Mavis Takes a Brake

"We have a problem."

"That sounds reassuring."

Toby half smiled as he opened a sleepy eye, taking some satisfaction from the grumpy look Mavis shot back at him. The hot summer's sun was burning overhead, and the old tram had been looking forward to a rest. Yet he had only managed to shut his eyes for ten minutes before Mavis came rolling up alongside the shed, a long line of stone trucks clanging behind, and Toby felt like he deserved getting a comeback in.

"If you have something to say Mavis, please get on with it," Toby continued sleepily. "I am an old engine and I want my sleep before I have to haul more trucks down to the harbour and come back again."

"That's the problem!" Mavis said. "Well, part of it. You being old, that is." Toby opened both eyes know and gave the diesel a grumpy look, which Mavis only seemed to enjoy. The relationship between the two had improved as the years went on, yet Mavis still enjoyed winding her up, and Toby enjoyed the playful relationship. Yet now he was curious, and Mavis smiled as she noticed. "Glad to see your finally paying attention. Anyway, I was waiting by the offices while my driver went to make a call, and the quarry manager had his window open. He was talking to someone on the phone and said that the quarry is running out of money and is in danger of closing down!"

"What?" Toby scoffed. "That cannot be true Mavis. Anopha Quarry is supplying half of the stone for all of these new lines and extensions, they must be making money. You're spending too much time in the sun, it's melted your engine."

"I heard exactly what he was saying, thank you very much!" The feisty diesel snapped back. "Apparently we are running out of money because of the work. The quarry hasn't been fully paid yet for all of the work and won't be until it is all done, and they have to try and pay for all the workers trying to get stone out. And he said something about how the new equipment is expensive, and they are trying to find ways to cut back!" Toby pondered this over, but it was clear on his face that he wasn't convinced.

"It sounds like a problem, but I don't think it is anything for us to worry about Mavis," the tram replied after a few moments. "I am sure if there were any major financial difficulties we would have heard more about it."

"But Toby –," Mavis began, but the tram rang his bell, unintentionally cutting her off.

"I suppose I have to take these trucks then," Toby said with a slight sigh. "I guess I will see you later Mavis when I come to collect the workers." Mavis looked shocked, and she went to cut in but Toby rang his bell on purpose this time. "I am not worried Mavis, and neither should you," and with those words, the tram hoped it would be the end of the subject, and he watched as Mavis grumpily trundled away.


Despite what Toby said, Mavis did worry.

As she rolled back to Anopha Quarry along the open tramway that led to it, the diesel thought about what she had heard. Mavis had been working hard over the past few weeks as more stone was needed for the many construction projects happening around the island, and a number of new machines designed to dig away large amounts of rock quickly and smoothly had been popping up: huge new machines that towered over Mavis, making noise that made her entire body shake and sending dust and rocks shooting up into the air.

And every day Mavis swore she was taking double the number of trains that she use to, which wasn't pleasant in the scorching summer weather, bringing more loads to Toby, Flora and the other Ffarqhuar engines that were now expected to help cart the stone around. There were so many jobs happening that Mavis could see the entire quarry drying up, leaving no more stone for anyone to take. Yet if there wasn't any money coming in from these projects, with the full amount not being paid until completion…

Toby doesn't have as much to lose as I do, Mavis thought sadly, watching as happy children played a game of football nearby. The quarry owns me, so if they go under, what place do I have? Thomas' branch line is already crowded enough... but wait, most of Toby's work involves serving the quarry, same with Flora. ARE they going to be needed if the quarry has to close as well?

Mavis was getting ahead of herself, not hearing anything that would suggest the quarry or the tramway would have to close, but it was easy to worry in these situations. She couldn't bare the idea of being sent away from her home, and wondered if there was anything that could be done to help.

"You alright there Mavis?" A worker called from the platform as the diesel moved back into the quarry. "You look awfully depressed, is something wrong? There hasn't been a crash, has there?"

"No, no crash," Mavis replied sadly, not even looking at the worker. She continued sadly into the quarry and carried out her shunting work in silence, lost in thoughts of how to save the quarry, while her driver, the workers and the manager all wondered what could have possibly upset the diesel.


