- “You did pull a truck after all! You're a really useful tractor engine!”
- ― Mavis
Tractor Engine is a short magazine story.
Plot
Terence is chugging across the farmer's field, collecting crops in a cart, when spots Mavis trundling along through a railway cutting below the field. Terence tells her he is working hard and is pulling a cart. Mavis tells Terence it is not the same as pulling a truck.
Later, Mavis sees Terence again. This time, Terence is pulling a plough. Mavis informs the tractor that it is still not the same as pulling a truck. As she hurries on her way, her last truck breaks free and rolls back down the line. Terence is concerned because the express is coming through soon and there might be an accident. Using his caterpillar treads to get a good grip, Terence drives down the steep slope and pulls the troublesome truck off the main line and into a siding just in time. When Mavis returns to collect the truck she is thankful for Terence's actions and says he got to pull a truck after all.