Summertime was approaching on the Island of Sodor and the engines were looking forward to all the holidaymakers that would be arriving. They would be visiting everywhere on the island from the yellow beaches to the high hills and the small towns to the mighty casltes.

On the Earl of Sodor's Estate at Ulftead, Stephen and Millie were excited too. Engines large and small would be arriving with more visitors than usual and the two friends couldn't wait to show them the Estate, the Castle and the Dinosaur Park.

Some new plants were going to be placed around the dinosaur models. Millie had gone down the Narrow-Gauge Railway to collect them. As she arrived back at the castle, there was a strange clanking and a grinding sound and then, she stopped. "Oh my!" she cried, "what's happened?"

Millie's Driver and Fireman climbed down to examine her. "Well, something's gone wrong," said the Driver at last. "It seems you'll have to go to the Steamworks for repairs."

Millie was worried. "What about Stephen? The holidaymakers will be arriving soon. Will he be able to manage on his own?"

"I'm more concerned about you, Millie," said the Earl. "In fact, I should send Stephen for a thorough inspection as well. An old engine like him needs extra attention."

"But Sir, if we're both gone, who will do our work?" Stephen asked.

"I'll speak with the Fat Controller and see if anything can be done."

Later, the Earl went to see the Fat Controller and told him what had happened.

"Hmm, that is an awkward situation," the Fat Controller pondered. "All of my engines will be busy too, but I will see if anything can be done. Until then, have Stephen carry on for a while longer."

Harvey arrived to take Millie to the Steamworks.

"Don't you worry about me, Millie," said Stephen confidently. "You get yourself fixed and I'll join you soon. In the meantime, I'll manage."

"I hope so," replied Millie. She didn't like leaving Stephen on his own, but she knew that nothing else could be done just yet.

The next day, Stephen was up bright and early, and he set to work at once, but he wasn't too sure about handling Millies jobs as well as his own.

That afternoon, the Earl came to see him. "How are you getting on, Stephen?" he asked.

"I'm trying my best, Sir," the old engine yawned. "Have you heard anything from Sir Topham Hatt, yet?"

"I'm afraid not."

Just then, a workman called out. "Sir, you're wanted on the telephone."

"Sorry, Stephen. I must go." And the Earl hurried away.

"It's Sir Topham Hatt," explained the workman.

The Earl answered the telephone. "Hello, Sir Topham. Is there a problem? …Oh…Oh, I see…Well, can anything be done? …Really? …Well, that's wonderful! I'll tell Stephen at once."

Stephen was still in the courtyard when the Earl returned, smiling. "What was that about, Sir?"

"Well, I'm happy to say that we won't have to worry anymore," replied the Earl. "As it turns out, there's a railway on the Mainland that is undergoing repairs and the engines there have little to do at the moment. "Sir Topham Hatt spoke with their Controller, and he agreed to send three of his engines to help."

Then Stephen smiled too. "Oh Sir, that's wonderful news!"

"And it's just as well too," the Earl sighed. "Sir Topham has heard that Millie is in worse shape than we first thought. They can repair her, but it will take some time."

"The poor engine," Stephen sympathized, but he was glad the Earl would have some help while he and Millie were away.

The next morning, Thomas was at Brendam Docks. The Vicarstown Bridge was closed for maintenance, so the three Mainland engines would be arriving on a ship. Thomas was to take them to the Steamworks to be inspected.

At last, the ship came in and Thomas watched as Cranky unloaded the visitors. The first was a green tank engine and it looked a lot like Billy and Charlie. It had green paint with red stripes and carried the number 1 on its cab. The second was another tank engine. It was blue with red stripes like Thomas and had glasses like Whiff. The third was a small red engine who looked a lot like Scruff, and it was red with large black stripes.

"Hello," said Thomas kindly. "Welcome to Sodor. I'm Thomas."

"So, you're Thomas," said the green engine. "We've heard a lot about you."

Thomas was surprised. "You have?"

"Yes, our Controller told us."

"Marcus, don't be rude," said the red engine.

"Oh, sorry." The green engine collected himself. "Pleased to meet you, Thomas. My name is Marcus, and these are my friends, Kenneth and Tracy."

"I'm pleased to meet you too," puffed Thomas. "I was told to take you to the Steamworks when you arrived."

"Why?" asked Kenneth. "We didn't breakdown on our way here."

"No," said Tracy, "but when engines travel on a ship or a flatbed, they must be checked over afterwards to make sure they can still work properly."

Thomas agreed. "That's right. Now, come along." And with a cheerful 'peep peep,' he was off with the visitors to get them ready for work."