A FISHY SURPRISE FOR DEREK

Based upon "A Fishy Day", "Erosion" and "Too Heavy" by Andrew Brenner

Adapted by Zack Wanzer and Rachel Ravens

The new year transformed the Island of Sodor from a winter wonderland to fields of flowers, and warmer weather meant construction was progressing in a steady but rapid manner.

"How's it looking over there?" Derek called to the Pack when he brought up more building materials for the branch line.

"It's looking great, Derek!" Alfie replied excitedly. "At this rate, we'll be at the beach by the end of the year, if not earlier!"

"So long as Max and Monty don't give us grief," Kelly noted. They were helping to build the structure for the new station at Ballahoo. The other vehicles who were also present were Byron, Nelson, Patrick and Oliver.

"There is something that's puzzling me, however," said Alfie. "What's with that line heading southeast to Crovan's Gate?"

"From what I heard," said Derek, "it's supposed to serve as a detour in case the line between Crovan's Gate and Henry's tunnel is blocked. I can't imagine that Gordon wouldn't be too pleased to use this line if that were to be the case."

The Pack members present all chuckled. "If he got too big for 'is buffers, it'd serve 'im right," Patrick commented.

"Gordon ought to at least be grateful he'd get to Vicarstown in the first place," agreed Byron. "I think I remember one of the engines mentioning something along the lines of 'better late than never' when the viaduct was under repair."

"Oh yes," said Derek. "I remember Duck telling me about that. Something about that happening during his first week on Sodor."

"That would have been very eventful for him," sighed Nelson. "Say, Derek, do you know who'll be running this line once it's been constructed?"

"I'm not sure," Derek admitted. "It probably won't be me as I'll be working on the Brendam branch line with Bill and Ben. Maybe an engine from the mainland will be running as a joint service."

"Maybe it's that new engine who's been in the Steamworks for just over a year or so," suggested Kelly.

"Perhaps," said Derek. "Whoever takes charge of this branch line, I'm sure they'll do a grand job of running it."

"I hope that new engine will be out and about soon," said Oliver. "It's no fun being stuck in the works for a long time."

"I know what that's like," sighed Derek. "All the same, I'm glad Sir Topham Hatt had my engine rebuilt so I don't break down as often as I used to."

"BoCo could say the same," said Kelly. "We are glad you're both part of Sodor."

"So are we," smiled Derek.

Thanks to the efforts of Derek and the Pack, the new branch line had extended right towards a fishing village.

"Wow, that ocean looks beautiful from here," gasped Derek. "Duck mentioned about wanting to travel by sea himself, but I never thought it'd be this lovely a sight."

"I wonder what's beyond Sodor," said Patrick. "There's so many places to travel 'round the world."

"Well, I don't think any of us will be going beyond the United Kingdom," said Byron. "Why would anyone want to? This island has so much going for it."

"Besides," added Derek, "I hear that tracks around the world are different gauges. It would be difficult for us to make contact with international engines."

"That's a bit of a shame," sighed Oliver. "But Byron does have a point. Sodor is beautiful and I don't want to move abroad."

Derek and the Pack were content with the excavator's comments and went back to work.

But one day, when Derek was resting in a siding while his driver was on a lunch break, the stationmaster came up.

"Oh, hello, ma'am," greeted Derek. "What's happened?"

"There's been an accident," she explained. "Henry's been bumped by the trucks right off the rails."

"Goodness gracious!" cried Derek. "Is he alright?"

"I wasn't told, but his driver didn't sound too anxious," replied the stationmaster.

"That's a good sign," said Derek. His driver put what was left of his lunch back into his lunchbox and he and Derek went to grab Judy and Jerome.

Henry stood off the rails with the trucks laughing and jeering behind him. Derek rolled up alongside the big green engine with Judy and Jerome in tow.

"Oh my, Henry!" the diesel exclaimed. "How did this happen?"

"Well, not only were the trucks pushing me," Henry began, "but there must have been something slippery on the hill. Maybe it was from last night's rainfall."

"Most likely was," sighed Derek. "Don't worry, I'll get you to the Steamworks and you'll be back on your wheels in no time."

