Ringo: Snow's coming down at a mighty pace!

Britt: Ya think?! I almost thought I was in a blizzard.

…

It was almost Christmas on the Island of Sodor. All the engines were working hard, surprisingly hard for a few of them, as despite their bickering and general cynicalness, they loved the holiday, and wanted some presents. Except for Edward and Toby, who wanted to spend some time with their friends.

All sorts of activity all over the line. 87546 and Gordon pulled people to shops, and 98462 had to pull the looters away.

"Are you alright?" asked Eagle.

"Does it look like I'm alright?!" replied 87546. He had five dents in his boiler.

"Hurry up, James! Other engines use this washdown too!" protested 98462, who looked like someone emptied a whole carton of eggs on him.

Meanwhile, Percy had already taken over shunting duties in the yard. This meant that after running around, setting up certain trains for certain engines, he managed to sell a few Ringo Starr CDs while he was at it.

Edward, James, and Eagle were all busy carrying Christmas decorations everywhere.

Everybody was somewhat happy, except for Annie and Clarabel, as they were busy complaining.

"It's always the freaking same before Christmas!" they grumbled. "We feel so full! We feel so full! I might burst!"

"Ah stop with the dodgers, ladies!" crowed Thomas. "Where is your festive spirit?"

"At the coach shed!" snapped Annie.

"With a heater!" snapped Clarabel.

"Don't either of you know Christmas day is almost here! It's the one time where we finally put our squabbling aside!" protested Thomas.

The three soon passed Eagle and James puffing along with a collection of Christmas CDs.

"WHAT KIND OF SONG IS THIS?!" asked James.

"IT'S DISCO SNOW! WHAT'S WRONG WITH THAT?" replied Eagle.

"Disco and Christmas don't mix!" protested James.

"Yes they do!" said Eagle.

Thomas sighed, not feeling so sure of himself. They soon pulled along the line, and saw a rather familiar looking cottage. A familiar figure lived and stood there, waving at them.

"Oh my god, it's Mrs. Kyndley!" said Thomas cheerfully. "I knew she'd make it another year! Peep peep! Happy Christmas!" He always felt better for seeing her.

"Christmas would not be Christmas without Mrs. Kyndley!" declared Thomas.

"What would it be then?" asked Annie.

"A Christmas too average for our liking!" replied Thomas.

"I've always wondered what happened to Mr. Kyndley." pondered Clarabel.

…

Later, after work was over, Thomas ran off to see the other engines. As he puffed onto the turntable, he heard snips of conversations.

"-and he had the nerve to say that someone like Dean Martin sucks!" said 87546.

"Who'd say something like that?" asked Percy.

"Someone with crappy taste in music." remarked 87546.

"Hey, I heard that!" protested 98462.

"Did any of you get me anything?" asked Henry.

"I got you a supposed scarf, Hen." muttered James.

"How cute of you, little James." chuckled Gordon.

"I will punch you in the nose if you call me cute again." said James angrily.

All of their coats had been nicely polished, while Toby's had already been repainted following James' Tar Incident. Gordon soon turned his attention from the intimidating James to the not-so-intimidating Thomas.

"Just look at us! Eight glorious engines! Your driver's gonna have to work harder to get you looking as good as us!"

"Never mind that, big Gordon!" whistled Thomas "i've got something important to say!"

"I know, we got the last Christmas CD today too." said Edward.

"It's one of several we universally agreed on!" chuckled Percy.

"No! I mean, yes that's good, but still! Do any of you realize that it's been a whole year since Mrs. Kyndley saved us from a nasty accident?" asked Thomas.

"No." said Eagle.

"Who the hell is Mrs. Kyndley?" asked 87546.

"She's this old bat that once saved Thomas and/or Toby before." explained Percy.

"Oh yeah! You told us how she was ill in bed-" said Edward.

"-and she used and waved her red dressing gown to try and warn you about a landslide ahead!" joined Henry.

"And you and Toby both gave her presents." said Eagle.

"Plus STH sent her to some place called Bournemouth to get better." chimed in 98462.

"I'm not even sure if it's been a whole year since then." said James.

"Details!" snapped Thomas.

"But!" said James and Henry together. "The rest of us have never gotten to thank her properly." The two engines stared at each other for a moment. "Jinx!" they both said at once.

"Exactly!" said Thomas. "So that is why I was thinking we should throw a special Christmas Party for her!"

There was a small pause, and just then Toby puffed up, happily ringing his bell." Hello everyone!" he said happily. "What did I miss?"

