One evening when Thomas came back to the shed, he found the Shed Master waiting for him. "Great news, Thomas," he said. "You and Shane are to go to the other side of Australia for a special show. You are to leave tomorrow morning with Kira."

"Who's Kira?" Thomas asked.

"Bonzar! aren't you lucky, mate," chuckled Shane. "Kira is the most famous engine around these parts. You two will be a grand sight together." That made Thomas feel very excited.

The next morning, Thomas was woken by a very loud whistle. Beside him was an engine he hadn't seen before. It was big with shiny green paint and a smooth streamlined shape. "G'day, mate!" said the engine. "Thomas the Tank Engine, I presume. The name's Kira."

"Oh, hullo," replied Thomas. "Wait, how do know my name?"

"Everyone knows about you, Thomas. Word can sometimes travel fast around here. Believe me, I know."

"Well, Thomo, you better get going," said Shane.

Thomas was confused. "What about you? Aren't you coming?"

"Of course, I am. I have to collect more passengers first, but I'll meet you at the show."

At the station, Kira backed onto her coaches and Thomas was coupled in front. When they reached Adelaide River Station, lots of passengers climbed onboard their coaches.

"Bust my buffers!" said Thomas. "A lot of people are going to this show."

"Indeed, Thomas," puffed Kira. "It's quite the big deal."

"Where are we going?"

"One of the most popular places in all of Australia, Sydney."

As they puffed out of the Station, Thomas thought he heard a very unusual sound. He had never heard anything quite like it before. "What was that?" he asked.

"You'll soon see," Kira replied.

Thomas felt very excited as they set off. Not even the desert heat seemed to bother him. "Are you running low on coal or water, Thomas," asked Kira.

"Maybe a little."

"If you run too low to keep going, I hope you don't mind me pushing you to our next stop."

"Not at all," chuffed Thomas. "I've done that before." And he told Kira about his trip across Africa with Kwaku.

Near the Red Center, the two engines stopped at Alice Springs. "This Kwuaku sounds like one of my friends," said Kira.

Thomas was going to ask what she meant when he was surprised by a loud horn and a big engine with shiny black paint rolled alongside them. "Cinders and ashes!" gasped Thomas. "I've never heard a horn as loud as that!"

"G'day, Edith!" whistled Kira.

"G'day, Kira." The engine looked at Thomas. "And you're Thomas the Tank Engine, aren't you? Welcome to Australia!"

Thomas smiled. "Thank you. You were right, Kira. News can travel fast around here." Then, Thomas had a thought and looked at Edith. "Are you the engine that made that loud horn-sound?"

"That's right, mate." And Edith blew here horn again.

"But you're a steam engine, aren't you?"

"I reckon you've never seen a steam engine with both a whistle and a horn before," said Edith and she whistled long and loud.

Thomas was impressed. "Are you going to the show too?"

"That I am, Thomas. I'll meet you two there later."

Thomas and Kira continued on their journey when they passed a yellow sign. Thomas knew that a yellow sign meant he had to be careful. It looked like it had an animal on it, and it was shaped like a kangaroo.

The engines rounded a bend and there was a kangaroo standing on the tracks. "Kangaroo on the line!" called Thomas and braked hard. Kira braked as well, bouncing the coaches about.

Luckily, no one was hurt.

"Why did you do that, Thomas?" asked Kira.

"It wasn't moving," replied Thomas. "Tamika told me that animals need to be protected and respected."

The engines waiting for the kangaroo to jump off the line…but it didn't move. "Thomas, we can't wait here all day," said Kira.

Thomas knew she was right. "Okay," he sighed. As much as he didn't want to, Thomas blew his whistle as loudly as he could, but the kangaroo still didn't move.

"What's the hold up, mate," called the Guard.

"It's a kangaroo," Thomas called back, "and it won't move." He was getting cross. All the passengers were having to wait because of one animal. Thomas and Kira whistled together and wheeshed their steam…but it was no good. "You silly kangaroo," huffed Thomas. "You're stopping us from being Really Useful."

"Hold on, Thomas," said a voice. "Maybe I can help."

Thomas looked down. "Ranger Jill! what are you doing here?"

"I'm on holiday, Thomas. I'm on my way to visit my cousin in Coober Pedy. The Guard told us what was going on and I volunteered to take a look."

Ranger Jill walked up to the kangaroo…and managed to lure it off the line, much to Thomas' surprise.

"Look, Thomas," said Kira. "The kangaroo's got a little 'in."

"A what?" asked Thomas.

"A little kangaroo; a joey."

Sure enough, Thomas saw that the kangaroo was a mother carrying a baby in her pouch. Thomas laughed. "That kangaroo is carrying a passenger just like us."

"And she's out of our way now," said Ranger Jill. "It's all clear ahead, you two." And Thomas and Kira were on their way again, but they still had a long way to go.