The Royal Carriage

"Just wait until we see James. A princess may have used his carriage but I'm carrying a Queen!"

- Annie

The Royal Carriage is a magazine story.

Plot
The engines are excited; a special carriage is coming to Sodor. Percy has heard that the carriage is even more important than an express carriage, something which Gordon does not agree with. Thomas says that the Fat Controller has told him that the special coach is to be on show at the Sodor Museum and that James is collecting it now.

Later, Thomas is pulling Annie past the Museum when he sees James there with the special carriage. The carriage is magnificent with comfy chairs and a royal blue carpet. James explains that the carriage used to belong to a princess, whom Annie wishes she could have met.

The next day, the Fat Controller has even more exciting news. He says that the carnival this year is to include a Royal Train Tour and that Thomas and Annie will be polished up and decorated to be the Royal Train. Thomas and Annie cannot believe their luck.

After a washdown, Thomas and Annie are fitted with crowns and head off to Wellsworth. On the platform is a very special passenger; the carnival queen. She steps aboard Annie and Thomas pulls away. Everyone comes out to wave to the queen and her Royal Train. Annie is very delighted with her important job. She is looking forward to meeting James; his train may have once carried a princess, but she is carrying a queen.

Characters

 * Thomas
 * Gordon
 * James
 * Percy
 * Annie
 * Sir Topham Hatt
 * The Carnival Queen
 * Henry

Trivia

 * Clarabel is strangely absent.
 * The Royal Carriage resembles Henrietta with fewer windows.

Goofs

 * In the final illustration, Thomas' number one seems to be positioned incorrectly.