By this time, Thomas has reached Doncaster – experiencing the wonderful sights the Mainland has to deliver. It was all beautiful, and at times, Thomas couldn't find words to describe the beauty. He rushed over bridges, sped across valleys, and steamed past signals.
Thomas was puffing down the line, almost near Doncaster. He was puffing along with the wind swirling around his funnel and his boiler fizzing with excitement for the next path of his journey. He was really happy to be seeing the world.
Suddenly, he heard very fast spinning wheels behind him, and someone calling out!
"HEY! WATCH OUT! PASSENGER TRAIN COMING THROUGH!"
Thomas gasped in shock, as a diesel-electric engine was rushing own the rails behind him! "OH NO!" Thomas picked up speed, struggling to evade the train! He saw an upcoming siding, but he wasn't sure he'd make it! He chuffed harder, and faster!
"LOOK OUT!"
Thomas gasped at the sound of a familiar voice, "W-WHAT!?" Thomas cried, only to be pushed down the siding, just as the diesel-electric zoomed past!
"SORRY!" He called out as he sped down the line. Thomas panted in exhaustion, letting off steam. He tried to look back at his hero as he slowly puffed down the line.
"T-Thank you, uh..." Thomas panted. He looked as the train chuffed onto the side track. It was a big green engine with two tenders – and an engine Thomas has met before!
"Flying Scotsman!" Thomas peeped excitedly!
Flying Scotsman just chuckled, "Hello again Thomas. You're far from home."
Thomas just beamed at the sight of an old friend. He met the Flying Scotsman a while ago back in the Great Railway Show, and found out he was Gordon's brother. He felt inspired by the big engine with two tenders.
"What are you doing so far from Sodor?" Scotsman asked, as he chuffed alongside Thomas.
"I'm heading towards Crewe!" Thomas peeped cheerfully, "But I kinda got lost..."
Scotsman just chuckled at the determined young tank engine, "Oh Thomas, this is Doncaster. Crewe is much more south west from here, about a two hour journey."
Thomas flushed in embarrassment, "Oh, silly me..." He quickly looked around to try and change the subject, "What are you doing here in Doncaster?" He chirped excitedly.
Scotsman saw no harm in answering and gave a small chuckle, "My driver thought it'd be nice to visit the place I was made so I can have a rest. Famous engines such as myself also need our time away from the crowd for privacy." He winked at the excited tank engine.
"You were made here!" Thomas beamed, "Was Gordon built here too?"
"Oh yes, Gordon, myself, and many of our other famous relatives. Our famous cousin Mallard, the fastest steam engine in the world, was also built here. We were built for passenger trains around London and the North. We are the best of the best!" Scotsman spoke, Thomas beamed buffer-to-buffer as he listened to the famous engine speak.
Scotsman then let out a sad sigh, "Although, it is a shame that most of our work is now being taken over by diesels and electrics. Hard workers they are, but apparently they're more 'modern' and 'faster' than us steam engines." He grunted in annoyance, "And sadly, out of our brothers and sisters...only Gordon and I remain."
Thomas silently gasped in shock as he listened to the famous engine – the last of a line of elite engines? That must be awful...
"I'm...so sorry Scotsman..." Thomas puffed sadly, but the Flying Scotsman gave a small smile.
"It's alright. Well, there is a surprise out there for Gordon – I met someone else who is related to us." He winked, Thomas was curious.
"Who is it?" He peeped. Scotsman just chuckled.
"I'm keeping it secret. It might be a shock for Gordon to find out." He winked again. Thomas was now excited! He wanted to see who this surprise was.
"You best be heading for Crewe if you need to get there." Scotsman puffed, "It's a long journey, and it's going to get dark soon."
Thomas just beamed, "I will! Thank you Scotsman!" Thomas puffed, as he started to speed up in the correct direction, "I'll be sure to tell Gordon about your surprise!" He called before he puffed into the distance.
Scotsman just gave a chuckle, "Little tank engines, cheeky, but determined, nonetheless." He then carried on heading towards Doncaster, giving a loud and proud whistle as he left.
A long while later, Thomas was puffing through the Mainland countryside, exploring every inch of the Mainland as he puffed towards Crewe.
As the sun started to set, the sky turned a lovely crimson red, almost pink colour. The countryside truly blended into the scene. It was majestic, Thomas could hardly believe it was real. Some beautiful scenes were so beautiful, Thomas couldn't even find the words to describe it. He was having the time of his life, steaming down the railway lines. He then looked up at the sky, how splendid it looked...
"The sky, it's the same colour as James." Thomas puffed to himself. He then slowed down, realising something, "The valleys are a gorgeous green – just like Percy, and Henry, and Emily." Thomas looked around again, "And the lakes and rivers are blue, just like me...and Edward and Gordon..."
He suddenly came to a halt, Thomas could only think of one thing, "...I wish my friends were here to see this too..."
Thomas looked around – he then realised something more important, "...I'm lost...I can't remember where I am..."
Slowly, Thomas began to feel scared. The sun had set, and everywhere was dark. It was very spooky. Thomas felt scared and alone, he was suddenly starting to regret leaving to go to the Mainland...
Thomas was about to continue, when suddenly,
"HEY! MOVE OUT OF THE WAY!"
A loud whistle peeped from behind Thomas!
