The Modern Railway Series No. 9

SCRAPYARD SHENANIGANS

Credit to Scrubb1910 for this book's title

Original stories written by Andrew Brenner, Davey Moore and Lee Pressman

Foreword

Dear friends,

Over the years, Sodor has been through a lot of interesting new changes in the more modern period. What hasn't changed, however, is the use of scrap. Some of it is still being considered useless to this day, while others have been shown to still be useful despite their condition. There also seems to be a lot of activity going on at the scrapyards. Why don't you read on and find out what has been restored?

The author

Disappearing diesels

Some diesel engines on the Island of Sodor give them a bad reputation. But Paxton is one of the kindest diesels you could ever meet. And because he is kind, Paxton has a lot of friends. He is friends with the narrow gauge engines up at the Blue Mountain quarry. And with Salty and Porter at Brendam Docks. Even Cranky is friends with Paxton. But the engine Paxton has to try the hardest to be friends with is Diesel himself. Unfortunately, Diesel is not a very easy engine to be friends with.

One day, Diesel oiled into the dieselworks. "Quick," he announced to the other diesels. "Paxton is coming. Let's all hide, so he can't find us. It'll be very funny." The other diesels hid with Diesel behind the sheds as the doors closed shut. Paxton came to the dieselworks. "Hello!" he called. "You'll never guess what happened down at the docks!" But when he looked around, there was nobody there. "Hello? Anybody here?" he called as he searched high and low. Paxton looked everywhere. But no matter where he went, he couldn't see any other diesels. "Something terrible must've happened," worried Paxton as he left the dieselworks. "All the diesels have disappeared! I'd better find them!"

Diesel giggled as Paxton went away. "I think we've taken this joke a little too far," said Den. "What he means is, Paxton was really worried," put in Dart. "Don't be such fussy buffers," replied Diesel. "It was a joke, that's all!"

But Paxton didn't think it was a joke. He scattered hurriedly all over the island. He looked for diesels in the Blue Mountain quarry. He looked for them at Knapford station. He looked for them at Brendam Docks. "Something is making all the diesels disappear!" he told Cranky. "Salty came passing by minutes ago," replied Cranky. "Arr, did somebody mention my name?" said the dockside diesel as he came up to Paxton. "Oh, Salty! Thank goodness you're still here," sighed Paxton with relief. "You're burning fuel over nothing," assured Salty. "The other diesels will turn up soon enough."

After all the rushing around, Paxton's fuel was getting low. Soon, Diesel came by shunting several trucks. "Here's Diesel himself," said Cranky. "Shh, who asked you to put your hook in, Cranky?" muttered Diesel as he sped away. "Diesel, is that you? Come back!" cried Paxton. He was fully refueled, and Paxton rushed after Diesel out of the docks.

Diesel raced down the line backwards, with Paxton not too far in front of him. "Paxton doesn't give up easily, I'll give him that," thought Diesel. He ran onto a siding at the scrapyard, and hid behind some trucks full of scrap. A big yellow crane who was loading scrap beside Diesel turned around to face him. "Yes? Can I help you?" he asked Diesel. Paxton overheard him and stopped next to the siding. "Is that Diesel over there, Reg?" asked Paxton. "Uhh, no, it's not Diesel," replied Diesel, disguising his voice. "Really? But that didn't sound like Diesel…" said Paxton feeling confused. "That's because it is Diesel, Paxton," laughed Reg. "No, umm, I'm a truckload of sausages!" laughed Diesel as he raced out of the siding. "Diesel, wait!" cried Paxton as he sped after him. "What do you want to go chasing after him for?" asked Reg. "He's my friend!" replied Paxton. "Is he really?" wondered Reg.

