Rev. W. Awdry - May the Best Engine Win (Thomas & Friends)

Thomas the Tank Engine & Friends Based on The Railway Series by The Reverend W Awdry.
2008 Gullane (Thomas) LLC.
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. Published in the United States by Golden Books, an imprint of Random House Childrens Books, a division of Random House, Inc., New York, and in Canada by Random House of Canada Limited, Toronto. Originally published in slightly different form by Golden Books in 2006. Golden Books, A Golden Book, A Little Golden Book, the G colophon, and the distinctive gold spine are registered trademarks of Random House, Inc.
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Library of Congress Control Number: 2007931163
eISBN: 978-0-375-98409-9 v3.1 E arly one morning on the Island of Sodor, Sir Topham Hatt came to the Yard.

Thomas and Emily were preparing for a busy day. Thomas always worked very hard. He was proud to be a Really Useful Engine. Emily was new. She wanted to prove that she was Really Useful, too. Thomas, theres a lot to do today. Thomas, theres a lot to do today.

I hope that everything gets done on time, said Sir Topham Hatt. Why should Thomas get all the work? asked Emily. I can do anything he can. Im faster than him, too! Sir Topham Hatt was glad that Emily wanted to help. He told them, I can divide up the duties so that both of you will have the same workload today. Emily knew it would be a long day, but she smiled.

She told Thomas, Now youll see what I can do. Thomas was used to long days. Emily, this might be too much work for you, he teased. You should let me do more. Pfffft! she puffed. Lets go! peeped Thomas. Lets go! peeped Thomas.

With a Peep! and a Poop!, Thomas and Emily left the station side by side. Emilys first stop was the Quarry. Shed brought crates full of new tools, and she had to stay in place while the workers unloaded them. After all the crates were taken away, the workers hitched her to freight cars full of large stones. Emily knew that Really Useful Engines were supposed to be good at waiting. But it was difficult for her to be patient.

Please hurry, she told the workers. I dont want Thomas to get ahead! While Emily was at the Quarry, Thomas was running his Branch Line. He moved from station to station. At every stop, more passengers got off and Annie and Clarabel got lighter and lighter. Ill bet Im pulling ahead of Emily already, thought Thomas. Along the way to his last station, Thomas saw Emily.

She was going to Suddery with stone from the Quarry. There you are, slowcoach! she called. Thomas laughed. That stone looks awfully heavy! he said. He hoped that Emily would get tired from hauling such a heavy load. Thomas second job was to deliver a load of barrels to the docks.

He had to wait for the barrels to be moved onto boats. Thomas was not a very patient engine, but he knew it would do no good to win the race if he didnt do his job just right. The other engines will tease me forever if Emily wins, he thought. He would have to go extra fast to his next stop. Is it time to go back to the Shed? he asked his Driver. Troublesome Trucks were always bumping and bashing. Troublesome Trucks were always bumping and bashing.