The next morning, Simon woke up early to make his way to Wellsworth. Edward told him how to get there and Simon listened as carefully as he could.
Soon, Simon was out on the Main Line with some trucks. When he arrived at Wellsworth, the Stationmaster was waiting for him. "Hello, Simon. Welcome back to the railway."
"Thank you, Sir."
"The shunter will tell you were to leave these trucks and then, you can start work."
"Right away, Sir," Simon said with determination.
After arranging his trucks, Simon looked around the Yard. It was much smaller, even more so than how he remembered Vicarstown to be. Simon was sure he could handle Edward's job and he started shunting as soon as everyone was ready.
First, Simon shunted a line of empty trucks for the China Clay Works. Then, he arranged some trucks that were going to Vicarstown. He even arranged some coaches for a passenger train to Brendam Docks.
It wasn't long until Simon realized he was enjoying himself. "This is so much nicer," he said.
That afternoon, Henry arrived to collect his coaches. He had also brought some more trucks from the Docks. "Hello, Simon, he called. "Are you feeling better?"
"Much better, thank you," said Simon. "Edward was right. All I needed was the kind of work I was used to."
"Yes, indeed," said Henry. "Edward said you just have to start small to work your way up again."
Simon thought for a moment. "You know, I think I can do that."
As the day went on, Simon felt happier. He handled Edward's work easily and he even helped other engines up Gordon's Hill. Thomas came in with the Local and whistled cheerfully to him and so did the other engines. The diesels happily sounded their horns too and Simon always whistled back.
That evening, Simon had to admit he was starting to feel like his old self again.
The next day, Simon was working in Wellsworth Yard again. He did his work without fuss, and everyone was pleased with him.
At Teatime, Simon had stopped to take on water. Suddenly, he heard loud rattling and clattering. He also thought he heard laughing. Then, he saw it. "Leaping lines! Look!" he shouted.
A line of trucks was rattling backwards very fast.
"There's no Guard," said the Driver. "I'll telephone the line ahead."
"No! There could be an accident. We have to do something."
"What?" asked the Fireman.
"We're going to stop them."
"How?"
"By chasing them down."
The Driver soon understood what Simon meant. The Little Blue Engine quickly puffed out onto the Main Line and raced after the trucks.
"Warn the line ahead!" the Fireman shouted to the Stationmaster.
All along the Main Line, signals went red, points were switched, and traffic was halted. Simon whistled to a Signalman who sent him onto another line.
"On, on! Faster, faster!" laughed the trucks as they rattled on, but Simon was gaining on them. He went faster and faster. His pistons pumped, his wheels whirred, and he soon raced passed the trucks.
Simon kept racing as fast as he could until he reached the next crossover. He whistled and a shunter changed the points.
Simon was now in front of the runaway train and his Driver eased him off.
"What are you doing?!" said the Fireman. "Those trucks will run into us!"
"That's the point!" Simon called.
Sure enough, the trucks came nearer and nearer until they gave him a fierce bump. The Driver gently put on the brakes. "With any luck, the tracks are clear ahead."
But down the line, there was trouble.
At Knapford Station, everyone had heard about Simon and the runaway. Suddenly, the Signalman ran out. "The points are jammed!" he called. "I can't switch them away from Platform three!"
Emily looked up. She was at platform three. "Bubbling boilers!" she cried.
Then, Simon raced into view. "The signal's red!" his Driver called. "There must be trouble!"
Simon looked ahead and saw the points directing him towards Emily. "We have to stop! We have to stop!" he cried.
Everyone worked fast. The Driver dropped sand on the rails and braked hard, the Fireman scrambled into the van and screwed the brake hard on and Simon held fast and hard against the trucks.
They came closer and closer to the Station. Everyone shut their eyes. "I must stop! I must!" Simon groaned.
Suddenly, he felt a bump in front of him. He was too scared to look. Then, he felt a jolt…
…
…and everything went quiet.
…
Simon slowly opened one eye. Emily was sitting right in front of him. They were in the Station, but they were still on the rails. Simon's Driver climbed out to look. "Well, can you believe that?!" he said.
Simon and the trucks had pushed Emily all the way to the end of the platform. The buffers had stopped them, but there hadn't been an accident.
Everyone cheered and the engines blew their whistles and sounded their horns.
"Well done, old boy!" said his Diver.
"You did it!" said his Fireman.
"You saved the day," added Percy
"Thank you, Simon," said Emily gratefully.
Simon face was as red as the signals. He was so tired, he could only smile.
That evening, all the engines gathered at Tidmouth Sheds. The Fat Controller stood proudly alongside Simon. "Today, one of our oldest, and newest, engines took charge in preventing a nasty accident," he said proudly. "Not only is Simon our newest famous engine, but he has proven himself a hero as well. After being lost for so long and not experiencing the changes around him, Simon has questioned his place on the island, but today, he has proven that even now, he is still a Really Useful Engine.
"Tomorrow, he and Emily shall be going to the Steamworks for repairs." He turned to Simon. "And as for you, Simon, I think you are long overdue for a new number, because now, I can see you are, indeed, a true member of my railway through and through.
"Welcome home, Simon."
"Hurray! Hurray!" everyone called. All the cheering and whistling almost raised the roof. You never heard such noise. Workmen and crews all held their ears and so did the Fat Controller.
The next day, Simon and Emily were taken to the Steamworks. Their buffers were mended, and Simon's brakes were fixed. The Little Blue Engine felt very honoured when he received his new number (25) and he promised to always wear it with pride.
Simon continued to work in the smaller yards around Sodor, but it wasn't too long before he found himself helping Stanley and Stafford once more. Simon proved himself to be a very capable engine. Along with shunting in the yards, he can easily pull both trucks and coaches and is always willing to help his friends, old and new.
Edward is happy to be working with his old friend again, the Fat Controller is proud to have another engine with experience, the engines are glad Simon has been found after being lost for so long and the Little Blue Engine has never been happier or more grateful for his new home on the Island of Sodor.