The Modern Railway Series No. 11

SAMSON THE PROUD ENGINE

Original stories by Andrew Brenner, Mark Huckerby, Davey Moore and Nick Ostler

Foreword

Dear friends,

The Earl, Sir Robert Norramby, has big plans for the estate. Shipments have arrived from the Mainland, as well as a new engine called Samson to help him and the estate railway engines set up his magnificent project. Samson has been shown to have a huge sense of confidence, but it could also be deemed troublesome for him and the other engines. See for yourself what has been going on.

The author

Marion and the dinosaurs

One day, Marion the railway steam shovel was digging to clear a site for some new sheds. Thomas came up to Marion and startled her by accident. "I should've seen you sneaking up right in front of me, Thomas," said Marion sheepishly. "You're funny, Marion," laughed Thomas. "Let me know if you've dug up anything exciting!" And as Thomas puffed off to Ulfstead castle with his freight trucks, Marion wondered what else she could dig up.

That night, Marion was asleep on the siding, when something woke her up. She thought she could hear an engine passing along the line. But when she looked up, she didn't see an engine at all. She saw a dinosaur! "No! …that's impossible! It's a dream!" puffed Marion as she shut her eyes. When she opened them again, she saw another dinosaur that looked even scarier than the first one. "Eek!" she cried as she shut her eyes again. "Go away, dinosaurs! Go away, dream!" When she opened them up, this time, the dinosaurs have disappeared. "Oh, I didn't think that would actually work," thought Marion, before yawing and going back to sleep.

The next morning, Marion was very sleepy as she went back to her digging. "Hello, Marion!" called a voice, and Marion jumped. "Oh, Thomas, you startled me!" exclaimed Marion. "Sorry, Marion," laughed Thomas. "I didn't mean to sneak up right in front of you again." Marion explained to Thomas what she saw last night. Thomas knew that dinosaurs didn't exist anymore, and so did Marion. "It must have been all a bad dream," assured Thomas as he went away to Ulfstead castle with another load.

A little while later, Marion heard another engine coming along. This time, she looked to see who it was. But instead, she saw dinosaurs. "Come on, Marion, wake up! Wakey-wakey! This is all just a dream!" Marion told herself as she shut her eyes and opened them up. But the dinosaurs were still there, and getting closer. Marion realized she wasn't dreaming at all. "Eeeeeeeeeeeeek!" she shrieked as she raced out of the siding and hurried backwards down the line.

Marion raced all the way up to Ulfstead castle. The drawbridge got lowered, and Stephen and Millie puffed out excitedly. But they stopped when they saw Marion. They puffed out of the way as Marion rushed inside the castle. "Dinosaurs!" she called. "But, that can't be right. There aren't any dinosaurs around anymore," said Stephen feeling confused. But Millie was worried. "Oh, Stephen," she stammered. "She's right, they're coming up the hill!" The heads of the dinosaurs peeked over the edge and went higher. Stephen and Millie raced back inside the castle to hide from the dinosaurs with Marion and the drawbridge raised back up.

Marion looked around her. "Wow," she gasped. "I've never been in a castle before!" "Shh!" whispered Millie and the engines listened. Then, they heard a cry coming from the Earl. Marion gasped and thought that the dinosaurs have gotten him. "He sounds happy to me," said Millie. Then, his voice came out from behind the drawbridge. "At last, my shipment has arrived!" Millie and Stephen puffed out of the castle as the drawbridge got lowered and laughed when they saw what was ahead of them. Marion peered out of the castle and couldn't believe it.

The dinosaurs weren't real. They were models placed on a train of freight trucks, pulled by a green tank engine from the Mainland. "Morning, sir," the engine greeted the Earl. "Samson here, at your service!" "Very good, Samson," said the Earl. "But we were expecting you yesterday." "I've never been to Sodor before, sir," replied Samson. "Arrived in the dark and got lost." Samson explained that he spent the night at a quarry and had to wait till the next morning to ask for directions.

The Earl was pleased that the models have arrived for his dinosaur park. He explained to the engines that his park would get to show passengers how these magnificent creatures really looked like. "And Marion," he said turning to the steam shovel. "I'd like you to keep an eye out for any more fossils and bones on Sodor." Marion was delighted. "Yes, of course, sir. You can count on me!" she puffed and she raced eagerly out of the castle, thinking of where to start. Marion was indeed back to her old self again.

Samson at your service

Samson is a very proud tank engine. When he first arrived on the island of Sodor, it was dark. Samson was bringing the big dinosaur models for the Earl's big dinosaur park. But he didn't know the way, and he was too proud to ask for help. So he got lost and ended up in the Blue Mountain quarry. The other engines thought it was funny, but Samson felt a little silly making such a mistake. Samson didn't reach the Earl's estate until the next morning.

The next day, Samson was at the shunting yard. He was sent by the Fat Controller to fetch stone from the Blue Mountain quarry. The other engines heard about his mistake that one night and laughed when they saw him. This made Samson feel cross. "I'm not going to make another mistake!" he huffed. But he backed into Gordon's express coaches instead of his empty trucks by mistake. And he pulled them out of the yard without noticing.

