There are many different types of hard-working engines on the Island of Sodor, but they all want to be Really Useful. Sometimes, new engines arrive to help with the work. Many of them become friends with the Sodor engines and nothing is better than working with your friends, but not all new engines stay on Sodor. Some of them only visit, which means all the engines have to say goodbye to their new friends.
Summer was coming to an end and two engines had been visiting the Fat Controller's Railway. Logan had come to help run the new Coaling Plant at Crosby and Sam had arrived to celebrate the railway and help with a new exhibition at the Sodor Museum. Sam and Logan had become great friends with the engines on Sodor and they couldn't have been happier.
One morning, the Fat Controller came to see the two engines at Knapford Yard. "Sam and Logan, I am pleased with your hard work during the summer, and I hope your Controllers will feel the same way."
"What do you mean, Sir," asked Logan.
"I have spoken with your Controllers, and they need you back as soon as possible," the Fat Controller explained. "At the end of the week, you will go back to the Mainland together and Sam, the Mainland Controller promises keep you busy until your ship arrives."
"Yes, Sir," said Sam and the Fat Controller left.
Logan sighed. "I've been so busy that I forgot I was just visiting. The other engines will be so disappointed."
"We'll tell them together," said Sam. "That should make it easier."
That evening, Sam and Logan met with the other engines at Tidmouth Sheds.
"You're leaving?!" cried Percy.
"I'm afraid so, Percy," replied Sam. "We didn't exactly come to live here to begin with and now, it's time for us to go back to our own homes."
"I hope we'll still be friends," added Logan.
"Of course," replied Edward. "Visiting engines come here all the time and even though they're far away, they're still our friends."
"When are you leaving?" Thomas asked.
"At the end of the week," said Sam. "We leave together, and I catch my ship sometime after that."
"Then let's enjoy what time we have left together."
Everyone agreed and as the sun went down, the engines talked about the visitors they had met and the new places they had visited.
The days passed. Logan wasn't really needed at the new Coaling Plant anymore, but he worked hard wherever he was needed, which was usually in the yards. Sam continued pulling long, heavy trains as he helped Henry, Murdoch, Hank and Hiro deliver goods to and from the Mainland. On their last day, Sam and Logan visited Ulfstead Castle together and the visitors were very pleased to see them.
Everyone was sorry when it was time for the two engines to leave.
"Do you really have to go?" wheezed Percy sadly.
"Yes," Sam replied. "We like it here, but we have our own homes to get back to. Besides," he added, "there's only so much an engine as big as me can do around here."
"And you have so many other little engines here too," put in Logan. "You can handle shunting the coal on your own."
Percy still felt sad.
"Cheer up, Percy," said Edward. "You know we were all sad when Hiro left. He did come back to help, but he will still have to return to his home one day."
"And what about Gator?" added Thomas. "We were sad when he left, but he came back to visit us for Christmas."
"We may come back and visit Sodor one day," said Logan.
"And we wouldn't have it any other way," smiled Sam.
That afternoon, the engines went to Vicarstown to see Sam and Logan off. The Fat Controller said he was proud of their work and that he hoped they would continue to be Really Useful Engines. The Sodor engines whistled goodbye, and Sam and Logan whistled back.
Thomas, Percy, and Edward watched until their new friends were out of sight. They still felt sad, but Edward reminded them that Sam and Logan would hopefully visit Sodor again. Thomas and Percy couldn't help smiling. "Besides," said Edward, "we also have each other, and good friends will always be good friends."