Transcripts/Off to See the World

**Narrator:** Ever since Thomas the Tank Engine first came to work on The Fat Controller’s railway, he has met all sorts of engines. All of which with different shapes, different sizes, different colours and some have even come from other countries. He has seen engines from Wales, Scotland, Ireland, France, America, Germany, Cuba, even India and Japan. And who could forget all the engines that competed in the Great Railway Show. After working with engines like Victor and Hiro, it makes Thomas wonder, sometimes, what their old railways must be like. If they were any different to life on Sodor. One day, Thomas was doing his afternoon passenger run with Annie and Clarabel. He was pulling into Ffarquhar, ready for the return journey, when Thomas saw two men holding a camera and a big book. He was curious. He puffed closer to the passengers.

**Thomas:** “Excuse me. I hope you don’t mind me asking, but-”

**Ian:** “Are you Thomas? Thomas the Tank Engine?”

**Thomas:** “Umm, yes?”

**Andy:** “Oh, it is an honour to meet you at last.”

**Narrator:** There was a sudden flash of light. Thomas had just had his photograph taken. Now Thomas was even more curious.

**Thomas:** “Why are you so excited to see me? And why the picture?”

**Andy:** “Oh, wait. We haven’t even introduced ourselves, haven’t we? My name’s Andy, and this is Ian. We are a pair of researchers. Researchers who make educational books for libraries.”

**Ian:** “That’s right. We’ve already made books about the human body, Tudor history, prehistoric animals and now, we're making a book about famous railways from around the world.”

**Thomas:** “Different railways? Around the world? Wow.”

**Andy:** “That’s right. Although, we’ve only just started. We’re currently jotting down notes for a page or two about Sodor Island.”

**Ian:** “We’ve already been on the Brendam and Little Western branch lines. We haven’t been down your branch line yet, so if you’ll be so kind?”

**Thomas:** “Oh, sure thing, hope onboard, sirs.”

**Annie:** “Well, this is most interesting, isn’t it?”

**Clarabel:** “Indeed. Pictures of our branch line in a geography book. How exciting.”

**Narrator:** Thomas also liked the idea of a geography book. But as he was carrying Andy and Ian down the line, an idea started to form. An idea he was scared to ask for.

**Narrator:** Ian had taken lots of photographs of the scenery from Annie’s window and Andy wrote down lots of notes at each station. By the time Thomas reached Knapford station, the film in Ian’s camera was almost full and Andy had written 3 whole pages full of notes.

**Ian:** “That’s a fine bit of work, that.”

**Andy:** “We’ve plenty of material now. Well thanks for helping us Thomas. Cheerio.”

**Narrator:** The two men began to walk off for home. But Thomas still had his crazy idea in his head. Despite how nervous he was to do so, he needed to ask now.

**Thomas:** “Wait, Andy? Can I ask you something?”

**Ian:** “Sure Thomas. What?”

**Narrator:** Thomas was about to ask, but then he paused and thought a little more.

**Thomas:** “Actually, I should ask the Fat Controller. Could you ask him to come, please? He’s in his office over there.”

**Andy:** “Sure.”

**Narrator:** He walked over and knocked on his office door.

**Andy:** “Sorry to bother you, Sir, but, Thomas has something he’d like to ask you.”

**The Fat Controller:** “Oh? What is it, Thomas?”

**Narrator:** Thomas was more worried to ask than ever now because he knew for sure the Fat Controller wouldn’t approve. But soon, he managed to pluck up enough courage.

**Thomas:** “Well, Sir… these two men are making a book about international railways and…”

**The Fat Controller:** “Yes?”

**Narrator:** The Fat Controller has a hint of concern in his voice, which made Thomas gulp.

**Thomas:** “And I was wondering if… if I could go with them around the world, Sir?”

**Narrator:** There was a long silence. Annie, Clarabel, Ian, Andy and the Fat Controller couldn’t believe what they had just heard. Thomas whispered to himself angrily.

