Ein kleines Mädchen hat dem dicken Schaffner geschrieben, und nun machen sich alle großen Maschinen auf, das Kind in dem fernen Bahnhof zu besuchen. Vor allem Thomas ist besonders aufgeregt.
Thomas, Percy and the others are invited to "the big city faraway" by a little girl as well as her friends who would like to meet them. However, Thomas becomes overexcited and has an accident. Will he be mended in time for the visit?
After Sir Topham Hatt reads a letter to the engines requesting them to go to the city, he then tells the engines going that they must show other engines their tasks. As Thomas shows Oliver how to manage coaches, he recalls the time he beat Bertie in a race and becomes very conceited, putting his big trip in jeopardy.