Signal S.O.S! is a magazine story.
Plot
As Thomas finishes shunting coal trucks in the Big Harbour yard at night, he spots a flashing light out at sea. He calls his driver, who sees that there were three short light flashes, followed by three longer ones and three further short dashes. He quickly alerts the Harbour stationmaster and coastguard, who then send Harold to rescue a yachtsman who is aground on a sandbank. The man thanks everyone for seeing his S.O.S., but Thomas is confused as to what an S.O.S. is. His driver explains that the flashes of light were flashing in Morse code, and that S.O.S. refers to "Save Our Souls", a signal for help or rescue.
The following week, Thomas is delivering some trucks to the far side of the Island of Sodor. To avoid a jammed crossing gate, his driver and fireman decide to head across a disused line in the countryside. However, Thomas develops a fault and comes to a halt, gushing steam. There is nowhere to go for help, and Donald is sent out to look for Thomas. Soon, they hear an engine approaching the old line, and Thomas gets an idea for his driver to use his flashlight to send an S.O.S. Donald spots the lights and helps to get Thomas and his crew back to the Main Station. He commends Thomas for sending the S.O.S., to which Thomas jokes that it should be an S.O.S.E.: "Save our Steam Engine"!
Characters
- Thomas
- Donald
- Harold
- Sir Topham Hatt (mentioned)
Gallery
