Chapter 110: The Trip to London

It was the end of a busy day on the Island of Sodor. Thomas arrived at Elsbridge with the last train of the day. Percy and Toby were at the station as well.

"Evening, Thomas. You wouldn't happen to be going to the main sheds, would you?"

"Yeah, why?"

"So are we. Sir Topham Hatt has called a meeting there. Something about a big announcement."

Thomas sat in deep thought.

"You know what? I think something is up."

Percy was looked up in wonder.

"Where."

"Not up there," laughed Toby, "Down here."

Percy was confused.

"How can something be up when it's down?"

Before either Thomas or Toby could explain, they heard a chorus of unfamiliar whistles. Coming down the line were a calvacade of engines from The Other Railway. Percy smiled when he saw two tank engines roll by.

"Jinty! Pug! It's me, Percy."

The two drivers whistled back before they and their colleagues disappeared around the bend.

"You know those two, Percy?"

"Oh yes, I met them on my last Holiday. They drive the engine pilots for the big station at the end of the line. I wonder what they're doing on Sodor?"

"Only one way to find out."

And with that the three drove their engines to Tidmouth sheds.

When they got there, they saw that the whole yard was crowded with people and engines. Gordon was off to the side having an argument with one of the visitors. It was the same one he and Duck had met before.

"I'm telling you, London is Euston!"

"Have you actually been there? It's St. Pancreas. I was there not too long ago."

"You're even dumber than I thought. At least that Great Western buffoon had enough sense to make up his mind."

"Why I oughta-"

"Silence!"

Everyone turned to see Sir Topham Hatt approaching the yard.

"Good, it seems everyone is here. Now I have a very important announcement to make. With Gordon's recent trip to London, we have many visitors from the mainland. However, many people are not able to make the trip to Sodor but would still like to see us and our engines. So I have arranged with the manager of The Other Railway for us to come to London, where people can see our engines in all their glory."

Everyone cheered.

"The trip will be in two weeks' time. Until then you will be showing our visitors how to manage your jobs while your away."

It was a busy two weeks, but Thomas and his friends didn't mind. They were too excited for their trip.

Thomas was busy working with Jinty the day before the trip, showing him how to handle passenger services on the branchline. After that, they went to work shunting. Thomas was telling Jinty about his race with Bertie.

"I drove my engine straight through the tunnel and stopped an inch from the buffers. Just like this!"

And without warning he opened the throttle, making his engine shoot straight forward. Thomas meant to stop right before the engine hit the buffers, but he wasn't quick enough, and he was forced to jump clear. His engine burst through the buffers, slid down the embankment and crashed through a brick wall.

"Somehow I doubt Bertie found it impressive," interjected Jinty.

The engine's front was badly bent. Henry took it to the Steamworks, but Thomas was worried.

"If Victor can't fix it in time, I shall miss the trip."

Sir Topham Hatt was in his office when he received the news.

"Bother. If Thomas's engine is not ready by tomorrow, I'm afraid we'll have to leave him."

At 8:00 AM the next morning, everyone was at the big station waiting. Gordon's was at the front, Henry's and James's right behind him, and Duck and Edward pulled up the rear. Percy and Toby's engines were on a wellwagon, while the two of them rested in a brakevan. Sir Topham Hatt looked at the clock.

"I'll give Thomas one more minute. After that we must leave, otherwise we'll miss our right of way."

Not a second had passed before a whistle was heard, and rounding bend into the station was Thomas, Annie, and Clarabel all piled into the engine. A brakevan was behind them, carrying their luggage.

"Phew. Made it."

"We're not too late, are we? It's only a minute past 8."

"No, you just made it. In the future, Thomas, please keep your showing off to a minimum. We have enough of that from Gordon and James."

"Hey!"

"Yes sir, sorry sir."

Thomas ran his engine round to the end, and with a chorus of whistles the cavalcade set off.

It was a long trip, but the scenery made it worth it. At long last they arrived at London late that evening. They were all rounded into a big yard, where everyone oohed and awed at their engines. Many pictures were taken, and people asked them all sorts of questions. Everyone agreed that it was a wonderful experience.

A/N: Another trilogy done! Originally, this was going to be the 100th chapter, matching how it was the 100th episode of the show, but I didn't feel that it was really deserving of such an honor, and I'm happy with how things went. Next time we'll be doing something a little different, and it's something I've been meaning to do since the 100th chapter: a request from a certain someone. But more on that next week.