00:13Dear Christopher, here is your friend Thomas the Tank Engine.
00:17He wanted to come out of his station yard and see the world.
00:20These stories tell you how he did it.
00:23I hope you will like them, because you helped me to make them.
00:26Your loving daddy.
00:50Thomas and his friends.
01:00The island of Sodor is surrounded by beautiful blue sea.
01:05It has fields of green and sandy yellow beaches.
01:09There are rivers, streams, and lots of trees where the birds sing.
01:15There are windmills and a coal mine, and docks where visitors to the island arrive.
01:24The island also has lots and lots of railway lines.
01:29Who's that puffing down the track?
01:34It's Thomas.
01:37Hello, Thomas.
01:40Hello, everybody.
01:42Welcome to the island of Sodor.
01:57Today, on the island of Sodor, Peter Sam makes an exciting discovery.
02:06And we meet some of Thomas' favorite friends.
02:12But first, Duncan is getting ready for a special birthday treat.
02:25Duncan and the hot air balloon.
02:28It was a beautiful day in the hills of Sodor.
02:33It was Mr. Percival's twins' birthday.
02:37Every year, Duncan gave the twins a special birthday ride.
02:41Duncan was very excited.
02:46At the depot, Duncan was getting ready.
02:49He had to look his best.
02:51The special birthday flag had been fixed to his cab.
02:55Duncan was very proud of his flag.
02:58Mr. Percival came to see Duncan.
03:01Shall I pick up the twins now?
03:04No, Duncan.
03:05This year, I am giving them a ride in a hot air balloon for their birthday.
03:11Duncan was disappointed.
03:12He wanted to give the twins their birthday treat.
03:16Duncan, you must collect the hot air balloon from the transfer yards.
03:21Yes, sir.
03:24And he chuffed sadly away.
03:30Duncan pulled into the transfer yards.
03:33Thomas had brought the balloon from the docks.
03:37The balloon man was filling it with hot air.
03:41Hello, Duncan.
03:43Hello, Thomas.
03:46That's a wonderful balloon.
03:48Be sure to puff slowly and carefully, Duncan.
03:53So, Duncan huffed slowly away to Mr. Percival's house.
04:03On his way, Duncan rolled over a bumpy track.
04:07His flatbed clanked, rattled, and jiggled.
04:13One of the ropes holding down the balloon came undone.
04:20Oh dear, thought Duncan.
04:22The bumpy track has jiggled the balloon loose.
04:25What shall I do?
04:27Then an idea flew into Duncan's funnel.
04:31If I jiggled the balloon more, it might float away.
04:35Then I could give the twins a ride today and they could have the balloon ride tomorrow.
04:39So Duncan began to jiggle backwards and forwards over the bumpy track.
04:49The ropes loosened.
04:53And the balloon floated away.
04:57Hooray!
04:59And Duncan chuffed cheerfully to Mr. Percival's house.
05:05Duncan puffed round the bend.
05:08Then he stopped.
05:11The hot air balloon had floated down.
05:13It was right in front of him on the track.
05:16Wow.
