DEAR FRIENDS,

The Island of Sodor is a place where you can find many amazing things and its engines and railways are no exception. Some of the most unusual engines you will see are Bash, Dash and Ferdinand who call themselves 'the Logging Locos.'

You may be familiar with them and their home on Misty Island, but what we've seen on television is far from the truth. There are islands around Sodor, but neither of them is always covered in mist or has a tunnel connecting it to Sodor. It's no wonder the engines keep joking about it.

"Then, what is the truth?" you may ask. Well, I am happy to finally tell you.

THE AUTHOR

The Island of Sodor is a world of wonder. There are places and faces that are old and new. There are bridges and tunnels, cliffs and hills, rivers and streams, windmills and docks, lots and lots of railway lines and much, much more.

There was great excitement on the island. A brand-new Search & Rescue Centre was being built. The engines had never heard of anything quite so special. They knew it was important.

Harold the Helicopter had just completed a rescue nearby. "Well done, Harold!" cheered Thomas the Tank Engine. "You saved the climber!"

"Mission accomplished!" Harold called back. "No one is hurt, and everyone is safe. Great to see you, Thomas."

"Good job, Harold!" called the Fat Controller.

The hiker was gently helped to safety and taken to the Hospital as Harold landed. "Thank you, Sir. Uh, kind of a tight squeeze coming in to land, Sir."

"That's why Sodor needs a Search & Rescue Centre," the Fat Controller explained. "A proper place and a proper space to help people in trouble." He paused impressively. "Your helipad will be over there, Harold."

"Terrific, Sir."

"Rocky, your shed will be over there."

Rocky was surprised. "I've never had a shed of my own before."

Then, the Fat Controller walked up to the dockside. "And Captain, you will have a safe mooring and a boathouse."

Captain was a rescue boat, and he was new to Sodor. "Can't wait, Sir," he said. "Ready and raring to be Really Useful."

"And is this where the Rescue Centre building will be?" Thomas asked.

"That's right, Thomas. Right in the middle. It will be a magnificent building. It will be made of the strongest wood of all, Jobi Wood. It will arrive today at Brendam Docks." Thomas and his friends gasped. They had all heard about Jobi Wood. "Thomas, you must hurry to help Percy. There's a lot to do."

The Fat Controller was right. There was a lot to do. Rails, sleepers and ballast for the new tracks were brought in, bricks and mortar for the new platforms and station house were shunted and slate was collected from the Quarry.

Thomas and Percy were at the Docks. They saw a big ship. It was piled high with rich red logs.

"That must be the Joby Wood," said Thomas.

"I wonder who will pull it to the Rescue Centre," said Percy.

Later, all the engines were at the Docks. They wanted to see Cranky unload the Jobi Wood.

Hiro smiled proudly. "This Jobi Wood comes from my country, Thomas. It is so strong; no wind can blow it down or storm break it. It is very special. There are only one or two islands were the Jobi Trees grow."

The Fat Controller made an announcement. "The engine that has been the most Really Useful by the end of the day will pull the first load of Joby Logs to the Search & Rescue Centre." The engines stuttered and muttered. They all wanted to be the most Really Useful Engine. "Don't dely. You all have jobs to do."

The engines wheeshed and whooshed out of the Docks.

Thomas had to wait. He had to be coupled up to some trucks of bricks. He stared at the Jobi Wood. His eyes were bright, and his boiler bubbled with excitement. He wanted to pull the Jobi flatbeds. "I hope the Fat Controller chooses me," he puffed to himself. "Every day, I make sure I'm a Really Useful Engine." And Thomas steamed swiftly away.

Then, Diesel appeared. He had arrived with a line of empty trucks. He had been hiding in the shadows and heard everything. He was cross. "It's always the steam engines who get special jobs, but not diesels like me," he oiled. "Everyone thinks diesels are dirty and steamies are special. I'll show them that I'm just as Really Useful as they are."

Then, an idea rattled in Diesel's radiator. "I just finished my jobs. Who needs to work hard when you're as free as a bird. I'll shunt these logs to the Rescue Centre. Then, the Fat Controller will see how special I am."

So, Diesel clattered over to the Jobi flatbeds. He collected as many as he could manage and with a biff and a bash, and a grunt and a groan, Diesel shoved and shunted the precious Jobi Wood out of the Docks.

Diesel rattled and rolled along the rails. The flatbeds of Jobi Logs jittered and juddered. Diesel was happy. "'I'm no good,' the steamies always say, but I'll show them there wrong." But Diesel was rattling along so fast, the signalman didn't change the points in time. Diesel didn't notice and he raced onto the Main Line.

Thomas was busy shunting. "I'll be the most useful. I'll be the best one. I'll huff and I'll puff till the job is well-done."

