title: Thomas the Really Useful Engine (Thomas the Tank Engine & Friends)
author: Rev W. Awdry
description: When a fierce storm rips through the Island of Sodor, a bolt of lightning knocks down a tree--right onto the train station's roof! James the Red Engine, Percy the Small Engine, and Henry the Green Engine are sent off to fetch supplies to repair the damage. When they don't return, little blue Thomas the Tank Engine grows worried, and decides to set out on his own to help. Sure enough, his fears are confirmed: one after the other, the engines have encountered mishaps, and Thomas is happy to save the day. After all, he is a really useful engine.
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  Thomas the Tank Engine & Friends™
  
  
  ![](images/Awdr_9780375986086_epub_001_r1.jpg)
  
  
  Based on The Railway Series by the Rev W Awdry. Copyright © Gullane (Thomas)
  LLC 2002. Thomas the Tank Engine & Friends and Thomas & Friends are trademarks
  of Gullane (Thomas) Limited. HIT and the HIT Entertainment logo are trademarks
  of HIT Entertainment Limited. All rights reserved under International and Pan-
  American Copyright Conventions.  
  Published in the united States by Random House Children’s Books, a division of
  Random House, Inc., New York, and simultaneously in Canada by Random House of
  Canada Limited, Toronto.  
  RANDOM HOUSE and colophon are registered trademarks of Random House, Inc.
  
  
  [www.randomhouse.com/kids](http://www.randomhouse.com/kids)  
  [www.thomasthetankengine.com](http://www.thomasthetankengine.com)
  
  
  _Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publicati