Another saga begins, and I know I'm getting reviews like this... again...

Zack when the aresdale railway and thomas branchline extended to ulfstead

What Duncan gets spooked going to be like

yo dude make something okay

Oh my God! You won't leave me alone about this, will you? We've been through this six times over, and I thought you'd learn by now TO REVIEW ABOUT THE QUALITY OF THE STORY! Make your reviews relvant, and for the love of God, STOP asking me about things like "WHEN DID THE TWO RAILWAYS EXPAND" or "WHEN'S DUNCAN GETS SPOOKED" or "WHEN IS THE NEXT STORY"? That's just childish, and I feel I'll be deleting reviews if this rubbish keeps up!

Onto the story then...


ThomasAngryBirds' Remakes and Stories

Story 18: Overworked

New story by ThomasAngryBirds

Before Toby arrived on the North Western Railway, Thomas ran the Knapford and Ffarquhar branchline by himself, and he often went to Anopha Quarry via the Quarry Tramway from Ffarquhar.

But in 1950, Thomas had encountered an angry policeman, claiming Thomas was a "regular lawbreaker", despite Thomas' driver's claims that they never had an accident. That resulted in Toby, Henrietta and Elsie being saved from scrap from their line in East Anglia, and brought to Sodor.

Then in the 1960's, the Ffarquhar Quarry Company bought a Class 04 tram diesel, Mavis, to run the line. After a few mishaps and Toby losing patience, Mavis settled in and is now a hardworking diesel.


The Ffarquhar branchline was very busy. It was almost at the turn of the century, the spring of 1999, and the engines were working hard.

Thomas and Daisy took passengers to and from stations, and Toby did his share, as well has helping bring workmen to the quarry with Henrietta, Elsie, and the recently restored Victoria. Percy and Paxton dealt with the goods traffic, but at Anopha Quarry, Mavis was feeling exhausted. No sooner did she bring in one train, she had to leave with another.

"I don't know where I'm coming and going these days," she said, feeling out of breath, "I swear, if this keeps up, then the manager will have to bring in another engine!"

"But where can we find another tram engine?" asked Percy, "They're hard to find these days."

None of the engines knew what to do; Thomas, Percy, Daisy and Paxton didn't have cowcatchers and sideplates, which meant they weren't allowed on the Quarry Tramway. Then an idea flew into Thomas' smokebox.

"Can't they make the route between here and the quarry more safer?" he asked, "That way, engines like me and Percy wouldn't be a threat to public roads."

"He's saying it cause he doesn't want cowcatchers," Percy teased, and Thomas glared at him.

"I second Thomas' idea," said Mavis, "that way, we wouldn't smash into cars," she added, remembering her incident with the lorry.

"If that doesn't work," said Thomas, "we might need the help from Locke."

"Who's Locke?" asked Toby.

"Locke was a steam tram who worked for the Tidmouth, Knapford and Elsbridge Light Railway before it became our branchline," Thomas explained, "he looked like you, Toby, but was smaller, a Worsdell Y6. Locke was one of the engines to help extend the branchline to Ffarquhar, along with one of my cousins Robert, an E4 like Zoey. Robert was blue with red stripes like I am, and was station pilot at Tidmouth after I got the branchline."

"What happened to them both?" asked Paxton.

"Last I heard," said Thomas, "was in 1930. They were set aside for preservation at the Locomotive Museum in Vicarstown, and that resulted in Gordon, Henry and James' strike, and Percy's arrival. I'm sure they're still there at Vicarstown after seven decades."

"One way or another," said Mavis, "this really could be helpful to me."

The engines told their crews about Thomas' suggestions for Mavis and the Quarry Tramway, and they told the Fat Controller and the manager of Anopha Quarry, Gerald Hill.

"We shall make arrangements straight away," the Fat Controller announced.


The Vicarstown Locomotive Museum was founded around 1925, when the mainline extended to Barrow-in-Furness. The original yards at Vicarstown were still in use, although not as frequently as Tidmouth became the headquarters for the North Western Railway.

Among the engines at the museum were Jessica the Claud Hamilton, Neil the Sodor and Mainland box-tank, Harry the J50, Edwin the V3, William the Bulleid Leader, Hiro the Japanese D51, and Neville the Q1.

The Fat Controller, Mr. Hill, and the manager of the museum, Jeremy Wilson, came to see Locke. Locke was a static display as the last of the Y6 tram engines in existence. He didn't mind, but he longed to run again, and didn't know his dream was about to come true.

"My friends Sir Topham Hatt and Gerald Hill need help at Anopha Quarry," Mr. Wilson told Locke, "and they have asked for you to help. Would you like that?"

Locke smiled. "Oh, yes please, sirs," he said, "I'm willing to help!"

"That's what I wanted to hear," said the Fat Controller, "now, you've been out of service for time, and you'll need an overhaul before you can go to work."

"Yes sir," said Locke.

The other museum engines were sad to see Locke go, but they wished him well. The next day, Dennis the Bulleid diesel shunter took Locke to Crovan's Gate Steamworks for his overhaul.


The news soon reached Mavis and Toby, and they were very grateful.

"It might take a few months to restore him," said Mavis, "but it'll be worth it in the end."

