*chapter 1*
stepney the bluebell engine loves to visit the island of sodor. it is one of his favourite railways in the world that he likes to see. every time he comes to visit the other engines are very happy to see him and always give him a big welcome to the railway. but the place stepney likes more than ever is the little bluebell branchline that the fat controller had given him because there stepney can see his old friend rusty the narrow gauge diesel who rescued him from scrap, and ever since then they have been good friends ever since. one day stepney was at the sheds getting ready for his day of work when the fat controller arrived.
'hello stepney you have been working very well this week' said the fat controller.
'thank you sir i just like to do my best' said stepney.
'well as a reward stepney i have a very special job for you tomorrow' said the fat controller.
'a specail job for me sir whatever is it' said stepney.
'i would like you to pull a special passenger train tomorrow called the bluebell express' said the fat controller.
'oh sir that train fits me perfectly is it a very special train' said stepney.
'yes it is stepney people have tea and blueberry pie as well so it's first class service all the way' said the fat controller.
'oh thank you sir i can't wait to take it' said stepney.
'i knew you would be pleased about it now i must be off i have a very busy day today' said the fat controller.
and with that he jumped into winston and drove off. stepney watched him leave feeling very grand.
'come on old boy it's time to get our goods train ready' said his driver.
'of course driver let's get to it i want to tell all my friends about my special job' said stepney.
and with that he blew his whistle and set off. however what stepney did not see was a certain black diesel shunter watching him go. diesel smirked.
'diesel 10 is going to love this' said diesel.
soon stepney collected his trucks and set off along the mainline. he was still thinking about the bluebell express.
'i just can't wait to pull it i must be the luckiest engine in the world' said stepney.
'you always are lucky old boy' laughed his driver.
soon stepney had to stop at a signal. thomas was there with annie and clarabel.
'hello stepney you look very happy today' said thomas.
'very very happy if you ask me' said annie.
'must be all the bluebells in the countryside' said clarabel.
'i am very happy thomas tomorrow the fat controller wants me to pull the bluebell express' said stepney.
'fizzling fireboxes that's great stepney you must be very lucky to pull that' said thomas.
'i feel very proud about it thomas' said stepney.
just then the signal went green.
'well i best be off thomas see you later' said stepney.
'see you later stepney and well done' said thomas.
'have a nice day' said annie.
'take care now stepney' said clarabel.
and with that stepney set off. soon stepney arrived at vicarstown station to drop of his goods train. it was a very busy station. people were walking about everywhere trying to find their trains, porters and guards were walking up and down the platforms and connor, caitlin and spencer were pulling in with their coaches.
'well that's my train delivered driver can we go to the transfer yards so i can say hello to rusty' said stepney.
'i don't see why not old boy we have time to spare let's go' said his driver.
and stepney smiled and set off. meanwhile at the transfer yards things were not going well. duncan and sir handel were arguing like anything and rusty and peter sam were trying to get them to stop.
'you took my trucks without asking leaving me with no work!' cried sir handel.
'you started it laddie you took my passenger train without asking me!' cried duncan.
'why you cheeky lying scot it was my turn to take it!' cried sir handel.
'well i don't care they were my coaches so there!' cried duncan.
'well it was my train!' snapped sir handel.
'stop having a go at one another you two have been arguing for over 25 minutes now' said peter sam.
'peter sam's right why can't you two just resolve the argument instead of making it worse' said rusty.
but the two grumpy engines were not even paying attention. at last rusty lost patience and blasted his horn shutting them both up.
'that did the trick nice thinking rusty' said peter sam.
'right that's enough you two haven't you got trains waiting for you' said rusty.
'alright i'll go but only because i don't want to talk to duncan anymore' said sir handel.
'well i don't want to talk to you anymore either so there laddie' said duncan.
'good for you because i don't care' said sir handel.
'that makes two of us then' said duncan sticking out his tongue.
and with that they grumbled away.
'honestly those two are so childish sometimes' said peter sam.
'you can jolly well say that again peter sam' said rusty.
'well i'm going off to work before another argument erupts see you later rusty' said peter sam.
and rusty watched peter sam leave then he heard a whistle.
'i know who that is' said rusty.
just then stepney pulled in. rusty was very happy to see him.
'hello stepney it's so nice to see you again' said rusty.
'likewise old friend it's good to see you too' said stepney.
'so what brings you here then' said rusty.
'i just wanted to tell you that i'm taking the bluebell express tomorrow' said stepney.
'wow stepney that's great the bluebell express is a very special train' said rusty.
'it sure is rusty and i can't wait to take it' said stepney.
'alright try not to crack your boiler why your at it' said rusty.
'cheeky' said stepney.
'well i better be going stepney i have to take the maintenance train it's up to me to keep the tracks safe' said rusty.
'me too i have another train to take now goodbye and take care' said stepney.
'don't worry i always do goodbye stepney' said rusty.
and with that they both set off and stepney was very excited for tomorrow. meanwhile a certain black 08 shunter was racing to the dieselworks.
'oh boy diesel 10 is going to love this that stepney won't know what hit him arry and bert can get their long lost revenge now' cackled diesel.
and he raced on.