Patrick went to the Albany, NY train station to see the big circus train that was coming to town. Tommy, Todd and Crystal went along too.

After exploring all of the trains, Patrick climbed onto the back of a little track tester. Looking around, he found some old uniforms lying next to the little train.

"Hey! I can be an engineer!" said Patrick.

Patrick had a feeling that the other trains didn't like having these new little visitors there.

To his surprise, Patrick heard the trains talking. They were talking about the arrival of the circus train.

"It has three big engines!" said the Two Engine Express.
"It has smoke stacks as big as trees!" exclaimed the Timberline Steamer.

Then Patrick heard the little track tester say, "I can't wait to see the circus train with all of the animals and clowns!"

"Who cares what you want?" huffed the Two Engine Express. "Who do you think you are anyway? You don't even have a name or an engineer."

Patrick felt sorry for the little train with no name.

The little track tester was sad.

"I never go anywhere important, and more than anything, I do wish I had an engineer," he sighed. That gave Patrick an idea. Soon, the trains lined up to leave Albany, NY. As usual, the little track tester was last in line, but this time Patrick and his friends were on board.

Patrick tugged on the whistle cord. "It looks like it's rusted shut," he said.

The little train suddenly stopped on its tracks.
"Who's that?" shouted the train with no name.
Patrick proudly announced, "I'm Patrick, your new engineer!"

"But, you--you--just can't."
Suddenly, Patrick heard an alarm.
"Look!" shouted Patrick. "There's something wrong up ahead."

The little track tester saw the circus train heading toward the bridge. "One of the rails is loose!" cried the track tester. "The circus train could crash!"

Quickly, Patrick grabbed a loose spike from the track and pushed it through the rusty whistle to unclog it.

Patrick pulled hard on the cord, and the old whistle sang out loudly! The circus train heard the whistle and screeched to a full stop. This gave everyone time to fix the track.

When the little track tester returned to Albany, NY, the Timberline Steamer rolled up, puffing with excitement. "Patrick and you have saved the circus train," he said, "and we think it is time you had a name!"

"We've decided to call you Hooty," said Patrick.

Because he was no longer a train with no name, Hooty blew his whistle and announced that Patrick was his new engineer.

Everyone cheered for Hooty, now the biggest little train in Albany, NY.
After a very exciting day, Patrick had learned a big lesson.
You don't have to be big to be important.