Tom LaPadula - Thomas and the big, big bridge

Thomas the Tank Engine & Friends

Based on The Railway Series by The Reverend W Awdry. Copyright Gullane (Thomas) LLC 2001

Thomas the Tank Engine & Friends and Thomas & Friends are trademarks of Gullane (Thomas) Limited.

HIT and the HIT Entertainment logo are trademarks of HIT Entertainment Limited.

All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. Published in the United States by Golden Books, an imprint of Random House Childrens Books, a division of Random House, Inc., New York, and simultaneously in Canada by Random House of Canada Limited, Toronto. Originally published in slightly different form by Random House, Inc., in 2001. GOLDEN BOOKS, A GOLDEN BOOK, A LITTLE GOLDEN BOOK, the G colophon, and the distinctive gold spine are registered trademarks of Random House, Inc.

www.randomhouse.com/kids
www.goldenbooks.com
www.thomasthetankengine.com

Library of Congress Control Number: 2002108479

eISBN: 978-0-375-98395-5

v3.1

Contents

I t was a special day for the railway!We are here to launch the new rail line through the Mountains of Sodor, Sir Topham Hatt announced. Today we open the big, big bridge!What wonderful news! Everyone cheered. The mountains were beautiful. The people of Sodor couldnt wait to visit them.Everyone wanted to see the big, big bridge. It had towers so high the tops touched the sky. And the valley beneath was so deep that when you were on the big, big bridge, you could barely see the ground.Thomas was excited about the new rail line.This really is a special day! he said happily.Then Henry chugged up to Thomas. The big engine frowned.I dont want to go to the mountains, Henry said nervously. Its windy up therevery, very windy. Henry didnt like the wind. Henry didnt like rain or snow or hail, either.Youre a big engine, Henry! Thomas said. You shouldnt be afraid of a little wind.But Henry was afraid. And that made Thomas a bit afraid, too.Gordon! Henry! Thomas! Hitch up your coaches! called Sir Topham Hatt. Its time for your first trip to the mountains.Percy and James were glad they didnt have to go to the mountains. They were afraid to cross the big, big bridge, too.Theres nothing to be afraid of, Thomas insisted, in a voice loud enough for Percy and James to hear. It will be easy to cross the big, big bridge.Thomas and Henry chugged to the platform. Gordon the Express Engine was already there. His coaches were full of passengers.Annie and Clarabel were soon hitched behind Thomas. Hurry, hurry, they called.All aboard! cried the conductor.Sir Topham Hatt turned to the crowd and waved his hat one last time. Toot, toot, Gordon whistled. Follow me!In a burst of steam, the big blue engine was off.Soon the trains were rolling through the countryside in a long line. Gordon took the lead. Behind him chugged Henry. Then, because he was the smallest, came Thomas.All along the way, people came out of their houses and cheered when they saw the trains go by.At the foot of the mountain, Henry slowed to a crawl. These mountains are much too high, he moaned. I cant go. Im afraid of heights!Dont be silly, said Thomas bravely. Ill be right here behind you.But Henry didnt budge. He was very nervous. And that made Thomas nervous, too.Come on! Thomas gently pushed Henry. We have to go!The brand-new tracks were smooth and shiny, but Henry barely moved along them. The truth was, Henry didnt want to reach the top of the mountain, because then hed have to cross the big, big bridge.If Percy and James and Henry are all afraid, thought Thomas, maybe I should be frightened, too!The tracks grew steep as Thomas and Henry puffed up the mountain. They could hardly keep up with Gordon. The big blue engine rushed ahead.Gordon was a strong engine. The steep tracks didnt tire him at all!Wait for us! Henry called. But Gordon climbed higher and higher, until he was out of sight.I dont think I can make it, Henry groaned, his steam giving out at last. This mountain is too steep!Keep going! Thomas urged him. We cant let a little mountain stop us.But Thomas was having trouble chugging up the steep mountain, too. And he was beginning to worry about crossing the big, big bridge.Finally, Thomas and Henry arrived at the top of the mountain.There it wasthe big, big bridge! And it was high. It was windy up there, too very windy.I wont go, Henry declared.But we have to cross! Thomas said bravely. Our passengers want to see the mountains on the other side.Hurry, hurry! Annie and Clarabel cried. The coaches were so excited that Thomas had trouble keeping them in line.Thomas searched the tracks ahead. Gordon was nowhere to be seen. He had already crossed the bridge and rolled into the mountains beyond.Next page