The last of the "inspectors" left on their boat. "Finally!" said a foreman to Sir Topham Hatt. "Now what do we do?"

"I know exactly what we're going to do!" Sir Topham Hatt replied. "Put up posters!" He walked over to a wall and, with some tape, hung up a poster advertising the Great Railway Show.

Salty noticed this and gasped with delight. "The Great Railway Show!" He promptly broke into song.

It's gonna be special! It's gonna be great! Off to the Mainland without coaches or freight.

Thomas, Rosie, and Emily joined in at Knapford Yard.

Please Sir, we beg you, we just have to know:

Will you, won't you take me to the Railway Show?

Arthur pulled into Knapford Station.

Take me, Sir, I'm fresh from restoration. And would love to prove my worth to my current nation.

Sir Topham Hatt nodded, not wanting to break the news that he'd already decided on who was going. Gordon entered next and sang too.

I'm not sure if I want another try, but I must confess, this time we should not attempt that streamlining mess.

"Yes, that's a very good idea, Gordon," his boss agreed. Toby entered next.

I know I'm kinda small, Sir, but I'm in no way green. Imagine when they see a tram who's powered by steam!

Suddenly, he yelped, as Diesel roughly shoved him down the line and took his place.

You ought to take me, Sir.

Suddenly, he was interrupted by a very stern-looking Pip.

No Diesel, we aren't going to fall for your tricks!

And you haven't been revolutionary

Since 1986!

Diesel's jaw dropped at what she said. Gordon, Arthur, and Toby looked at the younger diesel in admiration.

Elsewhere, Percy, Donna, and Mavis sang.

It's gonna be special, it's gonna be great,

Showing the world that Sodor really can pull its weight.

In the Clay Pits, Bill, Ben, BoCo, Edward, Marion, Derek, and Timothy sang.

Please Sir, I beg you, you must tell me so:

Duck, pulling Alice, Mirabel, Dulcie, and Isabelle, came next.

Will you, won't you take me to the Railway Show?

Across the world, engines sang.

Etienne, French SNCF BB 9004: Fast engines!

Shane, Australian SAR 520: Long engines!

Venla, VR Tve2: Tough engines!

Frieda, DB Class 10: Strong engines!

Gaspar, Buenos Aires Underground 300: Magnificent engines!

Gina, FNM Class 200: Significant engines!

Ohwonigho, Abuja-Kaduna CDD3B1: Eloquent engines!

Muffle Mountain's Reba, Reading T-1; Hippo, PRR I1s; Deb and Flo, New Haven EY-2; Dash, EMD FP7; and Albert, GMD GMD1: And intelligent engines!

Mesa Roja's Vinnie, CNR U4a and Carson, UP P-13: Anyone who's any engine's eager to go.

"Wait, you want me to go too?" a GATX tanker car asked Slim Lawson.

Back on Sodor, Mighty Mac dueted together by the Tunnel Runby:

So will you, won't you take us to the Railway Show?

Molly, Murdoch, and Billy looked at each other as they worked on the Waterton branchline. Flora passed by and hummed along with her coach, Hyacinth.

It's gonna be special, it's gonna be grand,

When we've finally put behind us the days on the Golden.

Can't wait to see the face that'll be on Mr. Kirkman,

When we've won the show and then canonized Ladyten!

Nick and Lady rearranged trucks at the Dieselworks.

It's gonna be loud, we may be overwhelmed,

But we could pull it off without sadness at the helm.

Please, world, we're asking for a new chance, you know.

So will you, won't you take us to the railway show?

Will you, won't you take us

To the

Rail.

Way.

Show?

That night, Sir Topham Hatt's voice came over the radio. "Everyone, I have made my selections. Competing for Sodor will be Arthur for Strength, Toby for Best Decorated, Emma for the Race, Thomas for Shunting, and Nick and Lady for Teamwork. However, the race officials say that they want all Lifers on Sodor to attend it. So we shall!"

"That does not sound good," Crana muttered in her hiding place. "I must leave."

"Take me with you!"

Crana saw a Small England narrow-gauge engine who looked like Duke, only darker in color. "Bertram? You're not dead?"

"I'm only mostly dead! I woke up about half an hour ago. The flood knocked me unconscious for all these years."

"Well, it's good that you're still alive, my child." Crana sighed. "But you aren't the right gauge, and not in shape either. I guess someone else may have to rescue us."

Plot twist! And the third song!

So the show's about to begin, but Crana feels suspicious that all Lifers on Sodor might be in danger. How right will she be proven? How will the Sodor engines fare? And will Crana and Bertram escape?

All this and more in the next chapter – Departure!