The engines on the Fat Controller's Railway were very excited. The Fat Controller had called all of them together at Knapford Station with important news.

"My Railway will be playing host to a few representatives from the National Railway Museum," he announced. "They will arrive at noon tomorrow."

"Sir, isn't that where Thomas visited all those years ago?" asked Percy."

"Yes, indeed, little Percy," smiled the Fat Controller.

The engines were very excited. Next day, Gordon was at the washdown. He had just finished being cleaned when Thomas halted nearby.

"Good morning, Thomas," called Henry, "I'm looking my best and do you know why?"

"Erm, because the Fat Controller wants to sell you to another railway?" asked Thomas cheekily.

"No, little Thomas, the Fat Controller may choose me to collect the representatives from the National Railway Museum," huffed Henry.

Henry rushed off to meet the visitors as quickly as possible. Just then, a signal changed, diverting him onto a siding. Henry was cross!

"Bother!" he fumed, "I'm going to be late! Those signalmen had better have a good excuse for diverting me onto this dirty siding!"

Henry's driver looked back. "I think they may have one approaching right now," he chuckled.

At that moment, a huge blue engine rocketed past. He was an A4 Pacific, and the fastest engine in the world!

"What in the world - who's that?" gasped Henry.

He soon got his answer when he returned to the shed.

There he saw the large blue engine humming quietly to himself.

"Henry," said Thomas from nearby, "meet Mallard. My driver tells me that he's Gordon's cousin."

"Huh," snorted Henry. Secretly, however, he was very impressed.

"Thomas is right. Gordon is my cousin, and I am probably the fastest engine in the world... faster than you, even," gloated Mallard.

The Fat Controller arrived.

"Ah, good, you've arrived," he smiled, noticing Mallard. "There will be a party for our guests at Maron."

"That's far away over Gordon's Hill," Thomas explained to Mallard.

"Just take on plenty of water," advised Henry.

"I took plenty of water before I came here," hissed Mallard. He rocketed away.

"Don't mind him, Henry. He was boastful when I met him at the National Railway Museum," whispered Thomas.

Meanwhile, Mallard was at Knapford Station, preparing for his run. As soon as he heard the guard's whistle and his driver saw the green flag, he was off in a flash. His paint gleamed in the sun and his wheels were merely blurs as Mallard rocketed along the line.

Gordon saw him approaching and whistled a greeting.

"No time to talk now, my cousin," Mallard called, "I've got to head to the party!"

Emily and Henry were collecting passengers when Mallard raced by!

"Don't forget the water!" whistled Henry.

"No worries, I can manage!" snorted Mallard.

"Och, he'll be in trouble soon," sighed Emily quietly.

Emily was right. Mallard was designed to pick up water in troughs. Seeing as the Island of Sodor's railways had no troughs, Mallard came to a stop on Gordon's Hill.

"Bother!" he moaned. The National Railway Museum representatives climbed out of the carriage.

"I'll call the nearest station," Gordon's Driver called to them.

"Thank you very much," the representatives replied.

He didn't need to call, though, for Henry had just steamed up alongside.

"Run out of water?" he teased.

Mallard said nothing.

"Ah, well," smiled Henry, "you can't help our lack of water troughs."

Henry was switched onto Mallard's line and coupled in front.

"Ready?" he called to Mallard.

Mallard replied, but Henry could barely hear him: "Yes."

The two engines set off, and it wasn't too long before they reached Maron Station.

"We're right on time," beamed Henry.

Mallard remained silent.

Percy and Edward were nearby.

"What do you think of Mallard now? Too much puff and not enough steam, eh?" teased Percy.

"Percy," glared Edward.

The Fat Controller praised Henry for his actions, as did the museum representatives.

"We've read about your enterprising adventure with those diesels," they said, "and now we're glad to have seen just how enterprising you truly are."