Lee's Thomas the Tank Engine & Friends

Stories

The Long Visit

Mabel is a white LMS Jubilee Class engine who lives on the Mainland. She is owned by a friend of the Fat Controller's, Teddy Bamm, and can be seen pulling carriages all day long without little fuss. She isn't Mr Bamm's pride of the railway however and just gets on with her job, making sure passengers get to where they need to be. One day though, Mabel was sent to Sodor by Mr Bamm to keep relations with the Fat Controller as good as ever. But no-one knew she was coming and this is the story of what happened next…

It seemed just like any other day on the Island of Sodor and for Gordon he was happy to be getting an early morning express train under his belt. Taking the express, even early in the morning, just wakes him up wonderfully and it puts him in a good mood. But when he made his way to the station, he saw a lot of passengers on the opposite platform to his. It was an odd mixture of familiar faces and new ones lining up looking away from Gordon and in the opposite direction. No-one seemed to know what they doing it for.
"What on earth?" mumbled Gordon. "Express is over here people, this platform, not that one." he then boomed to gain their attention but no-one was listening. Henry was just a few lines down from Gordon and he was just as perplexed.
"There's rumblings of something special coming." he then said to Gordon who scowled back at him.
"Something special? I think you'll find that's me! I'm very special." Gordon moaned. Henry rolled his eyes sarcastically in reply but Gordon hadn't noticed as something was coming from in the distance. The waiting passengers could hear it getting closer and then it appeared quite clearly into view. It was an engine, but one no-one had seen before and it had a carriage in tow.
"Oh my..." said Henry.
"At least it's not Spencer." huffed Gordon as the engine whistled loudly and arrived steaming into the station on the line next to Gordon with a smile on its face. Painted in pristine white with black borders, it had three big wheels each side of its body and four more smaller ones to the front. There were six more on its tender and a nameplate written in gold on black that read 'Mabel'.
"Hello." the engine said in deep husky tone. "I'm Mabel and you must be Gordon."
"Y..y...yes..." stuttered Gordon, a little stunned. "How did you know?"
"Everyone knows about you Gordon." answered Mabel as Gordon noticed black eye-shadow around her sparkly eyes. "I'm sure you know a lot about me too." she added.
"Oh..." said Gordon.
"You did know I was coming, didn't you?" Mabel then asked. Gordon didn't reply, he looked too sheepish to admit this was a surprise but Mabel could tell it was. "Oh dear..." she sighed.

A little later after the initial commotion, Mabel was still at the station and was continuing to garner attention from other engines.
"Who is she?" Thomas asked to Edward as he was passing through.
"Someone from the Mainland, that's all I know." he replied. Thomas was curious and tried to steam up closer to the white engine without making a big fuss.
"Is it true you're from the Mainland?" he asked shyly to Mabel.
"Yes," she replied. "I'm visiting here, I'm just surprised no-one was told though. You don't have to worry. I'm quite friendly."
"And who's the carriage?" Thomas then asked, looking towards Mabel's accompanying attachment, a long and rusty green carriage with an old face on it.
"That's Bucket." Mabel smiled. "Short for Rust Bucket. No-one knows his real name but I take him wherever I go. He's my lucky charm and I can't be without him."
"Hello!" Bucket then called over to Thomas. "Pity I can't see you, but it's nice to meet you."
"And you." replied Thomas. He wanted to make Mabel feel at home and knew tours had helped other engines over the years, so offered to give Mabel and Bucket a tour of Sodor, but Mabel declined.
"I'm already having one with Gordon shortly," she explained. "Thank you for the offer though and look at the time, I must be off." she added, whistling loudly before steaming off into the distance. Thomas was most put out by Mabel's refusal.
"Suppose I best take some trucks now." he sighed.