"At least you didn't say 'as right as rain'," muttered Henry.

"I was trying to avoid the pun," Derek admitted.

Soon, Henry was taken to the Steamworks.

"Oh dear!" gasped Henry. "I've just remembered; who'll be taking my morning train?"

"The Flying Kipper?" guessed Derek.

"That's right," Henry confirmed. "It departs at five o'clock in the morning."

"I don't suppose I could try," suggested Derek. "Where does it go?"

"I usually take the Kipper all the way up to Barrow," explained Henry. "There, another engine takes over to deliver fish all across the mainland. I often make stops along the way so it can be sold at almost every marketplace across Sodor."

"Got it," smiled Derek. "Don't worry, I'll make sure the fish get to their destinations on time."

Early the next morning…

"Oh, goodness me," yawned Derek, sleepily opening his eyes. "Is it four o'clock already?"

"Come on, Derek lad," said his driver, turning the diesel's engine over. "It's time to take the Flying Kipper."

"Right away, driver," said Derek, failing to suppress another yawn. "Oh, heavens, I should get used to waking up earlier."

Derek was still feeling a bit groggy by the time he arrived to pick up the Flying Kipper. Diesel had shunted the last few vans into place.

"Morning, Diesel," yawned Derek. If the green diesel wasn't so sleepy, he might've avoided what was about to happen next…

"Look out, Derek!" called Diesel. But it was too late; Derek had crashed right into a crane's hook that was unloading fish.

"Ugh!" shuddered Derek. "Oh, bother. How did I miss that?" Fish had covered the green diesel's front, and the strong aroma hung in the air.

"What a pong!" exclaimed Diesel. "Now I can see why James hates taking this train."

"I don't know how Henry manages either," sighed Derek. There was no time to wash the smell of fish off of Derek as the Kipper was due out at any minute. Hastily, Derek was coupled to the train and he was away.

"I guess we'll have to clean up what's left on the track," grunted Diesel. "The last thing we need is a derailment due to oily rails."

Derek, meanwhile, despite his mishap at the harbor, was making good time with the Flying Kipper.

"I hope no one else is up at this hour," he said to himself. Unfortunately, he was wrong as he came across Percy with the mail train at one of the stations.

"Hello, Derek," greeted Percy, before scrunching up his nose in disgust. "Phew! The fish smells stronger than usual!"

"Terribly sorry about this," sighed Derek, and he explained what had happened at the harbor.

"Oh, I see," Percy realized. "Duck had an incident like that a couple of years ago, except he accidentally broke the last van on Henry's train. He was at the Steamworks for about a fortnight or so."

"Something tells me that the Kipper's not very kind to engines painted green," said Derek.

"Diesel reckons the Kipper is cursed no matter which color an engine taking or assisting with it is painted," Percy remarked.

Derek couldn't help but chuckle at this as he continued on his way. "Say hello to Mr. Tipper for me when you see him, Percy."

"I will, Derek," the saddle tank engine replied as he too set out on his way.

As Derek continued down the track, the fog started to roll in.

"Oh dear," he gasped. "Driver, we may have to slow down."

"Right ahead of you there, old boy," the driver confirmed as he eased off on the throttle. Derek couldn't help but shudder.

"Last time we had fog, Donald was…" he gulped. "Thank goodness Douglas was close by."

Derek's run with the Flying Kipper was uneventful until he got to Crovan's Gate; Derek had to be very quiet to not wake up the little engines. As the workmen began to unload some crates of fish, the stationmaster went to speak with Derek and his driver.

"The main route to Vicarstown is blocked by a fallen tree on the line," he reported. "You'll have to take the detour line through Ballahoo."

"Thanks for the warning," whispered Derek. "I'll go as carefully as I can."

However, as the Flying Kipper was departing again, a porter ran up to the stationmaster.

"Wait, did you say that the Flying Kipper's been re-routed onto the Ballahoo loop?" she asked.

"Yes," replied the stationmaster. "What's wrong with that?"

