August 1st, 1963
It's early morning I'm having this written out. I'm back in my shed and trying to forget.
I found Jinty, but not like I hoped I would have.
Riddles tried to stay up with me, but he fell asleep, so I was alone. Until Boxy woke up; I saw him leave the yard alone. I knew there were no outgoing trains until my passenger run tomorrow morning, so I had to know what he was up to.
After he left, I followed him out of the yard. I kept my distance, just to be safe; again, I don't like that diesel.
We didn't go far, only a few miles away from the bottom station. I found him helping another, bigger diesel lift the remains of an engine onto a low-loader.
A tank engine.
A Jinty.
I couldn't believe it.
It was him, right down to the number plate.
I followed them after they loaded Jinty up; the remains were taken off to Swindon Works, and off loaded next to what I think was left of either a Standard 5, or a Black 5. I couldn't tell from where I was hiding.
I'm not sure why I thought it was a black five, they're Midland engines. For a moment, I thought it might have been Will, the engine who used to pull the stopping train to our branchline. Or at least, he was. Jeremy said King George V was made to take it a little while ago.
At least now I know Jeremy wasn't lying about Dieselization. Boxy and the big diesel shunted the low-loader next to the remains and left it there. Right about then, I realized what they were surrounded by.
Other engines.
Scrapped engines. Some looked Great Western, others I'd never seen before then.
It made me sick.
So I decided I'd seen enough, and I left Swindon. I can't believe that's where I came from now.
On my way back to the yard, my mind was racing.
I still can't believe it.
He must have been attacked.
But by who?
Who would do something like this? And why?
Did Boxy do it?
And if he did, then why?
What had Jinty done?
Was it for leaving the yard?
Did Control send him out to find Jinty?
I don't know. Frankly, I don't think I want to.
Not long before we got back, I spotted a paper on the ground, around where the diesels picked Jinty up from. At least, I think it's where they picked him up from – the ground was a mess, and there were a few metal pieces left there. I got driver to stop and pick it up.
It was the picture Jinty had taped to his water tank, the one of him with the engine he met at that place he called the Island of Sodor. I think he said this engine's name was Thomas.
I have a feeling I might know what Jinty was really up to now.
It's only a few hours till dawn, and I have a passenger train to pull soon. I'll get to the bottom of this soon.
I hope.
