North Western Railway Headquarters, Knapford Station, Island of Sodor, March 2018
Sir Richard Topham Hatt sat at the head of the long desk in the large conference room with several other men, a few of whom were railway representatives.
"So Sir Topham, as you can see, the lines of the Isle of Man are failing miserably. They've not been able to make a full recovery since the economic recession of 2008 that originated in the United States. If the North Western Railway does not absorb the Isle of Man's railway network, the entire railway could go under and the people living there may be left with no rail transport for their industries." Said a tall, thin man from the Mainland.
Another man from the Mainland rose to speak as well. "Indeed sir. The same goes for a number of goods branch lines in Cumbria that terminate at Barrow-In-Furness. The agricultural and industrial industries those lines service are vital to a number of towns for transporting their goods to the mainline. Without proper means of transport, those industries could shut down which would cause a local economic crisis in Southern Cumbria. I persuade the North Western Railway to take procession and management of these railway lines to ensure the security of Cumbria's economy."
Richard took all of this information in with great interest, but also concern. The economic recession of 2008 had hit all of Great Britain hard. As business on the Mainland slowed down, the profits of many railways had plummeted. Surprisingly, the North Western Railway was the only railway in Western England whose economy and profits continued to grow during the recession, despite that income slowed down a bit.
The prospect of expanding the NWR beyond Sodor onto the Isle of Man and parts of Cumbria on the Mainland was thrilling and nerve jangling. Richard knew how much local industries meant to individual towns and villages along railway networks. It was how the NWR had been able to thrive for the last 103 years by serving local businesses and industries by transporting goods beyond Sodor in order to make profits.
Richard also thought about the immense workload such an expansion would require. The branch line facilities in Southern Cumbria would most likely need an immense overhaul and currently, the Island of Sodor was not connected to the Isle of Man in any way other than be sea ferrying. In order for rail transport to work, the NWR needed a way of accessing the small neighboring island by rail. Richard knew this would mean undertaking the massive project of building a tunnel underneath the channel to connect the 2 islands which would cost a lot of money, require the input of a lot of workmen, equipment, and engines as well as take heaven knew how long to compete.
In addition, he would need more engines. A lot more engines. They too would cost money to either purchase from scrapyards or build in the Sodor Steamworks. Heck, the Steamworks hadn't built any steam engines ever since the Glynn and the other Coffee Pot engines were completed! Richard thought with worry. Would the workers be up to the challenge? And what classes of engines would we even build?
Richard then weighed in the positives. Then again, if the overhaul of the Southern Cumbrian railway facilities and the construction of the Inter-Island Tunnel were successful, this could mean profits for the North Western like never seen before! He thought silently. Besides, my engines would be up for the challenge! Despite a few setbacks, they completed the Harwick Extension in record time and now they're preparing to build a branch extension up the Northwestern coast of Sodor as well as an extension of Thomas' Branchline!
Richard had gone through the NWR's finances and the railway board had given full approval for the extensions and expansions. The NWR was worth hundreds of millions after all. The entire Island of Sodor was now waiting on his final approval. My engines can do anything! The North Western hasn't failed at anything yet and I don't intend on letting it anytime soon! Thought Richard.
With his mind made up, Sir Richard Topham Hatt turned back to face the railway representatives from Cumbria and the Isle of Man.
"Gentlemen, the North Western Railway will be more than happy to absorb the Isle of Man and lines of Southern Cumbria in order to ensure the financial futures of local industries in those areas! We will also be happy to fully incorporate all facilities and railway staff of both regions into the North Western!" he announced.
The railway representatives clapped and one of them got up to shake Richard's hand.
"Thank you for consideration Sir! My colleagues and I look forward to working for you in the near future!" said a medium sized man with a bowler hat.
As the men got up and left, Sir Topham Hatt headed back into his private office with a window that looked out into Knapford Station. Staring out, he could see Gordon departing with the early morning commuter express to Barrow, Thomas dropping off commuters from Elsbridge, Henry going back to the sheds for a rest after pulling the Flying Kipper, and Percy arranging a goods train for Edward. He wondered how the engines would react to the new of the expansions and the arrival of many new engines later on. Richard decided he would go to each shed across the island and inform the engines there as groups, starting with the Steam Team at Tidmouth that evening.
Yes, the Island of Sodor and the North Western Railway were changing rapidly as the world got busier and busier. It would be an incredible challenge, but it wouldn't be anything that Thomas, the Steam Team, and their friends wouldn't be able to handle!
To be continued…