"I've just received a report that the detour line isn't safe," said the porter. "I think the rainfall from a couple of nights ago destabilized the track."

"I better alert the signalman!" said the stationmaster, running into his office.

Unfortunately, the signalman had received the phone call just as Derek was rumbling past.

"What was that? I can't hear you!" shouted the signalman.

"The track is destabilized!" the stationmaster repeated over the phone. "You'll need to stop the Flying Kipper before an accident takes place!"

"Oh no…" The signalman quickly put the phone down to try and warn Derek, but it was already too late.

"The engine from the mainland can't wait for the train," Derek said to his driver. "Once we're over this stretch of track, we'll go as quickly as we can."

But Derek wasn't going to get that chance, as he and his driver noticed a man holding an amber lamp and waving a red flag.

"Brakes, driver!" called Derek. "I think someone needs our help!"

The Flying Kipper came to a gentle stop and the man ran up to the diesel and his driver.

"Hello," said Derek's driver. "What seems to be the problem?"

"I'm a geological surveyor," the man explained. "I've been watching the cliff face near the bridge over the River Hoo since that rainstorm, and I'm afraid that erosion may have made it unstable."

"But we were told to go onto that line due to a fallen tree on the main line," explained Derek. "The engine taking the rest of the Flying Kipper to the mainland can't wait."

"It can't be that bad if a train were to go over, would it?" asked the driver.

"If it was a heavy train like the express, then yes," said the man. "However, you've got a few vans with you, so hopefully it should be stable enough for you to cross."

"Right," said Derek. "We'll go slowly. That should prevent further incidents." His driver eased open the throttle and Derek set off, with the other man joining his driver in the cab.

"Have you taken the Flying Kipper before?" asked the other man.

"First time taking it," said Derek. "I volunteered after Henry had his accident with some trucks."

"That was kind of you," commented the man. "Not many engines would offer to take this train."

"I'm starting to understand why," muttered Derek. It wasn't long before they reached the unstable spot in the tracks the other man reported. They could see that the tracks were on the verge of collapsing underneath them.

"I hope that doesn't become a tightrope," Derek said under his breath. Suddenly, he felt some of the ballast rolling down the hill.

"Easy, Derek!" called the other man. "Go gently, and we'll make it to the other side safely."

"R-right," Derek stammered, cautiously making his way forward. "Now I know how Toby felt…"

"You're doing fine, boy," soothed his driver. He looked back; the vans were tipping over slightly, but thankfully not enough to endanger him, the guard and the other man.

"Almost there, Derek," called the driver. It wasn't long before the last van was clear of the unstable track.

"We've done it!" cried Derek in triumph. "Let's make up for lost time, and report that fallen tree to Sir Topham Hatt when we get back."

The other man jumped out of the diesel's cab so he could put up some warning flags, and the Flying Kipper carried on its way to make up for lost time.

At Barrow-in-Furness, another train was waiting for the Flying Kipper to arrive. It was being hauled by a large blue diesel with yellow ends and the number 199 on his sides in white. He looked over onto the other platform as Derek pulled in.

"It's about time you got here," 199 grunted. "And that aroma's making me ill to my vents!"

"Sorry about this," said Derek. "I had a bit of an accident at the harbor. As for why I was late, I had to make a detour where there was erosion underneath the tracks."

"I see," sighed 199. He looked curiously at Derek. "Been on Sodor for very long? I don't recall seeing you up here."

"I actually came here last year," explained Derek. "But I've mostly been on the Brendam and Norramby branch lines. Name's Derek, by the way."

"Haven't got a name myself," said the other diesel. "Just go by the number 199."

"Reminds me of my friend Bear." Derek told him about Bear who used to be called 7101.

199 sighed. "Ah yes, I remember him. It was thanks to him that I was able to see the better side of steam engines. That 261 led me down a hostile path."

"I hear 261 is called Bowler now," chuckled Derek. "Did you hear about how he sucked in a bowler's hat through his air intake?"

199 laughed. "Yes, that's all over the mainland. Sodor gossip spreads like wildfire."

"Speaking of Sodor, I'd better get back there," said Derek. "It was nice meeting you, 199. I hope we can think of a name for you."