"Thomas here wants us to do more work than ever before!" protested James. "A freakin' Christmas party for her?!"

"Well it'll be for all of us." suggested Edward. "It'll be like the biggest Christmas gift anyone could have."

"I guess we could use the leftover decorations." said Eagle.

"Plus I'm sick of getting wrapped up by weavers!" protested 98462.

"Alright, it's clear that it's settled then." said Gordon.

The engines soon got very excited and the drivers felt and were sure that STH would agree as indeed he did. The engines were busy making their own plans, when silence suddenly fell.

…

STh trudged on through, bearing bad news.

"The weather's changed badly, and Mrs. Kyndley got snowed up because of it! I would have helped if my doctor hadn't forbidden me from risking my life. Toby says he'll help suicidily, and you must help too, Thomas!"

"Why me?!" replied Thomas.

"Cause it was your bloody idea!" snapped Bertie.

"There's no party unless you do!" said STH.

Thomas sighed. "I'll try, sir!" he said bravely.

"That's a good engine. You and Toby will do amazing!"

…

Thomas, now armed with a snowplow and hope, began charging at the snowdrifts fiercely. Some were easy to get through, and some took up to four charges to get through. Toby followed suit with Henrietta, cold and worried, and also filled with a beverage cart.

"Toby?"

"Yes, Henrietta?"

"Where's the brakevan?"

"What are you talking about? It's right ther-" Toby said, only to look back and realize that there was no brakevan there. "Oh SIDEPLATES AND COWCATCHERS!" Toby then hurried off to go and get it.

When Thomas soon reached the cottage, he saw that the snowdrift ahead was three times bigger than the one he once crashed into. He could go no further because of it.

"My god!" said Thomas. "It's like someone dumped a week's worth of cocaine here!" He whistled. "Peep peep! We're here now!"

An answering wave came from the upstairs window, and Mrs. Kyndley descended. Just then, they all heard a familiar noise.

"What a minute, that's Terrence!" said Thomas. "He must be here to help too!"

Sure enough, Terrence rolled forward with a snowplow while humming his own fanfare.

"Hello l!" said Terrence while he worked hard clearing a path to the line.

At long last, after a great battle with the snow, it was finally done. Percy took the tired workmen to their homes, Terrence said goodbye to Mrs. Kyndley, and Thomas and Toby both set off.

…

The engines soon made good time, as no more snow fell that day. But as Thomas and Toby arrived at the yard, it was dark, not a single sight could be seen.

Suddenly, all the lights came on! And the sight was marvelous. The two coaches, Annie and Clarabel, sat on opposite sides of the shed, Bertie was nestled up by one of them and grinning. In the shed, Gordon, Percy, Edward, James, Henry, Eagle, 87546, and 98462 all let loose a chorus of whistles to greet them. A Christmas tree that looked very well groomed stood beside the final berth, attended to by Jeremiah Jobling, George Carlin, Charlie Sand, and Sidney Heaver. Mrs. Kyndley swooned at the sight of it all.

STH then got up on a podium that looked like it was made of lego. "Well done!" he said. "I'm extremely proud of you all!"

Kyndley soon thanked the smaller engines. "Thomas and Toby are old friends of mine!" she said happily. "Now Percy, and the rest of you all are too!"

"Three cheers for Mrs. Kyndley!" called out Percy.

They all whistled. The band started up, having been carried in by Terrence.

…

"We wish you a merry Christmas! We wish you a merry Christmas! We wish you a merry Christmas! And a happy new year!"

Everyone whistled happily as he finished.

…

While Christmas morning dawned, the engines were joyed to see their presents.

Thomas and the others soon exchanged gifts with one another.

"Thanks so much." said 87546, as Eagle had given him a 'How To Treat Engines with respect guide".

"No probs." said Eagle.

"I feel like 98462 needs that guide more than 87546 does." said Henry.

"You know, I love my new home here on Sodor." said Toby happily. "It's the best thing that's ever happened to me.

"I have an idea for our gift to STH." said Edward thoughtfully.

"Do tell, little Edward." said Gordon.

Edward soon explained his idea to the other engines.

…

While STH sat down in his office and already opened the gifts from his family, he noticed a particular gift on the floor.

He picked it up, unwrapped it, and saw that it was a postcard consisting of all ten engines, plus Bertie and Terrence, signed with each of their names, and reading 'To the Best Controller Ever!'.

STH merely shed a tear in happiness.