Farmer Trotter asks Thomas to collect some straw for the piglets, which are soon to be born. But on the way, Thomas sees other things he thinks the piglets will like, so he collects milk from Percy, apples from James and chestnuts from the children, completely filling his flatbed. When Thomas gets to McColl Farm, Farmer McColl tells Thomas that there is no room for the straw. So, Thomas takes the unusual cargo to Farmer Trotter, who tells Thomas that piglets do not like apples, chestnuts and milk as the straw is the main priority as soon as they are born. Farmer Trotter tells Thomas to empty his flatbed and collect the straw. On the way, Percy and James try to tell Thomas their ideas about what the piglets would like, but Thomas has no time to listen to them as he is running late. Finally, Thomas collects the straw from Farmer McColl and rushes back to the pig farm. Thomas cannot see the pigs, thinking he is too late, but Farmer Trotter tells him that he is just in time. One of the piglets takes a shine to Thomas, so Farmer Trotter names the piglet Thomas.