As the day wore on, the cool late-autumn weather drew across the island. As Edward puffed back into his station, he found it was empty, and there were no trains for a while.
"Good!" Said the driver, "Once we finish tidying the yard, we can have a good lunch break before we leave out again."
So after a great deal of shunting, they parked Edward in a siding, damped his fire, sheeted him snug with a large tarp like a cloak, and promised to be back as soon as they were done.
Edward, simmering nicely, was about to drift off for a snooze, when suddenly, he found he had some surprise visitors. A bird was perched on his buffer, and two squirrels and even a rabbit had clambered onto his footplate.
"Why hello there!" he greeted warmly. The little animals twittered as they nestled under the cloak and his warm boiler.
The old engine smiled. "Well, you lot are more than welcome to stay before I have to leave for my next train," he said, and so they did, as he rested peacefully.