Diesel was still having so much fun, that he decided to go up to the quarry to hide. But no sooner had he pulled off the main line, that he ran out of fuel. "My tank can't be… empty…" thought Diesel as he rolled to a stop. "Finally!" gasped Paxton as he came up to Diesel. "Diesel, I've been worried. All the diesels have gone missing!" "We weren't missing," protested Diesel. "We were hiding from you." "Oh, well, that's not a very good hiding place, Diesel. I can see you," laughed Paxton. Diesel groaned with annoyance.

Paxton shunted Diesel to the nearest station to fill up with more fuel. Diesel didn't know what to say. He didn't like saying thank you. But he didn't need to. Paxton was just happy to have found him again, and be his friend. He was even happier when he got back to the dieselworks and found the other diesels there. When Diesel got back to the sheds with the others, he still didn't say thank you. But he did manage to pull a friendly smile, and that made Paxton even happier than before.

The perfect gift

It was nearing Christmas on Sodor. Percy has many jobs during this time of year, like delivering Christmas trees, taking the mail, and even delivering passengers who like to sing Christmas carols. He also has his own regular jobs such as taking scrap to the scrapyard. It wasn't as special as the other jobs Percy has got, but it was still very important.

"Hello, Reg!" called Percy. Reg, the big yellow scrapyard crane was arranging scrap so loudly, that he didn't hear Percy. The little engine blew his whistle to get Reg's attention. "Oh, hello, Percy! Bought me some lovely scrap, have you?" Reg asked him excitedly. "I certainly have," replied Percy. "Oh, am I the lucky one, then!" said Reg with joy. Sorting scrap into different types is not everyone's idea of fun, but Reg loves his work. Percy couldn't help but notice how dark and gloomy it was at the scrap yard. He worried that Reg was missing out on the magic of Christmas. So he decided to do something about it.

The next day, when Percy took the scrap to the scrapyard, he took along a special gift. "Good morning, Reg!" greeted Percy. "You're early today, Percy!" exclaimed Reg. "I know," said Percy. "Because as well as all this scrap, I've brought you a special gift, just a little something to cheer up the scrap yard!" But then, there was a loud noise. Reg lowered something he picked up from Percy's trucks into the shredder and it made a huge racket. "Sorry, what were you saying, something about a special gift?" asked Reg. "Reg! What happened to the tree?" moaned Percy. "Oh, old trees like that show up at the scrap yard all the time, especially at this time of year," replied Reg. "But that was a Christmas tree!" protested Percy. Reg assured Percy that its wood chips can be reused to make something else, and that nothing goes to waste at the scrapyard. Percy was determined that he would bring Christmas to the scrapyard. He just wasn't sure how.

Later, the Fat Controller asked Percy to take the carol singers to the town square for a Christmas sing-along. That gave Percy an idea. He brought the carol singers to the scrapyard. Together, he and the passengers sung a lovely Christmas tune to Reg. The scrap yard crane was surprised, and when he began organizing scrap, the loud noise startled the passengers. Reg told Percy he didn't need cheering up and was rather busy, which made Percy feel more sorry.

But Percy wasn't a giving up kind of engine. He was still determined to make Reg's scrapyard come alive with Christmas cheer. Then he noticed a man giving his friend a present. This gave the little engine an idea. "I need to give Reg a Christmas present! Something he really loves… but what?" Percy chuffed all around the island of Sodor, trying to find the perfect gift for his friend at the scrap yard. But no matter how hard he tried, he just couldn't think of anything.

The next evening, Percy rolled into the scrap yard, a little quieter than usual. "Evening, Percy!" said Reg. Then he noticed how Percy felt. "Deary me, what's the matter?" Percy told Reg about how the whole island was covered with lovely decorations and the spirit of Christmas, while Reg was stuck in the scrapyard. "And I couldn't even think of a present to give you," sighed Percy. "But Percy, you brought me exactly what I wanted!" said Reg. "More lovely scrap…?" whispered Percy. "Yes! And you've brought me just what I need to finish this!" replied Reg.

