Riders and Races!

Riders and Races! is a magazine story.

Plot
One morning, Thomas is out on his branch line when he comes to a level crossing. Some cyclists ride through the crossing and Thomas admires how colourful they look. One cyclist explains how he and his friends are training for a big bike race held on Saturday. When Thomas reaches Kellsthorpe, he can see the starting line being set up.

At the yard, Thomas tells the other engines what he saw and they explain how they had also seen practicing cyclists. Percy thinks it would be great fun to take part in but James scoffs and claims the engines are too busy to race.

On the day of the race, the engines are up early to bring passengers to watch the race. Thomas and Percy are sent to collect the most special passengers, cyclists from the Mainland. However, when the two tank engines arrive at the harbour, the stationmaster explains the ferry is late. After a while, the ferry finally arrives and Thomas and Percy stage a race all the way to Kellsthorpe. The race ends in a tie and the cyclists take their places. One of the event organisers waves a flag and the bike race begins. Thomas and Percy, however, feel their race was more exciting.

Characters

 * Thomas
 * James
 * Percy
 * Sir Topham Hatt
 * Annie and Clarabel

Locations

 * Kellsthorpe Road

Trivia

 * This is the first mention of Kellsthorpe in a television series related media.