"H-Huh!? W-Who's there!?" Thomas cried, quickly puffing and spinning his wheels as fast as he could! He had no time to look back at the engine who was steaming down the rails behind him! Thomas tried to pick up speed but he could feel the buffers of the engine behind him pushing him along!
The engine behind Thomas applied her brakes and struggled to slow down! The trucks behind her were pushing her as she tried to grind to a stop!
Thomas cried in fear as he puffed along! He saw an upcoming junction and headed down the siding! The engine behind him carried on, and came to a stop just after passing Thomas.
Both engines shook and panted in exhaustion. Their boilers were fizzing in adrenaline, but the mysterious engine wasn't happy.
She puffed back into light, revealing herself to be an steam engine, amber in colour, and a tender behind her cab. She looked around the same size as Edward and James.
"Rail-hogger! I had the right of way!" She vented out! Thomas was still shaking from the near-collision, and now he was shaking in fright at the feisty amber engine – she didn't look friendly.
"Be lucky I didn't push you off the tracks rail-hogger! I could've sent you to the scrapyard or something!" She continued venting out in anger at the worried tank engine. Thomas tried to apologise, but she just kept yelling, "Oh! Why are engines always so silly! You almost caused an accident – you hear!?"
Thomas was shaking in fear at this loud engine, "I-I-I'm very sorry! I-I-I didn't s-s-see you coming b-behind me..."
The engine's face suddenly changed. She showed a face of concern. She mostly looked at how shaky Thomas was. She then focused on his paintwork – it looked like she remembered it from somewhere.
"...You're...a Sodor engine?" She finally said at last. Her voice changed, sounding very calm. Thomas bravely looked up at the engine, seeing her demeanour has changed.
"Y-Y-Yes...h-how could you tell?" Thomas asked bravely, still shivering from the near-collision.
"Blue with red stripes, with a massive 1 on the side of your tank." She chirped, noticing every detail, "I saw the exact same thing on another engine years ago – only he was green in colour. Oh, and he WASN'T a tank engine. He was a massive engine with a tender."
Thomas gasped in shock, "Henry!"
"That's it!" the engine cried, "He came in after having an accident with a train. Had to have a new shape and everything – he was a terrible shape! Not because of the accident – because of how he was made! And his firebox – never have I seen such a silly design of a firebox on an engine before! It's obvious whoever made him didn't have a clue about designing an engine!"
Thomas listened as the amber engine continued to talk on and on, sometimes using words he didn't understand.
"Um, excuse me?" Thomas asked, "Who are you?"
"Huh? OH! Where are my manners?" the amber engine laughed a bit, "My name is Lorelei. I'm an engine who works at the Crewe area!" She sounded bubbly again. Thomas wasn't sure what to think of Lorelei. Her attitude kept changing. She was angry and rude, but now she is happy and bubbly.
"C-Crewe?!" Thomas realised, "I'm heading there!"
Lorelei looked at the tank engine suspiciously, "Hm? We didn't have any scheduled tank engines tonight. Hm...oh well. Best get you to a spare shed. It's dark out. And if you came from Sodor, you MUST be exhausted."
Thomas could only tiredly puff with her as she showed him towards Crewe. Lorelei could see Thomas was tired. She kindly puffed behind him and gently pushed him towards Crewe. Shortly after, she could hear quiet snoring. Lorelei gave a small smile, gently pushing the tired tank engine towards Crewe – preparing for a good nights sleep.
Back on the outskirts of Doncaster, it was already dark, as the Steam Team tried to carry on. It had been a very long day, everyone was feeling tired and exhausted. They all struggled to keep their eyes open. As much as they tried to carry on, they only got more exhausted. They tried to stay awake by playing a game of I Spy – but as it got darker, they struggled to see anything. It was Emily's turn to have a go.
"Okay, my turn. I spy with my little eye...something beginning with...T-"
"Tree." James said bluntly.
"Aw, how did you know?" Emily asked.
"It's been the same answer the past 5 rounds."
"It's not my fault!" Emily cried.
"Don't be so rude James." Henry huffed tiredly.
James looked at him angrily, "I don't see you coming up with better ideas!"
As the engines started to childishly argue over one another, Percy just looked down sadly. Edward could see the small engine was upset, he puffed next to him and spoke to him kindly.
"Don't worry Percy, we'll find shelter soon. Then we can rest our wheels."
"It's not that Edward..." Percy sighed sadly, his eyes looked watery, "...I'm worried about Thomas."
Edward gave a small reassuring smile, "We will find him soon. I know we will."
"Promise?" The little green engine peeped quietly.
Edward gave a small smile, "I promise." Although honestly, Edward wasn't too sure.
The engines continued to argue over the game, and after listening for a minute, Edward lost patience, "OH PLEASE! Be quiet!"
The engines were shocked to hear Edward shout, it wasn't like him at all.
"James started it!" Emily huffed.
"I did not!" James cried.
Edward just rolled his eyes in annoyance.
"OH! Do be QUIET!" Gordon grunted angrily.
"Okay James! Why don't you come up with an idea!" Henry huffed.
"Alright! I will!" James puffed, "I spy, with my little eye, something beginning with...D-"
"DONCASTER!" Gordon cried!
"What- no!" James spluttered.
"No! Doncaster! Look!" Gordon chuffed excitedly, "Doncaster! Straight ahead!"
All the engines looked in amazement at the sight of the town. Soon, they forgot to be tired and puffed full-steam ahead to Doncaster, hoping to see Thomas very soon!