Thomas was traveling through the United States. It was a very big country and Thomas had to stop for coal and water quite often. He was making his way to a big city called New York where he would be greeted by visitors.

Along the way, Thomas noticed wires above the track. He remembered his friend, Gustavo, from Brazil. This must be an electric railway, he thought. It was, and they soon arrived at a big yard...and stopped. Close by was a long dark tunnel. Thomas was confused; he had plenty of coal, he wasn't low on water, and he noticed there was no one around. "Why are we stopping here?" he asked.

"Sorry, Thomas," said his Driver, "but those tunnels are very long and narrow. You can't go any further while you're in steam. It would be too dangerous."

"But how will we get to the City?"

"That's where I come in," said a voice. Thomas looked and saw a big electric engine. He was narrow up front and behind, and he had lots of wheels. "Hello, you must be Thomas. I'm Tyler and I'll be taking you to your next destination."

Thomas could tell the big engine was very friendly. "Nice to meet you, Tyler." Thomas' fire was put out and as his boiler cooled, Tyler coupled up and, with some trucks in tow, they were on their way.

Thomas' Driver had been right about the tunnel. "Why are these tunnels so long and narrow?"

"Because we're traveling under the City," Tyler replied. "If they were any bigger, the ground wouldn't be able to hold the buildings and New York is a very big city."

"Fizzling fireboxes!" exclaimed Thomas. "We're underground?"

"Yes."

"This is amazing…but there's not much to see down here...and it's quite dark."

"Well, the subway tunnels are a little brighter. The subway trains stop at stations that are also underground." Thomas could hardly believe his ears.

The two engines burst into the sunlight again and Thomas saw a dockyard outside the City with a tall statue out in the bay. The City was bigger than any city he had ever seen. "Now that's what I call a view!" They soon entered another tunnel. "That's New York?!" exclaimed Thomas. "I can't wait to see it."

Tyler chuckled. "You haven't seen anything yet," he smiled.

Soon, Thomas could see light at the end of the tunnel and when they came out, he was amazed. "Wow! so this is New York City."

"That's right," said Tyler.

Thomas was very excited. There were people, cars, lorries and buses everywhere. There was even a policeman riding on a horse. "Woah! taxi!" someone called.

"I've never seen so many people and those tall buildings look like they were built by giants," exclaimed Thomas.

"Those are skyscrapers," explained Tyler, "and they were built by the same kind of people you see around you."

Sure enough, when they stopped at a signal, Thomas saw some construction workers repairing one of the buildings with their big machines and tall cranes. "Cinders and ashes."

"No, pastrami on rye," said one of the building workers and he held up his sandwich. Everyone laughed.

Soon, Thomas and Tyler reached a station with a big yard, and it was filled with all sorts of engines and a large crowd of people. Thomas gasped. "Have all those people come to see me?!"

"Not just you," said Tyler. "It's a special railway show. That's why all these other engines are here."

Tyler moved Thomas to an empty siding where his fire was lit once more, and it wasn't long before Thomas was feeling warm and comfortable again. He noticed a lot of people had taken notice of his arrival, but they looked away as a loud whistle sounded...and backing next to Thomas was a massive tender and the biggest engine he had ever seen. "Howdy, Thomas! Long time, no see."

Thomas couldn't believe his eyes. "Sam?! you're here too?!"

"Yes. They asked me to help you across the country when the show is over."

"Oh, Sam, it's so great to see you again."

"You know each other?" Tyler asked.

"That's right," said Sam. "I met Thomas when I visited the Island of Sodor."

Tyler was amazed. "Well, it is true what they say; this is a small world."

Thomas was puzzled. "Small? But the world is so big."

"It's just a saying, Thomas," explained Sam. "It's when you make a friend who lives far away, and you meet again someplace else that's far afterwards. Now, smile for the cameras."

Thomas enjoyed his time at the railway show. Visitors spoke to him, his Driver and Fireman and took photographs. Thomas and Sam told Tyler about how Sam helped expand the Sodor Museum and Thomas listened happily to the big engines as they told him about their adventures.

At last, evening came, and the visitors went home. Thomas looked at the City; he had enjoyed himself. The visitors had never seen anything like Thomas before and Thomas had never seen anything like New York City. "New York, what a wonderful place. I've never seen anything like it."

"It's one of the biggest cities in the world," said Tyler.

"But there's so much more to see in the United States too," added Sam.

Thomas smiled as he dosed off. "I can't wait," he sighed.