Well, it's finally happening, my Human Thomas & Friends series is becoming a reality. I want to give a special thank you sonicspeedster92 for putting in most of the work to bring this to life.
He's uploading this story to his Archive of Our Own account (under GalacticDefender4679), so go follow him there to show support.
Thomas & Friends © HiT Entertainment & Mattel
The Railway Series © Rev Wilbert Awdry
The Adventures of Thomas & Friends
The Adventure Begins - Part One
Edward's Big Break & Gordon's Big Mistake
Written by sonicspeedster92 & DaveMan100
Nestled in the Irish Sea, right between the Isle of Man and the northwest of England, was the small and rustic Island of Sodor; hailed for its majestic vistas, beautiful mountains, coastlines and most of all, the lovely railway line that helps keep things running smoothly around the island.
Sodor is also home to a legendary hero of worldwide renown. But not all heroes begin with their fame. In fact, not all their stories begin with the heroes themselves.
One of the most prominent stops; the western metro hub of Knapford, home to Sodor Community College; the largest school complex on the island is where this story begins.
Within the bustling school building, situated on the second floor, was the Tidmouth Common Room, where all students sorted into Tidmouth House could relax and mingle with each other peacefully.
One of these students, Edward Stewart; a twelve-year-old boy with blue hair and brown eyes, wearing the standard SCC uniform, complimented with his own colour choices: a dark blue blazer with red and yellow accents, a white button-up undershirt with a striped dark blue and white tie with red accents, black trousers, dark blue socks, black shoes and a pair of dark blue glasses was sitting in the corner reading to himself.
All the other students were bigger and stronger than Edward and boasted about it to no end. Whenever the staff had certain tasks to fulfil, such as equipment deliveries and transport monitoring, they would usually assign at least one student to assist them, in exchange for extra personal credit and house points depending on their performance. Edward hadn't been chosen for a long time, and though he tried not to show it, he was envious of a lot of his fellow Tidmouths who got to go out and experience new things outside the boundaries of the school.
"What's wrong Edward?" one student teased. "Sad of being left behind again?"
Edward didn't respond and tried to focus on his book. Just then, the science teacher Mr Carlin and the English teacher Mr Angelis walked in, both holding clipboards with a list of student names.
"Good morning everyone," Mr Angelis greeted, to which the students responded with their own greeting. "This morning one of the school engines broke down and we need a volunteer to help with the replacement train that will be leaving in half an hour."
Every student in the house immediately started trying to get the two teachers to pick them for the job; pushing in and shoving each other out of the way.
"Settle down everyone!" Mr Carlin ordered. "For this job, we're looking for someone who has great organisational skills and is very good at balancing time."
While the students murmured among themselves to find someone with that skillset, Mr Angelis noticed Edward still in the corner reading; seemingly not paying any attention to the opportunity for an extra task. He walked over to the blue haired boy and peered over his book.
"Edward?" he asked. "Would you maybe like to help us with this task?"
Edward's eyes widened, and the rest of the students were stunned. Edward couldn't recall the last time he had been chosen to assist the staff and immediately jumped up with excitement.
"Oh yes please sir!" he said happily.
With that, Edward, Mr Carlin and Mr Angelis left for the staff van. Edward looked back to the other students with a smirk. "Ha-ha!" he laughed happily. "Look at me now!" After he disappeared behind the door, the rest of the common room just grumbled at being left behind.
Once they arrived at Elsbridge Station, the workman directed them to the three coaches that were to be used for the emergency train.
"The paint on the outside will have to be skipped; it's the interiors that need a good once over with a keen eye," a workman said. "And please be as quick as you can, the engine will be here momentarily."
Wasting no time, Edward climbed aboard the first coach while Mr Carlin and Mr Angelis went to the other two. "Be careful Edward," advised the workmen. "Don't bump and bang around back there like the other students do."
Inside the coach, Edward could see that the upholstery was quite dusty, and doors were a bit stiff. Grabbing a brush, he swept across every seat one by one until they were as clean as possible. He then looked through the maintenance cupboard and found an oil canister and carefully applied some of the contents to the stiff door hinges; giving them a quick swing to let the oil seep through the gaps in the metal.