The next day was one of the hottest days of the summer. Mavis felt terrible as she took a long train of stone towards Ffarqhuar. She could feel the sun high above her, the air itself feeling hot and unbearable, the metal tracks even hot to touch. It wasn't pleasant weather to think in, and Mavis was too tired to think. She had been awake half the night worrying about her future and the future of the quarry and tramway, and now found it a struggle to even get all her wheels moving. The humid weather was making her feel sleepy, and Mavis was tempted to ask her driver if she could sleep once they got to Ffarqhuar.

However, as Mavis pulled into the yard, she found it would be unlikely she would get any rest here. The station was crowded with people, a mixture of people formally dressed for work and casual tourists here on holiday, everyone one of them sounding as if they were trying to shout at someone across the yard.

"What's going on here?" Mavis asked as she slowed down, the trucks giggling shrilly behind her as they fed off the noise. She looked around and saw no one was there, and that the passengers were now staring eagerly towards her as if there was space in her trucks for them.

"I am not sure, but I will go and find out," her driver said, and quickly left her cab and rushed towards the station. Mavis watched as he pushed his way through the overflowing station, the passengers bombarding him with questions he had no answer too. Unfortunately for her though, the sun shone directly into her eye line, and Mavis glanced away squinting, trying to find something else to view. A horn suddenly sounded, and she looked around as Daisy pulled into the yard.

"Hello Daisy," Mavis called. "Why is it so busy today, and where is everyone?" Daisy looked over as she pulled into the station, and Mavis saw the usually beautiful rail car seemed very bothered, her cheeks red and a general tired and grumpy look in her eyes.

"There's been an accident," Daisy grumbled, jolting as passengers stampeded onboard. "A lorry tipped over at the rail crossing and is blocking two lines. The other engines have all been caught up either waiting for it to clear or helping to clear it. I was on the other side, so guess who gets to shepherd passengers down to the buses?" Mavis was shocked to hear it, but than glanced back to the waiting line of trucks behind her.

"What about Toby? He is meant to be taking these trucks to Knapford for BoCo to collect," Mavis said, but Daisy gave her a look that showed she really didn't care about Mavis and her trucks. The shunting diesel was just starting to worry when her driver appeared, finding it easier to get back with the crowd now climbing aboard Daisy.

"Daisy told me about the accident," Mavis said to save him time.

"Ah, very good," the driver replied, wiping sweat from his brow. "Well, due to this mess, we are going to have to take the trucks down ourselves. Toby has to bring Henrietta and Victoria back, and the other engines are all delayed as well." Mavis stared at her driver in shock as if it was something scandalous he was suggesting.

"But I can't!" The diesel gasped. "I haven't taken the trucks all the way down for years! I think the last time was when Thomas went to York!" Her driver chortled as he climbed back aboard, tapping her heartily on the side as he did so.

"At least that means you've done it before," he laughed. "Come now Mavis, it won't be any worse than taking them along the tramway, just a bit longer! We can manage it, we'll just take things nice and slowly." Mavis wanted to protest, not sure if she would be able to take them. Trucks could be troublesome and weary in heat like this, and if they went out of control she might not be able to manage them.

But than Mavis thought of the quarry itself. They needed the money to keep afloat, and they couldn't get money if the stone didn't make it to its destination. Mavis was uncertain about being the one to take it, but she knew she had to for the good of Anopha.

"Alright then, let's get going!" Mavis said brightly, putting on an encouraging face for her own sake, hoping it would push the worry out of her mind. As she started off out the yard, Mavis and her driver were unaware of the cheeky smiles creeping on the truck's faces, the same idea coming to all of them.


Despite her initial worries, Mavis' mind began to ease as she trundled down the branch line. It had been a long time since she had gotten to properly enjoy the beautiful scenery the line had to offer, and she began to calm down as she took the sights in. The farms and cottages she passed all looked like scenes from a postcard, with wide expanses of green grass spreading out as far as Mavis could see, cows, sheep and horses dotted all around. Rushing rivers and towering forests were uncommon around commons, and Mavis felt like she was in a completely different part of the island.

When moving down the tramway, Mavis had to follow a strict speed policy due to the open tracks and the people and cars that came in close contact with her. However, there was a little chance of that happening on the open stretches of track, and Mavis was able to go a touch faster. It felt wonderfully to merrily roll down the line, a slight breeze blowing coolly against her, and Mavis forgot all about the possible financial worries and her concerns about the trucks, simply enjoying the ride.

However, she also forgot about the trucks. They clattered quietly along behind her, not trying anything as they thought each about their plans. But when they had well passed Hackenbeck and neared Elsbridge, the trucks began to twitter to each other.

