It was a bright day at King's Cross. Max was shunting trucks, Arron had returned after hauling a heavy goods, and Mallard came in record time. "I'm glad I can pull passengers again after this," said Mallard, "I'm tired of trucks." Just then, a loud wearing sound was heard. Then came a big engine that looked like a diesel, but had a streamlined front like Mallard. "Hello out-dated rubbish," said the engine, "I'm here to take over your du-" "THAT, is not why you are here," said the shed master angrily, "you are here to HELP them, and nothing more." "Yes sir," said the engine. "Now, this is Joseph, he will be helping on the mainline." Just then a horn was blown right next to Arron, who jumped and ran into a set of trucks. "Sorry," said the engine, "I just meant to surprise you, not make you crash." "It's fine," said Arron. "Oh, my name's Alivia." "She will be helping as well," said the shed master. "When did you get here?" asked Max, "I didn't even hear you coming." "Well, solar power is like that," said Alivia. "Solar power?" asked Mallard. "I'm an experimental electric engine. I run on sun light, which my panels on my roof catch, and turn it into energy for me to move." "But we all know who the better experimental engine is," said Joseph. Mallard was cross, "How about this fancy boy? You and me, in a race, all the way to Peterborough." "YOU!?! Race me!?! I'm way faster than a......" The shed master shot a look at Joseph, and Joseph said, "A very useful engine like yourself. I'm sure that you can try to beat me." "Oh I won't, I will!!" said Mallard, and he puffed away.

Next morning, Mallard had his coaches ready, a break and the observation for people who wanted to ride him. It would be bumpy, but the people were excited. Joseph then rolled along side him, and said, "Oh my, many people have come to cheer me on! The future, the revolution, the-" "We're not here for you," said one of the passengers, "We're here to cheer Mallard. Besides, we've seen your performance. Not able to climb hills at high speeds?" Mallard couldn't help but laugh. Just then Alivia came up. "What are you doing here?" asked Joseph. "I'm competing too," said Alivia, "Many people thought it would be nice to see a solar powered engine running too." "But there's no sunlight," said Mallard. "I'm running on a battery right now."

Max and Arron came up from the opposite platform, and said, "Win this Mallard! Show them that steam rules!!" "I will," said Mallard.

Just then, the guard blew his whistle, and the three engines raced off. Joseph soon got ahead, and raced off through the tunnels, with Mallard following right behind him. Out on the mainline, the three engines all struggled to get ahead of each other. Joseph would taunt them a few times by slowing down and then speeding up very fast. He was built to go very fast, but his driver made him follow the speed limits. Any engine going over 110 mph would be disqualified.

Mallard headed down the line at amazing power for steam. He raced at 107 mph. This was nothing like his record run, but it was close to it. Soon, Alivia had taken the lead. There was a bit of a steep hill close by, and Joseph slowed down a bit. He soon picked up speed, and went down the hill very fast, but made sure to not go over 110. Soon, he raced past Mallard and Alivia.

Joseph was having a blast. "TRY TO KEEP UP SLOW COACHES!!" he said. The engines all raced through the half way point.

At King's Cross, the fleet were all watching Mallard from the special big screen that was brought out to watch this event. "Come on Mallard," said Max, "You can do it!" "I just hope this doesn't get to his smoke box," said Silvia. "Now dear," said Bertram, "We can always tease him about having a second tender if it does."

Joseph was having a blast. But suddenly, his engine started to sputter. It then started to blow black smoke, and he came to a halt. "You're engine over heated," said his driver, "I'm not surprised at how you pushed it at the in climb here." Joseph just went red in the face. Alivia was soon reaching Peterborough, but the sky blocked out the sun light, just before she crossed the finish line. Before she could switch to battery, Mallard raced right through the ribbon, winning the race. "THE WINNER IS MALLARD!!! THE FASTEST STEAM ENGINE IN THE WORLD!!!" Mallard smiled.

At King's Cross, he told the other engines about the race. "I thought I would have my center barring melted again," he said, "But I managed to pull through and win this for steam everywhere!!" The engines were impressed. As for Alivia and Joseph, Alivia was sent to work on a special line where she was changed into a cable electric so she never has to stop. And Joseph was sent in disgrace. He was rude, and just a bully, so he was put in a museum and he is the laughing stock of the whole place. He wishes that he could have a second chance against Mallard, but it never came."