An old friend was returning to the high hills of Sodor; his name was Fearless Freddie. It seemed that everyone had heard tales of Freddie; he was fast, fun and fearless.

Thomas had been asked to take Freddie to the Narrow-Gauge Railway. "I'm sure everyone will be excited to meet you," he puffed.

"Of course, they will," Freddie replied, "I'm one of the most famous engines around."

Thomas pushed Fearless Freddie all the way to the Transfer Yards. Skarloey and Rheneas were already there.

"Fearless Freddie is back!" Freddie announced grandly.

"Welcome, Freddie" peeped Skarloey.

"It's an honour to finally meet you," Rheneas added.

"And it's a pleasure to meet you," replied Freddie.

Just then, Sir Handel puffed into the Yards and beamed. "Hullo, Freddie," he whistled, "I haven't seen you for years."

The other engines were surprised. "I didn't know you two were friends," said Thomas.

"Oh yes," grinned Sir Handel, "Freddie used to work with Duke, Peter Sam and I on our old line; he was the fastest engine in the hills."

"Really, Sir Handel," smirked Skarloey, "when you got your special wheels, you said that you were faster than any of us."

"I'll show you who's fastest," said Freddie. "Just you wait and see."

It wasn't long until Freddie was on his rails; he took on lots of coal and water and his fire was lit. As his Driver and Fireman checked him over, the Thin Controller arrived. "I have heard a lot about you, Freddie," he said, "and I am sure you will be Really Useful here once more."

"Yes, Sir," promised Freddie.

Freddie's first job was to take some empty trucks to the Coal Mine and bring loaded trucks back to the Yard. He huffed and puffed happily along…but going uphill was harder than he remembered.

"Flatten my funnel," wheeshed Freddie, "I used to be able to chuff up these hills in no time."

"Take your time," soothed his Driver, "you are an older engine now, after all."

Freddie was slowly crossing the last hill before the Mine when he saw Skarloey again. "How about a race?" he asked. "Then, I can show you how fast I can be. If I get to the bottom before you, I've won." But before Skarloey could reply, Freddie started. "Ready, steady…GO!" he whistled as the signal dropped.

Freddie raced along, but Skarloey wasn't hurrying at all; he knew his passengers needed a smooth ride. Freddie was racing very fast…until he started to run out of puff and began to slow down.

"Oh no, that Skarloey is sure to pass me," Freddie chuffed sadly…but as he steamed down the track, he didn't see Skarloey at all. "Maybe I am still the fastest engine in the hills," he wheeshed.

Freddie raced on and soon, he was at the bottom of the hill. He stopped at the next signal and as he waited, Skarloey puffed into the station.

"I did it!" cheered Freddie. "You couldn't catch me."

"You're so fast," wheeshed Skarloey. "I can't race about like that anymore."

Freddie was very pleased with himself as he puffed away. He arrived at the Mine, collected the coal and set off back to the Transfer Yards.

Along the way, Sir Handel steamed up with a load of slate. "I heard you beat Skarloey in a race," he puffed. "Shall I race you next?"

"Of course," whistled Freddie, "Fearless Freddie never says 'no' to a race." The two engines arrived at the Rocky Ridge Line. "This looks like a good place."

But Sir Handel wasn't sure. "I don't know, this line is very steep."

"You're not scared, are you?" teased Freddie.

"Of course not," wheeshed Sir Handel indignantly, "if you're fearless enough to race here, then so am I."

"On my whistle," said Freddie…and he 'peeped' loudly. "Off we go!" Freddie raced ahead of Sir Handel. Soon, he began to run out of puff again; he didn't want to lose, but he remembered his race with Skarloey. "Not to worry, not to worry," he huffed to himself, and continued on as fast as he could.

Sir Handel was determined to win; he was racing very fast, and his heavy trucks were shaking and bouncing along behind. "Faster, faster!" he yelled.

"Steady, boy, steady!" called his Driver. Sir Handel had been right; the track was very steep.

Freddie heard Sir Handel and looked back. "Whirring wheels!" he panted.

Then, there was trouble.

Rheneas was trundling slowly home when Sir Handel and Freddie raced around the bend. "Oh no!" Sir Handel cried and his Driver applied the brakes.

Rheneas started to speed up. "Look out!" he cried, but it was no use; Sir Handel bumped into him. They rattled towards a sharp bend…and Rheneas jumped right off the track. His Driver and Fireman jumped clear, and everyone watched as he bumped and bounced down the hillside.

Sir Handel's Driver telephoned the Thin Controller, and it wasn't long before Rusty arrived with the Works Train and the Thin Controller onboard. "It's all my fault, Sir," wheeshed Freddie sadly. "I wanted to prove I was still the fastest engine in the hills and now, Rheneas is in trouble because of me."

"How will we find Rheneas now?" asked Sir Handel.

"I think I can find him," whistled Freddie loudly. "I remember these hills well and I know of an old track that used to run nearby.

When the rescue party reached the bottom of the hill, Freddie took the lead. He puffed slowly along…until he saw a cutting in the rocks. Sure enough, the workmen found an old forgotten track under the grass and bushes.

The engines followed the winding track down to the valley…and there was Rheneas. "Thank goodness," he sighed, "I'm so happy you found me."

"So am I," said Freddie. In no time at all, Rheneas was back on the tracks, and everyone helped him back to the Depot.

That evening, the Thin Controller had stern words for Sir Handel and Freddie. "What you both did was very dangerous," he said, "and engines like you should know better. Luckily, no one was hurt."

Freddie felt very bad. "I'm sorry I got you into trouble, Rheneas, and I'm sorry I tricked you, Sir Handel. I suppose I'm not as fast as I used to be."

"But you are wiser than you used to be," said Rheneas. "I didn't even remember that old track. I would've been stuck longer if it wasn't for you."

"Why don't you tell us more about the old days?" asked Skarloey.

"And you can tell us about what happened after you left our old line," Sir Handel added.

Freddie smiled. "I'd be happy to," he said, "…and maybe you and Peter Sam can tell me why you aren't called 'Falcon' and 'Stuart' anymore."

Everyone laughed and Freddie, Sir Handel, Peter Sam and Duke began to tell the other engines tales from their old line. Everyone was happy Fearless Freddie was back.