Thomas the Tank Engine loved visiting Ulfstead Castle on the Earl of Sodor's Estate, but lately, he had been curious. Standing in front of the Castle was a big wheel. It was meant to be an attraction for the Technology Fair, but it had been a long time since then. He and the other engines kept asking why it was still there, but the Earl always said they would find out soon.

When spring came, Thomas was asked to take passengers to the Castle's reopening for the season. When he arrived, Connor and Caitin were there and so was a very large crowd of people. "Cinders and ashes!" he gasped. "What's all this about?"

"The Earl is making a special announcement," Millie answered.

Sure enough, the Earl walked in front of the crowd, and everyone went quiet. "Ladies, gentlemen, engines and coaches, welcome to the grand reopening of Ulfstead Castle for the new year and I can assure you that this year will be very grand indeed. Some years ago, I announced a new attraction for the Estate. I soon realized that we weren't as ready as I thought, but thanks to the Technology Fair, we have had more visitors than ever and now, we are ready to break ground on this new project."

"Could this be what I think it is?" whispered Stephen.

"Today, I am pleased to tell you that starting tomorrow, we will begin construction of my new Railway Museum!" Everyone cheered and the Earl held his ears as he waited to continue. "But I can tell you that this Museum will be quite different to the others here on Sodor. It will, in fact, be a fully operating Railway Museum. Along with letting visitors look at them, every engine will have the chance to travel around the Estate, collect supplies and take tours around Sodor.

"Once the main building is complete, our first new engines will arrive and when everything is ready, we will also be having some special shows. Engines from all over the world will be visiting to take part." More cheering quickly followed.

"Amazing," smiled Connor.

"How wonderful," added Caitlin.

"This should be very exciting," chuckled Glynn.

"Now, without any further delay," announced the Earl, "I now declare Ulfstead Castle, and the Dinosaur Park open for the season!" The noise of the crowd seemed to echo over the hills and Thomas soon found out that the big wheel was still there to celebrate the new Museum.

The next day, work on the new Railway Museum began. All the engines were excited and so were Miss Jenny's machines. Byron, Brenda and Buster worked together to level the site, Patrick mixed concrete for the new foundation and Kelly and Isabella carried supplies wherever it was needed.

Days went by, then weeks, then months until, at last, the Railway Museum was ready. Inside was a long row of sidings for the engines to rest as well as a turntable. Signs and barriers were everywhere, and the floor was flat so engines and other vehicles could travel through easily.

"It's beautiful!" exclaimed Millie.

"And once our first engine arrives," said the Earl, "it will be open to the public."

Some days later, Rosie was shunting coaches at Vicarstown Station when a strange-looking engine puffed in. It had a boiler pointing up in the air with a big water tank like Glynn. It had a large open cab, and its cylinders and traction rods were back to front.

"Hullo," said the engine, "is this Vicarstown?"

"Yes, it is. I'm Rosie. Who are you?"

"I'm Julien. I was told to meet the Earl of Sodor here."

At that moment, the Earl arrived. "Julian! you made it! It's so good to see you again."

"Hullo, Sir."

Rosie was confused. "You…know each other?"

"We do," said the Earl. "I met Julien when I was away traveling the world. I saw him when I was visiting Belgium and now, he is to become the first engine in my new Railway Museum."

"How exciting!"

"Oh, it is."

Rosie took Julien to the Yard for a drink. "You know," she said, "you look like my friend, Toby. He's a tram engine too."

"Oh, I'm not a tram engine," laughed Julien. "I just look like one because of my big cab. Although, some engines like me did work on tramways."

As Julien was enjoying his drink, Rosie left to fetch some more trucks when 'Arry and Bert arrived. Diesel 10 was busy, so they had to fetch their trucks of scrap and take them to the Smelter's Yard themselves. When they saw Julian, they started to laugh.

"'Oo's this funny little engine?" giggled 'Arry.

"'E's one of the strangest engines I've ever seen!" chortled Bert.

"Well, I'm not from around here," explained the new engine. "My name is Julien and I'm from Belgium. I'm going to the Earl's new Railway Museum."

