| This article is about the magazine story. You may be looking for the episode. |
- "My number is a one and also a shape that looks like a snowman which is eight, so it's 18!"
- ― Nia
Counting on Nia is a magazine story, illustrated using images from the television series. It was reprinted in 2024 as part of the "Classic Thomas Story Collection" series, with slight alterations to the images and text.
Plot[]
Nia is a clever engine who is great at problem-solving. She knew exactly how to get a cow off the line when Gordon couldn't move it. She asked her driver to tempt the cow away with a handful grass.
One day, Sir Topham Hatt asks Nia to pick up some passengers with Annie and Clarabel. The controller instructs Nia to pick up the passengers from platform two. Nia heads to the station, but keeps going to the wrong platform. She even almost collides with Rebecca. Annie tells Nia which is platform two and soon they have picked up their passengers.
On her journey, Nia passes a speed limit sign, but she doesn't slow down until Annie and Clarabel cry out. But it's too late to reduce her speed and Nia skids off the track. Rocky has to lift her back onto the rails, but Nia feels bad about not slowing down in time. She says she will never be a really useful engine unless she can know her numbers. Now, Annie and Clarabel understand and tell her that she should have told them earlier as it's okay to ask for help. The coaches help Nia get to know her numbers using things around them to tell her what they look like from one to ten.
For the first time, Nia is able to read her own number which looks like a tree and a snowman, a one and an eight which means she is number eighteen. Nia is a very quick learner and it's not long before she is recognising numbers everywhere.
Characters[]
- Nia
- Annie and Clarabel
- Sir Topham Hatt
- Gordon (does not speak)
- Thomas (mentioned)
- Rebecca (mentioned)
- Rocky (mentioned)
Trivia[]
- This story is based on the twenty-second series episode of the same name.
- When republished in 2024, all references to "the Fat Controller" are changed to "Sir Topham Hatt" in accordance with Mattel's latest guidelines.
- Unlike the original episode:
Gallery[]
