A/N: Find this funny since this was suppose to be a spooky story anyways and it's halloween also lol. Enjoy!

"Why can't you take the trucks back!"

"Because I'm needed here! Manager said so!"

"No he didn't!"

"Yes he did!"

"No! He did—"

"Yaaarrrggh maties, whats seems to be the problem?"

"Bill is saying he's staying here, but we're both needed to go back to the fly pits!" Ben said crossly.

The dockside diesel pondered for a few seconds. "The seas have been quiet like my old key side," he surveyed, "they'll only be needing me 'ere William my chum."

"My name is just Bill," said Bill with a raised eyebrow, "nobody has ever called me William."

"It doesn't matter because you're busted!!" Ben shouted, "you're just lazy!"

"No I'm not!"

"Best argue when taking yar trains maties," said the dockside diesel, "otherwise the clay pits will be wondering where yar arr."

"Yes Salty," said the two twin engines, and they scurried away.

Salty, was the new dockside diesel to the North Western Railway. He was brought since an expansion was beginning to be planned for the clay pits and Bill and Ben would be needed more over there, leaving the docks for possible conjunction.

Salty had became widely known, with his different looks, attitude and nature, he had made quite an impact on not only the dockside, but the railway too.

Bill and Ben found him to be amazing. Often listening to stories constantly when they see him. The trucks were also star-struck by him and the docks had not been so quiet in ages, the workmen were all very pleased.

Recently, Edward had retired from being the banker of Gordon's Hill, and other engines such as BoCo, Donald or Douglas would become the banker with Edward doing the work they usually do if they're on the job. Bill and Ben would see Edward more often now and even though they enjoyed his company at times, found it boring most of the time with not being able to do tricks on either Edward or Salty.

Eventually, the two wouldn't be able to cope when coming to the docks and Bill came up to Ben about it one morning.

"I think we should prank Salty," he declared.

Ben was almost baffled by the idea. "Why should we?"

"Because it's either him or Edward and Y'know what happened last time we did that!"

Ben recounted when they both came to the island and remembered how Edward managed to backfire their most genius plan ever. He knew Salty wasn't as good as Edward and would be easier to trick.

"Alright," he sighed, "let's do it. What do you have in mind?"

"Well..."

"YAAAAAAAAARRRRGGGGGHHHH!!"

Bill and Ben jumped, as Salty popped out of nowhere behind some trucks. "W-W-HOw-WHU-"

"That's what yar geet if ya try to play tricks on me maties!!" exclaimed Salty, still chuckling from the jump-scare he gave the twins.

"How did you hear us?" cried Ben, finally recovering.

"You two better watch yarselfs when talking about tricking me," chuckled Salty.

Bill and Ben looked at each other, and groaned crossly.

"Better be careful around me too," said Salty, "otherwise me shadow engine will come and geet ya."

Bill and Ben looked at each other, then back at Salty confused. "Shadow engine?" repeated Bill curiously.

"Yaaaaar, I'm guessing ya wanna hear all about him now," smiled Salty from under his scruffy black beard.

Bill and Ben peeped in interest and then listened to Salty's tale.

*

Years ago, an tank engine came to a small harbour somewhere on the south east coast of England.

He was a lovely chap, worked hard and was loved by all the workmen who had the chance to be near him. The engines who would come to this harbour came out as jolly as can be and would praise this tank engine for all his effort. The lad was happy there.

Until the diesels came. Immediately, things began to change. Fewer steam engines came to pick up their trains and were replaced by diesels who would laugh and belittle the tank engine.

The engine didn't try to let it get him down though. He still had his work.

Until I came.

I didn't mean to do anything for him. I didn't even know I was going to come and take his work from him. But I did me harties, I came in, saw him, and thought I'd be helping an old steam engine like him. But all I did was take his work, until he was moved into a siding out of the way.

I didn't even realise what was about to happen when a diesel came to take him away. The tank engine only looked at me then and I looked back and then he swore to forever follow me wherever I go, and I will never forget him. And he was taken away.

When I realised he was taken to the grave, I mourned him with respecting his work. Eventually, the harbour closed down and I was brought here to help you two lads. But ever since that day when the tank engine had been taken away to be scrapped.

Strange things began to happen around me ever since.

Not bad things all the time, but some things that keep me reminding of him. Like trucks being shunted into each other in sidings. But sometimes, he can affect the engines around me too.

