The next morning on Dotson island, the engines were excited. They were going to go back to work. "I can't wait to see how the island change over the past 4 years. I hope it's still as beautiful as I was be fore!" Said John enthusiastically. "I honestly can't wait to get my firebox warm again." Said Halee. "Guys, were getting repaired today. I can only imagine what I will look like when I am restored to my former self." Said Donavan. "My favorite part about repairs is when we get a new coat of paint at the end." John said. "Oh please John, the best part of repairs is the end when your finished and get to go back to work." Argued Donavan. "Actually Donavan, I agree with John, the thing about repairs is that you must look good." But before Donavan could argue they were interrupted by a man in a blue uniform. "Excuse us, but are the three of you ready to leave this shed and head to the repair sheds?" One of them said. All of the engines realized who the group of men were and all of them said together. "Yes!" The men climbed aboard and stared a fire in each of their fire boxes.
The first one to pull out was John since he was the smallest, it didn't take long before his boiler was warm and full of steam. He puffed out of the shed happily but as he neared the junction, there was a problem, there was freight cars on all lines. He puff slowly on to the tracks and bumped one of them. John pushed it down the line and into another and another. By the time he had gotten to the end of the line he had a long line of freight cars. Halee puffed up behind him and came buffer to buffer with John. Together they pushed the load out of the way and on to another track. Then Donavan puffed up behind Halee and bumped both of the jokingly.
A few minutes later they were coming into Weston. John remembered the line and where to go when he come to a set of points. Once the points were set the three traveled to on to there destination. The soon could see the sheds, and began to slow down. They come to the edge of the buildings where the rails merge with the concrete. They each roll into a shed next to each other. As they let off steam mud flies out onto the engines. The workmen worked all day repairing the engines. By late afternoon they were nearly finished, when Mr. Jarrell pulled up in Ghost. He stepped out and walked up to the three. "I have your first job for each of you. All of you will travel thought Weston to have people get excited for the opening of the railway." He said. The three of them were excited it had been four years since they have seen people.
The workmen had finished their repairs on the engines and were about to paint them. John and Halee were excited to get rid of their ugly, rusted, chipping paint. Donavan could care less about what his paint looked like. The workmen were ask the engines what color they wanted to be painted. John new exactly what he wanted to be painted. "I would like to be painted green with white stripes please." When they asked Halee he thought about it then decided. "I think I will be pure black, no stripes." Then it came to Donavan, when they asked him he said. "It doesn't matter to me, I just want to get my work done." The repair men was shocked. "I've never met an engine that would not enjoy getting a new coat of paint. Come on, you have to choose." Said the repairmen. "If I have to have a new coat of paint, I guess I will be... brown with... orange stripes." By evening the engines were painted and repaired. They were excited as well. "Now" began a repairman, "You must go slowly as you go into the city. Your paint is still wet if you go fast your paint will run." But Donavan didn't care. He thought nothing about looks. The three engine puffed out of the sheds, Donavan was first.
As they chuffed towards Weston, Donavan got faster and faster, until he was pulling ahead of John and Halee. He puffed excitedly towards the city, but on his newly painted coat was beginning to run. He could now see the city, and began to blow his whistle. People ran into the streets as he came. Then a man shouted "Hey look, that engine has paint streaks on him!" Then a woman joined in "Who wants to ride in an engine that has streaks on his side, it looks awful!" Then their were two more whistles, John and Halee was now coming into the city behind Donavan. They had followed orders and their paint had dried nicely. One man yelled "Those two engine's paint looks nice, I would much rather ride with them!" Donavan was embarrassed.
Since the engines had no sheds they slept at the Weston station. That night Mr. Jarrell spoke to Donavan. "You have disgraced and embarrassed my railway!" He boomed. "Sir, I am very sorry for what I have done." Donavan said quietly. "Tomorrow you will sit in that siding and stay there until further notice!" Mr. Jarrell ordered. "Yes sir." Said Donavan. Later John and Halee came to the station, they had been with the people of the city, advertising for the railroad opening. They puffed up in the other sidings, next to Donavan. "Well Donavan, now do you think that people don't care what you look like?" Halee said teasingly. But Donavan couldn't answer, all he could do was blush.