A/N I got this idea for Thomas to find out about engines that don't need crews and decided Tillie could be the one to tell him because she never had a crew back home.

Rosie was ready to go back to work, so it was time for Tillie to head back. Her emotions were mixed because she was leaving her new friends to return to the old. Her eyes welled up and a tear rolled down her face, because she was thinking about missing her Sodor friends.

Rosie's driver said, "It's okay, Tillie. Maybe you can visit again, someday. Maybe even live here if your railway doesn't want you anymore.", as he dabbed her tears away with a cloth.

"Good-bye, Sodor friends", she said. "I'm going back to my home where I don't have a crew."

Thomas, as one of her closest new engine friends, said, "You've got no crew back home? How's that even possible? For us, there's no one who can better give comfort and advice than our drivers. We have no hands, but they do. I've been without Driver and it hasn't gone well. It made me crash."

Tillie said, "There's people where I am, but maybe they think because we're alive, we can manage on our own. I never had anyone wipe away my tears until Rosie's driver. I've always had to blink them out, though I've had the nice engines back home give me kind words and my bird friend can perch on me and cheer me up when I get sad."

Thomas said, "You've got a bird friend?"

She replied, "His name's Chip and he hugs me with his wings. I know it's weird for us to be friends, but somehow he likes me. I must go now. Maybe I can get the people to write letters to you for me. I can't forget this amazing place. " She made a sad whistle sound.

Thomas said, "We shall have our drivers write letters to you for us.", speaking for her Sodor friends.

Tillie's Sodor friends whistled sadly as they said "Good-bye" to her. She was loaded on the ship and they, while being comforted by their drivers, watched it fade out of sight.