A Day Out With Thomas Coupon Code!

If you are in the UK, Canada, or the USA, be sure to mark your calendars for a Day Out With Thomas! In America you can use the promo code in THOMASTHRILL and save $2.00 USD per ticket. You can see the schedule and buy tickets and souvenirs online in advance at http://events.hitentertainment.com/en-us/dayoutwiththomas/index.html

THANK YOU!

I want to thank the person who, because of being a fan of this blog, bought the following items for my children:

1. Thomas and Friends Wooden Railway - Thomas And The Stinky Cheese
2. Thomas and Friends Wooden Railway - Adventures of Thomas
3. Thomas and Friends Wooden Railway - Spamcan/D-199
4. Thomas and Friends Wooden Railway - Sodor Bakery Delivery

Here is a picture of my kids excited to receive them. They have been playing with the toys non-stop since we opened them, Thank you again, anonymous fan!

Mega Bloks Diesels and Dieselworks

If you want to be a completest with MegaBloks when is comes to Diesels, here's the current sets you'll want to get. Hopefully they will expand the line and we will get more of our favorite Diesels and Destinations soon.


Megabloks Thomas and Friends Day at the Dieselworks with Percy and Diesel 10


Megabloks Thomas and Friends Diesel with Dieselworks Bucket


Megabloks Thomas and Friends Cranky the Crane and Salty


Megabloks Thomas and Friends Busy Day at the Quarry Bucket with Thomas and Mavis

King of the Railway ☁☁☁☁

Pros: The story, Diesel being the voice of reason, appearance of Paxton, almost all freight cars were Troublesome Trucks.
Cons: Reused many plots from previous movies, introduced a lot of new characters that seem unnecessary.

It was a beautiful day on the Island of Sodor. Thomas and Percy were busy shunting trucks at Brendam Docks. They were not being careful and Cranky warned them to be careful. They claimed they were, but caused an accident, possibly damaging the freight they were recklessly playing with. A suit of armor popped up, causing Cranky to explain what armor was for, when the silly Steamies thought it a robot.

Long ago, before there was an railways, Sodor was ruled by kings. King Godred was the greatest. Life was good under Godred’s reign. It was a golden age. Godred wore a golden crown until it was stolen. The thieves were caught, but the crown was hidden and never found again. The ruins of Godred’s castle still exist. Ulfstead Castle is at the top of a mountain where iron engines now run instead of armored knights.

At the rolling bridge at Vicarstown, Spencer was waiting to go to Sodor from the mainland of England. The bridge is reminiscent of the ancient drawbridges.

All the steam engines were being washed and they did not know why until The Fat Controller, Sir Topham Hatt, explained that his very special friend was coming back to the Island of Sodor, the Earl of Sodor. He would be arriving in a coach pulled by the special silver engine, Spencer.

Because the Earl likes old things, all the steam engines were at Knapford Station to welcome him with a celebration party. The Earl did not realize the party was for him and waved to them all and quickly left to return back to Millie. No one knew who Millie was.

Percy arrived late and missed out on it all.

The next day Thomas went to the docks to pick up freight for the castle. Cranky reminded him not to be braking anymore crates. Thomas slowly steamed up the steep slope to the Earl’s Estate near the castle.

As Thomas arrived, the Earl called for Millie. Millie is revealed to be a cute French female narrow gauge engine who has been stuck in her shed while the Earl was away. She is so excited that she tries to puff away before she is loaded, causing the crate that Thomas dropped to break open again! The Earl told him it was very precious, but luckily for Thomas, it was also very strong. The Earl wished he had King Godred’s crown to complete his plan. Millie and the Earl puffed off.

One evening, Spencer came back to the island via the rolling bridge at Vicarstown, speeding past Hiro who was making the journey much more slowly. The Earl was borrowing him from the Duke and Duchess of Boxford again, to be the Earl’s private engine. When Spencer rested his rods at Tidmouth Sheds, the other engines made fun of him, but Gordon tried to claim he was faster than the streamlined engine. Spencer reminded them that Earls only like the finest engines.

The next morning Gordon loaded up the Express and thought Spencer had been scared to race, but Spencer passed him and told him the race was on. It was hard for Gordon to catch up. He almost caught up as Spencer declared victory and went to be Really Useful and agreed to a rematch later.

Later, Percy was shunting at the docks when he saw an engine hiding behind freight. Percy scared him by crashing some freight cars, thinking him to be Thomas the Tank Engine. Spencer had brought the Earl to the docks, but Percy said he thought they were going to make him a goods engine so he could be really useful.

That afternoon at the quarry, Thomas saw Spencer and asked if he was hauling slate now. Spencer said no, but the Earl had other plans. Thomas told him he would now be very useful. Spencer thought this was no job for a Splendid Engine like him. Thomas reminded him that Earls only like the finest engines.

The next day the other engines were trying to figure out what the Earl was trying to build. Hiro told them that these parts would be perfect for a new station. The other engines could not figure out why he would do it. Toby arrived to share that Henry broke down and Percy the Small Engine was needed to pull the heavy goods train. Emily stated the obvious, that Percy was too small and too weak to pull such a train.

When he arrived, James the Red Engine was already there ready to take the train. Thomas arrived too and claimed he was too pull the train. When James tried to take off, Thomas and Percy blocked his way. Then Sir Topham Hatt arrived.

Sir Topham was glad too see them ready to go, but realized the confusion and explained that none of them was strong enough to pull a heavy goods train, and it would take all 3 of them too pull the long train of Troublesome Trucks.

Que music video, Working Together Again. Good Song from Blue Mountain Mystery with the lyrics reworked:

Clanking into the coupling
cargo ready to roll
James, Thomas, and Percy
pull that load
Got to, got to work harder
move that freight
Got to, got to go faster
Can't be late
Here we come, up the hill
There we go, what a thrill
Working together, yeah, yeah
Rocking and rolling, lifting and loading
Help one another, yeah, yeah
Pulling and pushing, heaving and hauling
On the Island of Sodor
Hear the rumble and chuff
Wheels grinding and growling
and funnels puff
Working through to the sunset
every day
Trying hard to be useful
Hey, Hey, Hey!
Here we come, up the hill
There we go, what a thrill
Working together, yeah, yeah
Rocking and rolling, lifting and loading
Help one another, yeah, yeah
Pulling and pushing, heaving and hauling.
Working together, yeah, yeah
Rocking and rolling, lifting and loading
Friends are forever, yeah, yeah
Pulling and Pushing, heaving and hauling.
Working together

They arrived at the castle after a slow ascent and lots of hard work. There were new rails, building materials, sleepers, and Thomas’ old friend, Jack, the Front-Loader, who told them the castle was going to be rebuilt.

The heavy goods train was split up. James and Percy each took a build material train and Thomas shunted the crates and containers on too a new siding. The Earl told Thomas that one crate was supposed to go to the Steamworks. The engines fought over who would take it and in the end they all went with the Earl.

At the Steamworks the engines were all surprised to see the surprise was a rusty old engine, Stephen the Rocket. Stephen explained no one had seen him in a long time. The engines told him there was a lot wrong with him. The Earl thought he was beautiful, but needed a lot of work.

Thomas asked the Earl his plan. He said it was a surprise and he had a special job for Stephen but not too tell him yet. Thomas promised not to tell. The 3 engines told the other engines about Stephen that night when they were at Tidmouth Sheds. The next morning all the engines made excuses to go to the Steamworks too see Stephen.

Stephen was up in the air like Sidney in the Dieselworks. Victor explained that Stephen was one of the first Steamies ever made. Stephen told the history of trains from when horses used to pull carriages on the rails. Back in his day, he was the fastest of all steam engines, that is why he was called the Rocket.

Stephen worked at the mines and later the docks because he could pull 4 wagons at one time. He explained that new engines are bigger and stronger so he has not worked in a long time. Percy asked if he had ever seen knights. Stephen told him neither them nor dinosaurs. Everyone laughed at Percy, but Stephen said you only learn by asking.

