It is stormy season on the Island of Sodor and Thomas is to deliver some birthday mail to Alice at High Farm. On the way he meets Rosie a young tank engine. Rosie wants to be just like Thomas and tries to follow him to High Farm. This makes Thomas cross and he puffs away. When a storm appears Thomas puffs on, trying to get away from Rosie. Thomas takes a shorter but harder route to Hill Farm, but is soon stuck in a landslide. Rosie catches up with Thomas. Thomas is glad to see her and asks Rosie to deliver the special birthday mail to Alice. Rosie is happy to help and when she returns, Thomas is delighted to see Alice on board Rosie, who has come to say thank you. Its winter and James is bringing coal to the wharf so that Duncan can take it up to the villages in the hills. Duncan challenges James to a race - he'll deliver the coal faster than James can bring it to the wharf. James is too fast for little Duncan, so Duncan decides to hide his coal while James isn't looking. James works extra hard to keep up with Duncan, but eventually runs out of his own coal. Duncan feels terrible and admits what he has done. He goes to find James to load him up with coal again. James and Duncan are happy to be Really Useful once again.
