Ryan is a little tank engine who usually handles goods work on the Arlesburgh Branch Line. Here, he works alongside Daisy the Diesel Railcar. Unlike Ryan, Daisy is very stubborn; she doesn't like to pull cars and much rather does jobs she likes.

One day, Sir Topham Hatt came to see the two engines.

"Daisy, I could use your help,"

"Moi, Sir?"

"Yes. Unfortunately, Thomas, Percy, and Toby have been rushed off their wheels with all the passengers they've been getting. I would greatly appreciate it if you were to compensate for this inconvenience."

Daisy honked and hooted, "Why, yes, Sir, I'd love to!"

The railway controller glared at the railcar, "And one more thing, I expect that you will follow orders this time. Do you understand?

Daisy hesitated before responding, "Yes, sir!"

"Well, then, it's about time you got to work!" With that, Daisy honked her horn and set off. Then, Sir Topham Hatt turned to face Ryan.

"Ryan, are you sure you can manage both passenger and goods work on your own?"

"Of course, Sir! I promise I won't let you down!"

Sir Topham Hatt chuckled, "Excellent! Now, I'd like you to start with passenger work. Take those coaches over there… that Daisy never uses."

The railway superintendent motioned to some red coaches which were dirty, dusty, and surrounded by crows.

"Don't worry, Sir. All they need is a good hosedown!" assured Ryan. The tank engine whistled and puffed off.

~~~

After the coaches had been washed and polished, Ryan puffed off to collect his passengers. Joyous holidaymakers waited at the platform, they couldn't wait to go to the seaside!

"Here I am!" whistled the purple tank engine, "Ready to take you to your destination!"

The passengers were puzzled, "Where's Daisy?" one asked.

"Daisy's off on Thomas's Branch Line, so I'm here!"

The passengers asked no further questions and boarded the coaches. The guard whistled and Ryan puffed off.

Before long, they arrived at the seaside. Ryan waited as the passengers stepped off and headed off. Ryan felt proud of himself.

Just then, Oliver chuffed in, "Hello, Ryan. I never thought I'd see you on passenger duty."

"Daisy's helping out on Thomas's Branch Line, so I'm picking up the pace!"

"Well, good luck with that." chuckled Oliver.

"What do you mean?"

"Sometimes things may seem easy, but we all get pretty cocky every now and then." Oliver had been thinking back to his firsthand experience with troublesome trucks.

"Anyways, I'd love to stay longer, but I'm off to collect some Ballast from Arlesburgh West."

And with a whoosh and a wheesh, Ryan was off once more.

~~~

Ryan pulled up to the ballast hopper. Rex, one of the small engines on the railway, called from up above.

"Look out below!"

In an instant, the ballast poured down into his cars. Ryan looked off to the other engines.

"How've you lot been?"

"Remember those visitors who came to the railway to take pictures of us?"

"Sure did!"

"Well, as it turns out, a book about us has recently been published!"

"A book!" exclaimed a familiar voice.

Ryan looked ahead to see a small diesel on the miniature gauge line.

"Oh… Ryan, this is Frank." Rex awkwardly said.

"He was brought here to help with maintenance." added Mike, "But he can tend to get a little-"

"Am I in it?"

Bert chuckled, "Sadly not. You weren't here when they came."

"It's got pictures, hasn't it," muttered Frank, "I'm not in them either, I suppose."

Before any further discussion could commence, Rex hooted, "Come on, Ryan, you're all set."

Ryan set off cheerily. Doing both goods and passenger work seemed easy.

~~~

By the time Ryan got back, he immediately remembered, "Oh no, I forgot about the passengers!"

Ryan collected the nearest coaches he could find and hurried off to the seaside. He was so worried that he'd caused confusion and delay.

Just then, he saw Oliver.

"Ryan, what's the rush?!"

Ryan screeched to a halt, "The passengers, I forgot to pick them up from the seaside!"

"Don't worry about that, I've got them right here."

Ryan looked to see Oliver's coaches packed with holidaymakers, but he was still worried.

"Oh, dear, Sir Topham Hatt will be very cross with me."

~~~

That evening, Ryan returned to his shed. He found Sir Topham Hatt waiting for him.

"Sir, I know what you're going to say, and I'm sorry."

"For what?"

"For not collecting those passengers when I should've. I'm so sorry, I've caused confusion and delay, I know I have."

"But-"

"Don't worry, Sir, I promise I'll make it up to you tomorrow with whatever jobs you need done."

Knowing that he couldn't speak up, Sir Topham smiled, "Very well, then, it's nice to see engines willing to make up for their mistakes. You are a really useful engine."

Ryan smiled brightly. With that, he dozed off happily to sleep.

~~~

The next morning, Sir Topham Hatt arrived. He walked up to Ryan with a clipboard in his hands.

"Okay, Ryan, here's what I want you to do. First, I want you to go to Knapford and pick up some passengers to take to Vicarstown. Next, I want you to go to Brendam Docks to pick up some parts for the Steamworks. After that, I want you to collect some building waste and take it to Whiff's Waste Dump. Many more are to come, but I'm just giving you the overview."

"I'm on it, Sir!" peeped Ryan.

As the day went on, Ryan was right on track. He'd been moving to and fro across the island. Things seemed fine, but before long, he was exhausted. He'd returned to Arlesburgh for passenger duties and sighed as he waited at the platform.

Just then, Duck pulled up. He was concerned for his friend, "Are you okay, Ryan?"

Ryan told the truth, "I'm not, Duck. I've taken more than I can handle and now look where that's gotten me, I'm rushed off my wheels! I hope Daisy returns soon.

"I'd love to help, Ryan, but I've got to deliver these fuel tankers to Elsbridge.

Just then, the sky began to darken and booms surrounded the area.

"A storm's coming," Duck said, "You'd better be careful, Ryan."

"I plan on it." replied Ryan. He whistled and set off.

Soon enough, rain began to cover the island. Ryan wanted to take a rest, but he knew that the passengers needed to get home.

"I can't let them down. I can't let them down." he said.

Before long, Ryan approached Gordon's Hill.

"I can do this," he said, taking a deep breath. As he tried, however, he began to slip halfway up.

"Oh, no!" he cried.

His wheels began to slip even more. They were losing traction. Before long, they lost their grip and Ryan went rolling backwards. Then, he felt a jerk. He looked back.

"I've got you!" grunted a familiar voice. It was Duck! He knew that Ryan needed help, so he pushed on.

"Duck!" cheered Ryan.

Together, the two engines braved the hill and made it over. Before long, Ryan had rolled to a stop at Maron. The passengers poured out and cheered. Ryan looked at Duck.

"Why'd you help me?"

"Because that's what friends do!"

Ryan was at a loss for words. What he did do was blow his whistle as hard as he could.