"Driver says the Fat Controller is borrowing an engine for the time being," said Toby.

"What does he or she look like?" asked Mavis, "Could it be one of my brothers or sisters?"

"I don't know," said Toby, "but we'll find out very soon."


The visiting engine arrived a few days later. He was a Class 01 diesel shunter with the number 2956. He had arrived from the East Lancashire Railway.

The Fat Controller introduced him to the other engines.

"This is Andrew," he said, "named after the Andrew Barclay Sons & Company. He will be helping Mavis while Locke is being overhauled. He and his driver have been given special permission by the police to cross the Quarry Tramway. Show him everything he needs to learn, Mavis."

"You can count on me, sir," Mavis smiled.

Andrew was eager to start work. "I can't believe I'm working with Thomas and his friends on his branchline!" he cried excitedly.

"You heard of us?" Thomas asked.

"I have," said Andrew, "my driver read the books about you by the Rev. W. Awdry. I thought you didn't exist and were just fantasy."

"A lot of people say that about us," said Toby, "but we're real as your buffers and cab."


Soon, Andrew was working hard with Mavis. She told him what to do and where to arrange the trucks.

"Thanks for the advice," said Andrew, "now I won't be able to get lost!"

He trundled away to arrange the trucks to their proper sidings.

"I might be getting wiser with each passing day," Mavis said to herself, and set off to arrange her train. Meanwhile, Andrew thought shunting the trucks would be easy, but they were in a bad mood, and wanted to take it out on him.

"Look at that silly diesel!" they cried, "He's far too small to shunt us! He probably couldn't even pull three of us, let alone ten!"

"Look here!" Andrew said firmly, "I won't stand your nonsense!"

"Let's give him what for," the trucks giggled, and soon Andrew was having trouble keeping the trucks in order. They behaved badly, and Andrew's paint got dirty. Then Mavis came by with her train to Ffarquhar for Toby to bring to Knapford Harbor.

"If those buggers tease you again," she called, "tell them to be quiet, and if they don't stop, bump them."

"Thanks Mavis," Andrew called back. I wonder how Toby puts up with their nonsense, he thought to himself.


One morning, Mavis found her engine wasn't working properly, and she had to be taken out of action while it was being inspected.

"I often bring trucks for Toby at Ffarquhar," Mavis told Andrew, "take care at the Quarry Tramway, and don't let the trucks tease you."

"I'll be careful," said Andrew, and he oiled away to arrange his train. I hope so, he thought worriedly.

He arranged the trucks into place, and they began to tease him... again.

"Silly little diesel!" they taunted, "Too small to be of any use!"

"Shut up!" snapped Andrew, "Or else I'll give you a good bumping!"

The trucks were cross, and began to make a plan to pay Andrew back. Soon Andrew's train was ready. The guard blew the whistle, and Andrew set off. Nobody had noticed that the brakevan was uncoupled, but when they did, it was already too late.


Andrew was having an easy time. He soon neared the crossing where Thomas encountered the policeman years back, and looked both ways to make sure nobody was approaching.

Andrew's driver tooted the horn when they saw a lorry approach, and the driver stopped his lorry.

They were soon approaching Ffarquhar, and within the town was the track leading to Anopha Quarry. Andrew knew he had to take care.

"At this rate," he said, "I'll be early for Toby."

But he spoke too soon. Suddenly, he felt a surging from behind him; the trucks were up to their tricks again!

"ON! ON! ON!" they yelled. Andrew's driver fought for control, but without a brakevan, Andrew could not stop in time.

Worse was to come; on the road, a grocer was taking his lorry of fruits and vegetables to the market. However, his lorry was having engine trouble, and it came to a stop, right on the tracks! It was the same crossing where Toby nearly a car.

"Oh, great!" grumbled the grocer, getting out, "What a place to break down!" He went to phone for help, but as he did so, a horn sounded in the distance.

"STOP!" shrieked Andrew, "There's a lorry in my way!"

There was a crash as Andrew smacked into the lorry, and crates of fruits and vegetables flew all over the place! No one was hurt, but Andrew felt like a fruit and vegetable salad.

"My poor lorry," said the grocer, "what a way to make fruit salad!" Andrew sighed unhappily as fruit juice trickled down his nose.


Later that day, the mess was cleared up and Andrew was brought to the sheds by Toby. He was worried he was going to be in trouble with the Fat Controller and the police.

"This wasn't your fault, Andrew," said the Fat Controller, "it's an accident any engine could have gotten into. We'll have your brakes checked and your front mended soon, then you'll have a good washdown."

"Yes sir," said Andrew sadly.

"We'll have to make it safer around the area, as well as on the Quarry Tramway," said the policeman, "we have to keep people, locomotives and cars safe to prevent accidents like this in the near future."

"I couldn't agree with you more," said the Fat Controller, and the engines hoped that would be the case.


Locke is a character created by my good friend NemesisHero123, from his "Panloco's Shed" story on DeviantArt. Give it a read, why don't you? The saga was going to be "Mavis the Quarry Diesel", but I wanted to give focus on Daisy and Paxton, not to mention Andrew, as well.

Please people, I beg you; if you're leaving reviews, it MUST be RELEVANT to the story. Otherwise, don't review at all.