The Modern Railway Series No. 21
RAILWAY DIESELS
Original stories by Helen Farall, Davey Moore & Lee Pressman
Foreword
Dear friends,
Sodor is home to steam engines of many different classes and sizes. It is also home to several diesel engines. They weren't highly regarded by the steam engines at first, due to the behaviour of some who have visited the railway. But there are plenty of others who have shown to be really useful, and really friendly to all other engines. Even devious Diesel has got a good streak hidden inside him. Read on and see how good of an impact they've made on the railway.
The author
The lost puff
One morning, Paxton the friendly diesel was on his way to the shunting yards with a freight train. The Fat Controller had warned the engines about buckled tracks beyond the water tower, so they all had to be careful. But Paxton sometimes found it difficult to concentrate. He soon approached the buckled track and slowed down. As he rolled over the bumpy track, it made him rattle and shake. "Oh, that was fun!" giggled Paxton. So he reversed backwards, and rattled again. Paxton was enjoying himself, and he forgot all about the Fat Controller's warnings.
Thomas came up from the water tower. "Listen to the sound I make when I go over the bumpy track, Thomas!" said Paxton as he rolled over the buckled rails. This made Thomas laugh. "You try it, Thomas!" called Paxton. And so he did. Thomas was enjoying himself as well. "Go on, give a good run, and go back really fast," encouraged Paxton. "Good idea!" said Thomas as he puffed forward a distance. Then, he reversed. Thomas rattled so violently over the buckled tracks and rolled away so fast, that he didn't notice Toby taking on water at the water tower, until it was too late. The next thing he knew, Thomas' cab was covered in steam, and he couldn't move. Luckily, no one was hurt. Paxton didn't wait to see what had happened, so he rolled quietly away, feeling upset.
Paxton was in the shunting yard picking up some trucks when Toby arrived. He was talking to Rosie. "You'll never guess what happened," he told her. "Thomas backed into me at the water tower. He got soaked! I'm afraid poor Thomas has lost his puff!" Paxton heard this and became more worried. "Lost his puff? Oh no! That sounds serious!" Paxton felt terrible.
He passed Thomas, who was still at the water tower. "I'm sorry I made you lose your puff, Thomas," he apologized. "But Paxton," began Thomas. "I'll find it for you," continued Paxton. "Stay here, and I'll be back just as soon as I can!" And before Thomas could say anything else, Paxton raced away.
Paxton searched all over the island looking for Thomas' lost puff. He thought he found it when he noticed a cloud of steam erupting from the distance. But it turned out to be Gordon pulling the express. Paxton then thought he saw Thomas' lost puff up at Ulfstead castle, so he hurried all the way to the Earl's estate. "Hello, Paxton!" greeted Stephen. "What are you doing here?" "Hi, Stephen," replied Paxton. "Thomas has lost his puff and I'm trying to find it and, well, I thought that might be the lost puff, up there." The engines looked up at the sky. "Up there?" repeated Stephen. "That's just a cloud." "Yes, of course! I knew that. A cloud," said Paxton. Stephen was speechless. "Okay, got to go. Great seeing you. Bye, Stephen!"
Paxton felt silly chasing after a cloud. "What do I know about steam engines? I'm a diesel." Then, he had an idea. He raced off to the Steamworks to find Victor. "Hello, my friend!" said Victor as Paxton entered the Steamworks. "What can I do for you today? We don't normally repair diesels here." "Oh no, Victor," said Paxton. "I just wondered if you had any spare puff." "Spare puff?" repeated Victor. "It's for Thomas," continued Paxton as Toby came by. "We were being silly on the bumpy track, and he backed into Toby and lost his puff! But you repair steam engines, Victor. You must know about puff!"
Toby began to laugh. "Puff means steam, Paxton," he explained. "When Thomas backed into me at the water tower, his firebox got wet, that's all. A steam engine can't puff when its fire's gone out!" Paxton felt silly yet again, but then realized something. "So all Thomas has to do is wait till his firebox has dried out, and then he'll get his puff back?" "Yes!" replied Victor and Toby. "Great! Thank you, guys!" said Paxton. And the two engines laughed as Paxton hurried out of the Steamworks.
