It was a cool night on the Island of Sodor. All the engines were very busy; there still were lots of jobs to do. Gordon pulled his evening Express and Percy took the mail, delivering letters and parcels across the whole island.

Thomas was delivering coal from the Coaling Plant. It was a very long journey and a very heavy train; he worked all night puffing through the countryside.

The Driver and Fireman worked hard too. During the day, Thomas' Driver was taken ill, and a Relief Man took his place, but this Driver wasn't used to working nightshifts.

At last, Thomas had delivered all the coal. By then, it was morning, and he was very tired. "I'm puffed out," he wheeshed. "I wish I had some help delivering the coal."

"Pah!" huffed Gordon, "a Really Useful Engine doesn't need help."

"Ha!" laughed Edward, "I'm always helping you up the Hill." Gordon was embarrassed, but the Relief Driver heard everything.

Then, the Fat Controller arrived. "I need an engine to handle three jobs for me," he said.

"We can do it," said the Driver; he wanted to show Gordon how useful Thomas really was.

"Very well, you must take some chickens to the Market, sheep to Farmer McColl's Farm and children to School."

"That's a very big job for a small engine," huffed Gordon. "You're bound to need some help."

This made Thomas and the Driver cross. "I'm still Really Useful," snapped Thomas and he puffed away.

Thomas' Fireman was anxious. "Are you sure we can do this?" he asked. "We have been working all night."

"Not to worry," replied the Driver. "We'll all have a good rest after we finish these jobs."

"Chickens to Market, sheep to the Farm, children to School," Thomas puffed.

First, Thomas collected the chickens. Next, he puffed into the Valley where all the sheep were waiting. "Come on," Thomas panted to the sheep, "I'll take you to the Farm."

Finally, Thomas trundled into Maron Station. By now, he was very tired; so were the Driver and Fireman. The children's smiling faces made Thomas feel happy, but his axles were aching from working all night.

When the children were all onboard, Thomas puffed away; he puffed up hills and through tunnels. His pistons pounded and his axles ached, but he kept on puffing. "Chickens to Market, sheep to the Farm, Children to School," he panted.

Thomas stopped at a signal; Percy was already there and thought his friend looked quite worn out. "Do you need any help?" he asked.

"No thank you," puffed Thomas, "I can manage." And when the signal changed, he puffed on.

Soon, Thomas and his Crew were so tired, they couldn't think properly and started to get into a muddle. "What were we doing again?" Thomas yawned.

"I don't remember," his Fireman yawned back and turned to the Driver. "Do you know where we're going?"

"Sheep to Market, children to Farm, chickens to School," groaned the Driver and he let out the biggest yawn of all.

As they approached at the Market, the Driver, Fireman and Thomas were very muddled indeed. All they wanted to do was to stop working and have a rest.

Then, the Driver had an idea. "I know what we can do. Instead of waiting for the sheep to be unloaded, we could save time by leaving their truck here." Thomas and his Fireman were too tired to disagree, so Thomas backed his train into the sidings and the Driver uncoupled the last van.

As Thomas puffed away, Emily came alongside, and she could see that Thomas was tired. "Would you like some help?" she asked.

"No thank you," yawned Thomas, "I can do it." But Thomas was more worn out than ever.

When Thomas arrived at the School, there was no one on the platform. The children were board; they started playing silly games. The Guard was busy trying to keep them in line…and he didn't notice the Driver uncouple the chickens.

At last, Thomas arrived at Farmer McColl's…but only the children were left. Farmer McColl was waiting; he was very surprised. "What's going on?" he asked.

"Weren't you expecting the children for a Day Out?" asked the Driver.

"No, I was expecting my sheep to arrive."

"And why aren't we at the School?" asked the Guard.

"Oh no!" moaned Thomas.

In his Office, the Fat Controller was getting lots of telephone calls. The sheep were making a terrible racket outside the Market, the chickens were causing a disturbance at the School and the Teachers were wondering where the children were.

Then, Farmer McColl telephoned the Fat Controller and told him all about Thomas; he soon returned. "Sir Topham Hatt will be waiting for you at the School," he said. "Percy and Edward will be fixing the other deliveries." Thomas and his Fireman felt terrible, but the Driver felt worst of all.

Edward took the chickens from the School to the Market and Thomas passed Percy taking the sheep from the Market to the Farm. When Thomas arrived back at the School, the Fat Controller was waiting. "Thomas, you have caused confusion and delay," he said sternly.

Thomas was upset, but then, the Driver stepped down from Thomas' cab. "It wasn't his fault, Sir. It was mine." And he told the Fat Controller what Gordon had said. "I wanted to show him how useful Thomas could be.

The Fat Controller sighed. "It was brave of you to stand up for Thomas," he said, "but Gordon doesn't know everything. Sometimes, you can't take what others say too seriously and what you've told me was, clearly, one of those times."

"I'm sorry, Sir," replied the Driver, "how can I make it up to you?"

"You can go home and have a long rest." The Fat Controller turned to Thomas and his Fireman. "And the same goes for you two as well."

"But how will I get back to the Sheds without a Driver?" asked Thomas.

"I think I can help with that." And Thomas' Driver stepped forward. "Come along, Thomas, it's time to get you back home."

"Sorry," Thomas puffed to the children, "I didn't mean to take you to the wrong place."

"We don't mind," said the children. "We had a Grand Day Out with you seeing the sights of Sodor."

Thomas' Driver climbed aboard, and Thomas steamed back to the Sheds and when he finally went to sleep, he dreamt about sheep…and chickens…and children.