Thomas, Percy, and James visited Stephen after he was fixed. Percy said he now looked very useful again. Sir Topham Hatt was cross that they were just lollygagging along and sent them to do a special job at the castle. Even though James and Percy told him not too, Thomas decided to tell Stephen that the Earl had a special job for him also.

The 3 engines returned to the castle, which looked different now that it was restored. The 3 engines helped put the roof back on the castle now that tracks led inside. Percy caused wobbling and Thomas caused an accident that made James a mess. Luckily no one was hurt.

Stephen was asking about his new job, and Victor the Steamworks engine told him too be patient. Stephen was not, and left to try and find his job.

Gordon was speeding along with the Express, when Spencer passed him, calling him “Slow Coach”, asking him to race again. Gordon agreed, only asking him not to take off on too a siding again. Spencer, with a smile, claimed he would never do such a thing.

Spencer cried out for Gordon too look out. Up ahead was Stephen, going very slow. Gordon admonished him for being “The Rocket”, but Stephen let Gordon know he was going as fast as he could.

At the Docks, Diesel and Paxton were surprised too see Stephen arrive. Diesel asked Paxton who the old fashioned engine with the wooden boiler was, but Paxton did not know. Paxton asked Diesel is he should ask Stephen who he was, but Diesel said not to bother. Diesel asked the little Steamie to get out of his way because they had work to do. Stephen claimed he had work to do also, calling Diesel, “Mr. Oily”, which caused Paxton too laugh. Stephen introduced himself and told them he was looking for his job. Cranky told him Diesel was right and this was no place for an old engine like him. Diesel told Stephen that Cranky was right and it was best that he get out of the way and let the modern (Diesels) engines get to work. Paxton thought it was nice too meet the engine but inexplicitly apologized too Stephen.

After the accident was cleaned up at the castle, James, Thomas, and Percy finished the roof. The Earl was proud of them and told them the plan after Percy guessed that he was the King of Sodor. The surprise was that the castle was going to become a tourist destination. The Earl told the engines that Stephen would be a tour guide train along with Millie. James took off for his wash-down that he had been begging for ever since Thomas caused the accident. Thomas also got permission too now tell Stephen the Rocket his very special job.

Elsewhere, Hiro was coming back from the mainland over the rolling bridge at a nice slow pace when 2 streamlined engines raced past him in a row. They also raced by James getting his wash-down and the racing Spencer and Gordon.

At the red signal the 2 engines introduced themselves for Connor and Caitlin. They were doing test runs too the castle from the mainland and racing each other. They offered to race Gordon and Spencer, but the 2 engines said they were too busy being really useful and never raced.

Stephen arrived at the Blue Mountain Quarry to look for work. He was amazed by how big and bust it was. He tried to pull 4 trucks, then 3, then 2, all without success, and finally with a lot of effort was able to barely pull 1. Troublesome Trucks were much heavier than the vans of Stephen’s day. But the truck pushed him to fast around the bend, and he almost derailed. Skarloey, Rheneas, and Luke, told him, this was not the job for him. The Rocket asked if there was a mine and Skarloey told him of one, so Stephen raced off to find it.

When Stephen arrived at the bottom of the mountain that held the castle, he found the mine was closed. It was boarded up and he could not go in.

Thomas was told to wait for James by the Earl, but started pushing a heavy train from behind. Percy warned him that this train needed a front engine. Thomas did not listen, so Percy tried to help being a second back engine. They lost control and the Troublesome Trucks came down the mountain heading towards the mine.

Stephen crashed through the wood boarding up the mine to get away from the runaway train, losing his funnel in the process. The crashing Troublesome Trucks caused a rock slide, blocking the entrance to the mine. Thomas and Percy pulled the Troublesome Trucks back up slowly, realizing they had caused confusion and delay.

All the engines were working hard to prepare for the castle opening. Thomas looked for Stephen. He checked the Steamworks. James told him this was all Thomas’ fault. The 3 engines looked for Stephen. Millie and Jack said he was not there at the castle. At Brendam Docks, Cranky told James that Diesel had to tell Stephen too stay out of the way. At the Blue Mountain Quarry told him of his problems. They all kept looking for him. Stephen called out, Calling All Engines too be on the lookout for him. He explored the mine and found no way out. He bashed into some rocks and found an old treasure chest. He was shocked at what was inside.

At the Tidmouth Sheds, Thomas told the other engines that they needed to find Stephen tomorrow. He awoke them early so they could help. Sir Topham Hatt arrived before they could leave. Thomas told them they were looking for Stephen. Then the Earl arrived looking for Stephen. The Fat Controller agreed to allow James, Percy, and Thomas too look for him and that he would also get the Sodor Search and Rescue Center too look for the missing engine also.

Que music video, Searching Everywhere. Good song:

When you can't find something special
And you keep on looking around
Try to stay really cheerful
But you can't help feeling down
That's when you need a friend to help you
Brighten up your day
Someone to look, and find a clue
To help you on your way
Searching everywhere
Up, down, left, right
Look over there
Searching everywhere
Under, over, up in the air
All the engines working together
Looking around to see what they find
Everyday whatever the weather
Help you look down every line
So when you're feeling down and out
Don't you ever give up
That's when you need your friends about
To take you to the top
Searching everywhere
Up, down, left, right
Look over there
Searching everywhere
Under, over, up in the air
Searching everywhere
Up, down, left, right
Look over there
Searching everywhere
Under, over, up in the air
Searching everywhere
Up, down, left, right
Look over there
Searching everywhere
Under, over, up in the air
Searching everywhere

They searched every station and tunnel but could not find Stephen the Rocket. Stephen had kept looking for a way out but ran out of steam. Percy suggested checking at the old mine. After protesting, Thomas finally agreed to do so. He thought it was pointless, but as he was leaving the entrance, he saw Stephen’s funnel.

With Stephen’s last breath, he blew his whistle, just as Thomas had given up. Thomas called Jack to help open up the mine. Once inside he told Stephen about his new job that would start tomorrow!

News of the find spread across the Island of Sodor quickly. Once he was pulled out of the mine, he was surprised too see everyone looking for him, as he felt quite useless. As Thomas pulled Stephen out of the mine, the bridge too the entrance broke, but Thomas saved the falling Stephen after Jack braced the collapsing bridge and track. (A bridge has to be broken or collapse in every Thomas and Friends movie it seems!)

The next day the castle was opened for the public. Guests came from all over the island and mainland England to. The Earl arrived in the suit of armor in one of Stephen’s open coaches to announce the official opening, introducing the castle, Stephen, and Millie. He admitted there was still more work to do to restore the castle in full. The Earl showed everyone what Stephen had found in the mine, King Godred’s crown.

Thomas apologized for causing the events that led to Stephen getting stuck in the mine. Stephen told him it was ok, because he found the crown and thanked Thomas for rescuing him. The Earl suggested as an opening event too have the 2 armored knights Connor and Caitlin race. They 2 engines invited Spencer and Gordon too race to. The Earl said only if Sir Topham agreed. Hatt did agree but only this once.

Que music video, It’s Gonna be a Great Day. Good song:

Rock and roll, click-clack
Steaming down the track
The fun just never ends
Every day's a good good day
For Thomas and his friends
Steady, steady, steady
Everybody's getting ready
The Steam Team leads the way
It's a very special day
It's getting better and better
Now everybody say "hey"
It's gonna be a great day
Rockin' and a rollin'
Ridin' the rails
In the noon day light
Shuntin' and a-haulin' freight
They don't wanna be late
They wanna do what's right
Wheesh, wheesh, whoo-hoo
They know what they have to do
They are a useful crew
Now it's a very special day
It's getting better and better
Now everybody say "hey"
It's gonna be a great day
Wheesh, wheesh, whoo-hoo
They know what they have to do
They are a useful crew
Now it's a very special day
It's getting better and better
Now everybody say "hey"
It's gonna be a great day
It's getting better and better
Now everybody say "hey"
It's gonna be a great day
Now everybody say "hey"
It's gonna be a great day
It's gonna be a great day
It's getting better and better
Now everybody say "hey"
It's gonna be a great day

End.

