Stanley the Silver Tank Engine and Flora the Steam Tram are very good friends. When Thomas discovered the long-lost town of Great Waterton, Stanley came from the Mainland to help out during the restoration. Then, Toby found a sign for the old Great Waterton Tramway and not long after, Flora arrived to run it.

While Flora slept at the Main Shed in the Shunting Yard, Stanley had his own Shed close by and the two engines soon became firm friends. Other engines would sometimes spend the night with them, but Stanley and Flora were almost always there together, but as the years went by, things changed. Stanley wasn't at Great Waterton as often as he used to be and, on most nights, Flora found herself feeling lonely.

One day, Nia arrived at Great Waterton with her local train. Flora was waiting at the Station with her tram car. "Hullo, Flora!" whistled Nia cheerfully.

Flora answered by ringing her bell. "Hullo, Nia."

But Nia noticed that Flora looked sad. "What's the matter?" she asked.

"I miss having friends around."

"But engines come up here every day."

"Yes," said Flora, "but at night, I'm usually alone. I miss Stanley," she sighed. "It's too quiet without him around."

Nia was surprised. "I didn't know Stanley used to live here."

"He slept in the old Shed next to mine, but I don't think anyone has used it lately."

Nia wanted to help. "Would you like to swap jobs with one of us? Then you can visit your friends for a change."

"That would be nice, but I'm the only tram engine here and I'm not really built for running on the Main Line."

"If it helps, I'll tell Stanley when I next see him."

Flora smiled. "Thank you, Nia."

Later, Nia was waiting to collect some trucks from Knapford Yard. When Stanley arrived, she told him what Flora had said.

"Oh dear," Stanley sighed, "I keep forgetting how long it's been since I visited Great Waterton."

"Why don't you sleep their anymore?"

Stanley thought. "I think it just happened. The railway seemed to get busier after the Blue Mountain Quarry opened and Ulfstead Castle was restored. There were more trucks and coaches to shunt than ever, so the Fat Controller asked me to help. Charlie, Stafford, Rosie and even Harvey helped too, but only Stafford could work here all the time.

"When the Yard at Knapford Station was rebuilt, the Fat Controller needed another engine to help shunt. That's when Philip arrived, and everything became much easier.

"When the Fat Controller said he needed an engine to help in Vicarstown, he asked if I could do it, but Rosie thought it was very exciting job, so the Fat Controller let her go, but I didn't mind. Of course, we still see her. When the diesels got trapped at the Dieselworks, Rosie was sent to help me.

"After Great Waterton was reopened, there wasn't a lot of shunting to do around the Yards there. Maybe that's why the Fat Controller sent me to help the other engines here. On some days, it's been so busy that I forgot how much time has passed. I didn't mean to make Flora sad."

"I'm sure she would understand if you explained," said Nia, "and I think I know how. My local train stops at Great Waterton tomorrow. If you take it, I'll do your work, and you can see Flora again."

Stanley thought this was a very good idea. "That could work," he smiled, and their Drivers and the Yard Master agreed.

The next morning, Nia was up bright and early and puffed away to Knapford Yard. Stanley was already at the Station with the coaches. He was excited; he hadn't pulled passengers for a long time.

When Stanley arrived at Great Waterton, he smiled as he saw the old buildings, the Waterworks and the beautiful Station. Flora was waiting there with her tramcar and Stanley whistled to her as he pulled in.

Flora gasped. "Stanley! where have you been? I haven't seen you for…well…quite some time."

Stanley quickly explained. "I'm sorry, Flora. I was only doing what the Fat Controller asked me."

"I know," sighed Flora. "I missed you."

"I missed you too, Flora, you and Great Waterton and I didn't realize how much until I saw both of you."

"Do you think you could spend the night here?"

"I can try…and I think I can do even better still."

The next day, Stanley explained everything to the Fat Controller. "I was wondering if it would be possible for me to go back, Sir."

"I see," pondered the Fat Controller. "Well, the Railway has gotten even busier since then…but lots of new engines have arrived here as well. If you want to back to Great Waterton, Stanley, I think I can make that happen and this means you can help Rosie with her Main Line trains."

Stanley smiled from buffer to buffer. "Thank you, Sir," he whistled. "I know Flora will be happy to hear this too." And she was.

The next day, everyone cheered as Stanley arrived with his passengers and Flora rang her bell cheerfully. "Welcome home, Stanley!" they shouted. Stanley beamed happily for the rest of the day.

It wasn't long before Stanley's Shed was cleaned and ready for him. Flora was happy to have her friend back and so was Stanley, but inside, what made them happiest was that Stanley had finally come home.