2:18 p.m., Sunday, October 15th, 1972
Christopher Awdry sat on the platform of the Barrow-in-Furness railway station; the very same platform where he met his first real friend, a little blue tank engine, 32 years ago. But he was not alone, Richard had come to accompany him and in his hands was a red book with a little black diesel engine by the name of Mavis on the front cover. Richard, however, was inside the station building, looking for some snacks and magazines on model trains. He also made a quick trip to the loo before resuming his search.
It was around that time when Thomas came up with his faithful coaches. Christopher looked up from the book, greeting Thomas with an expression that was neither sad nor happy.
"I'm not sure if father wants to come with you anymore Thomas. He can't seem to write anymore stories. For now, this will be his last one."
And he showed Thomas the front cover of Mavis in the quarry.
"His last one?" Thomas was stunned.
"His ideas have, shall we say, ran out of steam. Besides, we've made enough money off of these books to last us a hundred trips around the world."
"A hundred trips around the world," Thomas thought dreamily. "That sounds too good to be true."
"Anyway Thomas, do you remember why I never wanted to return to Sodor after the war? Because I wanted you to remember me just the way I was, pure and innocent…just in case you didn't."
"You didn't have to do all of that," Thomas replied logically. "You could have come back at any time."
"I could have, but I had my children…soon they will have their children and all of that cannot be done by just simply moving to Sodor, there are more job opportunities on the mainland."
"You could always move to Sodor."
Christopher shook his head sadly.
"My place was back home in London, then at King's Norton. I grew up in both places. Thomas, if you can forgive me for sounding like a fool…I can't really be in both places at once..."
"What do you wish to do then?"
"My heart belongs on the mainland with Father and the rest of my family."
"What about Richard, where does his heart belong?
At that exact moment, Richard came out of the station. He noticed the seriousness of Thomas and Christopher's conversation, and since he had heard the final half of the conversation, he said strongly.
"I'll go with you to Sodor."
Astonished, Christopher whipped his head at Richard's direction and walked over to him.
"Do you really want to, son?"
"Yes," Richard said sadly. "I've always wanted to follow my own dreams of independence, but I never really got that chance until I met Thomas."
"Which would you prefer?" Christopher asked. "A life away from me? Or your own family."
"The latter. I am almost 20 now."
Christopher knew that Richard needed no staying this day, drawn by what he saw in his son's face, caught in a net that neither he nor Richard could escape.
"If that is what you want, then yes," he offered finally.
Richard gave his father a tight hug and let himself go after a few moments. Captivated by the engine that had seen three generations of his family, he climbed into the cab and blew Thomas' whistle and as Thomas reversed back to Sodor, Richard waved a final farewell to his father, not knowing if he would ever see him again.
And so, Richard spent his remaining days on the Island of Sodor, doing all the things his father did when he lived there during the war. Yet, even though Wilbert had written his last story, Christopher reinvigorated interest in the engines of Sodor with several books of his own, which would later provide the inspiration for the second series of a television show created by documentarist Britt Alcroft.
That show was Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends.