Geared Rods

Today, a special visitor is visiting the Island Of Sodor. "I wonder who it could be," thought Henry. "I heard he's special," said Douglas. "How so?" asked Gordon.

"Let's say he's different looking compared to us," Donald said. "I can't wait to meet him!" said Thomas. Then the Fat Controller arrived. "I would like to announce that the visitor has arrived at Knapford Station," he said, "Please go and meet him there."

The engines raced off to Knapford Station to meet the visitor. "I wonder what the visitor will be like," said Percy. "We'll soon find out," said Thomas. All the Sodor engines heard an unfamiliar whistle.

"Here he comes!" Donald said out loud. The engine puffed into view. Donald was right about the engine. The engine didn't look like any other engine to them. "I'm amazed!" said Emily.

"He's weird looking," Bill and Ben said together. "Stop it!" Mavis scolded the twins. "Hello," the visitor said, "Nice to meet you all."

The engines greeted the visitor with a warm welcome. "Pleased to meet you," said Thomas. "So?" Percy began to ask a question. "I am called the 3 Truck Shay," the engine said, "No specific name."

"Impressive," said Emily. "I like him," said Percy. "If you want to ask me about my connection rods," 3 Truck Shay said, "They're geared to my wheels. You see, when they spin, the gears turn my wheels."

"Clever," said Thomas, "You're clever." "Ah," 3 Truck Shay smiled, "I was designed like that. Its not clever-ness." The engines chuckled. "Anyway," 3 Truck Shay said, "I'm ready to start."

"Then let's," Henry said. Everyone wanted to show 3 Truck Shay many different things on their railway. First it was Gordon's turn. "I'll show you how the express is done here," he said.

He, of course pulled a passenger express from Knapford to Kirk Ronan station. 3 Truck Shay, of course, followed Gordon.

"Wow," he said. But it took a long time for 3 Truck Shay, as he isn't as fast as Gordon. "That's the express for you," Gordon said as 3 Truck Shay finally arrived.

"The express is never late," Gordon said, "Uh, usually." "Amazed," 3 Truck Shay said, "We have the same kind of train back home." "Great," Gordon said.

Next, he visited the goods yard. "Look's who's here's!" said one of the trucks, purposely not saying its sentence correctly. "It's a thing!" said another. "Well, I am an engine," said 3 Truck Shay.

"Not a usual one!" the trucks taunted. But then, Henry, James, and Arthur bumped them really hard to make them shut up. "Stop that!" they all shouted at the trucks.

"Wow," 3 Truck Shay said. "Sorry about that," Henry said. "We get that a lot," James said, "Dirty things!" "It's all right," said 3 Truck Shay, "But that was a surprising thing."

Just then, Thomas showed up with Percy, Emily and Toby. "Uh, 3 Truck Shay, where are you from?" Thomas asked. "I'm from America," 3 Truck Shay said, "I've done a lot of logging work there."

"Ok," said Thomas, "Did you do anything other than logging?" "No," replied 3 Truck Shay. "Oh," said Thomas. "An American engine," said Percy, wowed. "Thanks," 3 Truck Shay said, "I heard that you run a branch line. Please show me." "Ok," Thomas and Emily answered.

The five engines left. "Now look at what you wagons did!" Arthur shouted and bumped a truck hard. "Oh! Oh! Oh!" it cried.

For the rest of the day, Thomas and his friends showed 3 Truck Shay their branch lines, the quarries and their respective harbours. 3 Truck Shay was impressed.

The next day, it was Henry's turn to take a slow goods train to Vicarstown. "Time to go," Henry's driver said the moment he got Henry ready for work. "Right," agreed Henry. Henry left, collected a long line of trucks and set off. But today, the trucks, still remembering about what happened yesterday, were in no mood for cooperation.

They decided to play a trick on Henry. The moment Henry reached Gordon's hill, they held back deliberately. "What's going on?" Henry asked alarmed. The driver and firemen looked back and saw the trucks were purposely pulling Henry back really hard. "The trucks are at it again!" the firemen called out.

"Stop it! Stop it!" Henry shouted at the trucks. "No way! No way!" the trucks chanted. "This is impossible!" cried Henry. They had no choice, but to stop and go back to the bottom of the hill.

"We need help," the driver said. "Right," agreed the guard, running up to the cab, "I'll protect the train while you telephone for help." But they didn't do that as they heard a familiar whistle. "It's 3 Truck Shay," Henry said. Of course, it was him. He was on his way to Brendam docks when the guard flagged him down.

"What's all this?" he asked. "We need help," the guard said. "Of course," smiled 3 Truck Shay. He buffered up to the brake van and began to push. "I'm ready," he called to Henry, "So ready?"

"Ready," answered Henry. And the two engines forced the unwilling trucks up the hill. "We're doing it!" Henry called to 3 Truck Shay.

"Yes!" replied 3 Truck Shay, "We are!" In no time at all, they were over the hill and running smoothly. 3 Truck Shay had to let go of Henry's train, for he could not match the speed of Henry.

"These geared rods are really useful," 3 Truck Shay said. "Thanks a lot!" 3 Truck Shay took another line while Henry continued on to Vicarstown with his slow goods train. 3 Truck Shay returned to Tidmouth yards, he was greeted with a choir of cheers and whistles. "Well," he chuckled, "I wasn't expecting this."

"You've helped Henry deal with naughty trucks!" James said. "Yes," agreed Henry, "You helped me out." "Yes, I did," smiled 3 Truck Shay.

"You have proven that you are a really useful engine," said the Fat Controller, "Henry told me all about this morning." "Thanks," smiled 3 Truck Shay, "I chose to help a friend in need." The choir of cheers and whistles continued on for a few more minutes.

In two days, it was time for 3 Truck Shay to go back to his home in America.

"Thanks everyone," he smiled, "It is a pleasure to visit you all." "And it's a wonderful privilege to have you visit us," said Thomas. "And thanks again for helping me," said Henry.

"I know," smiled 3 Truck Shay. "We all wish you good luck on your journey home," the Fat Controller said. "Thanks," said 3 Truck Shay, "This is goodbye." "Goodbye," the engines called back.

3 Truck Shay blew his whistle once more and he departed for his ship to America. The engines watched him leave. "He's a great friend, isn't he, Thomas?" Percy asked. "Yes, he is," smiled Thomas. "I wish we could see him again one day," said Emily as 3 Truck Shay was finally out of sight.