The next morning, Thomas' Driver and Fireman came early. "Wake up, Thomas," whispered his Driver. "Rosie has been called away from Vicarstown Yard and the Fat Controller needs us to do her work."

"Right away," yawned Thomas.

The Fireman raised steam as quickly as he could, and Thomas steamed away from the Sheds. They collected some trucks from Knapford Yard and set off across the island to Vicarstown.

Thomas quickly set to work shunting trucks and coaches wherever they were needed. He brought empty coaches to the Station and pulled them away when they weren't being used.

Later, Thomas stopped at the water tower for a drink when Douglas steamed in with another goods train. Thomas remembered what had happened the other day. "Good morning, Douglas," he called.

"Hullo, Thomas," whistled Douglas.

"Douglas," asked Thomas thoughtfully, "you and Donald have worked together a long time, haven't you?"

"Aye, we have."

"You may have your differences, but you really care about each other, don't you?"

"Och, aye," agreed Douglas, "we couldn't stand one of uz staying here on Sodor while the other was sent back. Why do you ask?"

Thomas told him about Spencer and the Flying Scotsman. Then he paused. "…Do you think it would be silly if there was another engine like me around?"

"Of course not," laughed Douglas. "You're a Really Useful Engine and anyone like you would be a credit to the Railway."

"Do you think there could be another engine like me somewhere?"

"There might be."

Thomas smiled. "Thank you, Douglas." He felt a little better now.

"Anything for a good friend," grinned Douglas, "and remember, Thomas, even if there isn't another engine like you, you have lots of friends who still care about you a lot."

"I know. Emily said the same thing."

"And she's right."

Earlier, Connor had brought his passengers from the Mainland. It had been a long journey, and he was very tired. He went to Vicarstown Sheds to rest, and Thomas shunted his coaches away to be cleaned.

Later, Thomas saw Connor at the coal hopper. "Are you feeling better, Connor?" he asked.

"Much better, thank you, Thomas. Can you shunt my coaches to the Station please? I'm still getting ready to leave."

"Of course," replied Thomas and he ran to find Connor's coaches in the sidings.

Thomas shunted the coaches to the platform and waited for Connor to arrive. The passengers climbed onboard as Connor steamed in with his whistle wailing; steam billowed everywhere as he backed onto his train.

A porter was carrying a shunter's pole across the platform. He was on his way to uncouple Thomas…when it happened. A lady dropped her parcels on the platform and the porter jumped and dropped his pole. He quickly turned around and went to help the lady.

Suddenly, the Guard blew his whistle and waved his flag. Connor whistled back and started off. Thomas gasped as he jerked forward, and his Driver and Fireman fell over in his cab. Thomas looked down to see he was still coupled to the coaches. "Cinders and ashes!" he cried. "Not again! Stop! Stop!" he shouted, but Connor was making so much noise that he didn't hear Thomas, nor did his Driver.

Connor raced across the Vicarstown Bridge and along the Main Line with Thomas rattling and clattering behind. The Driver and Fireman were dazed and confused, and Thomas was bouncing around so much that they had trouble getting to their feet.

At last, Thomas' Fireman clambered up and blew Thomas' whistle. Up front, Connor heard it. "What? That's funny, I thought I heard Thomas whistling." Thomas was out of breath and couldn't call out, but thanks to the Fireman, he kept on whistling. "Am I hearing things?" asked Connor out loud.

"I don't think so," said his Driver. "I hear Thomas too."

Connor's Fireman looked back. "Oh jiminy!" he cried, "it is Thomas! He's still coupled behind us!"

"Oh no!" moaned Connor.

Luckily, there was a station ahead and Connor whistled to warn the Stationmaster that they had to stop. Gently braking, Connor slid into the platform and after his Driver explained what had happened, he and the Stationmaster went to see if Thomas and his Crew were alright. Thomas was too tired to say anything. He was uncoupled and puffed slowly to the water column.

Connor waited patiently for Thomas to recover. "I'm so sorry, Thomas!" he said at last. "Are you alright?"

"I am now," Thomas panted. "What…happened?"

"It must've been that lady on the platform," replied Thomas' Fireman.

"What will we do now?" asked the Stationmaster. "Your engine is too far from Sodor to go back on his own now and even if he wasn't, the Main Line's too busy and we can't block the tracks any longer."

"There's only one thing for it," said Connor's Driver. "We'll have to take Thomas with us."

"What?!" everyone cried.

"But we're going all the way to London," exclaimed Connor.

"We don't have a choice," replied his Driver. "Thomas can't get back home and he can't stay here either."

Everyone was silent. "…Alright," said Thomas at last, "let's do it."

"I promise I'll go as slow as I can without running late, Thomas," said Connor.

"And I'll do my best to keep up with you."

Thomas returned to the back of the train and was coupled up once more and it wasn't long before the Guard was ready. "Are you ready, Thomas?" whistled Connor.

"Yes," Thomas whistled back, "as ready as I'll ever be." And as the two engines pulled quickly away with the coaches, the Stationmaster went to telephone the Yard Master in Vicarstown.

Back on Sodor, the Fat Controller was finishing his afternoon tea when the telephone rang. "Hullo? …What?! …Oh no! Is everyone alright? …Yes? …Yes, I see…Yes, I understand…Goodbye."