"Nice meeting you too, Derek," called 199 as the Sudrian diesel left. "I hope so too."

Eventually, the green diesel got back to Sodor to rest in the sheds, but Bill and Ben were laughing when they woke up.

"Oh dear," laughed Bill. "Where's that smell coming from?"

"Smells like Derek over here," joked Ben. "Just because they call it the Flying Kipper doesn't mean he has to smell like a fish!"

"Did he go swimming with the fishes?" asked Bill. "He should know he's supposed to deliver them, not put them back into the ocean."

Derek rolled his eyes, but said nothing. I'll be glad when driver can give me a washdown, he thought.

The green diesel was having his washdown when Sir Topham Hatt came to see him.

"I heard you went over some unstable track, Derek," he said. "Are you alright?"

"Thankfully, yes," Derek replied. "And so is my driver. Although we weren't alerted about the unstable track before that man stopped us."

"Ah, about that," said Sir Topham Hatt. "The stationmaster at Crovan's Gate had been informed about that shortly after you departed there and had passed the signal box when the message had been delivered."

"Oh my," gasped Derek. "I'm so sorry about this, sir. I didn't know…"

"It's alright, Derek," chuckled Sir Topham Hatt. "You weren't to know; just a case of bad timing is all. We're just thankful that it didn't lead to far worse."

"Such as landing in the sea next to the track?" Derek shuddered. "Oh yes, not a good idea…"

"Anyway," continued Sir Topham Hatt, "we're sorting out both the branch line's track and the fallen tree as we speak. Normal services should resume on the main line as soon as possible."

"Understood, sir," said Derek.

The fallen tree didn't take too long to sort out. It was cut into logs and put onto a log train that Donald was pulling.

"If this tree fell doon oan th' Skarloey Railway, Ah think Sur Handel 'n' Peter Sam wid lose thair minds," Donald chuckled as he puffed away.

The detour route between Crovan's Gate and Ballahoo was closed while surveyors inspected the slopes. It was decided that retaining walls would be built to prevent any further erosion of the soil beneath the tracks. Trees and shrubs were also planted so that their roots would grow down into the soil and hold it in place.

"That should do the trick," Sir Topham Hatt said to himself.

When the detour line was reopened again, Derek was given the honor of being the first engine to cross it.

"Okay, I can do this," he said to himself. He carefully pulled forwards onto the detour line. To his relief, there was no sense of derailing on the tracks.

"Solid as a rock," he grinned. "I think we'll be good for quite a while now."

"Excellent news indeed, Derek," smiled Sir Topham Hatt. "I'll let the other engines know."

A few days later, Henry was out of the Steamworks and met up with Derek at Vicarstown.

"Thank you for looking after the Flying Kipper in my absence, Derek," smiled Henry.

"Oh, just happy to lend my services," the diesel replied. "Despite a few, er… mishaps. I guess you could say I've had quite the fishy tale to tell."

"Indeed," said Henry. He paused for a moment. "Derek, do you smell something?"

"W-what?" gasped Derek.

"It's the smell… of fresh air!" joked Henry.

"Oh yes," laughed Derek, and the two engines were well content.

THE END

Author's Comments

Here's the seventeenth episode of Series 5 Redux, being a rather loose adaptation of Something in the Air, instead following its basis stories, A Fishy Day and Erosion, more closely, mixed in with elements of Too Heavy at the end. I wanted to give Derek more roles in this redux, and this story provided a good opportunity for that. I view Derek as being rather close to his characterization in Tales from the Other Railway, kind-hearted and somewhat naïve, but also curious about trying out new things, often unaware as to what he's about to land himself into. As another homage to TFTOR, we've incorporated Derek interacting with Diesel and 199, albeit under far friendlier circumstances. I hope to incorporate 199 in future stories with his new personality as Bowler's already taken on his role in Enterprising Engines.

Upcoming stories:

- Put Upon Percy

- Oliver Takes the Post

- Make Someone Happy

- Sir Topham Hatt's Holiday

- Henrietta and the Naughty Coal Truck