The Flower Festival

"I'm in full bloom!"

- Thomas

The Flower Festival is a magazine story.

Plot
Across Sodor people are preparing for a grand flower festival. As Thomas steamed along, he saw that the stations on his branch line were all taking part, too. Flower baskets were hung and the flowerbeds bloomed brightly. The most exciting part of the festival was the big Carnival of Flowers procession. All the engine have been extra busy preparing for it. The Fat Controller orders Thomas to take people to the Carnival of Flowers and is feeling a little downhearted that none of his engines can take part in the procession; after all engines run on rails - not roads. A moment later, Percy clattered in pulling trucks loaded with flowers from the market. A sudden bump causes two boxes of flowers to fly out of the trucks and burst open. Some of the flowers land on Thomas. Both Percy and his trucks think that the Fat Controller would be cross, but he laughs; seeing the flowers on Thomas has given him an idea! Soon, a carpenter arrives and starts measuring up Thomas, who is very puzzled. Then, Thomas and his carriages are washed and polished, ready to pick up the passengers but before they're allowed to set off, the carpenter approaches with a large, painted, wooden flower with a big hole in it so it could fit over Thomas' face. At first, Thomas is embarrassed, but the passengers think the procession is great fun and they all stop to wave to Thomas as he chuffs by. Then, Thomas had another surprise! Amongst the carnival floats was a model of Thomas made of flowers!

Plot

 * Thomas
 * Sir Topham Hatt
 * Percy (does not speak)
 * Annie (cameo)

Goofs

 * It is said that Percy is pulling "a truck" (singular), but the illustration shows that he is pulling at least two.
 * The boxes of flowers topple off the trucks the opposite side to where Thomas is, so it is unlikely that he got covered in flowers.