Once he was satisfied with his job, he hopped over to the next coach where Mr Carlin was still sweeping the seats.
"Oh Edward," he said surprised. "Are you finished already?"
Edward nodded. "Yes sir. So I thought I'd come give you a hand to speed things along before the engine gets here."
With two pairs of hands, the second coach was soon ready. Edward repeated the same process with Mr Angelis, and soon all three coaches were set to go.
The engine crew were very pleased with the results. "Thank you Edward," said the driver. "You did a splendid job helping out with inspection here today."
They then saw the students filing onto the platform ready to board the train. Taking the initiative, Edward pulled out his Tidmouth Brass Charm Whistle, given to him when started his first year, and gave a *Peep-peep*. "Get in quickly, please!"
Once the students were all on board, Edward and the teachers waited happily for the train's guard to whistle all-clear and wave his green flag.
They waited and waited – there was no whistle, no green flag. "Ugh! Where is that guard?" Edward was getting anxious.
The teachers asked the stationmaster, "Have you seen our guard?"
"No." Then they asked the station porter, "Have you seen our guard?"
"Yes, last night," said the porter.
Edward was starting to get angry now. "Are we ever going to start?"
Just then, a little boy in the back coach shouted out the window, "Here he comes!" True to his word, the guard was indeed, running down the road with his slips in one hand and a sandwich in the other.
He ran through the station, quickly blew his whistle, frantically flapped his flag, and jumped onto the last coach. The driver eased off with Edward watching proudly from the platform.
"You did brilliantly today Edward," said Mr Angelis. "Fifty house points for Tidmouth and your extra credit score will be doubled."
"Oh thank you sir!" Edward beamed.
"In fact, would you mind being our go-to student should we require assistance in the future?" Mr Carlin asked.
Edward could barely contain himself. "Yes please sir!"
Later at the Tidmouth common room, Edward told the other students about his day.
"Not only did I earn double extra credit, as well fifty house points for Tidmouth, putting us one step closer to the House Cup this year, but Mr Carlin made me his go-to student for whenever he has an important job."
A lot of the students were happy for Edward, but some were slightly annoyed that they weren't chosen. One of them being a rather strong looking boy with blue hair named Gordon Gresley, who was thirteen years old and dressed in the same uniform as Edward, with almost the same colour choices, only his was a lighter shade of blue.
"Look at him," he grumbled. "One job in donkey's years and suddenly he thinks he's such a winner."
The next day, Gordon was glad to have been selected for an important job. The school drama teacher Mr Brosnan had asked him the previous day to help a driver bring a load of special theatre supplies to the school from the town of Maron on his way there. As he stood amongst the other students at the station where the driver was set to pick him up, he was getting impatient; looking at his watch every five seconds and tapping his foot.
"Running late, running late! The shame of it! Oh, the shame of it!" he wallowed to himself.
"Oh come now Gordon, it can't be that bad," Edward said, rolling his eyes.
"Yes Edward, it is," Gordon countered. "I have a reputation to uphold. Which will be tarnished if this delivery driver doesn't arrive soon!"
*Beep-beep*
Gordon turned to the direction of the beeping horn and saw that the driver had finally arrived. "About time!" Gordon climbed inside the van just as he came to a complete stop.
"Sorry I'm late; took a wrong turn back there," the driver said.
"Never mind that," Gordon responded. "If we hurry, we can still make it before ten."
However, just as they began to ease away, someone on a bike rode out in front of them, causing the driver to slam on the brakes hard, jolting the van to a halt. Gordon rolled down the window and shouted at the rider. "JAMES! Watch where you're going!"
The bike rider, James Hughes, was a twelve-year-old boy with neatly combed black hair, who wore the same school uniform as Gordon; his colour choices being primarily black with red accents. James just shot an irritated glare at the blue haired boy. "Sorry Gordon, but you're not the only one who needs to be going places!"
"I'm the one being really useful today! You need to stay out of my way!" Gordon retorted before pointing at the wooden brakes on James' bike. "Especially on that rolling safety hazard!"
James frowned. "There's nothing wrong with my bike; I get more jobs done with it than you do with yours! Provided you can even spare the effort to actually use it."
