Fearless Freddie is one of the oldest engines on the Narrow-Gauge Railway. He knows a lot about the old tracks and is also very brave. He likes to race other engines, but because he is older, he can't go as fast as he used to.

One morning, Freddie was racing Peter Sam to the Depot for their next job. "I'm the winner!" called Peter Sam as the engines raced in.

Skarloey was watching from the siding. "Be careful, you two. You'll have an accident racing that fast."

Freddie chuckled. "I haven't had an accident in years."

"You are so brave," added Peter Sam.

"That's because of my number," replied Freddie. "The number 7 is lucky, you know."

"Pah! that's just an old story," huffed Duncan, but Freddie paid no attention.

Some days later, Freddie was at the Steamworks getting a new coat of paint when the Works Manager approached him. "Rheneas has broken down. The Thin Controller needs you back as soon as possible."

"Right away, Sir," replied Freddie. They quickly lit Freddie's fire and he steamed away, but the workman had no time to put Freddie's name and number plates back on.

Freddie collected some workman and was taking them to the Blue Mountain Quarry when he saw something ahead. Some cows had broken through a fence and strayed onto the line. Freddie had to stop and wait for the farmers to clear the track. "That's funny," Freddie said to himself. "I've never been held up by cows before."

Soon, Freddie arrived at the Blue Mountain Quarry. Luke was shunting nearby. "Hullo, Freddie. You can leave the coaches here. Those trucks need to go to the Wharf."

"Right away," said Freddie cheerfully, but as he backed over the points, he heard something snap.

A workman ran up. "The points are jammed. It will take some time to repair them.

"Bother, I'm going to be late again," groaned Freddie.

Then, Luke noticed something. "Um, Freddie, where are your name and number plates.

"Oh no! my number plates are gone," moaned Freddie. "No wonder I've been having so much bad luck today."

Later, Rusty was rolling along a hilly track near a farm, when he felt a bump. His Driver inspected the track. "The rails have buckled."

"We must tell the Thin Controller," said Rusty urgently and he raced back to the Depot.

The Thin Controller was talking to Sir Handel when Rusty raced in. "Some rails on the Hill Track have buckled," said Rusty. "They must be replaced immediately."

Sir Handel gasped. "Freddie will be coming down that line with his stone trucks soon!"

"We must warn him!" shouted Rusty. The Thin Controller climbed aboard, and Rusty was off again, but they were too late.

Freddie was racing along the line. "I must make up for lost time," he puffed.

Then, it happened.

As Freddie steamed around the bend on the hill, he bounced and rattled violently. Soon, his wheels left the rails. His trucks toppled over as Freddie rolled down the hill strait into a pile of hay.

Luckily, no one was hurt.

"Bust my buffers," Freddie groaned. "Who knew losing my number would be so unlucky."

When Rusty and the Thin Controller saw what had happened, they quickly went back for help. At last, evening came, and Freddie was taken back to the Sheds, shaken and miserable. "I'm just an unlucky engine without my number."

"The accident wasn't your fault," said Rusty. "I couldn't reach you in time to warn you. Luck had nothing to do with it."

"The number 7 being lucky is just an old saying," said Skarloey. "No engine can be lucky all the time. Not even the oldest, the wisest, or the most fearless."

Freddie smiled. "You're right," he said, "and I should know. I have had accidents before." And everyone laughed.

Freddie was soon repaired and got his name and number plates back. He still has accidents now and again, just like any engine, but he still loves racing his friends and being brave and, even though he knows that it's just an old saying, Freddie still believes that his number is very lucky indeed.