The third part approaches, and it's a season 10 remake this time. I didn't like the original episode, because of a major flaw we just can't get past; Edward acting rude. Seriously? What was Sharon Miller thinking? At least she wasn't as bad as a certain season 15 episode (I'm looking at you, Neil Ben!) No wise engine should ever act rude to a new arrival!

Enjoy this remake anyway.

ThomasAngryBirds' Remakes and Stories

Remake 18: Rocky Lends a Hand

Based on "Edward Strikes Out" by Sharon Miller

Edward the blue engine is always willing to help new arrivals on their first day of service on Sodor. He'll help others even if they were previously rude to him, like when he helped Gordon over his hill with his goods, and when he recently saved a runaway James because of two troublesome boys, which he was telling to Molly at Vicarstown, some time after she helped with Gordon's express. Molly was now working in David's place while the old red engine was having his well-deserved overhaul, and he was due back in a few days.

"...and then his fireman took control of him, and the Fat Controller praised me for my heroic actions," Edward was saying, "James was lucky I came to his rescue, and I guess the 'old iron' really caught up with him!"

"What happened after James' near accident?" asked Molly.

"Not much," said Edward, "the boys who messed with his controls were scolded by their parents, and I was given a well-deserved overhaul at Crovan's Gate. From what I hear, you really did show Gordon that even an engine like you can pull the express."

"I guess I did," Molly said, giving a small smile. Then the stationmaster came up to them.

"Gordon's run into a ditch," he said, "and the Fat Controller would like Edward to take the special goods to Tidmouth."

"What about Gordon?" asked Molly.

"He'll have to stay in the ditch; we'll rescue him when we've the time," said the stationmaster.

"Oh dear," sighed Edward, "Gordon's gone and done it this time. Ah well, at least I can stretch my wheels."

Molly couldn't help feeling bad for Gordon, despite his initial rudeness against her. When Gordon was rescued, he puffed sadly back to Tidmouth a sadder and wiser engine. The Fat Controller was cross with him, and put him onto goods duties until he could be trusted again.

Not long after Gordon's ditch incident, the Fat Controller recently ordered for a new crane to arrive on the North Western Railway, coming from the Eastern region, previously the LNER. It was a Ransomes & Rapier 45 ton steam breakdown crane built around 1945. The Fat Controller bought him in case the breakdown train was out of service.

The crane's name was Rocky, and he was willing to do anything to be really useful. Rocky would have his trails at Vicarstown, to make sure he was in working order. Molly met up with him while she was resting.

"Hello there, sweetheart," Rocky said, making Molly blush, "Rocky's my name, and rescue is my game."

"I'm Molly," the yellow Claud Hamilton replied, "nice to meet you, Rocky."

"Nice to meet you too, m'dear," said Rocky. Before he could continue, Henry steamed up after a long journey with the express.

"Morning, Henry," Molly said quietly. But Henry didn't take much notice of Molly, for he was looking at Rocky.

"You're the new crane then," he said, not impressed.

"Yes I am," said Rocky, "I'm Rocky."

"I'm Henry," the big green engine replied.

"Y'know, Henry," said Rocky, in hopes of being friendly, "I can lift heavy machinery without much trouble."

Henry just snorted. "You're just new fangled nonsense!" he said, "I mean, you can't even move by yourself! What was the point of bringing you, anyway?"

Rocky felt hurt, but Molly was cross at Henry.

"Why do you act this way?" she asked.

"Because I'm a splendid green engine and can handle anything," Henry scoffed.

"Like being bricked up in a tunnel?" Molly said cheekily. Henry scowled and angrily steamed off. He got very sensitive about the time he refused to come out of Ballahoo tunnel all because he was afraid of the rain spoiling his coat of green paint.

"Don't mind him," soothed Molly, "I know how you feel, Rocky. Henry's just been in a bad mood recently."

Henry was to take Gordon's express from Barrow-in-Furness to Tidmouth. He angrily backed down onto the coaches.

"Why that Molly!" he hissed furiously, "Showing me up like that! It's despicable!"

"You're in a temper, aren't ya?" a Kitson tank engine called while shunting.

"What do you have to do with this?" Henry grunted.

"If you keep your temper up," the Kitson said, "then you're gonna have karma haunting you like that big, clumsy blue engine did!"

Henry was even more cross than ever. "First Molly reminds me of my tunnel incident, and now you lecture me on being careful!" he snarled, "What is this, Annoy Henry Day?!"

"Don't say I didn't warn you," said the Kitson as he set off for work.

The guard blew his whistle, and Henry fumed off.

"Easy, boy!" said his driver, "We don't want the passengers to think our railway is bad, you know!"

Henry heard, but he was still cross.