"She isn't paying us much attention," one whispered.

"We should bump her forwards, throw her off balance, she won't know what to do!" Another hissed before laughing shrilly. The others began to laugh as well, Mavis not being them any attention.

"Let's bump her now!" A third one cried. "Ready? Three… two… one… GO!" And with that cry, the trucks surged forwards, slamming into each other and forcing themselves upon Mavis.

"OOF!" She cried as the trucks banged against her buffers. "Cut that out you lot!" Mavis snapped, her happiness evaporating as quickly as it had started. However, the trucks merely burst into laughter, and they bumped into her once more. Mavis jerked forwards this time, and suddenly found herself moving faster than expected.

I knew this would happen, Mavis cursed, and she tried to push back against the trucks and put them back under her control. However, the weight of the trucks and the loads they carried were too much, and Mavis found herself surging forwards, the trucks shrill laughter filling her ears.

"I can't stop them!" Mavis cried desperately, instantly wishing she had paid more attention and taken more care.

"I am trying to stop them, but we need to get them back under control first!" The driver shouted. Fear shot throughout Mavis as she roared down the tracks: she was close to becoming a runaway with the trucks taking control, no signs of stopping as they merely gained speed rather than decreased. And Mavis had no idea how to stop them or get back that control, horrible images of crashes and explosions entering her mind.

And then she remembered the lorry accident.


The accident had occurred right at Elsbridge Station. Two lorries delivering different supplies had tried to get past each other, but the already busy car park had forced one to reverse. The driver had gone too far and the lorry burst onto the tracks, tipping over when the driver tried to move forwards. It now covered an entire stretch of track, its loads spilling over a second, leaving just one line clear.

The station was a hive of activity as officials tried to sort the mess out. A tow truck had come to try and help, but the stationmaster had called for Harvey or Kelly to come and help instead. Workers and several kind passengers helped to clear away broken crates and fruit from on the tracks, while an ambulance came to look over the driver.

But this didn't help with the backlog of people. Just like at Ffarqhuar, the station was crowded with a mix of people trying to get to work and tourists looking to enjoy the sights, all of them stuck on the platforms watching the scenes. Toby was waiting in a siding, Henrietta and Victoria already full of passengers she was meant to be dropping off, while Rosie sat waiting by the lorry. The other engines were stuck at the other stations waiting for the lines to be cleared, the only clear track being kept clear at the moment.

"I hope someone comes to clear this up soon," Rosie said with a sigh, staring towards the car park as if help would come faster this way. Toby merely nodded his body, sighing himself as he felt the scorching summer sun burn down upon him. It was beautiful weather, but awful to be trapped underneath the sun with no chance of moving. Toby wanted to get a move on as well, but there was no sign of anyone coming to help.

"Can you hear that?" Victoria suddenly said from behind.

"Hear what, the grumpy passengers?" Henrietta snapped back, the heat bothering her more than Toby.

"No! It sounds like… a horn," Victoria pondered, and Toby began to listen carefully. She couldn't hear anything at first, but then in the distance, a far away honking began to sound out. The passengers all looked around as they heard it as well, joyful looks appearing on their faces as they hoped for a tow truck to clear away the mess. But Toby knew better, and he began to worry.

"That isn't a tow truck," the tram said, "its Mavis! But what is Mavis doing this far down the line?" And he looked into the distance, the black diesel starting to appear in his eyesight… and she quickly began to draw closer. "She is moving much too quickly, something isn't right," Toby said in concern, and he exchanged worried looks with Rosie.

And they had a right to fear.

Mavis could see the station getting closer and closer with each second that passed, and she gasped as the scene began to play out around her: the crowded platforms, the lorry lying on its side, people and engines on the tracks. And here she was, speeding towards the scene like a rocket, her heavy, fully loaded trucks laughing and banging behind her.

"You need to try and stop now, Mavis," her driver cried, eyeing the scene with the same fear she had. "Even if we get onto the spare line, there is still a chance something could go wrong." Mavis nodded her body weakly, but she still had no idea what to do. The trucks had all of the power at the moment, still banging against her buffers and pushing her further forwards. She was trying to push back, but the diesel was getting worried, and the trucks seemed to know.

"PUSH HER OFF THE TRACKS!" One shouted.

"SLAM HER INTO THE STATION!" Another cried, and they all giggled and cheered at this, and Mavis only shivered with fear. She could see the waiting passengers were starting to panic, and Rosie was beginning to reverse out of harm's way.