**Thomas:** “Oh, I knew that was a stupid, crazy idea! I never should have-”

**Annie:** “Around the world?! But- B-B-B But you can’t!”

**Clarabel:** “What about us? Your passengers? Your friends?”

**The Fat Controller:** “Quite. And this is not as easy as you may think it is, Thomas. First of all-”

**Thomas:** “But, Sir. Maybe I can help Ian and Andy, if there’s anything they don’t know about railways. I’ve had many years of experience after all.”

**The Fat Controller:** “Yes, that is true. But what about your passengers? You’re going to be away for many months.”

**Thomas:** “You can always bring an engine in from the Mainland to take my place, sir. No one will mind.”

**The Fat Controller:** “Hmm, you're right. But, not everywhere in the world has railway lines. How are you going to go to each country if they have none?”

**Thomas:** “Oh. I haven’t thought of that.”

**Narrator:** Ian could see he was unhappy, so he thought of a solution for him.

**Ian:** “Actually, Sir. There’s a car dealership company in our home town on the Mainland. Andy and I will hire a flatbed lorry from there, Thomas will be chained tightly onto the flatbed the whole journey and he will get to see the sights no other engine has seen before.”

**The Fat Controller:** “Oh, um, I guess that could work. Another engine will look after Annie and Clarabel, Thomas will be safe and secure with you and your lorry and he can help you with your book whenever possible.”

**Thomas:** “So, do you agree, Sir?”

**The Fat Controller:** “At the moment, Thomas, I do. Now then, if you can all excuse me, I’ve got a lot of arrangements and preparations to make.”

**Narrator:** He walked into his office and telephoned the shipping company.

**Andy:** “Well, thank you for doing this for us, Thomas. That’s a very kind thing to do.”

**Thomas:** “Oh, well uh, no problem, sir.”

**Andy:** “Please, just call me Andy.”

**Narrator:** A few weeks later, the day finally came. The Fat Controller had arranged everything, from the substitute engine, to the Mainland ship for the journey ahead. Thomas, Andy and Ian were at Vicarstown, ready for the new engine to arrive and all the engines had come to see him off.

**Annie & Clarabel:** “We’re really going to miss you Thomas."

**Percy:** “The railway isn’t going to be the same without you.”

**Thomas:** “Oh, don’t cry Percy. I will come back someday. Besides, I’ll be sure to write to you and the others every week, won’t we?”

**Narrator:** Then, they all heard an unfamiliar whistle and the new engine backed into the station, excited to see Thomas. She was a big tender engine with a long curved boiler and bright yellow paint.

**Thomas:** “Hello there. You must be the engine who is-”

**Rebecca:** “Hiya! Yes, I am. My name’s Rebecca. Oooohh! I can’t wait to work on your branch line. We engines on the Mainland have heard so many stories about you, Thomas.”

**Thomas:** “Wow. Really?”

**Rebecca:** “Yeah. This big blue engine, I think he’s called Gordon or something, told one engine and that engine told another engine and then that engine told another engine and that engine told me and… well, here we are.”

**Annie:** “My word, Clarabel, this engine is very lively.”

**Clarabel:** “And very keen to make a good first impression."

**Annie:** “I’m sure she will do just fine with us.”

**Clarabel:** “I sure hope so.”

**Narrator:** Just before it was time for Thomas to leave, the Fat Controller gave him his last words for a while.

**The Fat Controller:** “Good luck out there, Thomas. Stay close to Ian and Andy, stay safe, but most importantly… have the time of your life.”

**Narrator:** The station’s clock struck the hour, Ian and Andy climbed into Thomas’ coach and Thomas whistled goodbye. As he slowly puffed away, all the other engines whistled and cheered for him. Thomas felt very nervous, but also, very excited as he rumbled over the Vicarstown Bridge and onto the mainland. His big worldwide adventure had begun.