Thomas came to the shunting yard to fetch Gordon's coaches. "Hey, Rosie!" Thomas called to a lavender tank engine. "Where are the express coaches?" "Samson took them. I don't know whatever for," replied Rosie. Thomas went to Knapford station and told Gordon what had happened. The big engine wasn't happy in the slightest.

Samson puffed through Wellsworth station pulling the express coaches and didn't even stop. Henry noticed what was going on and tried to tell Samson that he was making a mistake. "Just because I made a mistake when I first arrived on Sodor, everyone thinks I'm going to make another mistake, when I'm not!" replied Samson stubbornly, leaving Henry at a loss for words.

By now, Gordon was very late and he still didn't have any coaches. The Fat Controller was cross, so he told Gordon to take Annie and Clarabel on the main line, and Thomas to pull Henrietta. Both engines were not happy about this arrangement.

"Hello, narrow gauge engines!" called Samson as he arrived at the Blue Mountain quarry. "I'm here to collect the heavy stone for transportation to the Mainland." The narrow gauge engines were confused. "Oh, yes, but, we were expecting you to arrive with empty trucks, not passenger coaches," said Skarloey. "You've brought the express coaches, Samson!" laughed Peter Sam. Proud Samson felt silly now. Despite telling everyone that he wasn't going to, he had made a mistake after all.

Gordon pulled Annie and Clarabel, delivering his passengers. The coaches didn't like being express coaches and going very fast. They were relieved when Gordon came to his final stop at Knapford station. Just then, Samson came by with the express. "Samson! My express coaches!" exclaimed Gordon feeling delighted to see them again. But Samson went straight on past. "Samson? Come back!" called Gordon.

Then, who should Samson run straight into, but the Fat Controller! "Where are you going now?" he demanded. "Off to take these coaches back, sir," replied Samson. "Need empty freight trucks, sir." "Indeed, Samson," said the Fat Controller. "You have caused confusion and delay!" Samson apologized for making a mistake. The Fat Controller let Samson know that everybody makes mistakes sometimes, but they make even more when they act like they know it all.

At last, Samson collected the empty trucks and took them up to the Blue Mountain quarry. But by the time the trucks were loaded up with stone, it was too late to take them to the Mainland. And Samson had to spend the night in the quarry again. "Fancy bringing Gordon's coaches up the quarry," giggled Peter Sam. "The stones would have been very comfortable!" "Every stone would have a seat with itself," added Rheneas. And the narrow gauge engines laughed. Even Samson couldn't help but find this funny and he laughed with the other engines as well.

Samson sent for scrap

One day, Samson had been sent by the Fat Controller to pick up scrap left by the tracks with Harvey. Samson was feeling proud and confident that he could do a very good job at it. Samson noticed a pile of scrap next to the line and came to a stop. "Pile it all up, Harvey!" said Samson. Harvey worked his crane arm, and loaded Samson's truck with the scrap. They did the same with another pile of scrap they found further down the line.

Samson was so excited about clearing up, nothing was safe! "Oh, look at that old rust bucket," exclaimed Samson noticing a bike propped against a fence. "In the car it goes!" "Are you sure that's scrap, Samson?" asked Harvey. "Am I the strongest engine on Sodor?" replied Samson. "Errrm…" stammered Harvey. "Exactly!" puffed Samson feeling proud. "Sling it in!" "If you say so," replied Harvey as he lifted the bike up and lowered it into Samson's truck. But as the engines puffed away, the postman returned to the fence, only to find his bike had gone. "Hey! That's my bike!" he called after the engines. "Come back!"

Harvey and Samson went away after removing a bus stop sign, just as Bertie came up. "That's funny," he wondered. "I'm sure there was a bus stop sign here." Then he noticed the stop sign on Samson's truck. "Samson, wait! That's my sign!" called Bertie. The postman caught up with Bertie and hopped on board. "Follow that train!" he ordered.

Meanwhile, the Fat Controller was out and about doing his daily rounds in his car. Then there was trouble. Something popped and the car skidded around, until it came to a stop across a level crossing. "Oh, bother," exclaimed the Fat Controller as he got out. "A flat tyre…" The driver looked for the spare tire to fix it, but it wasn't there. Then the Fat Controller remembered. "Oh, botheration! Mother made me take it out to fit more suitcases when we took her on holiday." The Fat Controller and his driver set off to look for a spare tyre.

Soon, Samson and Harvey came to the level crossing. "Look, Harvey!" called Samson. "A battered old car! Amazing what junk people will leave lying around these days!" "Are you sure, Samson?" asked Harvey. "Only it looks a little bit, almost exactly the same as the Fat Controller's car." "If it's the Fat Controller's car, then where is the Fat Controller?" asked Samson. Harvey didn't know what to respond. "Load it in!" ordered Samson with confidence.

So Samson and Harvey steamed down the tracks towards the scrapyard. "Now the fun part, Harvey," said Samson. "Getting to the scrapyard and watch Reg crunch up this junk!" "If you say so, Samson," replied Harvey feeling uneasy.