Click the following links to buy this story on BOOK and DVD.

Thomas and Friends Addiction in Babies?

Well, I have not had a chance to buy and review "Thomas & Friends: King of the Railway the Movie" yet, but that should be coming soon. Since my initial post on how our family was introduced to "Thomas and Friends" through my son's addiction at this blog's first post we have had a multiplication of that addiction. My 7-month old son, Cyril, also seems to be addicted. If "Thomas and Friends" comes on the TV, he will crawl to where he can see it and scream with delight.  His favorite toy is his big brother's Thomas Wooden Railway - Battery-Operated Thomas The Tank Engine. If he sees anything with Thomas on it he screams with delight and crawls to it. If he is cranky and crying in the car, we put on the "Thomas and Friends" Roll CallTheme song on and he will relax and coo. My wife was so amazed by this new-found love of everything Thomas, that she actually told me to blog about it (and she hates for me to be on the Internet!). I told her she better be ready for about 7 more years of everything Thomas. She sighed, but in retrospect now realizes that love of Thomas is much better than my elder son's brief fascination with the Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers, which she despised!

Railway Mischief Mini-Review

So I finally bought Railway Mischief from a local Wal-Mart, and have watched it with my son a number of times. Here are my initial impressions:

Videography: I never have been super-impressed with the quality of the Thomas episodes on video as they appear via DVD on my 56" HD TV, however the choice to zoom in on all the characters for the storytelling is really a bad choice. It looks bad and I think is laziness to not have to show so much background, making less work for the animators.

Animation: While Cranky seems to invoke the look of a live model, and Kevin is rendered very well, most of the faces are not. Thomas looks about the same, but Gordon is one of the worst. His philtrum (the vertical indent from his nose to his mouth) keeps moving from the center of his nose to the left and right, making his face look very wrong. However, Victor may be the worst. His face almost looks a 2-D drawing, instead of 3-D. Scruff's nameplate is unreadable, and Stafford's nameplate is hard to read, which is unacceptable. The human faces all look different, especially the blonde switchman, the shool children, the Express passengers, and Sir Topham Hatt. His eyes seem much darker and it may be due to the realistic shading of his top hat, but it just looks wrong. It seems that shading is exaggerated with this animation, especially around the eyes and at the hairline.

Stories: The stories seem to be good, and now the writer gets credit with the title, which is different. I like that cabooses/brake vans are being used more, but a bright white caboose/brake van  at the back of the mail cars is a bad choice, standing out like a sore thumb in my opinion. However, I loved the choice to use Paxton in multiple stories.

Narrator: I liked all of the previous narrators, except for Pierce Brosnan, who I love as an actor, but thought was a bad choice for narrator. The new narrator, is also very good, and I understand the cost savings choice of only having one English narrator rather than having one for the Queen's (British/Australlian/Canadian) English and another for American English. Thomas and Friends has been doing that with all the new characters recently anyway, and I think that is a good idea. I don't like change for the sake of change, and it is sad that 2 very capable narrators lost their job, but the change makes sense here, in my opinion.

Overall: So far, from this one video, I think it was a mistake to leave Nitrogen Studios and go to Arc Productions. Hopefully, they will improve over time.

Blue Mountain Mystery ☁☁☁

Pros: The songs, the story, further development of Paxton & Victor, Diesels being involved heavily.
Cons: Narrow gauge engines are boring characters.

It was a busy day on the Island of Sodor. At the Blue Mountain Quarry the narrow gauge engines were working hard. Paxton the Diesel was taking slate loaded from Rusty the Narrow Gauge Diesel and Owen the Incline Engine to Brendam Docks. Paxton stopped; a keystone from Blondin Bridge fell on the tracks ahead of him. (6 broken bridges in 7 movies!)

The alarm sounded as Rheneas the narrow gauge steam engine could not stop in time and so he sped over the bridge as it started to collapse, scratching himself up as he went through a tunnel. The narrow gauge engines laughed in excitement that Rheneas had safely made it past the danger.

Down below Paxton asked if someone could help him, as the bridge had collapsed on to him, derailing him and damaging him.

On Thomas’ Branch Line, Thomas was having fun with Annie and Clarabel. Annie and Clarabel warned Thomas to stop ahead. Thomas said he always did, but Annie and Clarabel said that Thomas only stops because they tell him to. As they stopped, Sir Topham Hatt came around the bend in a track inspection car named Winston. Hatt was clearly a very bad driver.

Hatt told Thomas that Paxton had been damaged and that Thomas would take his place after delivering his passengers and that afterwards Toby would take over on Thomas’ Branch Line.
Emily took Paxton to the Dieselworks. She felt very bad for him, but Paxton underplayed the damage. Thomas came by and said hello. Paxton told Thomas to be careful, but Thomas was already far away, being in a hurry. Thomas arrived at the Blue Mountain Quarry saw what had happened to the bridge. Rheneas told Thomas he needed a new coat of paint.

Cue the Working Together Music Video. Great stuff!

Way up into the mountain
Hear the rumble and chuff
Wheels grinding and growling
and funnels puff
Got to, got to work harder
shift that slate
Got to, got to go faster
Can't be late 

Here we come, up the hill
There we go, what a thrill
1, 2, 3, 4... Working together
Rocking and rolling, lifting and loading
Blue Mountain Quarry
Pulling and pushing, heaving and hauling. 

Clanking into the coupling
cargo ready to roll
Wheels whizzing and whirring
pull that load
Working through to the sunset
every day
Trying hard to be useful
Hey, Hey, Hey! 

Here we come, up the hill
There we go, what a thrill
1, 2, 3, 4... Working together
Rocking and rolling, lifting and loading
Blue Mountain Quarry
Pulling and pushing, heaving and hauling.
Working together 

Rocking and rolling, lifting and loading
Blue Mountain Quarry
Pulling and pushing, heaving and hauling.
Working together 

Rocking and rolling, lifting and loading
Blue Mountain Quarry
Pulling and Pushing, heaving and hauling.
Working together

Thomas hear a rattle from inside the tunnel. A small green engine came out one tunnel and in to another. Thomas said hello, but the engine said nothing. Thomas asked Sir Handel the narrow gauge steam engine. Sir Handel said it was probably a runaway truck. Thomas asked Skarloey the narrow gauge steam engine. Skarloey said he was busy and did not know. Thomas saw the little green engine again. Thomas said hello again to no reply. Thomas asked Rusty. Rusty said he thought it was a mountain goat. Thomas asked Merrick the Sleepy Crane who said he did not know and that it was his nap time. Thomas asked Owen, he said the mountain was full of little engines.

Thomas saw the engine again! He hurried away, but Thomas chased him. The engine accidentally got blocked by the other narrow gauge engines, who called him Luke. Thomas confronted Skarloey, Peter Sam, and the others. Skarloey told Thomas that Luke hides in the Blue Mountain Quarry because he did something bad and if he was found he would be sent away from the Island of Sodor forever. Thomas asked what Luke did, but Skarloey would not tell him and swore him to secrecy.

That night Thomas asked his friends, the Steam Team, at Tidmouth Sheds, what could get an engine send away. Percy talked about when he crashed and got sticky jam all over himself and Sir Topham Hatt. It made Hatt very cross. Henry said that was an accident and what he did was far worse. Henry told about the time he did not want his new paint to get wet when it was raining and stayed in a tunnel and refused to come out. Sir Topham Hatt was very cross walled him up in the tunnel for 1 month as punishment. Thomas talked about when he chuffed past a danger sign and fell into a mine. Emily agreed that it was bad. James mentioned that Diesel had lost the Jobi wood in the sea (See Misty Island Rescue) and Emily noted not even that got him sent away.

The next day Rheneas was talking about he needed a new coat of paint. Thomas pulled up and told the narrow gauge engines that none of his friends thought there was anything that would get an engine sent away forever. Skarloey was shocked and asked if Thomas had told others about Luke. Thomas confirmed he had not and that he was just trying to help Luke and wanted to be his friend.

