If you've ever visited the Island of Sodor, you would know there are lots of wonderful sights to see, rolling hills, tall mountains, green valleys, country farms, busy towns and so much more. Visitors love to see them all and so do the engines who work there.
One summer's day, Thomas was at the Washdown when the Fat Controller came to see him. "Thomas, you are to collect some very important visitors from the Mainland. They are arriving at Brendam Docks. You will be showing them the wonderful sights of Sodor."
"Yes, Sir," said Thomas happily and the Fat Controller told him and his Driver where they would be going.
When Thomas was ready, he collected Annie and Clarabel and puffed happily towards Brendam Docks. When he arrived, he saw the visitors walking down the gangplank from their ship and pulled up alongside.
"Welcome aboard!" Thomas whistled, "I will take you to see the wonderful sights of Sodor!"
Just then, Gordon steamed in. "I should be showing the sights to the important visitors," he sniffed.
"Why?" huffed Thomas.
"Because I could show them round much more quickly than you. Then, they would see everything there is to see on Sodor."
Thomas frowned. "Well, the Fat Controller didn't ask me to show the visitors everything and besides, you may be the fastest engine on Sodor, but I can still get to more places than you. Anyway, I can still show them the sights very quickly. Just you see."
Thomas heard carriage doors slam. Everyone's onboard, he thought, and he started before the Guard had blown his whistle.
Suddenly, Thomas felt his brakes come on. "Stop! Stop!" shouted Clarabel, "you've left some of the visitors behind!"
"Bother!" wheeshed Thomas; now, he would be running late. The visitors quickly climbed into the coaches, and they started again. Gordon chuckled as Thomas chuffed away as quickly as he could. "So much to see, so much to see. Let's get a move on. Count on me," he puffed.
Later, Bertie the Bus drove alongside; he honked his horn cheerfully, but Thomas was in a hurry and raced away. "Silly tank engine!" barked Bertie, "I didn't know we were having a race." The children onboard thought a race was great fun…but Bertie soon lost Thomas and carried on with his work.
At last, Thomas arrived at Black Loch. "Everyone out to see the seals," he whistled. "Hurry up, hurry up!" The visitors took their cameras to see Black Loch, but now, Thomas had to wait; he didn't like that. I have to keep moving, he thought, otherwise, we won't see all the sights. "Time to go!" he peeped loudly.
"We can't leave yet," said his Driver. "We've just arrived and we're early as it is."
Thomas waited…and waited…but he felt as if his boiler would burst. Finally, the visitors came back, and Thomas heard a carriage door slam. Everyone must be onboard, he thought, and he whistled.
"Thomas! wait for the Guard!" called Annie sternly. So, Thomas did…and when the Guard blew his whistle, he chuffed away as fast as he could.
Soon, Thomas arrived at the Scottish Castle. "Everyone out!" he called. "Hurry up, hurry up!" Then, Thomas had to wait again; he let off steam impatiently and started to worry. "We'll never see everything if we don't hurry up," he wheeshed. "Everyone back onboard, please!"
"Cool your pistons, Thomas," said his Fireman. "I've never known you to be this impatient."
Just then, Gordon puffed up to a signal. "Flatten my funnel, you haven't seen many sights."
"Yes, we have, and we're going to see more," huffed Thomas crossly.
Finally, everyone was ready, and Thomas puffed off. Next, he steamed into the Fishing Village.
"Here's the next sight!" Thomas puffed. "Everybody out, please!" But the visitors looked unhappy. Then, Bertie arrived; he didn't look happy either. Thomas was puzzled. "What's the matter?" he asked.
"All I did was say 'hullo' to you earlier," fumed Bertie, "but you raced away as if I wasn't there at all."
Then, Thomas remembered. "I'm sorry, Bertie, but the Fat Controller gave me a very special job. He wants me to show these important visitors the sights of Sodor."
Some of the visitors heard what Thomas had said. "We can't enjoy the sights if you keep racing around like this," said one.
"We'll have to wait if we keep arriving so early," said another.
Thomas felt bad. "I'm so sorry, everyone, from now on, I promise I will go more slowly."
This time, Thomas waited patiently for the visitors and when everyone was ready, he steamed on to his next stop. He made sure not to go too fast and the visitors smiled as they looked at the beautiful countryside.
Late that afternoon, Thomas stopped at Norramby Beach. He looked at the view of the sea; it was beautiful. "I wish we could stay here all day," he wheeshed.
Thomas' Driver laughed. "Don't you remember what the Fat Controller said? Norramby Beach is one of our last stops before we take the visitors back to their ship."
"We were going so fast before that we can stay here longer now," added the Fireman.
Thomas smiled. "And this is the most wonderful sight of all," he whistled. The visitors looked out of the windows, and they smiled when they saw the blue sea and the golden yellow sand.
All the visitors had a lovely time; they built sandcastles, rode on a donkey, swam in the sea and ate ice creams. Thomas was very happy.
Gordon stopped nearby. "The visitors won't see all the sights eating ice creams," he whistled.
"It doesn't matter," replied Thomas happily, "I've still taken the visitors where they were supposed to go and it's better to see one place properly than lots of places in a hurry." And all the visitors agreed.