The Fat Controller was surprised when he and his driver returned to the level crossing with the spare tyre to see that his car had disappeared. "It must be here somewhere!" he said. Just then, Bertie came up to him. "Please, sir, Samson has taken my bus stop." "And my bike!" added the postman. "And he must have taken my car, and Samson will be halfway to the scrapyard by now…" moaned the Fat Controller. Edward came up to him. "Please, sir," he said. "I know a shortcut to the scrapyard." The Fat Controller ordered Edward to go at once and save his car.

Samson and Harvey arrived at the scrapyard. "Hello, mate," greeted Reg the scrapyard crane. "What have you got there?" "Scrap for your claw, Reg," replied Samson. "Right you are!" said Reg. "Scrunch, and crunch!"

Edward sped down the line as fast as he could. He wasn't going to let the Fat Controller down. He arrived just in time. "Wait!" he called, right before Reg was about to grab onto the car with his claw. "That's the Fat Controller's car!" "If that's the Fat Controller's car, where is he then?" asked Samson. "I'm right here, Samson!" came a voice as Bertie pulled up to the scrapyard. "And that's my car!" "And my stop sign!" put in Bertie. "And my bike!" added the postman. "Oh, sorry, sir," said Samson. "Only trying to make Sodor clean and tidy, like you told me. I thought it was all junk." "Well, Samson, my car is certainly not junk," said the Fat Controller examining his car, as a headlamp fell off. "Oh dear, but it could use a bit of a fix-up, I suppose," he added.

All the stuff was returned to their owners once again. And from then on, Samson had learned to listen to Harvey, who helped him understand what was junk and what was essential and belonged to the railway. He hoped that he wouldn't make another mistake ever again.

Millie and the volcano

In a specific part of the Earl's estate up at Ulfstead castle, preparations for the Earl's latest project were well underway: the dinosaur park! Millie was helping the groundsman bring new trees and bushes to plant around the dinosaur models. Samson and Harvey were working together to put the model dinosaurs in place. Harvey thought some of them looked rather scary.

As Harvey moved his crane arm back, he swung the head of a dinosaur model behind him, just as Millie came up. The head snapped at Millie and she let out a yelp of fright. "They're not real, Millie," said Harvey. "They're only models." "Don't mind her, Harvey," laughed Samson. "She probably just gets scared easily. What a silly little engine." "There's nothing to be scared about," agreed Harvey. Millie was indignant. "I'm not a silly little engine!" she pouted "I am in charge of the Earl's estate railway and I am really useful." And Millie went away in a huff.

When the Earl saw Millie looking upset, she told him about the dinosaur tipping towards her. "Oh, Millie!" exclaimed the Earl. "You've just given me an idea. Thank you, Millie! You really are a clever little engine." Millie wondered what the Earl's idea could be.

Millie headed back to work with the groundsman. But she was still cross about Harvey and Samson laughing at her and teasing her. Harvey asked Samson what he was holding up, and Samson explained to Harvey about volcanoes. "There were lots of them years ago. They're a bit like a mountain, only it gets hot, like a huge firebox. And smoke and lava come out of it!" "Oh, that sounds dangerous," said Harvey feeling nervous. "Indeed they are, Harvey. They can be very dangerous," replied Samson. Harvey dropped a part of the volcano model hastily and Samson laughed, calling him a scaredy engine. Millie saw everything and that gave her an idea.

Harvey and Samson were still setting up the dinosaurs, when they saw something very surprising. "What's wrong, Samson?" asked Harvey as they came to a stop. "The volcano," gasped Samson. "It's erupting!" Harvey looked up and saw that Samson was right. Smoke was coming out of it. "Call the Sodor Search and Rescue centre!" yelped Harvey as he and Samson started backing away from the volcano as fast as they could.

"Silly big engines," laughed Millie as she came past them. "Millie! That was is too dangerous!" called Samson as he sped after her, with Harvey close behind. "Millie, the volcano is erupting!" "That's not a real volcano," replied Millie. She led them to the other side of the volcano. The engines saw that the smoke wasn't coming from the volcano. It was just the groundsman's bonfire, set up behind the volcano. "Tricked you!" teased Millie. Harvey and Samson felt silly.

Millie also felt silly when the Earl scolded her that evening in the castle. "I'm sorry, sir," sighed Millie. "I only did it because they called me a silly little engine." "That still doesn't make it all right, Millie. You should know you're not a silly little engine whatever they say. You're a very clever little engine, Millie. A very clever little engine, indeed," said the Earl giving her a wink. Millie just smiled.

At last, the dinosaur park was open and ready for its first tour. The Earl gave the Fat Controller and his mother, Dowager Hatt a special tour around the dinosaur park led by Millie. They were fascinated by the lovely scenery, and were especially surprised to see the volcano smoking like a real volcano. "Well I'll be!" exclaimed Dowager Hatt. "Oh, my!" gasped the Fat Controller. But then, as they approached a dinosaur, it titled its head downwards, opened its jaws wide and roared, giving the Fat Controller and his mother a fright. Millie and the Earl laughed. "Don't be frightened," assured Millie. "It's not a real dinosaur, but a model that moves!" The guests laughed as well. Everyone had great fun and since then, the dinosaur park had become a great attraction for visitors from all over Sodor and beyond.