Thomas & Friends: Power Shovel

Chapter 1: From Across The Sea

It was a beautiful day on the Island of Sodor. Every engine was busy being really useful on the Fat Controller's Railway. James and Mavis were at Brendham Docks to welcome a new friend from a country called Canada. Her name is Rebecca or Big Becky, and she is a mighty cable shovel. As she came off the ship, Mavis noticed something strange.

Mavis looked around, and couldn't see a face anywhere in sight, "James, where is her face?" Mavis asked James

"I don't know, I don't see one anywhere, how strange," James replied, helping Mavis look around until they heard a voice.

"Up here," said Becky, she was different from the engines and machines that lived and worked on the Island of Sodor. Her brown eyes are on the sides of her bucket, and her mouth was the tongue on her bucket. Becky was a dashing machine with her dark red and black paintwork, "my name's Rebecca, but you can call me 'Becky' or 'Big Becky',"

"I am James," said the red engine, Becky beamed and nodded happily to James,

"And I am Mavis," Mavis beamed at the diesel-powered power shovel, happy to have another helper in the quarry

"Well, it is a pleasure to meet the both of you," replied Becky, being the new arrival on Sodor.

The Fat Controller soon arrived, "Welcome to the Island of Sodor, Rebecca, I trust that your voyage went well, and you are ready to work?" asked Sir Topham Hatt, Becky nodded and beamed brightly, "James, your task is to bring Becky to the quarry so she can start working, this is a heavy special, and I ask that Mavis be your backing engine,"

As the Fat Controller made his leave, James was cross, "I'm a strong and useful engine, I can pull Becky no sweat,"

"But the Fat Controller wants me to be your backing engine," Mavis reminded him, James scoffed at her,

James got an idea, "Mavis, why don't you meet me at the quarry, I can get Becky there without a problem, you can count on me," he puffed, Mavis looked at him doubtfully and went on her way back to the quarry. Becky moved along on her steel tracks to a large flatcar, and the crewmen at the dock chained her down. Becky also doubted James,

"James, are you sure this is a good idea?" Becky asked,

"Don't worry, Becky, I'll get you to the quarry on time," James boasted,

"Alright then, if you say so," Becky said, expressing her doubts,

"Now off we go," puffed James, pulling with all his might but he was not moving. James pulled again, and again with all the puff in his boiler. Still, he was not moving and neither was Becky. James tried harder and harder to pull Big Becky to the quarry, but he was still stuck at Brendham Docks. James's face was as red as his shiny paintwork.

"I don't think we're going anywhere any time soon, we need to ask for help," said Becky

"I don't need anyone's help, I can do this, I know I can," puffed James,

Becky was starting to worry, "James, you're going to hurt yourself," she said, but James was not listening nor was he going to give up. Meanwhile at Ffarquhar Quarry, Mavis was starting to worry as well. Suddenly, James could not make anymore steam. He had worked, and pulled so hard that there was no water left in his boiler. James felt silly.

"I'm sorry, Becky, I'm sorry that I didn't listen to you or Mavis," he apologized,

James could not move, and Becky felt sorry for him, "It's alright, James, just don't be afraid to ask for help,"

"Here let me help you," offered Becky, she was taken off her chains, and she got behind James, and she used her bucket to push James with all her might

Henry arrived at the docks, and saw Becky and James, "What is going on, James? Becky was supposed to be at the quarry by now," asked Henry, he was hitched behind James, and Becky was back on her flatcar. James had a drink at the water tower. With Henry's help, James brought Becky to her new home. Becky beamed with excitement.

Becky was happy working in the quarry, heaving her bucket filled with rock and dirt, "That's the stuff!" exclaimed Becky,

Mavis was amazed at Becky's strength, "Keep up the good work, those troublesome trucks will always need filling," puffed Mavis,

"You got it, sister," beamed Becky, digging the teeth of her bucket, and filling it with stone and dirt before swinging it to the line of trucks to dump it.

Becky filled lines of trucks with joy in her bucket, and humming songs from her homeland. She used her strength to heave her bucket, and pulling up rock and dirt with every mighty scoop. With a nudge from her bucket, she too can keep the trucks from misbehaving. Becky is a really useful and strong cable shovel who found her home on Sodor.

Character Profile:

Name: Rebecca

Nickname: 'Becky', 'Big Becky'

Engine-Machine Type: Lima 1850 Cable Shovel

Original Home: Saskatchewan, Canada

Workplace: Ffarquhar Quarry

Paintwork: Dark red (burgundy) and black. Her name behind her cab, and on the sides of her boom in white paint.

Personality: Originally a cable shovel from Western Canada, Becky worked in a coal mine before she was purchased by the Fat Controller. She is hardworking, and loves nothing more than to be really useful like every other engine. She does not let the fact she is powered by diesel bring her down. She loves to work hard, and make friends.

Likes: Working in the quarry, helping out those in need

Dislikes: Diesel 10

Friends: Mavis (best friend), Marion (friendly rival)