The Three Railway Engines

Edward's Day Out - by the Rev. W. Awdry

Once upon a time, there was a little engine called, "Edward". He lived in a shed with five other engines. They were all bigger than Edward and boasted about it.

"The driver won't choose you, again!" they said. "He wants strong engines like us!" Edward had not been out in a long time. He began to feel sad. The driver looked at Edward.

"Why are you sad?" he asked. "Would like to come out, today?"

"Oh yes, please!" said Edward. So they lit his fire, and made lots of steam. Then, the driver pulled the lever and Edward puffed away.

"Peep peep!" he whistled. "Look at me now!" The other engines were very cross at being left behind. Away went Edward to collect some coaches.

"Be careful, Edward!" said the coaches. "Don't bump and bend us like the other engines do!" So Edward came up to the coaches very carefully. The shunter fastened the coupling.

"Thank you, Edward!" said the coaches. "That WAS kind. We're glad you're taking us, today!" Then they went to the station where the other people were waiting. 

"Peep peep!" whistled Edward. "Get in quickly, please!" So the people got in quickly, and Edward waited happily for the guard to blow his whistle and wave his green flag. He waited and waited. There was no whistle, and no green flag.

"Where is that guard?" Edward was getting anxious. The driver and fireman asked the stationmaster,

"Have you seen the guard?"

"No," he said. They asked the porter.

"Have you seen the guard?"

"Yes. Last night," said the porter. Edward began to get cross.

"Are we ever going to start?" he said. Just then, a little boy shouted, 

"Here he comes!" There the guard was, running down the hill with his flags in one hand, and a sandwich in the other. He ran onto the platform, blew his whistle, and jumped into his van. They puffed on. Edward did have a happy day; all the children waved as he went passed. They met old friends at the station. 

He worked so hard, the driver promised to take him out again the next day.

"I'm going out again tomorrow!" he told the other engines that night in the shed. "What do you think of that?" But he didn't hear what they thought, for he was so tired and happy, he fell asleep at once.