Then, Thomas stopped. His firebox fizzed. "Cinders and ashes! it's Diesel and he's shunting the Jobi Logs, but that's not the way to the Rescue Centre. Where is he taking them?" Thomas whistled and shouted. "Stop, Diesel! Stop!"

Diesel saw Thomas, Diesel heard Thomas, but Diesel didn't want to stop. He wanted to push the Jobi Logs to the Rescue Centre as fast as he could clatter, and he raced away.

Thomas was worried. "What is he doing with the Jobi Logs? I must chase after Diesel and stop him."

Thomas could see Diesel ahead on the tracks. His pistons pounded and pumped. His firebox flared and his boiler bubbled. "Stop, Diesel! Stop!" he called again.

But Diesel didn't stop. He rattled and rocked, he wheezed, and he whirred, faster and faster. Thomas huffed his hardest. Diesel raced and roared just in front of him.

"Diesel, what are you doing?!"

"Being Really Useful!"

And Diesel rattled and roared ahead just before the signal turned to red, but Thomas had to stop. Sparks flew and his funnel flared. "What is Diesel doing? He's going the wrong way."

Thomas was right. There was another track to the Rescue Centre, but it wasn't finished. James had just left to collect more supplies. The linesmen replaced the barrier, but they forgot to change the points.

Diesel raced to the junction, but he didn't see the barrier across the tracks and bashed right through it. The workmen shouted and waved. "Ha," laughed Diesel, 'now they see how special I am."

Thomas saw what had happened. "Oh no!" And he raced on.

Diesel pushed and panted up the hill. He slipped and he skidded. "I'm almost there."

Thomas puffed and chuffed far behind. "Stop, Diesel! Stop!" But Diesel didn't stop.

Then there was trouble.

The bridge ahead wasn't finished. Diesel jumped and he bumped faster and faster to the top of the hill and then down, down, down…to the cliffs and the sea below. He crashed through another barrier.

Now, Diesel wanted to stop, but he couldn't. The heavy flatbeds were pulling him to the edge of the bridge. Diesel wasn't smiling now. "Help! Help!" he called. He braked hard and skidded along the rails. Diesel managed to slow down, but it wasn't enough.

One flatbed left the rails and dangled over the edge. Crash! The flatbed cracked its coupling. The Jobi Wood tumbled and rumbled into the sea below.

"Oh no! Help!" called Diesel again.

Then, the next flatbed of Jobi Logs crashed and smashed into the water.

Thomas screeched to a stop. He was scared. "Diesel!" Thomas acted as quickly as he could. He rolled slowly up to Diesel and was coupled up and then, another coupling snapped. Another flatbed of Jobi Wood sank from sight below the waves. "Diesel, pull backwards!" Thomas tugged and he chugged. Diesel growled and roared. Then, wheel-turn by wheel-turn, huff by puff and rattle by groan, Thomas and Diesel pulled the rest of the Jobi flatbeds back from the edge and to safety.

The two engines were very relieved. Thomas had saved Diesel.

"You're safe, Diesel! Hurray!" Thomas cheered.

Diesel was exhausted. "Thank you, Thomas. Thank you."

Later that evening, the engines listened with wonder to Thomas' story.

"We couldn't save all of the logs," said Thomas sadly.

"But Thomas, you did save most of the logs," said Percy, "and the important thing is that you saved Diesel. You're a hero."

"Just as much as the Rescue Team," added Emily.

Thomas smiled. "Thank you. I want to do everything I can to help the Rescue Centre be the best ever. I did what I thought was right."

"And you were right, Thomas," said a voice. It was the Fat Controller. "I am very proud of you. Once more, you have proven yourself to be a Really Useful Engine." The other engines hooted and tooted. They knew the Fat Controller was right.

"What about the lost Jobi Wood, Sir?" James asked.

"You don't have to worry, James. That Jobi Wood was only part of the first shipment. I am very disappointed in Diesel for causing such confusion, but thanks to Thomas, there won't be much delay. More Jobi Wood will be arriving soon, which is why I am here." The engines starred. "Hiro's island is experiencing some bad weather. There won't be any more Jobi Wood arriving from there for a while, but luckily, there is one other island with Jobi Trees. I have been in contact with both islands for some time and they both agreed to supply Jobi Wood for the Search & Rescue Centre."

"Can the Rescue Centre still be finished on time?" asked Henry.

The Fat Controller smiled. "There is a good chance, Henry. The Logging Station Manager informed me that someone has bought one of his engines. I told him I would be willing to send one of my engines to help and he agreed." He paused impressively. "Thomas, I thought this would be a job for you. You are just small and strong enough for the job and, after your heroic action today, I think you deserve such a special job as this."

Thomas' pistons pumped with pride. "Thank you, Sir!"