank you sir!" Wanda and Thomas looked at each other. Thomas felt so much better, now he had forgiven Wanda, and to see her smile again, and knowing she has learned her lesson, the two engines could now reconcile and move on.
And for the first time in ages, Thomas and Wanda smiled happily together.
A little later, Thomas was puffing around the yard, looking at the trucks. He wanted to get to work, so Heather wouldn't have to do his jobs for him, but he was still scared of the trucks, after they pushed him off the tracks.
Just then, Regis rolled over. He watched the young tank engine try to get closer to the trucks, only to cower away at the last second. He gently steamed over to the tank engine.
"Good Morning Thomas." Regis spoke, "What is the matter?"
Thomas jumped a bit, but giggled a little, "Oh! Hey Regis. I...I'm just trying to get use to trucks again...poor Heather's been doing my work as well as her own and...I want to make things better for her."
Regis just smiled softly, "Make things better for her – and in turn, make things better for yourself little Thomas. Come, I will show you."
Regis moved forward and gently pushed some trucks into a siding. Thomas watched carefully, and mimicked Regis' every move! Then, Regis showed him how to handle coaches – much more gentle care is required, and good manners. Thomas giggled and slowly copied what Regis did.
For the morning, both engines just laughed and enjoyed spending time together. They were about to leave the yard, when an alarm rose!
All engines halted, and looked around. Shortly, Heather, Jonathan, Charles and Wanda joined the two tank engines. They watched at the station as three big tender trains arrived with three long goods trains.
"Looks like a special." Regis speculated.
"A special? Here?" Charles asked.
"Look at it, their huge!" Jonathan said.
"Gonna take three large tender engines to pull that..." Wanda said.
Just then, the Manager walked over, he had urgent news.
"A special has just arrived, and all the other engines have other goods and passenger trains to pull. You are all the only remaining engines here." The Manager boomed, "But I'm not sure if you will be strong enough to pull the trains alone. The train needs to get to Bognor, urgently.
The engines all looked at each other anxiously. The special needed to be delivered, but none of them would be strong enough to carry all three specials.
"I know!" Thomas peeped excitedly, "We can all do it! We can have two trains on each special – that way we should we strong enough to carry the special!"
"Brilliant idea Thomas!" Heather cried out, the other engines all agreed, and so did the Manager.
"Very well then." The Manager said, "If you think you can do it. Just be sure you get to Bognor on time."
"We will sir!" Thomas peeped, "And we'll be early too!"
As quickly as they could, the engines got hooked up to their trains: Wanda and Regis on one train, Jonathan and Charles on the second, and Heather buffered up to the final train, with Thomas in front of her.
"Remember – be safe, be on time, get the train there!" The Manager called, "Good luck!"
The stationmaster blew his whistle, and all six engines let off steam, "Last one to Bognor is a load of scrap iron!" Jonathan cried out cheekily, as all the engines set off, laughing together all the way!
Bognor was quite some distance away from Brighton, but the engines didn't care. They spun their wheels as fast as they could.
They passed through lush valleys, gorgeous rivers, and beautiful villages. Thomas looked around in amazement – the Mainline was beautiful, and the rest of the world looked magnificent! He whistled loudly as he started to speed up! Heather just laughed.
"You sure you want to go faster Thomas!" Heather called out.
"Yes Heather!" Thomas cheered loudly, "I want to see the world!"
And with that, the two tank engines puffed faster and faster, overtaking their friends in the race to Bognor! All six engines had the time of their lives, in the race to Bognor, while simply enjoying the views of the wonderful Mainland.
Thomas couldn't believe his eyes, all this time, he was terrified of going anywhere outside of Brighton, and he was terrified of everyone he met, and he was terrified of trucks. But now, his whole world changed. Thomas just wanted to see the world, explore, and make new friends!
It took some time, but surely, the engines all made it to Bognor. With one last puff, Thomas got ahead of his friends, and they all finished as they entered Bognor Station! Thomas let out a long and victorious whistle and beamed brightly!
His friends could all agree that Thomas' smile was the best smile they've ever seen, and they know that Thomas will one day be a very useful engine.
"That was the day I learned to overcome my fear – and the day I realised I wanted to see the world!" Thomas peeped excitedly.
All the engines listened with wonder and excitement, they didn't know that Thomas was at all like that before he arrived on Sodor.
"How long after that was it that you arrived on Sodor?" James asked curiously.
"Oh, a couple of years after that. I pretty much did shunting work and pulled small trains, but nothing like what I do on Sodor." Thomas explained happily.
"Are your friends still around?" Percy chirped.
"I think you met Jonathan, Heather and Charles last time." Thomas giggled, before looking down, "But I think Wanda and Regis are now gone...along with all the other steam engines..."
"Aww, Thomas..." Henry soothed.
"We're sorry." Emily sympathised.
"Don't worry Thomas." Gordon reassured.
"They may be gone, but remember," Edward spoke kindly, "They will always be with you, as long as you never forget them."
Thomas smiled a bit, remembering Edward's wise words. Just then, the engines arrived at Brighton, and were introduced to three familiar whistles.
"Thomas!"
Thomas beamed brightly, "Jonathan! Heather! Charles!" he puffed over closer to his friends who all cheered at the sight of their old friend. The engines could all agree it was a beautiful sight.
"Great to see you all again!" Charles called out.
"At least." Jonathan joked, "Under better circumstances." Everyone couldn't help but laugh along with Jonathan.
"Oh! You guys are here for your special!" Heather called, backing into the yard and pulling over a flatbed, with tarpaulin over it.
"Don't ask what it is." Charles said.
"All we know is it came with this tarpaulin over it." Jonathan carried on.
James and Emily buffered up to the flatbed, ready to go. Thomas looked around once more and smiled.
"It's great to see you again Thomas." Heather said softly.
"It's been very lonely without Wanda or Regis here..." Charles spoke.
"But we will make sure we can visit soon!" Jonathan reassured.
"Thank you." Thomas replied, filled with joy to be home and with his old friends again, "And I promise I can come and visit whenever I can."
Soon, the parade left the station, making their way towards their next destination. The three Brighton engines all cried out and whistled goodbye, until the engines were no longer in sight.
As the Steam Team puffed down the tracks, they were thinking of their next destination, "So, where do we go next?" Thomas asked.
"I think it's Bristol next." Edward said.
"I think I know the way there!" Percy peeped, "Let's go!"