So best be on yar guard.

*

Bill and Ben were in awe. But they quickly shrugged it off.

"What make belief," scoffed Bill.

"Yeah," Ben smirked, "sounds like a downer from you Salty."

Both twins left, leaving Salty alone at the docks.

*

Two days later after Salty had told his story. Ben had came back to the docks. Bill was staying at the clay pits, whilst Salty had went to his small shed near the end of the docks. Ben was on the other side and was all alone with only the trucks and a few of the workmen to keep him company.

He shunted his loaded trucks into a quay and went to find some empties to take back to the pits. When he did, he found men working on some points.

"What's going on?" Ben asked.

"Points jammed pal," replied one of the workmen, "best if you wait for a while."

Ben groaned, he wanted to get back to the shed and rest. He didn't even like staying around the docks at night. It always looked eery to him. The twin engine waited and waited, but the workmen still hadn't made the points work.

Soon, Ben lost his patience. "I'm just going to go to the sheds," he exclaimed, wheeshing steam crossly. But as he began to puff away, he heard a loud bump.

And some trucks from nearby rolled into Ben's sight. Ben was surprised, so was his crew, who looked at the open wagons curiously as they came to slow stop just before some points.

"Are those trucks in use?" he asked the workmen.

"Erm... not from what we know of," replied a workman, "but I think the dock foreman won't mind if you pick them."

"Who moved those trucks though?" asked Ben's fireman, "they surely didn't get moved by Salty. He's on the other side of the docks in his shed!"

Ben pondered, then he remember Salty's story of the shadow engine. He shivered violently and asked if they could collect the trucks, then a brake van and get back to the clay pits. His driver agreed and Ben collected all he needed and set off, rather quickly indeed.

Next morning, he told Bill all about the encounter.

"It was horrible," he said, "those trucks said they felt a bump and thought it was either me or you! But you and Salty weren't nowhere near me! And I was on a different line to those trucks! I think Salty's shadow engine is true Bill!"

Bill laughed. "You're just seeing things Ben, it must've been strong winds, you know what it's like on Edward's branch line and the truck's brakes must've been off! You just think to conclusions!"

"Then take the loaded trucks there tonight then!" huffed Ben crossly, "because I'm not going to go there tonight!"

"Fine," smirked Bill, "then we'll see who's the scaredy engine out of us."

Ben pulled a face at Bill when he puffed off with some trucks in tow.

*

Bill did come into the docks that night. It was less busier than the previous when Ben came, less men were about and nearly all ships and cranes were fast asleep. The twin engine shunted the loaded trucks into a different quay from where Ben did his, but still went over to the same sidings where empty trucks were stored. There were Ben's loaded ones from last night and Bill coupled up to them.

Soon, it was time for Bill to leave. He puffed out of the siding quickly. "No weird things happening to me," Bill puffed triumphantly, "stupid Ben, getting scared from a little ghost."

Then, as Bill puffed over a set of points, he felt something bump him from behind and he leaped off the rails and came to a stop with all of his wheels on the cement of the docks.

"Ouch!" cried Bill, "who did that?!"

He then heard puffing noises from behind him. "Very funny Ben!" exclaimed Bill, "but just because you got scared of a stupid ghost doesn't mean you can make me leave the rails and go swim—!"

A shrill and loud whistle interrupted Bill, who stopped instantly. That wasn't Ben's whistle. Then, the sound of puffing could be heard and then an engine whoosh past Bill so quickly, Bill didn't even see the engine when reopening his eyes. The engine had gone, but Bill's terror had appeared instead.

*

It was morning when Harvey came to lift Bill back onto the rails. Salty came up to see the little tank engine. Bill was frantic when seeing Salty and explained everything to the dockside diesel.

"It was horrible!" cried Bill, "it was nothing I ever seen!"

"Yaaarrrggh don't worry me maty," reassured Salty, smiling at Bill. "Ya'll be fearing no more of me shadow engine, I'll get down to this tonight! But will yar accompany me on this daring adventure?"

"If Ben comes then sure!"

"Great! Harvey?"

"Errrrm... sorry Salty, but I'm needed back at the Works."

"Your lost then!"

*

It was night when Bill and Ben came to see Salty. All their crews had agreed to stay with them so to deal with this problem.

"Told you it was real," said Ben.