And working his claw, and placing the bit of scrap aside, Reg presented Percy with a Christmas tree, all made from scrap! "Oh, Reg!" gasped Percy. "That is an amazing Christmas tree!" "I told you, nothing round here goes to waste!" laughed Reg. "Now, before you go, you said something about gifts?" And he lowered his claw, holding a wonderful, metal star. "After seeing my Christmas decorations, I thought you might feel rather left out," said Reg, lowering the star on a flatbed in front of Percy. "Merry Christmas, Percy!" "Thanks, Reg!" said Percy. "Merry Christmas to you, too!" And as Reg carried on with his work at the scrapyard, Percy puffed away with Reg's wonderful gift back to Tidmouth Sheds to put it up with the other decorations in a very, Merry Christmas.

P.A. problems

Every station on the island of Sodor relies on its public address system. The loudspeakers above the platforms tell the passengers where to go to catch the right train. Edward came to Knapford station as the Fat Controller was helping hold a ladder steady for a workman. "Morning, sir! What is happening?" said Edward with curiosity. "Good morning, Edward. I've splashed out a new public address system," said the Fat Controller, gesturing at a new package that had arrived at his office. "But what was wrong with the old one?" asked Edward. "Oh, nothing wrong with it, Edward, but this new one is much more modern! Very state of the art!" said the Fat Controller feeling excited. The old speakers fell down on the platform, making the Fat Controller jump. "Oh yes, one has to move with the times, you know!" The old speakers got loaded onto Edward's trucks of scrap, while the new ones were being unpacked from the package.

Down at the scrapyard, Reg was in a particularly good mood. He was whistling a cheerful tune, when Edward arrived with his scrap trucks. "Hello, Reg," greeted Edward. "I have something here for you!" "Oh, more scrap? Brilliant! Thanks, Edward!" said Reg gleefully as he grabbed scrap from the trucks and loaded the yard up.

At Knapford station, the new speakers were fixed over the platforms. The Fat Controller was feeling more excited. He held the microphone in his office and read the announcements. But he didn't realize that his new public address system wasn't working as well as it should've been. The passengers covered their ears, and couldn't tell which platform their trains were on and where to board. The engines were confused to, because they didn't know where to go due to the strange sounds coming from the public address system. As they left the station, the Fat Controller came out and was convinced that his new public address system was working perfectly.

But the Fat Controller's new public address system was causing confusion and delay. Toby brought holidaymakers to the quarry. Thomas brought the quarry workers to the beach. And Percy brought a load of pigs to Callan Castle. Meanwhile, Edward was on his branch line, when he heard a curious sound. He saw Reg working while listening to the old public address system. He told Edward it still worked perfectly fine.

Back at Knapford station, a workman was trying to tell the Fat Controller about his new public address system, but he cut him off, saying that it's working well, and that he could take over the rest of the announcements for the day. Thomas, Toby and Percy returned to Knapford station with their passengers. They weren't very happy with him. The Fat Controller was very surprised. "Why is everyone getting on the wrong trains today?" he asked. "It's your new public address system, sir," said Thomas. "It can't be!" gasped the Fat Controller in disbelief. Then the workman started reading the announcements, and the strange noises echoed from the new speakers again. The Fat Controller realized what was going on, and hastily attempted to fix it up again.

Then there was trouble. The Fat Controller turned a dial on, and the new speakers fizzled and burned out. The Fat Controller groaned with dismay. "Oh, why did I ever get this ridiculous new public address system? The old speakers worked perfectly well! Now they're down at the scrapyard…" he sighed. Edward saw everything. Then he remembered something, and raced away quickly.

Edward hurried to the scrapyard, where he saw Reg still working along the music coming from the old speakers. He whistled to get the crane's attention. "Sorry, Reg, I've come to get the Fat Controller's P.A. system!" called Edward over the music. "Oh, yes, it sounds great, doesn't it?" replied Reg. "No, Reg! The Fat Controller needs it back urgently!" said Edward. "Oh, that's a shame," said Reg feeling disappointed, before perking up again. "Oh well, I'll have to make my own music now, won't I?"

