Skarloey and Rheneas were at the Earl's Railway Musuem for a special exhibition and had been telling visitors about their first days on the Island of Sodor. Lots of them returned the next day along with many others who also wanted to hear the old engines' story.

Nancy had been helping to get the engines ready, and people were crowding around before she had even finished. At last, she climbed down and joined the visitors. "So, what happened when you returned to the Mainland, Skarloey?" she asked.

"Rheneas was left to run the line himself, but he didn't mind; he proved himself to be very reliable indeed."

"I was hoping Skarloey would be too when he came back," Rheneas added, "and he was, so much so that he soon became very full of himself." And the two engines continued their story.

It was discovered that Skarloey bounced around a lot, even when he couldn't help it, so the Manager sent him back to his workshop for some improvements. The Manager was as good as his word. After a long time, Skarloey finally came home looking very different indeed with six wheels and a cab. He looked very smart and Rheneas hardly recognized him.

"A cab is the latest thing for engines, Skarloey," said the Manager, "I hope it will cheer you up after your disappointment. Now, let's see what you can do."

Sure enough, Skarloey found it much easier to travel along smoothly, but his new cab seemed to cheer him up too much and the coaches only made him worse. "Such a handsome engine," they said. "Six wheels and a cab; so distinguished."

Soon, Skarloey got too big for his wheels and boasted about his cab until he made Rheneas tired. "You should get one like me and be up-to-date," he would say.

Rheneas was indignant. "No thank you, you look like a snail with that house on your back. You don't go much faster either."

"Slow, am I? Let me tell you-"

"Who was late three times last week?" Rheneas interrupted.

"Oh, it's no use talking to you," frowned Skarloey. "You're just an old stick-in-the-mud."

Skarloey called Rheneas more names and they quarreled whenever they were together. Eventually, they ended up back-to-back not speaking whenever they were in the Shed. It was the only way they could get any sleep at night.

This went on for days and days until, one morning, Skarloey had to take the workman's train to the Quarry. By then, it had been raining for three days. "It's not fair," Skarloey complained, "you always pick on me for wet days."

"You have a cab to keep us dry," said Mr. Bobbie. "Now, come on."

Soon, Skarloey was steaming up the line with the workmen. He slipped and snorted on the damp rails…and he began to wonder if cabs were worth it. "This is dreadful, this is dreadful," he puffed to himself as he struggled along. He was just climbing the final slope…when it happened.

It had been an hour since Skarloey had left the Yard. Rheneas was warming up when Skarloey's Guard, Mr. Peter, came coasting down the line in an empty truck and stopped by the Shed. "There's a landslide beyond the tunnel! Skarloey's run into it, and he's stuck! Show a wheel Rheneas; look lively.

Rheneas was still cross. "I'm sorry, Mr. Peter, Sir, but that Skarloey is too full of himself. He says I'm a stick-in-the-mud. He can jolly well stick in the mud himself; it serves him right."

"But what about poor Mr. Bobbie and the quarrymen?" asked his Driver. "Does it serve them right too?"

"Yes, the mud's like treacle," added the Guard.

"Oh dear," said Rheneas, "that will never do. We must save them before they get sucked in."

Rheneas puffed off with two trucks and some workmen. When he arrived, things weren't as bad as he had thought. The men had levered Skarloey back and were already clearing the mud, rocks and broken trees out of the way.

When the line was clear, Rheneas pushed Skarloey to a siding and took the quarrymen the rest of the way. Meanwhile, Mr. Bobbie oiled Skarloey's wheels and traction rods and when Rheneas returned with the coaches, he helped them back to the Shed.

At last, Skarloey spoke. "I'm sorry about what I said, Rheneas. Thank you for helping me."

"Not at all," said Rheneas quietly, but he was still cross.

Then…Skarloey began to laugh. "I'm the stick-in-the-mud after all; not you!" Rheneas couldn't help laughing too; Skarloey looked so funny.

"We were laughing when the cleaners came," said Rheneas, "and we were still laughing when they left. 'Poor engines,' they said, but that day, Skarloey and I had learned sense and we've been firm friends ever since."

The visitors laughed too. "Thank you for telling us about the old days, Skarloey and Rheneas," one said.

"You've made our visit very special indeed," said another.

"I couldn't agree more," the Earl chimed in.

"Me neither," added Nancy.

"It was our pleasure, everyone," smiled Skarloey and as the day went on, all the engines continued talking about happy days in the past.