Later, Paxton found Thomas at Knapford station. He was relieved to see the tank engine feeling alright. "See, Paxton? I've found my puff!" said Thomas. "That's a relief," beamed Paxton. He still had a lot to learn about steam engines, but Paxton also promised to listen more to the Fat Controller's orders and never be silly again.
Sidney sings
Sidney is a very helpful engine. But he's also a very forgetful engine. Once, Sidney had been left hanging on the hoist at the Dieselworks. Percy helped Sidney to get his new wheels, and ever since the two of them have been good friends.
One day, Percy had an accident and came off the rails at the foot of Gordon's hill. "Oh no! What happened to you, Percy?" asked Sidney. "There was a loose rail on the track and I've damaged my wheels," said Percy as he was lifted onto a flatbed. "A bit like when you damaged your wheels, remember?" "Umm, I forgot," said Sidney. Then he offered to take Percy to the Steamworks, and claimed that he wasn't doing any job. But then Percy reminded him that he had trucks to take to the Blue Mountain Quarry. "Oh, well in that case, bye now!" and Sidney went off… in the wrong direction! "He must be the most forgetful engine on the island," thought Percy laughing.
A few days later, Sidney had been given a job by the Fat Controller: deliver Percy's new wheels to the Steamworks. Sidney was excited to help his friend, but he was also worried, and Thomas noticed this. "I don't want to let my good friend down, Thomas," said Sidney as he explained his worries. Thomas suggested making up a song remind him about his job. "We like songs, don't we, Clarabel?" said Annie. "We love songs!" replied Clarabel. "Something to help you remember, Sidney, like this!" said Thomas before he sang a tune with his coaches.
"Ha-ha-ha, hee-hee-hee,
a very special job for me,
all the way to Brendam Docks,
to fetch a very special box!"
"That's great! Thank you, Thomas!" beamed Sidney as Thomas puffed away with Annie and Clarabel. "As long as I keep singing my song, I can't go wrong!"
Now that he had his song to help him, Sidney was confident he wouldn't forget. Unfortunately, he forgot his song after talking to Gordon at Wellsworth station. "Was there something he said about boilers?" wondered Sidney. Then it him. "I should be going to the waste dump to pick up an old boiler!" he exclaimed feeling excited. And off he went, singing his new song.
"Ha-ha-ha, hee-hee-hee,
a very special job for me,
all the way to the waste dump,
to pick a… boiler, or was it pump?"
But when he got to the waste dump, he forgot what his job really was meant to be. He met Rosie, who was delivering waste nearby, and when he told her about forgetting his job, she laughed. "It's a shame you're not an elephant! They say that elephants never forget." Sidney wondered about elephants, and then had an idea. "My job must have something to do with elephants!" And off Sidney went, singing his new song again.
"Ha-ha-ha, hee-hee-hee,
a very special job for me,
I must get there, before it's dark,
to collect an elephant from the animal park!"
But when he got to the animal park, there were no elephants around. "I'll never remember what my job was," sighed Sidney. So he went back to Knapford station to tell the Fat Controller that he had let him down. But instead, he found passengers whose train hadn't arrived to take them to Brendam Docks. Soon, Sidney was singing while pulling the express coaches to the docks.
"Ha-ha-ha, hee-hee-hee,
a very special job for me,
these people are going on a trip,
and I'm taking them to catch their ship!"
Sidney delivered the passengers to the docks on time, when who should he notice, but the Fat Controller. "Job done, sir!" said Sidney feeling pleased with himself. "But what about Percy's wheels?" asked the Fat Controller. "What do you mean, sir?" repeated Sidney. The Fat Controller reminded Sidney of what his job really was, and Sidney thought the Fat Controller had given him another special job. Sidney eagerly left the docks with Percy's new wheels in tow.
"Ha-ha-ha, hee-hee-hee,
another special job for me,
on me you know, you can depend,
I'm going to the Steamworks to see my friend!"