Later, the Fat Controller was trying to read the announcements over a microphone outside his office, but he was having trouble getting things back in order again. Edward soon came to his rescue. "Sir, do you think it might be easier if you used this?" he said as he presented the Fat Controller with the old public address system perched on his trucks. "My reliable P.A. system! Oh, you saved it! You're a hero, Edward!" praised the Fat Controller gratefully. "You should thank Reg for not crushing it, sir," smiled Edward. "He saves lots of things! Just because they're old, doesn't mean they're not useful!" And with the old public address system back in order, the Fat Controller was grateful to have things running smoothly at Knapford station again.

School of Duck

One day, a fierce storm raged all over Sodor. The engines scrambled to get indoors, safe out of the blowing wind, showering rain and rumbling thunder. The next morning, the storm was over. No one was hurt, but the school had been badly damaged, and the children couldn't use it again until it was rebuilt. Oliver had to take them to Knapford on his coaches, Isabel and Dulcie. They didn't like it. So Duck offered to take care of the job for them and sought to find a coach.

Duck delivered trucks of scrap to the scrapyard, as Reg showed him what all sorts of scrap could be recycled and reused as. "I'd love to stop and chat, Reg," said Duck. "But I'm in a bit of a hurry today!" Reg carried on examining scrap that could be useful as something else.

Duck looked all over the island for a coach. But that was easier said than done. "Hello, Edward. Will you be using these slip coaches all afternoon?" Duck asked Edward at a water tower. "Yes, Duck. I'm afraid I will," replied the blue engine. Duck asked Emily if he can use her coaches. "Sorry, Duck. We'll be up at Callan Castle," she said. "I have to go now, bye!" Before Duck could even say a word to Gordon as he approached him at Knapford station, Gordon let him know that he can't use his express coaches.

Duck sighed as he came to an abandoned siding feeling miserable. "Why is there never a spare coach around when you need one?" he muttered. "Hello? Who's that? Who's looking for a coach?" came a voice from behind some trucks. "Who said that?" asked Duck. The Great Western engine came up to an old coach. "My name's Dexter!" he greeted the tank engine. "Hello!" greeted Duck. "Err, pardon me but, how long have you been here?" "I was shunted here years ago, when me axles went, but what's the job? I'm ready to roll!" puffed Dexter. Duck wasn't sure, seeing Dexter's current state. But the coach was so eager to get to work, that he insisted Duck pulled him out of the siding.

The tank engine backed down on Dexter and was coupled up. But he found it very difficult to pull Dexter. "That's it! Keep going!" encouraged Dexter. Suddenly, something snapped, and Dexter lurched downwards. His wheels broke off their hinges. "I'm sorry, Dexter," apologized Duck. "I do need a coach, but I need one I can actually pull." Duck left Dexter behind, who insisted that he could be useful if he was just given a new set of wheels. But Duck had already gone, and Dexter was all alone again.

Duck felt bad about leaving his new friend, but Dexter's wheels wouldn't work. "Oh, if only I could find a working coach… and what about the children? It would take months before it gets repaired again," sighed Duck. But then, he remembered something Reg had told him earlier. "What was it again? Repair, recycle, reuse!" exclaimed Duck with excitement. "All this time I've been looking for a coach, but that's not the real problem at all!"

Duck collected the breakdown train, and brought them to the old abandoned siding. Dexter was happy to see Duck again. "Duck! Have you come to bring me my new set of wheels?" he asked eagerly. "Well, not exactly," said Duck. "But you're still going to be really useful."

And soon he was. Dexter was lowered onto a stone platform next to Bluff's Cove. The schoolchildren and teachers helped scrape Dexter's old coat of paint off and wash him clean. Then they applied a new coat of paint to him, and he became recycled: as a brand new school classroom! "Thank you, Duck!" said Dexter when Duck came to see him. Duck was happy to have helped a new friend in need and get him to be really useful again.