Thomas and Friends: Southern Charm
Chapter 1: Marina (FEC No. 113)
Some old engines say the one fate for an engine that is worse than the scrapyard is being a museum piece. No more cars to shunt, and no more express trains to pull. It is what happens to some engines that lose their usefulness. For a tank engine named Marina, all it took was meeting a stout man in a top hat for her to feel the joy of being really useful
The Fat Controller was on vacation in Florida. Even a man as busy as Sir Topham Hatt deserves a vacation away from Sodor. Upon arriving in Miami, the Fat Controller was enjoying the Florida sunshine when he came across Marina. She had silver and black paintwork, four front truck wheels, and six drive wheels painted black with white trimming.
She also had two rear trailer truck wheels, a beautiful brass bell, brown eyes, and a perfect bit of pout to her lips for a pleasant smile. The Fat Controller felt bad for the engine. All fenced in, and nowhere to go. The engine looked sad, and longing to go back onto the rails. The Fat Controller went up and faced the engine, "What's your name?" he asked,
The engine had a Florida southern accent, "Marina"
"A lovely name for a lovely engine," he complimented,
Marina chuckled, "Well, that's mighty kind of you, sir,"
The Fat Controller touched the side of Marina's boiler, "It pains me to see such an engine with the potential to be really useful fenced in like this," He sighed, and smiled a willing grin to Marina, "now I have arranged a meeting with the City Counsel to purchase you, I'm going to make you a really useful engine again, Marina, there are others just like you"
"Do you really mean it?" Marina beamed,
"I'm a man of my word, Marina," replied Sir Topham Hatt,
"I...I don't know what to say," she stuttered,
"I would take that as a 'yes'," Sir Topham Hatt joked, "now should this agreement with the city follow through, I have made arrangements to have you on the very first ship to Sodor," Marina beamed with excitement at the thought of going to Sodor. A week had passed since Marina met that stout gentleman in the top hat, and she began to lose hope.
Just then, a semi-truck with a long and low flatbed trailer and as many wheels as Marina has parts backed up to her. The fence was taken down, and Marina was gently laid down on the low flatbed trailer. Marina was surprised, "You did it," Marina beamed seeing the Fat Controller come out the side door, "I was beginning to lose all hope for a short while,"
"I'm a man of my word, Marina," said the Fat Controller, and the engine was chained down to the trailer, and led to the port where the ship was waiting, "now, when we get to Sodor, I will need for you to spend some time in the Steamworks so that you can be mended and fit for work on the rails, I know you are a really useful engine," he explained
"I gotcha, sir!" puffed Marina with a wink,
"I know you want to work, but it's necessary," said the Fat Controller,
"Oh, I understand, sir," replied Marina,
In time, Marina had made it to Brendham Docks. Marina had made it to The Island of Sodor. Carly the Crane loaded Marina onto a flatcar, "So...that's what tank engines from America look like? How lovely! I hope you enjoy your time on Sodor," said Carly, and off Marina went to the Steamworks to be mended and brought back to service on the rails.
Henry pulled Marina to the Steamworks, "I say, Marina doesn't look any different from a regular tank engine on Sodor, I bet you will do great on these rails," Henry assured Marina as they made it to the Steamworks. The Fat Controller was there to greet her. Marina beamed at the stout little man in a top hat that rescued her from the old museum.
"Welcome to Sodor, Marina, this is the Sodor Steamworks, here Viktor and Kevin and the workmen will be taking care of you," said the Fat Controller, and reached up to touch the side of her boiler, "hmm...we should do something about your paintwork, we will keep your wheels the same color, but a nice shade of dark green should go with your silver,"
"That's alright by me, sir," Marina puffed,
"Don't worry, you'll be good as new in no time," Viktor assured her,
Suddenly, there came a 'clank!', "Sorry...hook slipped," apologized Kevin,
"Don't worry, Kevin, ain't nothin' 'round here peach perfect, nothin's supposed to be," Marina puffed as she was lifted up, and the workmen got to work fixing her up. Parts were ordered, and replaced to get her back in working order. Her old black paintwork was removed from her tender and a portion of her boiler. There is even a name plate being made
Her silver paintwork on her boiler was kept as is. The part of her boiler that was once black including her cab and tender were now a nice shade of dark green. In the meantime, the Fat Controller had also ordered special trucks and even coaches for her to pull. The area she was being worked on was kept secret from the other engines. Only Henry knew.
Finally, the time was now. Marina was put on the rails, "Just one finally touch," said the Fat Controller and her name plate was put on her boiler. She even got to keep her old number and railway name in the same font and white paint, "alright Marina, you've got a special waiting for you at Brendham Docks," and just like that, Marina's new life began.