Coming to rest: behind the scenes of sudrian railways

by gwrbrony13

Let me tell you a tale about Sodor's famous railways. A new branchline is under construction just a few miles southwest of the Ballahoo tunnels, and a disaster during construction sets back work considerably. The engines learn that fame doesn't always mean you have the most to say or do, as we learn of the engines that never got the limelight in the TVs or RWS. I do not own T&F.

2. Panic in little Tidmouth

Henry jittered in place as he anxiously waited for Edward's crew to arrive. An accident had taken place earlier that night, and henry had seen it. His crew had lit Edward's fire in preparation for the long trip to the site to help with the rescue. He was fed up of waiting, a friend was in trouble, and he needed to help before that friend fell to an ugly demise. The images of what he had seen plastered his mind. Plaguing his thoughts as he waited, growing snappy and inpatient with Edward and his crew. Sure, he understood the fact that people, unlike him or the other engines, needed about twelve hours of sleep, and they could be sluggish if awoken before this was over. He had felt it many times himself, yet he thought that the seriousness of the scenario would prompt a more rapid response. Edward, was also worried, Henry had, albeit rather hastily in the vain hope that it would help them move to help faster. It didn't. Both engines where so distressed, that the others where on the brink or being stirred by the two hissing engines. What Henry had to tell Edward was upsetting, to say the least. An older engine, one who had been brought in only recently, but both cared for greatly, with the construction of a line breaking off from the main a few miles away from the Ballahoo tunnels. As such the line wasn't 100% finished as of yet, and some of the bridges and embankments whereby stable for any more than a engine like Edward. This had been the engines downfall.

By the time the crew did arrive, Gordon, James and Percy (whom was being comforted by a unsure Edward) had been woken by the noisy thought hissing steam frustratedly. Because the rescue was urgent, and Edward was struggling to get up steam quickly, Henry frantically pulled him and the breakdown train up to Ballahoo junction, the newly constructed station for the line. Despite the obvious danger Edward was thinking quietly to himself, absorbed in his thoughts. "Why did Henry even bother to bring me?" He thought "All I've been is dead weight so far, and it can't be that bad that they need two engines for cleanup."

Suddenly, Henry stopped. Edward now understood why Henry needed him to come. The stainer engine was simply too heavy to run over the lightly lain lines. Henry whistled and moved out of Edwards way. He ran around the train so he could push it to the site and set off as fast as he dared over the short distance to the crash. Henry looked at the area that, about half a mile from the mainline, he could see an engine on its side. Images once again clouded his smokebox, the screams of agony, the escaping steam coming from a massive tear along the side of the smokebox where it had roughly hit a nearby tree, and the trucks piled up behind in a mountain of fiery wooden debree . while the ones still intact where then, and even now, laughing like demons. Henry scowled at them, before looking at Edward as he reached ground zero, twisted metal and wood littering the area. It was horrible. He swore he heard the K2 burst into tears as the salvage begun.