Skarloey backed up as Rocky swung a boulder in his direction. Thomas tooted and whistled, catching both of their attention and stopped a very bad accident from happening. Rocky apologized and Skarloey thanked Thomas and called him a good friend. All the engines smiled, including Luke, who chuffed up to Thomas. Luke asked Thomas to be his friend. Thomas agreed.

Cue a new Working Together music video. Great stuff!

Way up into the mountain
Hear the rumble and chuff
Wheels grinding and growling
and funnels puff
Got to, got to work harder
shift that slate
Got to, got to go faster
Can't be late 

Here we come, up the hill
There we go, what a thrill
1, 2, 3, 4... Working together
Rocking and rolling, lifting and loading
Blue Mountain Quarry
Pulling and pushing, heaving and hauling. 

Clanking into the coupling
cargo ready to roll
Wheels whizzing and whirring
pull that load
Working through to the sunset
every day
Trying hard to be useful
Hey, Hey, Hey! 

Here we come, up the hill
There we go, what a thrill
1, 2, 3, 4... Working together
Rocking and rolling, lifting and loading
Blue Mountain Quarry
Pulling and pushing, heaving and hauling. 

Working together
Rocking and rolling, lifting and loading
Blue Mountain Quarry
Pulling and pushing, heaving and hauling. 

Working together
Rocking and rolling, lifting and loading
Blue Mountain Quarry
Pulling and Pushing, heaving and hauling.
Working together

Winston honked and Luke chuffed away. Sir Topham Hatt and Mr. Percival, the narrow gauge controller (or Thin Controller) arrived to tell Thomas that Paxton was fixed and would take over. Thomas was to go back to his branch line.

Thomas told Luke goodbye and asked why he hides. Luke told him as Paxton pulled up and overheard.

Luke told Thomas that he was loaded on to a ship to Sodor and was very excited. There on the ship was a yellow engine who spoke a language he could not understand. There was a storm but they arrived at Brendam Docks. The dock men wanted to take off the yellow engine first, but Luke begged to be taken off first. So the dock men took Luke and Luke knocked the yellow engine in to the sea.

Luke was sent to the Steamworks to be fixed and heard the storm for a long time. He heard that the yellow engine was in the sea for a long time and was rusted badly. They yellow engine was never heard from again, so he must have been sent to the Smelter’s yard at the Ironworks. Luke admitted that if had just waited his turn, he would have never caused the death of the yellow engine!

Thomas assured Luke that this was a long time ago. Luke was sure that if other engines found out, they would tell Mr. Percival, who would tell Sir Topham Hatt, the standard gauge controller (or Fat Controller), who would have him sent away from causing this trouble and death.

Skarloey came up to Paxton and urged him to get working. Luke realized that Paxton had heard everything and ran away. Thomas asked what Paxton was doing there. Paxton told Thomas he was there to do his job, taking slate from the Blue Mountain Quarry to Brendam Docks.

Thomas returned to his branch line the next day. Thomas was busy thinking about Luke and missed a red signal to stop. Annie and Clarabel made him stop and return to the signal. Toby chuffed up and Thomas asked him to take Annie and Clarabel, even though Toby was very busy. Toby, Annie, and Clarabel asked Thomas questions, but he just chuffed off in silence.

Thomas had an idea. Maybe he could find the yellow engine after all. Thomas looked at Knapford Station, the Shunting Yards, all the coastal tracks, and even at the rubbish dump, but he found no yellow engine. He asked Edward who suggested the Dieselworks. Edward asked him why, but Thomas chuffed off without answering. At the Dieselworks Thomas looked and found no yellow engine. However he saw Paxton telling Diesel about how Luke had pushed a yellow engine in to the sea and how the yellow engine was never seen from again!

Diesel told Paxton he was right to tell him. They did not want an engine on their island that was impatient and self-centered, pushing other engines in to the sea. He could knock one of them in to the sea next. Diesel said they would tell the Fat Controller who would tell the Thin Controller and get Luke taken away from their Island of Sodor forever. Thomas gasped loudly and chuffed away. Diesel saw him and told Paxton that they must go wherever Thomas was going, as Thomas was a tricky tank engine. Diesel and Paxton chuffed off.

Thomas decided to go ask Cranky the Crane at Brendam Docks. Cranky said the yellow engine had a broken light and that he could not understand him. Diesel pulled up. Thomas asked what he was doing there. Diesel asked Cranky where Sir Topham Hatt was. Cranky was tired of questions. Thomas had an idea and sped off. James asked Thomas where he was going, he told him he was going to the Steamworks. James asked why, but Thomas sped off without answering him either!
At the Steamworks, Thomas ignored Kevin’s hello and rushed up to Victor and asked about the yellow engine. Victor told him that it was him. Victor told Thomas it was a long time ago and that Victor had never spoken of this.

Victor was yellow with green wheels when he came from Cuba. It was a long journey. They stopped along the way and another engine was loaded. Luke was loaded shortly before the storm broke the chains holding him down. Victor told Luke he had a problem, but Luke ignored him, since he did not speak Spanish.

Victor protested Luke’s cries to be taken off first, but it was in vain. Luke was loaded and swung around, hitting Victor’s light and knocking him in to the sea. The storm was bad for many days so he became covered in moss and when he could be taken out, he was taken to the Steamworks, where he started to learn English. His first word was red, which he spoke when the workmen asked what color of paint he wanted to be repainted with. A bright new color for his bright new life on Sodor!

Thomas thanked Victor and took off, ignoring Victor’s questions and Kevin’s goodbye. Thomas took off to the Blue Mountain Quarry. He saw Diesel up ahead speaking to the Fat Controller, Sir Topham Hatt. He told Hatt how Paxton had told him all about it and how Luke was hiding in the hills. Diesel was scared that he was a danger to all of the engines. Hatt told Diesel that he doesn't know what he is talking about and to shunt Mavis to the Dieselworks for repair. Mavis thanked Diesel and told him he is very kind and useful. Hatt told Paxton to stop following Diesel about and go to work at the Blue Mountain Quarry.

Thomas realized he too should be working his branch line, but he chuffed off to the Blue Mountain Quarry. James said hello as Thomas approached, but Thomas told him he had no time. James said that for a tank engine, he could be quite fast.

At the quarry, Rheneas was telling Skarloey that he had been bumped again and needed to be repainted. Skarloey told him to be more careful. Thomas pulled up and asked for Luke. Luke pulled up. Thomas told him that he spoke to Victor about him. All the narrow gauge engines were cross and chuffed away, except for Luke, who stayed put, and Rusty, who continued to work.

All of a sudden Diesel pulled up with Paxton. He asked if this was Luke, who pushes engines in to the sea? Thomas told them not to listen to Diesel. The narrow gauge engines told him to go away and to go to work on his branch line. Thomas felt bad.

Diesel told Thomas that the Controllers were going to straighten this all out. Thomas asked Rocky to put Thomas on Owen’s platform so he could go up the incline to where the narrow gauge steam engines were hiding. Thomas said Thomas was too heavy, but tried and pulled him to the top.
Diesel yelled to Luke that they knew what he did, that what he did was bad, and that he would need to leave Sodor forever! Thomas again told Luke not to listen to Diesel.

Diesel told Paxton to go get Sir Topham Hatt. Thomas told him to ignore Diesel and to go get Victor instead. Paxton was confused. Diesel told him to just go.

When Thomas got to the top he found that his wheels were too wide for the narrow gauge tracks. He ended up following the track to a ledge where he hung off. Luke raced up to Thomas. Diesel was scared and yelled to Thomas. Diesel thought Luke would push Thomas off just like he had pushed the yellow engine in to the sea!

Luke told Thomas not to worry, that he would pull Thomas back to Owen. Amazingly, Luke, the tiny engine was successful and did exactly as he promised. The narrow gauge engines whistled, honked, & cheered. But once Thomas was on Owen, he went down the incline, pulling Luke with him. Luckily, everyone was okay.

Suddenly all the engines heard the honking of Winston with a cross Fat Controller and Thin Controller. Sir Topham Hatt was cross with Thomas was not working his branch line as he was told to do. Mr. Percival told Rocky to bring Thomas and Luke down from the loading platform.