"Ha! an engine like you belongs in a museum," teased 'Arry.

"Ya," said Bert, "did they pull you out of a Scrapyard and not put you back together properly?" And the two diesels rumbled away, still laughing.

Rosie was upset. "Don't listen to them, Julien. 'Arry and Bert are always making fun of steam engines."

But Julien wasn't bothered at all. "I've been teased about how funny I look many times. Those jokes don't bother me anymore."

Later, Julien arrived at Ulfstead Castle. Stephen, Millie and Glynn were introducing themselves when 'Arry and Bert rolled in with supplies for the Estate and teased Julien again. "This is a very special place, you know," said Bert. "Only very grand things are seen around here."

"You better go see Victor at the Steamworks," added Bert. "He might be able to mend you properly, but in the state you're in, you'll be there for weeks!"

Stephen was cross. "Scamper off, you two. That's no way to talk to a new engine.

'Arry and Bert set of laughing. "Bye, bye, you puzzle of parts!"

"Well, I never did," huffed Glynn.

"Don't worry, Julien," said Millie. "Those two are always being rude to others."

"Yes, Rosie told me," sighed Julien, "but I'm sure they'll come around eventually."

'Arry and Bert set off along Thomas' Branch Line. They were to collect more scrap from Tidmouth.

"That poor, little engine," sniggered 'Arry

"'E must have no friends at all," jeered Bert.

Suddenly, Bert's engine began to make strange grinding noises, then he started to shake and shutter. The same thing started happening to 'Arry before they ground to halt outside Ffarquhar Station.

Back at the Castle, the Earl came to see the engines. "Sir Topham Hatt told me that 'Arry and Bert have broken down and there are no other engines available. We are the closest ones to them who can help. Julien, you are the strongest engine here, so you must go and rescue him."

"I'll do my best, Sir," whistled Julien. "This will teach them for calling me a 'puzzle of parts.'"

"Excellent, you are to take them up to Ffarquhar Quarry and rest there until morning." And Julien puffed away as quickly as he could.

"Do you think he can do it?" asked Millie.

"From what I heard and saw," said the Earl, "Julien may be small, but he is a very reliable engine.

"He must be," added Stephen. "After all, he made it all the way here by himself."

"Saving those diesels will prove how wrong they were," chuckled Glynn.

'Arry and Bert were still waiting and feeling glum. Then, they heard an engine coming, but when they saw it was Julien, they groaned.

"Don't worry, you two," wheeshed Julien. "I'm here to help."

Bert snorted. "Now we'll never get out of 'ere."

Julien backed up to 'Arry and started to pull, but his wheels kept slipping. "We knew you couldn't do it," grumbled 'Arry. "You should've stayed in that scrapyard of yours."

"I was not pulled from a scrapyard," said Julien firmly. "I worked in a shunting yard, but I pulled trains too. I was built to be small, but strong."

Julien pulled harder and harder. Suddenly…with much puffing and wheel slip…'Arry and Bert started to move. They were surprised.

Julien was filled with determination. "I can do it, I can do it," he panted, and sure enough, he managed to pull 'Arry and Bert all the way to the Quarry.

The next morning, the Fat Controller and the Earl came to see them. "Well done, Julien!" said the Fat Controller. "We heard all about your efforts yesterday and we are very proud of you. You may be small, but I see you still managed to rescue 'Arry and Bert. You are a Really Useful Engine and will be a true credit to Sir Robert."

Julien was still tired, but he was very pleased with himself. "Thank you, Sir." 'Arry and Bert said nothing; they felt very embarrassed.

The next morning was the grand opening of the Earl's Railway Museum. Julien was resting in the shed and was surprised to see 'Arry and Bert roll in.

"Julien…thank you for helping us yesterday," sighed 'Arry.

"We were wrong about you," mumbled Bert. "You are a Really Useful after all. We're…sorry."

Julien smiled. "I'm glad I could help."

Julien is now a proud member of the Earl's Estate Railway at Ulfstead Castle. He is still willing to help out whenever he can and continues to prove that he is a hard worker in spite of his size and shape because, as everyone has seen, he is still, indeed, a Really Useful Engine.