Thomas meets Ivor the Engine
Thomas the Tank Engine loves his branch line very much. He was always delighted to meet Stepney, the Bluebell engine, whenever Stepney visited the fat controller's railway. Lately though, Thomas wasn't feeling very happy. One early morning at Tidmouth sheds, the other engines tried to find out what was wrong.
"It's just not the same" began Thomas. "It is nice to know big, important and famous engines like Flying Scotsman are doing well...but never do I hear about more famous branch line tank engines being saved." Gordon understood how thomas felt but he also had to pull the express. He finished the conversation with an important, "Just have a nice run and you will feel a better engine."
At the station, the fat controller saw Thomas pulling in with Annie and Clarabel with Thomas still looking rather glum. The fat controller smiled and asked, "You don't look so happy. What's the matter Thomas?" "It's the outside world sir. " began Thomas, "Aside from Stepney, all I hear is how big famous engines get saved, and never small tank engines like me...I wonder if I will ever see or hear of another famous tank engine."
The fat controller laughed and smiled, "I know of one. And he still runs his line like you proudly do with your branch line." Thomas was excited and puzzled, "What?! Who?!" The fat controller began to tell Thomas, "Not very long ago, in the top left-hand corner of Wales, there was a railway. It wasn't a very long railway or a very important railway, but it was called The Merioneth and Llantisilly Rail Traction Company Limited, and it was all there was. And in a shed, in a siding at the end of the railway, lives the Locomotive of the Merioneth and Llantisilly Rail Traction Company Limited, which was a long name for a little engine so his friends just call him Ivor."
"What does he look like?" asked Thomas curiously. The fat controller just smiled and said, "Instead of telling you, I think it would be best if he visited the railway. I shall ring for his controller at once. I am sure she won't mind." "She?" asked Thomas puzzled. The fat controller laughed, "Oh yes I forgot to tell you. His railway was to be sold to the Other Railway and Ivor would have been replaced by diesels for shunting had it not been for a kind woman named Mrs. Porty. She is the controller and owner of Ivor's railway. I shall be sending her a call for her permission to send Ivor."
Thomas was most excited and ran along with Annie and Clarabel as the fat controller did just that. Meanwhile, in the Merioneth and Llantisilly Rail Traction Company Limited, Ivor was chugging along the line while his driver, Edwin Jones the Steam, was carefully cheking Ivor's headlong speed. "Come on Ivor," smiled Jones, "the station is just up ahead." Ivor replied with a whistle from one of his three whistles as they stopped at the station. There, waiting for them, was the stationmaster, Dai Station.
"Now Jones," said Dai in his thick Welsh accent, "I have gotten word from Mrs. Porty. She said a controller by the name of Sir Topham Hatt requests you and Ivor to visit the Island of Sodor. He made it most urgent and you know that upon proper regulation, we must be honored to answer it respectfully." "Oh why yes indeed," said Jones, "but why would this Sir Topham Hatt want to see Ivor?" "Search me," said Dai, ", but you better be quick about it." Jones looked to Ivor, "Come along Ivor, we have a long journey to run." Ivor didn't move and just retorted with a whistle. "Oh come on now boy, it will be fun. Besides, you've never been away from your railway before."
Jones was still met with a whistle of "No". "Now look here Ivor," began Jones, "I can't stand here and argue all day with you. If we do not go, it will make our railway look bad." Ivor just stayed where he was until Mrs. Porty came. She understood clearly why Ivor wouldn't move. "Oh, you poor dear. You do not want to leave Edwin the Song and the choir behind, and they won't have their engine to sing the bass." a kind yet eccentric Mrs. Porty said. Ivor whistled happily as to sound that Mrs. Porty was right. Mrs. Porty had arranged for Edwin and the Choir into coaches as Ivor was finally off pulling the small train behind him.
At Knapford Station, the engines were waiting as Thomas rolled in with his last run. He was excited and told everyone about Ivor. James looked to Thomas, "I never heard of him before." Thomas replied, "Neither did I, but the fat controller did and he invited him here for all of us to see." "Shh!," said Henry with a puf of steam, "I think I hear him now!" "Poop-poopily--poopily-poop-poop!" came an engines whistle as Ivor chugged along before them. Thomas was happy to see Ivor, but he like all the engines, were puzzled when the saw Ivor had three whistles. "Why DOES he have three whistles?" asked Percy puzzled. "You shall see soon enough," smiled Edwin Jones, Ivor's driver, "and we best hurry too before the sun comes down."
That afternoon, Thomas and his friends were greeted to one of the most beautiful things they had ever heard, a choir singing "Land of our Fathers", and Ivor singing bass. As soon as the choir finished their singing, they were met with a chorus of whistles from the engines of Sodor. Thomas smiled and greeted Ivor as he said, "Your railway my not be big, or may not be important, but Ivor, you, like all us engines, prove that we are all really useful indeed."