Diesel told the controllers about Luke and how he had knocked a yellow engine in to the sea. He also told them that Thomas had been hiding him at the Blue Mountain Quarry! All of a sudden Paxton pulled up with Victor. Hatt asked what Victor was doing here. Victor said he came to meet an engine he had not seen in a long time, Luke. Victor told Luke what had happened. Victor forgave him and told him it was not his fault. Victor invited Luke to come visit him at the Steamworks. Rheneas mentioned he would like to be repainted. Mr. Percival welcomed Luke to his railway and introduced himself.

Sir Topham Hatt told Diesel that it seem he did not have the full story before he caused confusion and delay. He told Diesel that what really happened is what really matters. Diesel agreed and blushed. Hatt said that today was a happy day for Mr. Percival and the narrow gauge engines. Hatt also said that he was proud of Thomas, so he would forgive him this time for not working his branch line. Thomas thanked him. Hatt told Percival that they should both be very proud of all of their engines, old and new. They agreed that their engines were all Very useful Engines! The engines whistled and honked in agreement.

Cue the Blue Mountain Mystery music video. Good stuff!

Everyday down in the quarry
work, work, work so hard
Haul that load, careful don't hurry
everyone plays a part
But deep inside the old tunnels
someone hides away
Too scared to come out and see us
and too scared to say his name. 

Come on, sing along!
Blue Mountain Mystery
Blue Mountain Mystery
The secret in the hills! 

Come on, sing along!
Blue Mountain Mystery
Blue Mountain Mystery
The secret in the hills! 

All the narrow gauge engines
decide to tell a friend
about the little green engine
from start, to very end
So Thomas wants to be useful
give Luke a helping hand
to find that old yellow engine
get the answer if he can. 

Come on, sing along!
Blue Mountain Mystery
Blue Mountain Mystery
The secret in the hills! 

Come on, sing along!
Blue Mountain Mystery
Blue Mountain Mystery
The secret in the hills! 

Come on, sing along!
Blue Mountain Mystery
Blue Mountain Mystery
The secret in the hills! 

Come on, sing along!
Blue Mountain Mystery
Blue Mountain Mystery
The secret in the hills!

A few days later Thomas pulled up to the Steamworks and Victor & Luke came out. He told Thomas that he had found the yellow engine that he was looking for. Thomas was confused. Out chuffed the once orange Rheneas,who finally had gotten his new coat of paint, a yellow coat of paint! All the engines laughed.

Cue a new Blue Mountain Mystery music video. Good stuff!

Everyday down in the quarry
work, work, work so hard
Haul that load, careful don't hurry
everyone plays a part
But deep inside the old tunnels
someone hides away
Too scared to come out and see us
and too scared to say his name. 

Come on, sing along!
Blue Mountain Mystery
Blue Mountain Mystery
The secret in the hills! 

Come on, sing along!
Blue Mountain Mystery
Blue Mountain Mystery
The secret in the hills! 

All the narrow gauge engines
decide to tell a friend
about the little green engine
from start, to very end
So Thomas wants to be useful
give Luke a helping hand
to find that old yellow engine
get the answer if he can. 

Come on, sing along!
Blue Mountain Mystery
Blue Mountain Mystery
The secret in the hills! 

Come on, sing along!
Blue Mountain Mystery
Blue Mountain Mystery
The secret in the hills! 

Come on, sing along!
Blue Mountain Mystery
Blue Mountain Mystery
The secret in the hills! 

Come on, sing along!
Blue Mountain Mystery
Blue Mountain Mystery
The secret in the hills!

The End.

Click the following links to buy this story on BOOK and DVD.

Day of the Diesels ☁☁☁☁☁

Pros: The songs, the story, a Diesel based movie, development of the Sodor Search and Rescue Center & Victor, introduction of so many great characters.
Cons: Sir Topham Hatt's treatment of the Diesels vs. Steamies.

On the Island of Sodor it had been a long, hot summer. Thomas was chuffing along as the skies turned black. Up ahead there was a fire on a farm!

Thomas pulled up to the fire to see Percy offering his water from his boiler to help put out the fire, and at Percy’s pleading, Thomas did the same.

Suddenly, they heard a bell, and out of the smoke, steamed a new big, blue engine, Belle. Sir Topham Hatt asked Belle to buffer us, as they needed her water. She shot water from 2 spouts on top of her tank. This was far more efficient. Belle, Thomas, and Percy made pleasantries as the fire went out. Sir Topham Hatt congratulated them all.

Thomas decided that he and Percy would shunt Belle to the wash down after Belle ran out of water. Percy deferred to his best friend Thomas, even though Percy was late for his mail cars and did not have extra time. 

Later at the Steamworks, Sir Topham Hatt congratulated Belle again. She was a heroine. Belle suggested that Flynn the Fire Engine should come to Sodor, as he was a real fire engine and a hero. Hatt agreed, as he had said that Belle could not fight fires alone. He told Thomas to show Belle around Sodor and implored Percy to get to the mail cars, which were now very late. Kevin was excited to meet Belle, since he had never met a hero before. Belle told Kevin that Sodor engines were all heroes to her.

The next morning Belle met Thomas at Tidmouth Sheds. Thomas took off and ignored Percy saying “Good Morning” to him. All the engines liked Belle, even Cranky at Brendam Docks liked her and offered to help her at any time. However, Cranky denied Percy’s request for help with his mail cars. Diesel laughed at Cranky.

Later at Knapford Station, Belle wanted to talk to Percy about his mail cars, but Thomas rushed her off. Diesel saw Percy’s distress and felt bad for Percy.

Later that day at the Steamworks Diesel saw Percy alone and asked if he was ok. He noted that while Percy was busy, Thomas was busier with Belle. Belle saw Diesel asked if the Diesels had someplace as grand as the Steamworks. Diesel replied that they had the Dieselworks but it was nothing like this place.

Thomas told Belle that Sodor Steamies do not go to the Dieselworks. It is dark, dirty, and full of Diesels, which can be devious. Diesel was disgusted by the racism against Diesels, so he bid Percy adieu. Thomas and Belle whooshed away.

The next day at Wellsworth Station, Diesel saw Percy again. Diesel smiled at Percy and told Percy that he should find a new best friend who has time for him. Percy asked Diesel is he wanted to deliver the mail with him. Diesel said he would like to, but his friends were waiting for him at the Dieselworks. Percy was sad that Thomas was not waiting for him.

One day later, at Brendam Docks, Percy has given the hose for Flynn the Fire Engine and told to deliver it to the Sodor Search and Rescue Center. Diesel oiled up and told Percy that this was one more friend for Thomas to spend his time with. That meant less time with Percy. Percy wanted to argue with him, but he knew Diesel was right.

Diesel told him that last night, he told his friend about Percy. Diesel’s friend told Diesel to invite Percy to the Dieselworks. He would be a very special visitor and would have plenty of time for him and would listen to him.

Thomas and Belle chuffed up, so Diesel slid away. Percy invited them to join him, but they rejected his offer, as they had something to do together. Percy was cross. He had been ignored and had his requests denied for almost a week!

At a junction, Percy stopped and though about what Diesel said and Thomas’ racist comments against Diesels. He decided to ignore what Thomas said, and instead of going right to the Sodor Search and Rescue Center, he would go left to the Dieselworks.

Percy arrived at the Dieselworks. He remembered what Thomas said, but again ignored it, and decided to be with someone who had time for him. Percy had never seen anything like the Dieselworks before. It was nothing like the Steamworks. Percy felt special and brave.

As he pulled up, a shape came out of the shadows. It was Diesel 10. Diesel greeted him with a smile and said it was an honor to have Percy visit. Diesel 10 said Diesel had been telling him all about Percy. Diesel 10 said Percy was a special engine. Thomas did not think Percy was special anymore, so Percy followed Diesel 10 in to the main building.

