Rebecca is one of the newest engines on the Island of Sodor. The Fat Controller brought her to his Railway to help Gordon with the Express, but Rebecca is a mixed-traffic engine and that means she can pull coaches and trucks.

Rebecca may be a big engine, but she is still rather light on her wheels. While this makes her slip on the rails more often than the other engines, it's easier for her to travel on the Branch Lines than heavier engines like Gordon and Henry. Because of this, Rebecca has been almost everywhere on the North Western Railway, but there are still some places that she has not seen.

One evening at Tidmouth Sheds, Thomas noticed Rebecca looking thoughtful. "What's the matter, Rebecca?"

"Remember when I let your passengers off at Elsbridge today?" she asked.

"Yes."

"Well, I wish I could've taken them up to Ffarquhar. I had already traveled through Dryaw from Knapford. Why couldn't I have taken them the rest of the way? I've never been up there before."

"What nonsense," snorted Gordon. "Big engines like us are meant to be on the Main Line."

"But there's so much to see all over the island," Rebecca insisted. "Engines like Thomas, Edward, James, Emily, Nia, Donald and Douglas get to see so much of it. They've been everywhere."

"Well, not everywhere," said Emily, "but every engine can only do so much."

"That's right," Thomas added. "The tracks on my Branch Line may be able to hold your weight, but it doesn't need an engine as big as you. Besides, the tunnel before Hackenbeck is very narrow. You would get stuck." Rebecca looked disappointed.

"Don't be sad, Rebecca," smiled Percy. "There's still so much to see and do on the rest of Sodor."

"Percy's right," said Nia. "Other tracks, tunnels and bridges aren't a problem for an engine like you and I've been on Thomas' Branch Line myself. You may not be able to go through that one tunnel, but one of the tracks near Ulfstead Castle connects to both Ffarquhar Station and the Quarry. Even Henry had been up there. You can still get there if you ever have the chance."

"You may be a big, strong engine, Rebecca," finished Thomas, "but being able to go so many places makes you a very special engine indeed."

Rebecca tried to smile. "I suppose you're right." But inside, she still wondered if she would ever get her chance to see more of Thomas' Line.

Some days later, Rebecca had brought some empty stone trucks to Elsbridge Junction. As she waited for Henry's Local Train to go through, Thomas panted into the Station. "Are you alright, Thomas?"

"No," Thomas puffed, "I got a bad steam leak somewhere."

"We were lucky to make it here," said his Driver, "but Thomas can't carry on like this. We'll have to wait for help."

Thomas sighed. "Now my passengers will be late." Suddenly, an idea flew into his funnel. "Wait! can Rebecca help?"

"Me?!" exclaimed Rebecca.

"Yes! if you take Annie and Clarabel for me, my passengers might still get to their Stations on time."

"…That just might work," pondered his Driver. "If she can get your passengers up to Maithwaite, another engine could take them from there."

The Stationmaster telephoned the Fat Controller who agreed. Rebecca shunted Thomas to the Engine Shed and backed down on the coaches. Henry was very surprised to see Rebecca with Annie and Clarabel, but they quickly explained the situation.

"Toby will be coming down from Ffarquhar to meet you," said the Stationmaster.

Rebecca was excited, but after the Guard blew his whistle, she did her best to not start too quickly. Luckily, Annie and Clarabel were lighter than her usual trains, so her wheels didn't slip.

As she puffed along, Rebecca enjoyed herself. There were so many things she hadn't seen before, a narrow bridge over a deep cutting, a small country crossing, Farmer Trotter's Pig Farm, a canal, and an old Quarry Mine. "It's so beautiful here," she puffed.

"It is lovely, isn't it?" agreed Annie.

"Indeed," said Clarabel, "that's why Thomas calls his Branch the pride of the Line."

Rebecca arrived at Maithwaite on time and the passengers gave her three cheers. Toby soon arrived to collect Annie and Clarabel and Rebecca made her way back to the Junction.

That night, the Fat Controller came to see her. "Well done, Rebecca! Thanks to you, Thomas' passengers still managed to arrive on time."

"It was Thomas' idea, Sir," she replied, "but I was happy to help."

"And in doing so, you have proved, once again, what a Really Useful Engine you are and now, I know who else to ask to help on Thomas' Branch Line in an emergency."

"It was lovely to see Thomas' Line, Sir, and I would like to see Ffarquhar and Hackenbeck sometime if it's not too much trouble."

"Well," replied the Fat Controller, "the next time a big load of stone needs collecting from the Quarry, I know just the engine for the job."

"Congratulations, Rebecca," said Emily.

"It seems you got your wish after all," remarked James.

"Thank you," smiled Rebecca. "I wonder what new things I'll see next."

"It's just like I told Thomas once," said Nia, "there are so many things to see and discover."

And everyone agreed.