Thomas the Tank Engine was excited. Yong Bao was taking him to a station near a big city. Lots of people wanted to see him and so did the passengers on their train.
When they arrived, Thomas saw another train getting ready to leave. The passengers looked squished together like sardines in a can. "Yong Bao, why are those coaches overloaded?" he asked.
Yong Bao smiled. "That's how most passenger trains are around here. The railway is the best way to travel here in China, so our coaches are usually crowded, especially in the city."
Thomas still thought the passengers looked rather uncomfortable. "Maybe the passengers wouldn't be so squished if there were more trains to carry them."
"That's the problem. We have too many passengers and not enough trains because there isn't enough room." Thomas felt sorry for the engines and their passengers.
Once their passengers were off, Thomas and Yong Bao moved to another platform at the far side of the station and waited for the visitors to arrive. As they did, they heard a whistle and an orange engine stopped alongside with trucks filled with rails, sleepers and ballast. "Hello, Yong Bao," said the engine. "Is this Thomas, the engine you were telling me about?"
"Yes," Yong Bao replied.
"I think I remember passing you by the Chang Jiang River one time. I'm Alison."
"Nice to meet you," replied Thomas, "and I remember seeing you too." He hadn't paid much attention to Alison before, but now that he had a good look at her, she didn't look like a Chinese engine and her name didn't sound Chinese. In fact, he felt there was something…familiar about her.
"Where are you from?" Alison asked.
"I live on the Island of Sodor." Then, Thomas had a thought. "Did you ever…work near there?"
"I did actually, on the Mainland. I usually pulled passengers, but I sometimes worked with trucks too." Suddenly, Thomas gasped. Alison was worried. "What is it?"
Thomas spoke slowly. "Did you…ever work with another engine that looks like you…named Edward?"
Then, Alison gasped too. "Edward?! That was my brother! We used to work together, but then he was asked to help on another railway. A long time afterwards, I heard the railway's Controller had bought him and I never saw him again," she sighed. "I don't know what happened to him after that, but how do you know about him?"
"Because he lives on Sodor with me!" exclaimed Thomas. "I've known him ever since I arrived years ago!"
"What?!" cried Alison. "He's been there all this time?! How is he?!"
"He's great. He taught me everything I know about being Really Useful."
"Is he still busy?"
"Oh yes, he pulls trucks and coaches all over the island. He even has his own Branch Line like me."
Alison smiled gratefully. "I'm so glad to hear he's still around and busy."
Thomas looked at Alison again. "But…how did you get all the way here?"
"It's quite a story," replied Alison. "Back when Edward and I worked on the Mainland together, we weren't very reliable. No matter what was done, we never seemed to have enough steam. When I was left working on my own and bigger engines came to my shed, I was worried about what would happen to me. I thought I would be scrapped.
"Then one day, I was resting in the station yard when a strange man approached me. We had a pleasant chat and he asked my Driver and Fireman about me before leaving. Some days later, the man came to my shed. He introduced himself as the Chinese Railway Controller. He said he felt sorry for me and had bought me for his railway. I couldn't believe what I had heard.
"I was taken into the workshop. They repaired me and gave me a new coat of paint. They even managed to fix my steaming problem. I asked my new Controller how they did it and he said he had heard about an engine like me who had similar repairs. I felt happier than I had ever been and when I was ready, I set off on my long journey to my new home and I've lived here happily ever since."
Thomas was impressed. "Wow, you were a lucky engine. I'll be sure to tell Edward about you when I get home."
"Please do," smiled Alison. "He must have been the engine my Controller was talking about all those years ago. I'm glad he's still busy with passengers and goods."
"What do you mean?" Thomas asked.
"I don't usually pull passengers nowadays. When bigger engines started being used here too, I was worried again, but my Controller said that I would always have work to do, and he was right. I usually work with laying and repairing tracks now. Actually, I'm taking supplies to upgrade another section. We're making them stronger to handle faster trains. I think the Foreman said they're called high-speed trains."
"I heard about that too," Yong Bao added. "With new faster trains, there will be more trains available. Then, the stations and coaches won't be so crowded."
"That will be exciting," said Thomas. "When I was in Spain, I saw their new high-speed trains. Their engines were some of the fastest I had ever seen, but you're a great engine too, Alison. Do you like repairing tracks?"
"Yes," Alison replied. "Some days can be boring, but that's just how it is. I'm making my railway safer for everyone else and I'm still working hard, but sometimes, I wish I could fly along the line pulling coaches again."
Just then, the signal changed to green. "Come along, Alison," said her Driver. "We can't keep the workmen waiting."
"Goodbye, Alison," said Thomas. "I hope we can talk again soon."
"I'm sure we will," whistled Alison. "And it was a pleasure meeting you, Thomas. Goodbye."
Alison puffed away just as the first visitors were arriving. Thomas smiled as he watched Alison puff away. "I didn't know Edward had a sister. I can't wait to tell him when I get back to Sodor."
"I'm sure he'll be happy to know she's still around," said Yong Bao happily and as the people crowded around them, Thomas couldn't think of anything else.