Once inside, Percy saw Diesel 10, Diesel, ‘Arry and Bert, Diesel 10 said they were happy to have them even though the Steamworks was not grand like the Steamies’ Steamworks. Then Den and Dart, 2 diesel engines he had never met before, oiled up and introduced themselves. Dart told Percy a joke, so Percy told one to the Diesels. All the Diesels left, including Paxton who pulled up next to Percy and Sidney who was elevated in the air to be repaired, but Diesel 10 laughed the loudest.

Diesel 10 was glad that Percy was there with them. He asked Percy to tell them all about himself. Diesel 10 told Percy that his job pulling the mail cars was very important. Percy realized he needed to take the hose to the Sodor Search & Rescue Center. Diesel 10 told Dart to take care of it for Percy. Diesel 10 agreed that it was a very important parcel.

Suddenly, Mavis pulled up, being shunted by Salty. She needed repaired and was happy yet surprised to see Percy. Salty told Percy that Den fixes them all, even though the Dieselworks was old, broken down, and shoddy. Percy said that they should ask Sir Topham Hatt for a new Dieselworks. Diesel 10 told him that they had, many times, but Hatt doesn't listen to Diesels, he only listens to Steamies.

Percy had an idea. He would tell Thomas to ask Sir Topham Hatt to do this, because he always listened to Thomas. He would help his friends. Diesel 10 was pleased and thanked Percy for his kind idea. Percy shunted off quickly to find Thomas. Diesel 10 asked him to come back soon, that he would be waiting for him.

At Brendam Docks, Flynn had just arrived. Cranky was curious said that he had never seen a fire engine that could drive on roads and on rail before. At the Dieselworks, Percy tried to talk to Thomas, but Sir Topham Hatt chastised Percy for being late to meet Flynn. Thomas told Percy that he was going to show Flynn around the island. Percy left and was alone at Tidmouth Sheds. Since nobody noticed him here, he decided that in the morning, he would go to the Dieselworks where Diesel 10 took notice of him and would be pleased to see him.

Early the next day Percy went to the Dieselworks. Diesel 10 was pleased to see Percy. He asked if Percy did as he said he would do. Percy apologized for not doing what he said he would do when he left. Pinchy, Diesel 10’s claw clenched. Dart crashed in to their broken crane, Happy Hook, and complained about it always being in the way and not working. Den told Dart to slow down. Dart complained that they had asked for a new crane many times, and still just have a broken crane that always in the way. Diesel 10 told everyone to be quiet. Everyone complied.

Percy agreed with Dart. He said that Victor always says that you can’t fix an engine without a hook. Mavis told Percy that Victor was right. Diesel 10 was sad, he told Percy that now he sees how much trouble the Diesels have. The Steamies have Kevin, but the Diesel have nothing, and that is not fair!

Percy chuffed to the Steamworks. He told Kevin about going to the Dieselworks and how they do not have a crane. Kevin was shocked and dropped the items on the pallet he was carrying; he said Percy should not have gone there. Victor chastised Kevin for dropping train parts. Percy told him how nice the Diesels were. Then Kevin repeated what Victor said about engines repair and cranes. 

Percy had an idea, he told Kevin he should go to the Dieselworks and that Diesel 10 would call him a hero! Kevin said he had never been called a hero before. He would like to be considered a hero.
Thomas pulled up and told Percy he had been looking for him all day. He had gone to get the hose from the Sodor Search and Rescue Center, but it was not there. Percy tried to talk to Thomas, but Thomas would not listen. Kevin told Percy, he thought about it and would like to go to the Dieselworks, but he did not know where it was. 

Percy looked all around Sodor for the hose. Rocky asked if he could help, but Percy said he did not need help. At night he went to Tidmouth Sheds and was surprised to the Flynn in his berth. Flynn told him that Thomas said he could stay there… …until Percy came back, of course. Percy told Flynn he was busy and left.

At the Steamworks, Victor was sleeping while Kevin cleaned up. Percy pulled up and offered to take Kevin to the Dieselworks. Kevin got on a flatbed and Percy quietly took him to the Dieselworks. Diesel 10 was delighted. He said they were very honored and that Kevin was a hero. Den and Dart introduced themselves. Diesel 10 told Percy that he was very pleased with him for bringing Kevin to them.

Diesel 10 asked about Percy’s promise to talk to Thomas. He knew that Diesel 10 would be cross. Percy apologized, saying that Thomas had no time to talk to anyone. Diesel 10 suggested he bring Thomas to them instead. That way they would have Thomas’ full attention. Percy agreed that this was a good idea, but was afraid that Thomas would not want to come.

The next morning, Percy went to Knapford Station where the other Steamies were surprised. They asked where he was and told him that Thomas was worried and looking for him. Percy puffed proudly, stating that he was with his friends. When Thomas said they were his friends, Percy said, no… …my new friends, the Diesels. All the assembled Steamies, Thomas, Henry, Toby, Emily, and Stanley were shocked.

Gordon pulled up and announced that Kevin was missing. Percy told them than he was being very useful at the Dieselworks. Thomas told Percy he needed to go tell Victor… now.
Kevin was having fun with Happy Hook at the Dieselworks. Diesel 10 told him there was a lot that needed to be done, so they did not have time for games and to please move the garbage. Kevin agreed.

At the Steamworks, suddenly everyone was listening to Percy. He told them about how unfair it was that the Dieselworks was dilapidated and they needed Kevin. Victor said that he needed Kevin.
Thomas still was not listening, but just looking at Flynn, so Percy made a decision and told Victor that he knew he wanted Kevin back, so Thomas must go to the Steamworks to collect Kevin. That way he could finally do what he had been promising Diesel 10 for over a week now!

Victor took off to go tell Sir Topham Hatt about all that occurred. Percy went to the Dieselworks. At the Dieselworks, Diesel 10 smiled his biggest smile yet. Kevin was being very useful, Thomas was going to come to the Dieselworks, and since Victor was gone, they were going to take over the Steamworks so that Sir Topham Hatt might finally listen to them. Percy would lead them and be their hero!

Percy asked about Thomas. Pinchy clanked. Diesel 10 said that Thomas and Kevin would wait at the Dieselworks until they sent for them. Then, Thomas arrived. Diesel 10 welcomed him, stating that it had been a very long time that they had been waiting for him. Den and Dart introduced themselves and took Thomas to the back shed. Kevin, Den, and Dart were going to take care of Thomas.

Pinchy clanked, sparks flew. Diesel 10 asked is Percy was ready to be a hero. Percy confirmed he was ready. He felt grander than Gordon and more special than Spencer. As Den and Dart took Thomas to the back shed, he called out for Percy, but Percy was already gone. He was leading the charge of the Diesels: Diesel 10, Diesel, ‘Arry, Bert, Paxton, and Norman. They thundered through Henry’s tunnel as they raced to the Steamworks.

The Steamworks was quiet and calm. Percy was proud. He wanted Diesel 10 to cheer and clap. But Diesel was too busy looking around. He got overzealous and announced the Steamworks was all theirs. Diesel 10 got a little too excited and said they would not give it back. Percy told him he must give it back, so Diesel 10 told him no and called him a “Silly Steamy”.

Percy asked about Thomas. Diesel 10 said Thomas was theirs too. Percy felt less special. It was his fault that the Diesel had taken over the Steamworks and Thomas was stuck at the Dieselworks. He decided to go get Thomas. On the way back to the Dieselworks, he thought about it and agreed that he had been a Silly Steamy. Shortly after he arrived, he saw a fire in the main shed.

RACISM ALERT: The movie makes it appear that this was due to sparks from Pinchy, Diesel 10’s claw, but the book shows it was from Percy braking very hard after going too fast!

Percy knew he needed to save the Dieselworks, so he headed to the Sodor Search and Rescue Center. Flynn and Belle were ready to help, but Flynn did not have his hose. Percy figured it must still be at the Dieselworks. Maybe Diesel 10 kept it there because they had nothing at the Dieselworks.