When Gordon reunited with Mabel later that day, they carefully steamed round Sodor, taking in the sights and seeing the Island in all its glory. For Mabel, Sodor was so different to her home on the Mainland where it was full of grey industrial buildings and little countryside. It was a hard-working area where she was from and although she loved her job of taking passengers all day, everyday, this change of scenery was a good thing.
"This has really opened my eyes." she said. "Thank you Gordon."
"Thank Sodor." smiled the big blue engine. "I'm just showing you around, it's this place that's great." he added and as the hours passed by, the two continued to look around. Bucket too was having a lovely time and although he didn't really speak, his face said it all. He was having a really great day. And when evening came, Mabel and Bucket had been occupied a three-birth shed near Tidmouth Sheds but Gordon decided to join them.
"You can join your friends." she said. "You don't have to make all this fuss around me."
"I like to think tender engines stick together, so long as they're good tender engines." said Gordon as he parked up next to Mabel with Bucket the other side of him.
"Won't your friends find this a little odd?" Mabel wondered.
"I doubt it." replied Gordon, but the other engines at Tidmouth Sheds did find it strange. They could see Gordon, Mabel and Bucket from where they were and were unsure what to make of it.
"Why is he doing that?" James spluttered. "She's only a visitor!"
"She's not family like Flying Scotsman, is she?" wondered Emily, referring to Gordon's famous brother. The other engines all said no to that.
"Perhaps he's just making a new friend." suggested Edward kindly.
"But he's in the wrong shed!" said Percy. "This is Gordon's place, not over there. I hope he comes back."

When morning came, Mabel and Bucket woke to find Gordon had already left for an early express train but in front of her was a man in a top hat and a suit. It was the Fat Controller.
"Fitting in nicely?" he asked.
"Oh yes." replied Mabel. "Gordon is ever so kind."
"Good to hear." smiled the Fat Controller. "Later on you and Bucket can have a run out with some passengers, I'm just waiting on the main trains to depart for now, but Mr Bamm is said to be pleased for you two on this visit."
"That's very nice of him." said Bucket appreciatively. The Fat Controller then departed and Mabel closed her eyes again briefly, just hoping for a little bit more of a nap. However, in the distance she could hear whistles sounding loudly. It didn't sound good at all…

On the main line there was trouble. Diesel had broken down with trucks filled with slate on the same line as James who was due to come by just moments later. Diesel had tried to get going again but was stuck and workmen hadn't informed signalman about the impending accident either. For James, he was travelling at speed with some empty carriages set for Mabel's passenger service later on, but he had been running behind time and was going faster to make up time.
"I can't be late." he said. "The Fat Controller will not be happy." Coming in the opposite direction unbeknown to both James and Diesel was Gordon with his next set of express passengers. He was chugging down the line as fast as he could go. His passengers were delighted but up ahead Gordon could see Diesel was broken down. He smiled to himself at this but then he could see a flash of red heading in the same direction on the same line. It was James.
"STOP!" he called out to his friend. "You're going to crash!"
"Ahhhh!" cried James as his driver rushed to apply his brakes. James' wheels screeched loudly as his wheels skidded on the rails but he was going too fast and it was too late as he collided into the back of Diesel's trucks, flinging slate everywhere. Some of the slates flew towards Gordon and his express with bangs being heard loudly on his body. Luckily his carriages escaped without any hits and he carried on down the line but was deeply concerned for his friend.

When Mabel heard about the accident she wanted to help immediately. She knew Gordon wasn't hurt but one of his friends was and she felt guilty for having kept him away from them the night before.
"We need to do something." she said to he crew and even though they had no permission, she set off towards the scene with lucky charm Bucket still in tow. It didn't take them long to arrive and before her Mabel saw slate strewn across several tracks while James' front had derailed and his tender was still on the line as were the carriages that were destined for her. The trucks he'd collided into were practically destroyed.
"How bad is it?" asked Bucket who couldn't see round Mabel's tender.
"Very." replied Mabel. "But we can help." she added as she made her way towards James and the carriages. Thankfully James' crew were uninjured and Mabel ordered them aboard Bucket while her crew coupled her up to the carriages but it was going to be a heavy job to haul.
"You can do this." said her driver as slowly Mabel began to pull as hard she could. She wasn't used to pulling engines from disasters like this but Mabel knew she had to help. Using her strength, Mabel slowly but surely hauled James fully back onto the rails as the carriages moved with ease for her. James, who was still in shock at the accident, couldn't believe it.
"Thank you." he spluttered. "I don't know what's happened, but thank you."
"It's no problem." called over Mabel. "Anything to help a friend of Gordon's." she added with a wide smile.