Meanwhile, James was stopped at a signal on his way to Kildane to deliver steel pipes so the Peel Godred branchline could rebuild it's bridge between Kirk Machan and Abbey. The reason James had to stop was because Gordon would pass by with an express goods to Barrow. But there was trouble; James' flatbeds were not secured properly as he was impatient to get his job over with, and pipes had spilled on both sides of his trucks, some of them onto the other line!

"Why couldn't those workmen tie them up properly?" James grumbled.

"They could have chained the pipes had you not been so impatient," his driver said firmly. James just rolled his eyes. Gordon had been halted at Kildane so he couldn't get into a collision with the spilled pipes. Gordon knew he'd be late, but was pleased an accident was avoided, or so he thought...

Henry saw a signal up ahead, which shone green, which meant the track was clear.

"There's no need to stop, we're right on time!" chortled Henry. By now, he had calmed down somewhat during his journey. As he passed, the signal suddenly turned red.

"We do need to stop!" cried the driver, and applied the brakes, but Henry was still going too fast.

"Oohhh!" groaned Henry.

Henry's wheels locked and skidded, and he hit the brakevan with a dull thud, causing the brakevan and last few trucks to derail, but Henry managed to stay on the tracks.

"What was that?" James asked, having felt a sudden jerk.

"Henry and the express ran into us," said the driver, "we'd have the breakdown train, but Edward's busy with his trains for the day."

James' fireman told the signalman about the situation.

"There's the new crane that arrived at Vicarstown yesterday," said the signalman, "I'll phone them if they can spare it!"

When he did, he was pleased that they could spare Rocky, and then Henry's crew told their engine about it.

"They're getting that new crane to help clear away the mess," they told him.

"What?!" spluttered Henry, "Not that new crane! He'll only mess up!" But his crew ignored him.

At Vicarstown, Molly had just arrived with a stopping passenger train, when the stationmaster came to her.

"There's been an accident near Kildane," he said, "James' pipes are all over the tracks, and Henry's ran into his train. We need Rocky to clear away the mess!"

"On our way, sir!" said Karen, and then Molly shunted the coaches onto a siding, and went off to fetch Rocky.

"We need you to help, Rocky," said Molly, "there's an emergency!"

"Ready for action, Molly!" Rocky said happily. Molly was coupled up, and she and Rocky set off to the rescue. As Molly puffed along the line, people were excited to see Rocky.

"Go get 'em, Molly!" called Rocky.

At the site of the accident, Henry was sulking while some workmen were moving the pipes out of the way by hand and muscle. It was a process that was taking a long time.

They heard a loud whistle as Molly and Rocky came to a stop.

"Thank goodness you're here, Molly," said the workmen, "if not for Rocky, we'd be in a worse situation!"

"Oh joy," groaned Henry, "bringing in the old girl and new fangled nonsense!" Molly gave him a firm look.

"It's not nice to judge others by appearance," she said, "would you like it if you were teased about your green paint?"

Henry said nothing to that. David had just been given tests and he was called in to help clear away the mess.

David pulled Henry and his train out of the way while Rocky was set to work putting the derailed trucks back onto the rails again. The derailed trucks were uncoupled and James was shifted so he had space to couple back onto the tail trucks again.

The brakevan and last few trucks were soon put back on the rails, much to James' relief.

"About time," he muttered, but no one heard him. Henry was also surprised by Rocky's performance, and felt he may have underestimated Rocky's abilities.

Soon Rocky lifted the pipes back onto James' trucks, and they were properly secured. Henry's passengers watched the operation, impressed by what they saw. They clapped and cheered for Rocky and Molly once the job was done.

James set off to Kildane, and by now he was very late, and Henry set off a few minutes later. Herbert the Class 76 took over for James, and brought the pipes to their destination at the bridge near Abbey, and Gordon finally set off for Barrow-in-Furness. Molly took Rocky back to Vicarstown, and she went back to her stopping passenger while David rested in the sheds at Norramby.

That evening at Vicarstown, the Fat Controller spoke to Rocky and Molly.

"Rocky," he said, "it seems I made the right choice in buying you to my railway, and I am very pleased with you. You will be stationed at Tidmouth in case of emergencies."

"Thank you, sir," smiled Rocky.

"You did grand as well, Molly," continued the Fat Controller, "even if the trains were late, but the passengers are pleased that Rocky was there to help."

"Yes sir," said Molly, "but what about-"

"I've already spoken to Henry and James," said the Fat Controller, "and I'm not pleased with their sulky behavior today. It's a good thing David has come back from the works today, Molly. Would you like to help on the mainline again?"

"Yes please, sir!" Molly smiled.

That evening in the sheds, Henry and James were still feeling cross.

"Spilling pipes onto the tracks is one thing," said a voice, "but being helped by a crane you made fun of earlier? Well, that is surely more embarrassing compared to avoiding goods work."

Henry and James said nothing, but were certain the voice was Gordon's.

It's not over yet; there's one more story to come, and it will be my 15th season 5 rewrite. I'm pretty sure you can guess what it is, so look out for that!