Once the 3 engines got back to the Dieselworks, they whooshed to the back shed, where Den. Dart, Thomas, and Kevin were. Kevin had been loaded on a flatbed and connected to Thomas so that they would be ready when Diesel 10 called for them to come to the Steamworks. Percy asked where the hose was, Den was not sure, but when Percy told them it was an emergency, Dart told him Den did not know what he was talking about, but that it was around back with the garbage. Belle and Flynn went to get the hose.

Percy demanded that they let Thomas go. When Den and Dart refused until Diesel 10 ordered them to do so, Percy told then that the main shed was on fire. So Den and Dart decided to let them go. Kevin was scared because of the fire, but Flynn told him not to fear as he and Belle would put the fire out. That was exactly what they did.

Percy asked Thomas to help him take the Steamworks back. Thomas said he would, but first they needed to gather their friends first. Percy thanked Flynn & Belle, then they were off to gather the Steam Team.

At the Steamworks, the Diesels were having a party, hooting and honking. It was so nice to be in modern, clean Works. Diesel 10 was whirring on the round-table  Diesel 10 said the Steamworks was theirs now. Thomas said that it was not, it was theirs. Pinchy clanked. Diesel 10 was cross. Percy said he knows they want it, but taking it was not right. Diesel 10 tricked him, but they will not trick him.

Pinchy clanked. Diesel 10 asked how they will help the Diesels. Percy said Thomas will talk to Sir Topham Hatt. Thomas said he will tell Hatt that they need a new Dieselworks. Just then, Sir Topham Hatt arrived with his 2 guards. He was cross and asked Diesel 10 what he thought he was doing. Hatt told him he will do what Hatt says when Hatt says it. Hatt said he caused confusion and delay and because of him none of his engines are being really useful. Hatt told him that Diesel 10 must put everything right. Diesel 10 realized he had been overzealous in his pursuit for a better home for the Diesels. He was speechless and embarrassed.

Percy spoke up and told Sir Topham Hatt that Diesel 10 is sad because the Dieselworks is old and dirty. Thomas added it is oily and noisy. Kevin added that it does not even have a crane! Percy said that is why Diesel 10 was bad. Thomas asked for Hatt to please make a new Dieselworks.
Called out on his neglect of the Diesels, Sir Topham Hatt said that of course the Diesels would get a new Dieselworks. He explained that things take time and they would just have to wait their turn. He told Diesel 10 that it would be well worth the wait. Diesel 10 smiled.

The Steamies and the Diesels worked together for many days to rebuild the Dieselworks. Thomas and Percy worked side by side; Henry and Edward pushed and pulled heavy loads; Gordon and Emily worked in the yard; Den and Dart had never worked so long or hard before. Finally, the Dieselworks was finished. It was grand! Even Happy Hook was fixed!

The, Sir Topham Hatt arrived. He smiled from ear to ear. The engines hushed. He said that the new Dieselworks is a very special building. Not just because it is new, not just because it is grand, but because it shows what can happen when Really Useful Engines work together.

Hatt told the engines that they must all know that none of his engines are ever forgotten, that they are all special, and that he is proud of them all. The Steamies and Diesels honked and hooted in agreement. Diesel 10 smiled.

Cue the Day of the Diesels music video. Great stuff!

Once upon a time, not so very long ago
There was a little trouble going on
The Diesels made the Steamies pretty mad
And none of them could even get along 

There they go, heading for the Steamworks
Honking horns, listen to the rolling thunder, rolling thunder
Day of the Diesels
'Arry, Bert, Paxton, Diesel, and Den
Day of the Diesels
Norman, Dart, and Diesel 10 

Percy thought he didn't have a friend in the world
How very, very wrong could he be
With a friend like Thomas rolling by his side
He couldn't be in better company 

There they go, heading for the Steamworks
Whistles blow, listen to the rolling thunder
Day of the Diesels
'Arry, Bert, Paxton, Diesel, and Den
Day of the Diesels
Norman, Dart, and Diesel 10
Day of the Diesels 

'Arry, Bert, Paxton, Diesel, and Den
Day of the Diesels
Norman, Dart, and Diesel 10 

Thomas and Percy, Gordon and Henry
Fiery Flynn, He roars to the rescue
James and Edward, Toby and Emily
Don't forget Belle, big, brave, and bright blue
Rolling thunder, Rolling thunder 

With the Dieselworks all cinders and ashes
there’s only one thing to do
put aside your worries and just pull together
it’s the only way to get through.
There they go, building it together, building it together
Dieselworks rising from the rolling thunder, rolling thunder 

Day of the Diesels, yeah, yeah, yeah
'Arry, Bert, Paxton, Diesel, and Den
Day of the Diesels, whoo, whoo
Norman, Dart, and Diesel 10 

Day of the Diesels
'Arry and Bert, Paxton, Diesel, and Den
Day of the Diesels, yeah, yeah, yeah
Norman, Dart, and Diesel 10 

Day of the Diesels

The end.

Click the following links to buy this story on BOOK and DVD.

Misty Island Rescue ☁☁☁☁

Pros: The songs, the story, introduction of the Sodor Search and Rescue Center, return of Diesel 10, further development of Hiro.

Cons: The Logging Locos (all 3 of them) are horrible characters, racism against Diesels.

The Island of Sodor is a world of wonder. There was great excitement on the island. A new search and rescue center was being built. Harold had just rescued a climber.

Jobi wood was going to be brought in to Brendam Docks for building the Sodor Search & Rescue Center All the Steam Team engines were getting supplies for building the new center. Thomas was sent to take the hiker to Knapford Station then he was to go meet Percy. Thomas and Percy wondered which engine would pull the Jobi logs to the SSRC.

Later, all the engines were at the docks with Thomas and Percy. Hiro told them that Jobi is the strongest wood in the world and it comes from his Island of Japan. Sir Topham Hatt announced that the most “Really Useful Engine” would get to take the Jobi logs to the Sodor Search & Rescue Center. The engines puffed away to do their jobs.

Thomas said that every day he was a very useful engine and he wanted to pull the Jobi logs. Diesel oiled up and asked Thomas what about him. Diesel was always a Really Useful Engine too. Thomas told Diesel that Sir Topham Hatt meant a really useful Steamy, and that Diesel would never be that. Then Thomas steamed away.

Diesel was cross. He was tired of steam engines always calling diesel engines dirty and not special. Diesel decided he would show the racist Steamies that Diesels can be special engines too. 

Diesel decided to take the Jobi logs to show how special he was and how he was a Really Useful Engine. Diesels are no good, Steamies always say, thought Diesel. He would show them how special he was, by the end of the day.

Thomas saw Diesel shunting the Jobi wood. He yelled at Diesel to stop and made chase. Diesel saw and heard Thomas, but he was not going to listen. Diesel went faster to get away from the Steamy that was chasing him down. Diesel went faster and faster to get away. Thomas said he would puff ahead of him, so Diesel went even faster. Thomas got stuck at a red signal and was delayed in chasing the really useful Diesel.

Diesel kept going as fast as he could. Then there was trouble! He went as fast as he could and went over the hill and around the bend, to find that the bridge was not completed! (5 broken bridges in 5 movies!) He skidded to a stop, but too late! He slowly lost each car of Jobi wood, one car at a time, as the hung over the broken track ahead. Eventually he lost them all, and was hanging over the edge of the broken track at the broken bridge. Jobi wood, being a very special wood, did not break when it hit the rocks below the very high cliff, and sunk when it landed in the water!

Thomas pulled up and asked Diesel what he should do. Diesel did not know. He was hanging half on and half off the track! Thomas pulled up and coupled up to Diesel and pulled him back to safety. Thomas congratulated himself and Diesel thanked Thomas.

That night Thomas told the story at Tidmouth Sheds. Sir Topham Hatt congratulated Thomas on his decision to save Diesel. The SSRC would be delayed, so Sir Topham Hatt was cross. As a reward for saving Diesel, Sir Topham Hatt would be sending Thomas to the Search and Rescue Center on the mainland (England).

The next day after the ship was loaded, Spencer was loaded on. Salty the diesel engine told a story about Misty Island at the urging of Percy. He said that there were weird engines there and many mysteries. Edward recalled seeing the Island a long time ago. Salty told about the time that there was a lost engine that was only found after he puffed 3 puffs 3 times. Diesel arrived, thanked Thomas again, said goodbye and wished Thomas good luck. Thomas just smiled, but said nothing. Diesel went back to work.