Poor Percy was still waiting for his wheels. He had been waiting all day. "Sidney? Where have you been?" he asked as Sidney arrived at the Steamworks. Sidney tried to remember what happened to him that day. "Oh, well, I've picked up an elephant from the waste dump, to bring Gordon the Earl's new boiler." "Elephant? Boiler?" repeated Percy. "What about… my wheels!" he gasped as he saw them on Sidney's flatbed. "Oh yeah! I brought your new wheels!" said Sidney. "You didn't think I'd forget, did you?" This made them both laugh. And Sidney was happy to have finally helped his friend at last.
Diesel and the ducklings
Diesel is not one of the easiest engines on the railway to get along with. He likes bumping other engines and messing about. He doesn't care what they think, because he believes that diesels ought to be rough and tough. Not all the diesels agree to this, and the engines tend to get annoyed with him most of the time.
One day, Thomas was thinking about Diesel. He had been particularly naughty to him and some other engines that morning. Then he saw Diesel up ahead. "Oh no, not Diesel!" he thought. "I've had quite enough of him already today." But as he was about to reverse, Thomas noticed something peculiar. Diesel was talking and gazing lovingly at a mother duck and baby ducklings. "Oh, look how cuddly and fluffy you are, yes, you are! Yes, you are!" he whispered. Thomas couldn't believe it. He'd never heard Diesel being so sweet and gentle before.
"Hard as nails? Strong and tough?" he said as he came up to Diesel. Diesel gasped as he saw Thomas. "If everyone could see you now, Diesel, they would see you were a big softie!" laughed Thomas. "Oh, I can't wait to tell them all about this!" "No, Thomas! Please don't tell them, Thomas!" protested Diesel anxiously. "They'll all laugh at me and make fun of me!" "Just like you do to them, Diesel," replied Thomas sternly. "If you can be nice to these ducklings, then why can't you be nice to the rest of us?" Diesel didn't know how to answer. Then, he promised to be nice to the other engines, as long as Thomas doesn't tell anyone about this. Thomas agreed.
So Diesel tried to be nice to everybody he met that day. Whenever he passed another engine, he'd politely greet them and ask them to tell Thomas how nice he has been. But when Diesel saw Paxton and Sidney at Knapford station looking at him with a confused expression, Diesel couldn't keep himself. When Emily came to the platform, Diesel began teasing her. "Oh, look! It's little lady long-funnel! Are you sure you have the puff to pull those heavy coaches, Emily?" and Diesel laughed himself silly, making Emily feel upset. "Stop being so horrid, Diesel!" she snapped. "I can be just as horrid as I like," laughed Diesel. "Diesels are hard as nails, strong and-" "DIESEL!" Diesel gasped when he heard Thomas behind him. "Quack, quack, quack?" whispered the tank engine. Diesel didn't want Thomas to tell the engines about the ducklings, so he corrected himself and complimented Emily instead, before rushing off as quickly as he could. "What's the matter with him?" Emily asked Thomas. "I have no idea," replied Thomas. But we all know what it is, don't we?
Diesel just couldn't help changing back to his old ways. He slowed Gordon and James down by cutting in front of them, before letting them go after Thomas reminded him of his promise. But no matter how many times Thomas reminded Diesel, it was very hard for Diesel to change his ways. At last, Thomas had enough. "Sidney, Paxton, have you heard that Diesel has got new friends?" The diesel engines said they haven't, so Thomas decided to lead them to the ducklings. "No, Thomas! No!" yelped Diesel as he raced after the engines.
"Thomas, you promised not to tell!" protested Diesel. "And you promised to be nice!" replied Thomas. "Follow me, Paxton, Sidney! Faster!" Diesel suddenly noticed the duck and her ducklings crossing the tracks and gasped. "Thomas! Look out! THE DUCKLINGS!" Thomas noticed the ducklings and gasped as well. "Cinders and ashes!" Thomas put on his brakes as hard as he could. Diesel shut his eyes and braced for the worse. Thomas stopped, just in time. And so did Paxton and Sidney. The duck quacked crossly at Thomas before continuing on her way and leading the ducklings to the pond.
