Thomas the Tank Engine puffed through the countryside in Germany. He liked seeing the rolling hills and the beautiful castles; they seemed to remind him of home.

When Thomas reached the last station on his journey that day, it was getting late. At the other platform, he saw a familiar engine. She was big, blue and streamlined with red wheels. "Hullo," he puffed. "You're…Frieda, right? I saw you at the Great Railway Show."

"Yes," said the engine, "and your Thomas, I presume."

"I am. I'm…sorry for thinking you were my friend, Gordon. He was streamlined for the Great Race, and they called him the Shooting Star."

"And I'm sorry I was so grumpy," sighed Frieda. "Ivan told me I take my position on the railway too seriously and I realize I wasn't being fair to you."

"That's alright," smiled Thomas.

Frieda smiled too. "Anyway, the Stationmaster told me to show you to the shed. Come along." And the two engines set off together.

"Will you be showing me around Germany?" Thomas asked.

"Actually, I will," a voice replied.

Thomas couldn't believe his eyes. Resting in the shed was a tank engine with shiny black paint and small red wheels. While it only had six wheels like Thomas, it looked very strong. "O…O…Otto?!" stuttered Thomas.

"Hello, Thomas. I was hoping I would see you."

"Have you…met before?" asked Frieda.

"Met!?" exclaimed Thomas. "We used to work on the Island of Sodor together!"

"That's right," said Otto. "While I wasn't one of Sir Topham Hatt's engines, I did work on Sodor for many years. It was a very long time ago."

Frieda was surprised. "You never told me this."

"Well, you never asked me."

"Did you behave yourself?"

"Of course he did," said Thomas. "Sir Topham Hatt thought he was Really Useful."

Now, Frieda was curious. "What was Sodor like?"

"Oh," smiled Otto, "what a story this will be." And he began.

Long ago, Otto found himself on a ship with a small coach and traveled across the sea to the Mainland. When he arrived, the Mainland Controller wasn't sure what to do with him, so he was sent to a Workshop to rest after his long journey.

There were many other engines there, big and small. Some of them thought Otto was strange while others did not. One of them was a little green tank engine with four wheels. Some engines thought he was strange too and he and Otto became good friends.

One day, a smartly dressed man came to the workshop. He was, of course, the Fat Controller, but Otto didn't know this yet. "I'm looking for a tank engine to work on my railway," he said.

The Workshop Manager showed the Fat Controller many tank engines. Otto hoped he would be chosen, and some others hoped so too.

At last, the Fat Controller noticed the little green engine. "Mmm, yes, that's the one. You seem like just the engine I need. If I choose you, will you work hard?"

"Oh, Sir! Yes, Sir!" squeaked the little engine excitedly.

The Fat Controller smiled. "That's a good engine." He turned to the Manager. "I'll take him." The green engine's fire was lit and was soon making steam. "Now, what is your name?" asked the Fat Controller.

"I don't have one, Sir."

"Well then, I think I'll call you…Percy."

The green engine whistled excitedly. "Yes, Sir! Thank you, Sir!" He was very happy the Fat Controller chose him, but he was sorry to leave his friends. "I hope I'll see you again soon, Otto," he said.

Otto smiled. "I'm sure you will…Percy." The Fat Controller climbed onboard, and Percy puffed away to his new home.

After coming to Sodor, Edward showed Percy around and he later met Thomas. When, Henry, Gordon and James were shut up in Tidmouth Sheds for being naughty, Thomas and Edward were sent to help run the Main Line and when Percy wasn't shunting in the Yard, he worked on Thomas' Branch Line with Annie and Clarabel.

The days passed, then weeks and one morning, the Fat Controller came to see Percy. "I'm sending Gordon, James and Henry back to work," he said. "Thomas will be going back to his Branch Line, so I want you to work in the Yard."

"Yes, Sir. Right away, Sir!" whistled Percy and he set to work at once.

Percy liked working in the Yard. He shunted trucks and coaches wherever they were needed and kept the trains running on time. Sometimes, we would even take trucks along the line which made him feel very important.

Sometime afterward, Percy brought some coaches into Knapford Station when he saw the Fat Controller pondering. "Please, Sir, is everything alright, Sir?" he asked.

"Well, Percy," he said, "a lot of engines have been helping on this railway for quite some time, but it seems they will have to go home soon. I'll have to find another engine somewhere else."

Percy suddenly remembered. "Please, Sir, I think I know who can help, Sir!" And he explained.

Otto was still at the Workshop. It had been some time since he arrived, and many other engines had come and gone. Then, he saw the Fat Controller. "Otto," he called, "I was hoping I would find you here."

"Why, Sir?"

"I need another engine to help on my railway for a while. I have heard that you don't have any work to do, so I am borrowing you until your Controller needs you back.

"Oh, thank you, Sir!" said Otto. He had become very board in the Workshop and was happy to get back to work again.

When Otto arrived, Percy was glad to see him. Otto soon learned that his arrival had been Percy's idea and was very grateful. The Fat Controller sent Otto to work, helping in the Yards around the Island and taking small goods trains when the other engines were busy.

As for the small coach, Thomas took it to the end of his Branch Line where it was used to carry workmen up to the Quarry. Otto was glad the coach was being put to good use, but he was even happier to have proper work at last.

"But how did you get all the way back here?" asked Frieda.

Otto yawned. "It was a long time after that, and I promise we'll tell you soon." And with that, Frieda had to be content.