Thomas Takes the Mail

 Thomas Takes the Mail is a magazine story.

Plot
Thomas is resting in his shed. He watches mailbags being loaded onto a goods van that will be taken to another station and given to the post van. Thomas wishes someone would send him a letter but Henry scoffs and thinks no one would send a letter to a little tank engine.

James is tasked with pulling the goods van but he thinks he's far too splendid to be pulling the dirty van. James' driver informs him that some of the letters could be very important but James crossly puffs away as quickly as he can. The stationmaster calls out that James has left a mailbag behind but James does not hear him. The Fat Controller walks over to Thomas and informs him of the situation. One letter in the bag is for Mrs. Kyndley from her grandson and it must get through. Thomas collects Annie and Clarabel, the mail is loaded and he sets off.

Thomas' driver informs him they will give James the mailbag when they catch up with him. They find James at the brow of Gordon's Hill, looking miserable. James informs them he has overheated and can not move. James' driver says this will teach him a lesson and that Thomas will have to carry the rest of the mail. The goods van is coupled behind Clarabel and Thomas huffs off. The mail is soon delivered on time. Next morning, a postman arrives at the shed and gives Thomas a letter from Mrs. Kyndley, thanking him for getting her grandson's letter to her. Thomas is thrilled to have been sent his own letter!

Characters

 * Thomas
 * Henry
 * James
 * Sir Topham Hatt
 * Annie and Clarabel
 * Mrs. Kyndley