News of Mabel's heroics had spread fast and back at his office, the Fat Controller was delighted to hear that James and Gordon were both safe and that Mabel had played a big part in helping. He rather liked her as an engine and could see something special in her, but knew she wasn't his engine. He was just relieved of the speedy work and help. Then, as he was sitting at his desk, the Fat Controller's phone rang.
"Hello?" he said, unsure of who was calling. It was Teddy Bamm. "Ah, Teddy, great to speak to you." continued the Fat Controller with a wide smile on his face. That smile was soon to vanish though.
"I have some news for you." Teddy said quite bluntly to his friend. "It's regarding Mabel."
"Oh..." sighed the Fat Controller. He thought Teddy had heard about Mabel aiding his engines and perhaps Teddy wasn't happy with that. Mabel was only visiting and was only meant to take passengers. But this wasn't what the call was about and as Teddy and the Fat Controller talked, it became clear that this was not a happy call at all. Mr Bamm spoke for what seemed like ages about Mabel and the Fat Controller was trying to get his head around everything.
"I hope that's clear!" Teddy authoritatively said before hanging up. The Fat Controller was a little shocked and stayed still for a few seconds before putting his phone down.
"Oh dear..." he muttered a little after. "Poor Mabel."

Following the accident, understandably Mabel didn't want to do her passenger duty and returned to her temporary accommodation with Bucket at her side. Gordon came not long after he had finished his express duty and Mabel was delighted to see him. She was relieved that Gordon had come away pretty much unscathed with only a couple of dents across him. The three of them were chatting away once again when in the distance Gordon spotted the Fat Controller's blue car on the approach.
"I think he's coming to thank you." he said to Mabel.
"He doesn't need to do that." smiled Mabel but as the blue car came to a halt she saw a glum expression etched on the Fat Controller's face. This didn't look like it was going to be a thank you visit in the slightest. Briefly acknowledging Gordon with a nod of the head, the Fat Controller turned to Mabel and to Bucket.
"Mabel..." he began sadly. "I've just received a call from Mr Bamm and I'm not quite sure how to tell you this but he doesn't want you or Bucket on his railway anymore."
"What?" said Bucket in shock. Mabel was just silent but clearly in shock too.
"This visit was a way for him to get rid of you two and leave you here." continued the Fat Controller in an even more serious tone. "He says he's sold you to me but I have not agreed on the purchase."
"We are his!" Mabel then cut in, emotion breaking through her husky tones.
"Indeed." agreed the Fat Controller. "That's why I want to challenge him and make sure you return home, but he made it clear to me that you can't."
"And why not?" asked Gordon who couldn't believe what he was hearing. "Mabel and Bucket have a home. They deserve to go to it."
"Well," began the Fat Controller. "Mr Bamm warned me that if any attempt was made to return home, Mabel and Bucket will be scrapped immediately."
"He can't do that." said Mabel quietly, trying to hide the emotion in her voice but she was failing to do so.
"And he won't." the Fat Controller said sternly. "For now though Mabel and for you too Bucket, you can call Sodor your home. We will treat you well and welcome you here. I will give you jobs to keep this off your minds and I will do everything to help you." he added firmly. Mabel and Bucket smiled back.
"Thank you." said Gordon to the Fat Controller as he returned to his car and left. For Mabel and Bucket, they were struggling to understand why Mr Bamm would do such a thing, but they knew one thing for certain, they would be on Sodor a lot longer than they first thought.

How will they cope? Only time will tell...