"Shut up Ben!" snapped Bill.

"Best me quiet maties," Salty advised, "otherwise me shadow engine will do much more harm to ya!"

"Why did he bump me off the rails?" asked Bill.

"Probably cause ya were being rude," said Salty.

Bill sulked crossly. But all three were interrupted by the sound of strange puffing within the docks. The twin engines gulped and shivered. Salty's eyebrows scrunched up, showing crinkles on his big brow.

"Time to find him maties," he said, determined. He rumbled slowly forward, with Bill and Ben following close behind. Salty didn't look scared at all, and looked through the buildings, ships, cranes and trucks. He rolled along the tracks, looking to see where the engine was.

Suddenly, the puffing stopped and Salty too came to a stop. Bill stopped whilst Ben bumped into the back of him. "Watch it you!"

"MEEEE??!"

"Quiet down me harties," Salty said, silence came flooding around the engines. They waited and listened. Salty looking around the area they had halted in. Then the puffing was heard again, coming from one of the very ends of the dock's quays.

Salty crept slowly forward, Bill and Ben puffed nervously behind. The night light shone their way to the deep puffing noises. Salty roll along, the points changed, Bill went along the track to Salty's left and Ben went onto the right side of the dockside diesel's track.

"Stop maties!" cried Salty. Both engines stopped suddenly. They all looked towards the end of the tracks that headed to the end quays. And there, through the strange, foggy mist, was an engine. With a tall, stinky funnel and what looked side tanks on it.

"The shadow engine..." muttered Salty darkly, narrowing his eyes.

Bill and Ben looked over in fear.

"CHARRRRRGGGE!!!!" WAILED BEN. And both twins headed straight towards the black engine within the mist.

"WAIT YOU TWO!!" cried Salty in alarm. "YAR BOTH AREN'T EVEN ON THE—"

Salty's yells were only deafened by Bill and Ben's wails. They headed straight towards the black shape.

"What the—" said the mysterious figure, as Bill and Ben went straight past him and away into the mist, stilling yelling with their eyes closed.

"—right track," finished Salty. He then looked on towards the mysterious figure. It then began to move forward.

Salty then began to relax. "Yar ain't me shadow engine," he chuckled, as an LMS 3F came through the mist and to a stop, looking brand new.

"What?" called the tank engine, with a strong cockney accent.

"Me shadow engine!"

"Don't know what you're on about mate," said the engine, who came straight up in front of Salty.

"Arrr never mind," chuckled Salty, "those two lads that went past you thought you were a ghost!"

"A ghost you say?" said the engine with wry smirk, "now that's new. Names Jinty by the way."

"Ahhh, are yar the new banker then?" Salty asked curiously.

"Yeah," chuckled Jinty, "only came up here to bring some goods. Shunted them, then got greeted by those blighters that shot past me!"

Salty laughed loud and long. Eventually, Bill and Ben came back, looking very embarrassed when seeing the tank engine up close and very real indeed.

"We're sorry for that," said Bill, "we must've scared you from yelling like that."

"Naaah," said Jinty, "I'm fine. Turned out you weren't though!"

Bill scowled at that. "At least we aren't from south!" he said, "never like London engines!"

Jinty smirked at that. "Innit," he replied simply.

*

The new tank engine was properly introduced to the railway the next day. Becoming the number fourteen of the North Western Railway.

You also might be wondering whether if this was the same Jinty from when the first eight engines went to England and he came to take Thomas' stead for a while.

Yes. This is the same Jinty, the Fat Controller actually found him from an industrial estate, he was apparently brought because of being feature in the book "Eight Famous Engines" and worked there until they brought a diesel four years ago and remained in a siding, still maintained enough to be quickly brought by the Fat Controller and to only be in the works for two weeks when arriving.

What about the shape engine? Bill and Ben rather not mention it. Bill is still sulky even to this day about Jinty bumping him and Ben can still be put in a bad mood for a few minutes when getting told about getting scared of Jinty bumping the trucks.

But unbeknownst to them, Salty was told by Jinty that he only came to Edward's branch line the exact same day he met the trio.

So who bumped those trucks? Who bumped Bill of the rails?

Salty prefers to not tell Bill and Ben about the sad, dark truth. About the engine, who's as dark and as quiet as anything. About an engine, who lost everything to a dockside diesel.

Boo.