"You won't be saying that when it catches fire," Gordon smirked, before becoming serious. "Can you move aside now, please James? You're blocking our way." James' face scrunched as he moved from out in front of the van, allowing them to continue on their way.
"My brakes don't catch fire," grumbled James. "They're just as good as yours."
Gordon always enjoyed being out on the island for schoolwork, but he had to admit, he was a bit cross at how late this trip was making him. And it only got worse as he looked at his watch; it was already thirty minutes after the beginning of first period. "I say sir, do you think we could go a bit faster?"
"I'm tryin' mate, but I don't think we can make it," the driver shrugged. Gordon could tell he was new to this by his countenance. "Traffic getting to Knapford was bad enough; I can only imagine how bad it'll be getting back with this load."
Gordon rolled his eyes. "Right, don't worry, I have an idea. Take this next right; that's the road to the Preston Incline. Going over that should save us at least half an hour," The driver listened and quickly took the turn.
The Preston Incline was an incredibly steep hill in the Sodor lowlands, but Gordon was right about one thing; it was a faster way to get between Knapford and Maron, so the van quickly started to rumble over it. Then there was trouble; the heavy stage and scenery parts in the back of the van were too heavy and began to weigh it back. The driver tried to keep it going but to no avail. Finally, with an audible *pop*, the engine failed and the van stopped dead halfway up the hill. "Oh the indignity! Now we'll be even later," Gordon grumbled and got out.
"Oi, what're you up to now?" asked the driver.
"Making sure we're on time," Gordon responded as he opened the bonnet. "Just give me a moment."
It took more than a moment, unfortunately; Gordon tried everything he could to get the truck running again; checking the fuel and oil, fiddling with everything under the hood. He even tried simply pushing the truck from behind while it was in neutral. But nothing worked and now Gordon had missed the first period entirely and was late for the second period.
At this point, the driver had had enough and simply called the school. "Hello?"
The man who answered was Sir Topham Hatt; the headteacher for Sodor Community College. The students referred to him as 'the Fat Controller', since he had a history in Britain's railway industry. The driver explained the situation and Sir Topham Hatt was disappointed. "I see. Oh dear. Alright, I'll send someone right away. Goodbye."
In the schoolyard, Edward was sitting on a bench using his free period to study for his third class when Sir Topham Hatt walked over toward him. "Hello, Edward. Working hard as always, I see."
Edward smiled as he stood up. "Nothing better than being prepared, Sir." Sir Topham always liked that about Edward; he was always so humble and such a hard-worker. "What can I do for you?"
"I'm afraid Gordon needs your help."
Edward was admittedly surprised… but smiled smugly. "My help, Sir? Are you sure?"
"Yes, it seems in his task to ensure the theatre supplies made it to school safe and sound, he had the driver take a detour and got the van stuck on the Preston Incline," Sir Topham shook his head. "I'm sending you along with Mr Brosnan to help them." He pointed over his shoulder at Mr Brosnan himself waiting with a van of his own.
Edward chuckled as he quickly packed up and made his way to the van. "Not to worry, Sir. We'll get them running again." With that, he and Mr Brosnan set off for the hill.
When they arrived, they found Gordon still fruitlessly doing what he could to fix the van alone as the driver slowly let it coast down to the bottom. "Hello, Gordon!" Edward called as he climbed out. "We've come to help!"
"Ha! No need at all!" Gordon scoffed. "I can handle this myself. Besides, a small mouse like you?" Edward grew cross and simply pushed Gordon aside to look at the engine himself.
"Hmm… Everything looks alright. No leaks, nothing cracked." Then he checked the dashboard; nothing wrong there either. Until he flicked the ignition, causing a light came on and everything became clear. "Ah, there's the problem; the battery's died. Simple jump start and it'll be right as rain." He looked across to the other van and smiled. "Jumper leads please, Mr Brosnan."
"Right ya are." Soon enough, the cables were set. Mr Brosnan allowed Edward the honour of turning the key to start his van, which he happily accepted. The engine roared to life and the power shot to the other battery, giving it just enough energy for the delivery driver to start it up.