There was no room left for Thomas, but at Thomas’ insistence, he was loaded on to an unsafe rail raft connected by a very rusty chain. Thomas said that Sir Topham Hatt told him he makes good decisions, so this decision had to be good too. Percy the Small Engine was worried, but Thomas the Tank Engine wrongly and arrogantly thought all of his decisions were infallible now.

Thomas was far out to sea, darkness and the mist fell. Thomas could not see anything, but it did hear the chains break! He cried for help, but nobody could hear him, not even Spencer. Thomas floated away and fell asleep. In the morning his rail-raft crashed into a railway at the shore of an island! It was very misty and no trains could be found, so he looked for a dock.

Thomas heard the sound of rails on rusty tracks and called out, but nobody answered. Next, he was showered by small stones, but he saw no engine anywhere. He heard a low steam whistle and got scared. He chuffed faster and come to 3 very strange engines that did not look friendly.

Thomas introduced himself. The trains introduced themselves and let him know that he was on Misty Island. They were exiled from the mainland for being too wild and too naughty. Bash would start a sentence, Dash would finish it, and then Ferdinand would say, “That’s right!”

Thomas thought these Logging Locos were strange, so he rejected their offer to play and he left them to look for a way to Sodor on his own. He thought all of his decisions were right, including this one.

Back on the Island of Sodor, Sir Topham Hatt got the call that Thomas had been lost at sea. He was sad. Harold the helicopter flew all over Sodor looking for Thomas with no luck. Sir Topham Hatt rode on Captain the boat and they searched the seas.

The next morning, Thomas awoke and realized he was lost, alone, and had no idea how to get home. He decided to go back and ask the Logging Locos, but he was lost. Eventually he found a river and decided to follow it to find them thinking they needed water, so a river would go to them. He ended up at an abandoned logging station and soon found the 3 trains. Thomas shouted a hello to them.

The Logging Locos were cross. They said hello to him yesterday, but he did not want to play. They told Thomas they were too busy loading logs. Thomas was shocked, they were Jobi logs! He apologized and then told the Locos about the Sodor Search and Rescue Center and how they needed Jobi Logs. Unfortunately for Thomas, these 3 engines were Really Non-Useful Engines!

On Sodor, Sir Topham Hatt told all the engines to look for Thomas since neither Harold nor Captain could find Thomas.

At the logging station, Thomas told Bash, Dash, & Ferdinand that they needed to work faster. He told them that he makes good decisions all the time. The Logging Locos just laughed and went away to do their work.

On Sodor, Sir Topham Hatt visited Whiff the Garbage Shunting Steam Engine, to get his help in finding Thomas. Whiff told him about the tunnel to Misty Island that was never used. They used it for garbage instead. Sir Topham Hatt had no time to listen.

On Misty Island, the Logging Locos told Thomas that they were low on oil, so they could not work fast. Thomas was surprised. They were Steamies, why would they need oil? The Locos explained that instead of burning coal to make steam, they used oil and logs. These engines were strange indeed! Thomas told them he makes good decisions and he is sure that they have enough oil. He wanted the logs to be loaded quickly for the SSRC.

The Logging Locos crossed a very unsafe wobbly bridge. Thomas said they should not use the bridge because it was unsafe. The Locos laughed at him and told him it was the only way to go, so Thomas used the unsafe bridge.

Thomas would not use the log loading crane, Old Wheezy, as he threw logs haphazardly rather than being an efficient loader, instead he told the Logging Locos to use Hee-Haw, the oil burning crane, as it would load logs much more efficiently. This used up all of the remaining oil that Bash, Dash, and Ferdinand had.

Sir Topham Hatt was out in the ocean with Captain. They were calling for Thomas.

The Logging Locos told Thomas that now that they were loaded they could wait for the ship or take the tunnel to Sodor. However, the tunnel was dangerous, the Locos claimed. Thomas made the decision to take the tunnel. The Locos laughed at Thomas and mocked his arrogance. The Locos told Thomas that they did not have enough oil, but Thomas insisted that they did. The locos still followed Thomas’ lead.

Once they entered the tunnel, it collapsed in front of them and then behind them. The trains together bashed in to the rocks blocking their way. Nothing happened except that Bash, Dash, and Ferdinand ran out of oil. Thomas realized that all of his decisions on Misty Island had been wrong after all. Thomas apologized, and the Logging Locos told him nobody can be right all the time.

At Brendam Docks, Percy stared sadly out to sea. He begged Cranky to look for Thomas. There was no sign. Salty told Percy there was nothing to see with all the mist.

On Misty Island the tunnel started to cave in more and an opening in the rock appeared above them. Ferdinand felt fresh air. Bash and Dash told Thomas to pull up and puff 3 puffs of steam 3 times and that someone would see it.

Suddenly, the mist started to lift. Percy, Cranky, and Salty saw Misty Island with 3 puffs of steam rising from the island again! Percy raced off to get Sir Topham Hatt. Hatt came along with the other engines and they all saw 3 puffs of steam rising. Hatt ordered Edward, James, and Gordon to board a ship with him and to go to rescue Thomas. Percy suggested the old tunnel. Hatt ordered Percy to meet up with Whiff and to take the tunnel to try to make it to Misty Island as well.

As the ship with Sir Topham Hatt and the 3 engines headed to Misty Island they saw a 3rd burst of 3 steam clouds. At the tunnel, Whiff and Percy heard Thomas. They had Thomas back up, and they crashed and smashed through to Thomas and the Logging Locos.

On Misty Island, James, Gordon, and Edward arrived as the mist started coming down. Sir Topham Hatt said they would not stop until they found Thomas.

Whiff took the lead and pulled out the engines to the Sodor Search and Rescue Center where they met the rest of the Steam Team. The Steam Team told Thomas that the others were on Misty Island. Harold arrived and told them that the steamship had returned and the mist had lowered, so there was no way for him to go share the news that he had been found.

Thomas decided to go back through the tunnel and find the rescue team and being them home. The rest of the Steam Team took the Logging Locos to the Steamworks to be fixed, cleaned up, and repainted. Victor greeted them. They liked Kevin, especially when he crashed.

Sir Topham Hatt was so happy when Thomas found them. Hatt threw his hat in to the misty air, losing it. The rescue trains followed Thomas back to the SSRC where they met the Logging Locos. All the engines helped bring Jobi wood to build the Sodor Search and Rescue Center.

At the opening of the SSRC, Hatt made an official welcome to their new friends, Bash, Dash & Ferdinand, calling them Really Useful Engines.

Cue Misty Island Rescue music video. Good stuff!

Misty Island Rescue, here we goMisty Island Rescue, here we gowith boilers all a-bubblingthe engines are a-comingMisty Island Rescue, here we go 

Searching through the tunnels one by onesearching through the tunnels one by oneWhiff and Percy huntingwith pistons all a-pumpingSearching through the tunnels one by one 

Bash, Dash, Ferdinandthey’re the Logging Locosalways there to lend a handThomas has to make amendsso he needs his brand new friends...todayHelp in every way! 

Edward, James and Gordon on the wayEdward, James and Gordon on the waySteaming across the oceanthe rescue is in motionEdward, James and Gordon on the way 

Bash, Dash, Ferdinandthey’re the Logging Locosalways there to lend a handThomas has to make amendsso he needs his brand new friends...todayHelp in every way! 

Misty Island Rescue, here we goMisty Island Rescue, here we gowith boilers all a-bubblingthe engines are a-comingMisty Island Rescue, here we go 

Misty Island Rescue, here we goMisty Island Rescue, here we goMisty Island Rescue, here we go!

Up above them, Diesel 10 looked down and laughed. These joking engines that were not very useful were being called Really Useful Engines just because they were Steamies. Diesel 10 was tired of the racism against diesel engines. He said those silly Steamies would soon be laughing on the other side of their boilers soon.

The end.

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