"What's going on, Thomas?" asked Paxton. "Why have you stopped?" added Sidney. "Thomas, you were going much too fast!" said Diesel. "You have to be more careful when you're around these lovely little ducklings." "I'm sorry," gasped Thomas. "I didn't see them! You're a hero, Diesel, not to mention a really big softie." "No, I'm not! I'm rough, and tough, and-" But Diesel stopped when he noticed Sidney and Paxton cooing over the cute ducklings. "You see, Diesel?" said Thomas. "No one's laughing at you. It's okay to show your soft side." Diesel didn't want to admit it, but seeing how happy everyone was feeling, it made him smile. "They are very cute, aren't they?" he said. And the engines stayed beside the pond, gazing at the lovely ducklings until sundown.
The big freeze
It was after Christmas and everyone was enjoying the snow. But the wintery conditions caused delays with some deliveries. And the snow was causing trouble for not only the engines, but vehicles on the road as well. The Fat Controller came to Tidmouth Sheds one cold morning to give his orders. "There will have to be changes to stay safe in these icy conditions. Reduced services and speed restrictions for everyone." "Surely not for me, sir," said Gordon. "I'm afraid so, Gordon," said the Fat Controller. "And you'll need a banker engine to get up your hill." "Oh the indignity…" muttered Gordon. "But what about the coal delivery, sir?" asked Thomas. "Oh, I'm afraid the big freeze has delayed the coal too, Thomas. It should be here very soon," replied the Fat Controller. "And remember, be careful out there on slippery surfaces!"
Suddenly, winter didn't seem much fun anymore. Emily and Toby almost collided outside Knapford station due to faulty points on the junctions. Henry got sent out of the main line and onto a siding. James overshot platforms while slipping on the icy rails and trying to stop. Every engine was struggling to keep safe.
The Fat Controller praised the engines for their hard work that evening. They were still worried about the coal delivery. And the next morning, the coal didn't arrive. "All engines are to go back to their sheds, Thomas," said Percy as Thomas came out to pull Annie and Clarabel. "The Fat Controller's orders!" "But I don't need to go back to the shed," said Thomas. "And my passengers need to get to their stations." "Thomas, I think you should do as Percy says," said Annie. "It's the Fat Controller's orders!" agreed Clarabel. "I'm sure I've got enough coal for one more run!" replied Thomas confidently.
But Annie and Clarabel were right. Thomas ran out of coal. "Cinders and ashes! I should've listened to Percy!" groaned Thomas as he came to a stop at the platform. "We told you so!" said Annie and Clarabel. Thomas regretted his decision. Especially when it started to snow rapidly.
The diesel engines were doing the jobs for the steam engines all over the island. While the steam engines were stuck at the sheds, Thomas was still stuck with his coaches out in the snow. "I wish I were back at the sheds…" he whispered.
It was getting dark, and the snow was piling up higher. Then, Thomas saw Diesel approaching him. "Diesel! Could you please help me get my passengers to their stations?" Diesel didn't even reply as he passed by and left Thomas alone. "Oh, what was I thinking? Of course he's not going to help…" sighed Thomas.
But when the sun came down, and the snow was getting more fierce, Diesel did come back. "I've come to help you, Thomas," he said as he went behind Thomas and gave him a push. Thomas was feeling relieved. But then he realized why Diesel returned. There was a huge snowdrift blocking the line. "I may be a diesel, but I can't plough through snow like you steam engines could," said Diesel. "Would you clear the tracks from the snow for me?" "Of course, Diesel!" replied Thomas.
Diesel shunted Thomas through the night. And Thomas cleared the heavy snow with his snowplough in front of him. Soon, all the passengers were delivered safely to their stations. And Diesel helped Thomas back to the sheds. "Thank you, Diesel! You're a hero!" praised Thomas. "No I'm not!" snapped Diesel. "Well, I guess I was…"
The next day, the coal delivery had arrived, and the steam engines could get back to work again. And whenever Thomas and his coaches passed Diesel, they cheered for him and called him a hero. Diesel thought if felt nice to get appreciated. So he continued to be a hero. At least for a little while.