I can't stop them, Mavis thought, wishing more than ever she had refused to take the train. This is going to end in disaster! Think of what it will do to the quarry and their reputation, and all the harm it will cause! The quarry might never get another job! But as this thought crossed Mavis' mind, the financial woes of the quarry came back to her. If this train crashed and all this stone was lost, than the quarry would be worse off than it already was. Mavis could not let this happen, and knew more than ever that she had to stop the train.

"You lot like bumping?" Mavis growled. "How do you like it when someone bumps you?" And using all the strength she could muster, Mavis angrily bumped the trucks backwards. They all gasped and began twittering to each other in shock, and a smile crossed Mavis' face. Furiously, she slammed back against them three more times, and many of the trucks were too shocked to react.

"Good girl Mavis," her driver cried, sounding a little frantic as the station came nearer. "Now just push back against them with all you can and I will try and apply the brakes!" Mavis nodded, and she put all her weight into trying to push the trucks backwards whilst at the same time still moving forwards. It was a difficult task, but they were moving along flat land and the trucks were already beginning to let off. Mavis saw that Toby and Rosie both looked shocked, and only hoped she could stop in time.

As they began to enter the station area, Mavis' driver applied the brakes. Mavis felt her wheels lock, but she continued to move, the weight of the trucks still pushing her forwards. Passengers screamed and leapt away from the sides of the platform as Mavis skidded past, sparks shooting from her wheels, and the men that had been clearing the track jumped out of the path. Mavis was begin to feel painful, the weight of the trucks back on her buffers, and she wondered if she would ever come to a stop.

She raced past Rosie and Toby, her wheels making a terrible noise, and travelled another ten metres before finally coming to a sudden stop, her trucks banging furiously against her. Mavis was stunned to have finally stopped, and began to feel nervous, feeling as if something bad had happened.

"Well Mavis," her driver called, his voice sounding shaky, "how was that experience for you?" Mavis refused to reply, simply staring straight ahead and trying to forget about the trucks behind. All she knew was that it would be a long time before she ever took the trucks down this far again.


Not long after Mavis' dramatic stop, Kelly arrived and lifted the lorry off the tracks. Rosie went ahead, taking Toby's coaches with her while the tram helped to push Mavis and the stone trucks down to Ffarqhuar. The other engines started to come past after this, all looking confused as to why Mavis was there, and the diesel tried her best to pretend nothing was wrong.

However, when Knapford came into view, it wasn't just BoCo waiting at the station.

"Hello there Mavis," the Fat Controller boomed cheerily, though it didn't stop a grim look covering Mavis' face, "I hear you had a bit of bother today with some trucks." Mavis nodded as the train came to a stop, half expecting to earn a telling off for the day's adventures. However, the Fat Controller continued to smile. "Don't look so worried there Mavis! You may have lost control of the trucks, but you managed to stop them at the very end. I am going to talk to your manager and see that you get more experience taking trucks down the line when you get back from the works."

"Oh, thank you sir," Mavis said with a smile, "but why am I going to the works?"

"They are just going to check your brakes were not damaged today," the Fat Controller replied calmly. "Toby will manage the trucks in your absence, and Flora can handle the taking the workmen to and from the quarry."

"Even if my brakes are fine, I think I will enjoy having a little break," Mavis said, and the Fat Controller let out a booming laugh. The diesel felt more relaxed as she was shunted across the track by Toby, BoCo smiling at her as he waited to be coupled up. She thought she had done well by stopping the train in the end, and was relieved that the Fat Controller wasn't going to tell her off. Getting more experience with the trucks would definitely improve things, and thought it made her nervous, Mavis was ready to do whatever it took to work things out.

"Mind the trucks for me Toby!" Mavis called once she was coupled to BoCo, ready to be whisked away to the Works. "We don't want those money problems to get any worse now, do we?" She felt free to chuckle about it, and Toby laughed as well, and Mavis would have gone off happy if it hadn't been for one look as they slid past the station: the Fat Controller glanced back to one of his assistants, a grim look plastered across his face. Mavis gasped, and fell silent. Up until now, the financial problems had been unconfirmed and had only been digging away at her thoughts as she wondered if they were true or not. But if the Fat Controller took her words to have more meaning than a simple remark, than Anopha Quarry might be in more trouble than Mavis thought.