First Engines! is a magazine story.

Plot

Workmen have been making improvements to the Fat Controller’s railway, with more lines giving people a better service. James gets to pull the first passenger train through a new cutting while pulling the Mayor. Later, BoCo gets to be the first engine to embark down a new tunnel, feeling proud to have a job. Gordon gets to cross over a new bridge the following month while Thomas is the first to cross over a rebuilt viaduct.

Eventually, the special work has came to an end, and Percy sulks that he is the only engine who hasn’t had the opportunity to be the first to do something. Soon, an inspector from the Mainland arrives to the yard. He meets the Fat Controller and asks if he could see the railway before heading back that night. The Fat Controller believes that all the engines are busy, but Percy asks if he could take the inspector across the railway.

Percy gets to take them both, steaming busily across from line to line. He puffs through the crossing, goes over the bridge, races through the tunnel and crosses the viaduct, feeling pleased with such useful work. The inspector returns to the main station, commending the Fat Controller for both his railway and Percy. Percy tells Thomas that he may not have been the first engine to use the new lines, but he was the first to use them all on the same day!

Characters

• Thomas
• Gordon
• James
• Percy
• BoCo
• Sir Topham Hatt
• Mayor of Sodor (does not speak)
• Bertie (does not speak)
• Annie (cameo)

Gallery