"Excellent work, old man." Gordon smiled as he detached the cables and jumped in. "Now, let's be on our way. Running later than ever." The driver couldn't help but agree as the truck roared off over the hill.
Edward scoffed. "Well, so much for gratitude. Not even a 'Thank you'. Hmph."
"Never mind Edward," Mr Brosnan shrugged. "Gordon will get his soon enough. Now come along; we wouldn't want you to be late for class as well."
Edward could hardly argue with that, so he climbed into the van and the two rumbled away back to school.
When they arrived back, Edward saw Gordon heading into the building with a sour expression on his face and Sir Topham Hatt looking at him with a very disappointed look.
"What was that all about?" Edward asked
"Gordon tried to take credit for helping with this supply run alone," Sir Topham Hatt shrugged. "The driver convinced me otherwise. I would've understood had they simply been delayed by heavy traffic, but Gordon's 'bright idea' wasted valuable time for everyone involved, and he has been punished accordingly; detention to make up for the class time he's missed." He then smiled. "Plus the extra credit and 15 house points he was set to receive have gone to the one who really helped him get over that hill."
Edward was pleased, but also greatly surprised. "Me? Oh, thank you Sir."
"Think nothing of it Edward, you earned it. Now, be on your way. Wouldn't want to be late." Edward agreed and left for class. Midway through, he left to get water from a drinking fountain when his mobile phone rang. Edward saw the caller ID was his father William Stewart.
"Hello Dad," Edward answered.
"Edward, Sir Topham Hatt has told me about your recent performance streak and I'm very proud of you!" William beamed. "I'll get out my sewing materials tonight and make you a beautiful new blue uniform with red trim. You'll be the smartest looking student in the house!"
Edward was very happy about that and boasted as such as he left the school that afternoon to catch the train back home to Tidmouth. On the hike to the station, he bumped into a familiar ten-year-old boy with bright green hair and teal eyes wearing green clothes that looked somewhat old. "Oh, hello Percy! Postal rounds again?"
"You know it," the young boy, Percy Avonside replied. Percy was a cheeky young lad who attended school at Ffarquhar Branch Primary and also worked as a delivery boy for his family's postal service 'Avonside X-Press'. "Things are keeping steady, so I'm keeping busy."
"Glad to hear," Edward replied. "Still hope you're keeping up with your studies. I look forward to seeing you at SCC next year."
"I'm doing my best Edward," Percy responded. "I've just got a lot to juggle. But once we get some extra hands around the office, it'll all go smoothly."
"How is the family by the way?" asked Edward. "I hear Ryan's father is looking to start a construction company."
"Yeah he is. We're all rooting for him. If that takes off, we'll be in great shape and can recruit more people for the business."
"Well, be sure to keep me posted," Edward smiled before he checked his watch and adjusted his glasses. "I'd better get going; train to Tidmouth leaves in a few minutes."
"See you soon, Edward," Percy smiled as he moved to ride away on his bicycle before he realised something. "Oh, but before you go…" He quickly dug into his mailbag and pulled out a small package for Edward's family which he handed to his friend.
"Ah, thanks. My father's been expecting this for a while."
"Not a problem, Edward. See you soon." With that, he rode away waving at Edward. But because he wasn't watching where he was going, his bike bumped over a crack in the pavement and he nearly lost control, alarming Edward.
"I'm okay!"
Edward let out a sigh of relief at that and left for the station.
Voice Artists
MICHAEL ANGELIS
Mr Angelis
PIERCE BROSNAN
Mr Brosnan
TERESA GALLAGHER
Various students
WILLIAM HOPE
William Stewart
LLOYD SHERR
Mr Carlin
KEITH WICKHAM
Edward Stewart
Gordon Gresley
James Hughes
Percy Avonside
Sir Topham Hatt
Stationmaster
MATT WILKINSON
Workman
Engine driver
Porter
Van driver
Various students
I was late getting this onto here, but with DeviantArt Eclipse screwing me over with its lack of quality formatting, I see no better opportunity than now.
I'm making this story exclusive to until there get their acts together.
As always, I'm DaveMan1000 and I'll see you all next time!