A/N: Hello everybody, and merry Christmas (yes I know it's still 3 days away but I don't plan on updating on a holiday)! To those who don't celebrate Christmas, then I wish you a happy whatever it is you celebrate. Let's get this bad boy started.

Chapter 41: Thomas and the Missing Christmas Tree

It was now mid-December on the Island of Sodor, and all of the employees on the North Western Railway were busy preparing the stations for the holiday. Lights and decorations were hung anywhere deemed appropriate. Everybody was in the Christmas spirit it seemed.

A day before the party Sir Topham Hatt met with Thomas at Knapford station.

"The Christmas tree for the big station is waiting at Burrow-in-Furness," he told Thomas, "I need you to collect it and bring it by tonight so that it can be set up for tomorrow."

"Yes sir," said Thomas, and he quickly drove out of the station.

He picked up the tree around noon, and had just crossed Vicarstown bridge when it started to snow. Lightly at first, but it soon got worse.

"I'm sure we'll be alright," Thomas thought to himself, although secretly he was rather worried.

Unfortunately his luck ran out. As he drove through the valley the snow drifts got higher and higher. Soon, he ran into a snowdrift that he could not run through.

"Blast!" he cried, "I'm stuck."

But before he could back up to try again, a low rumbling was heard. He looked up just in time to see snow come down and cover both him and his engine.

Several hours passed, and no sign of Thomas or his engine was to be found. The other engines were starting to get impatient.

"Where is that Thomas?" James huffed, "He had one job to do and he couldn't even do that."

"Indeed," sniffed Gordon, "Collecting the Christmas tree is a job best suited for an engine like mine, not a dirty little tank engine like Thomas has."

Edward could not believe what he was hearing.

"I am ashamed of you two," he said, "James, just because he is late doesn't mean he is unreliable. For all we know he could be stranded. And Gordon, just because your engine has a tender doesn't mean it is special in any way. You two should be ashamed of yourselves."

Gordon and James said nothing. They both knew that Edward was right.

Donald and Douglas were sent to look for Thomas. They searched everywhere along the mainline until they reached the valley. As they rounded a bend they saw a small speck in the distance. They soon realized that it was Thomas, trying to get their attention.

"Thank goodness you came," he said with a sigh of relief, "my engine and I got trapped in a snow drift. I managed to get free, but it's still buried and I can't get it out."

"Dinnae fast yourself, Thomas," said Douglas, "We'll get it out."

After digging away the front buffer beam of the engine, Douglas coupled his engine to the back of it. Then, he and Donald used their engines to pull the train from the snow.

They soon reached the yards where Sir Topham Hatt and the other drivers were waiting. Everybody was pleased to see that Thomas was alright.

"We have all had a long day," Sir Topham Hatt began, "so I suggest that everybody get a nice long rest."

And they did, but only so that they could party at their hardest the next night.

Everybody enjoyed themselves immensely. There were games, dancing, and refreshments to last until dawn. Near the end, Sir Topham Hatt made a speech.

"I thank all of you for your hard work and dedication to this railway," he began, "Some of you has been with us for a long time. Others have joined our family just recently. Regardless, we are all joined by our love for the railway. May we continue to prosper for many years to come.

Everybody cheered. It truly was a magnificent Christmas.