It had been some time since Gordon spoke with Edward about his problems. He still saw the old engine almost every day and was warming up to Nia too. Unfortunately, Gordon couldn't help feeling a little troubled.

One evening, when he arrived at Knapford Station, Gordon saw an engine he had never seen before steaming into the Yard. It had bright yellow paint with orange and red stripes along its sides. It looked very modern and very fast. "Who is that?" he asked himself.

As Gordon rolled through the Station, he heard the Fat Controller speaking to the other engines. "Rebecca's going to be staying with you at Tidmouth Sheds and helping Gordon during busy times."

"What?!" Gordon cried. "I don't need any-."

"She'll help ensure there's no confusion or delay."

"Oh, the indignity," grumbled Gordon and left. Gordon was uncomfortable about the new engine staying at Tidmouth, but he remembered what Edward and Nia had told him and didn't say anything.

The next day, Rebecca was eager to prove herself, but arrived at each of her stops too early. Gordon wasn't impressed. If that engine is meant to help me, he thought, who knows what will happen to my Express. But when Rebecca misunderstood the Flying Scotsman's teasing, Gordon began warming up to her.

The engines did their best to make Rebecca feel welcome, but Gordon still felt unsure. James was cross. "Another express engine?!" he wheeshed. "We don't need another one! Gordon handles the Express as well as he ever did!" It was lucky for James that Rebecca wasn't there to hear.

"James," scolded Emily, "you know as well as any of us that our railway is getting busier, and we need more engines to help."

"But why her?!" James protested. "From what I've heard, she doesn't do her job very well." And he fumed away.

James collected his coaches and was waiting at Knapford when Rebecca backed down onto her train. "Good morning, James," she said.

"What's good about it?" the red engine sulked.

"What was that-?"

"Nothing, nothing!" And when the Guard blew his whistle, James snorted out of the station.

As the day went on, the sun shone and the birds sang, but James barely noticed. "Why do we need Rebecca?" he puffed to himself. "If Gordon needs help with the Express, I can do it and so can Henry and Emily." Then he had another thought. "With Rebecca here, what will happen to us? Henry's already helping Murdoch, Hank and Hiro. What if Emily gets more of my jobs next? I could be stuck on goods work forever!" Suddenly, James was fired with determination. "I won't let that happen. I'll show the Fat Controller that I can still pull passengers just as well as Gordon."

Later, Henry was taking some trucks to Knapford Yard when he stopped at a signal at Wellsworth. Edward was waiting there too. Then, Rebecca steamed in with her coaches. "Oh, hello." said Henry. "You must be Rebecca the new engine. I'm Henry."

"And I'm Edward," said the old engine.

"Hello," said Rebecca quietly.

"Is something wrong?"

Rebecca wheeshed. "It's James. He seemed very upset when I saw him this morning. Actually, he always seems bothered around me."

"Hmm," pondered Henry. "I think I might know what's wrong."

"Gordon has been having a similar problem," added Edward and they explained everything.

For the rest of the day, James worked his hardest to get his passengers to their destinations on time and he was very careful not to show off. The passengers were very pleased indeed.

That evening, when James arrived at Tidmouth Sheds, all the other engines were waiting for him…except Rebecca. "Pah, Rebecca's not here yet, is she?" he snorted. "She must be late. Not very reliable at all."

"James!" said a familiar voice. Everyone looked to see Henry and Rebecca steaming up to the Sheds…with the Fat Controller. "I don't understand it," he said. "First you give Rebecca a bad first impression and then, I hear passengers praising you for your hard work. What is going on?!"

"Please don't let Rebecca help Gordon, Sir," pleaded James. "Have her help the rest of us or make her take over the Express altogether."

"What are you talking about?!"

"I think I know, Sir," said Henry. "James feels threatened by Rebecca. With another express engine here, he thinks you won't let him help with the Express anymore."

"Please don't take my passengers away either, Sir," James went on. "I don't want to pull goods trains forever."

"Goods trains forever?!" the Fat Controller repeated. "I would never do that! You're a special mixed-traffic engine and can handle any work I give you, and I'll always need other engines to help with the Express."

Gordon was confused. "But…you said…"

"Rebecca is here to help you Gordon, not replace you. With her here, we can run more than one Express service at a time, which will be a big help to our passengers."

"I'm not even an express engine," said Rebecca. "I'm a mixed-traffic engine like you, James."

"That's right," said the Fat Controller proudly. "Rebecca is a very capable engine and I'm sure she will prove herself to be a big help to all of you."

"Will Henry and Emily still be able to pull the Express too?" asked James.

"Of course, they will."

James was silent for a moment. "…I'm sorry I was rude to you, Rebecca," he sighed.

"And I'm sorry I caused any misunderstandings," said Rebecca. "You do seem like a nice engine, James, and I would like to be your friend."

James smiled. "I'd like that too. So…can we…start over?"

Rebecca happily agreed.

That night, Henry stayed with the other engines as he had to take the Flying Kipper and they all told Rebecca stories about their adventures well into the night. Rebecca was sure she had made good friends. Gordon and James were growing fond of her too and the engines knew they would all be Really Useful together.