Disclaimer: All recognisable fictional characters belong to Mattel. All fictional OCs belong to me.
Chapter 2
Early the following morning, 106 was abruptly awoken when he felt another steam engine buffering up to him.
"Rise 'n' shine, young 'un!" Boxhill called as 106 blinked sleepily. "You've got a busy day ahead of you today!"
"What do you mean?" 106 asked, confused.
"I heard on the grapevine that the men want to start testing you today," Boxhil explained. "So, I need to take you over to the coaling stage to get you all loaded up with coal and water."
A shunter used a shunter's pole to couple the two engines together, facing each other. Since 106 wasn't in steam, there was no point in connecting the brake pipes. However, the shunter did climb into 106's cab to release the handbrake.
As soon as 106's brakes had been manually released, Boxhill set off in reverse, pulling 106 along behind him. 106 found being moved very strange. He could feel his pistons, wheels and side-rods turning, but since he had never had those parts oiled, he felt rather stiff.
Boxhill shunted 106 over to the Works' coaling stage. He remained coupled to 106 while the men used the overhead hopper to fill 106's bunker with coal. While they were doing that, one man climbed up onto 106's running board and he opened the tank lid. The end of a large hosepipe was placed inside 106's tank and another man turned the tap to allow the water to flow. 106 shivered as cold water flooded into his empty water tanks. A pipe running under his boiler connected his water tanks, so that they both filled up at the same time.
"I know it's a bi' of a shock," Boxhill soothed kindly, "but you'll get used to this very quickly."
"I hope you don't mind me asking, but how old are you?" 106 asked curiously.
"I'm thirty-five years old," Boxhill replied proudly. "I know that may sound old to you, but some steam engines are over fifty years old and still running."
106 was astonished. When his tanks and bunker had been fully loaded up with coal and water, a firelighter approached the two engines. The firelighter was carrying a bucket full of rags and other odds and ends, while under his other arm he carried a pile of firewood.
"Hang about, Boxhill," the firelighter instructed. "I might need you to give 106 a bit of a run if he's sluggish to start."
106 scowled. "Why would I be sluggish? I want to start moving around by myself."
The firelighter laughed. He placed the wood and bucket inside 106's cab and climbed inside before he answered.
"It's a well-known fact that your older brothers don't like being lit up from cold," the firelighter explained. "I have no doubt that you'll be the same."
106 continued to frown as the firelighter set to work. After the firelighter had ensured that all of 106's gauges and levers were in the correct positions, he secured the handbrake. He then opened the firebox doors and, using a torch, he peered inside 106's firebox. He was checking for any potential water leaks that would indicate a problem with the construction of the new engine. Not seeing any, he turned off the torch. The firelighter began arranging the firewood neatly inside the firebox.
"What is he doing to me?" 106 wondered.
"Coal doesn't light very well," Boxhill explained. "So, the firelighters use wood to get your fire going. He'll add some coal later."
The firelighter soaked a handful of rags in kerosene. He then placed the rags on the brand-new fireman's shovel, and he lit them with a match. The rags ignited instantly. After he'd tossed the burning match onto the shovel as well, the firelighter tipped the rags off the shovel and into the firebox. 106 felt the radiant heat increase inside him. He was surprised to find that he found it comforting, like a warm embrace.
Once the firelighter was satisfied with how the fire was burning, he climbed down from the cab carrying a can of warm cylinder oil that had been in his bucket. He set about carefully filling 106's oil filling cups along each side of his motion gear.
Boxhill yawned, breaking the silence. 106 raised an eyebrow.
"Are you bored?"
"No, not really," Boxhill replied. "I'm just tired. The men have been keeping me up late at night recently, to help with shunting broken and repaired engines in and out of the Works. I'm not getting as much sleep as I used to get."
106 was about to reply when the firelighter climbed back inside his cab. Upon seeing that the wood had been mostly burned, he started shovelling coal inside the firebox. After about five shovel loads of coal, 106 started to feel full, but the firelighter kept shovelling. He wanted to build up a decent fire-bed before he started banking the coal. Each steam locomotive likes their fire built up in a different way. Some like their fires completely flat, but most like them banked towards the back, front or sides of their firebox. It was up to the crews to experiment to find out which type of banking their engine worked best with. For now, the firelighter decided to work with the fire he was most comfortable with; a front-banked fire.
With 106's fire now burning nicely, the firelighter pulled the injector lever open. That allowed water to flow from 106's tanks into his boiler. 106 wasn't quite sure how he should react to the strange feeling, so he started pulling odd expressions. Boxhill couldn't help laughing.
"I remember the first time I was fired up," Boxhill explained upon seeing 106 blush slightly. "It is an odd feeling at first, but you'll quickly get used to it, just like everything else."
106 sighed tiredly. He was already starting to feel exhausted despite not doing much yet. He yawned widely.
"Tired already?" An unfamiliar voice asked with an air of bemusement.
106 closed his mouth, looking around for the source of the comment. He saw another man standing next to the track. This man wasn't like the rest. He was elderly, tall and thin, with grey hair including a beard and a full moustache. He was dressed in a smart black suit with tails and a very tall top hat. He was also carrying a cane and white gloves.
Before 106 could stop himself, he blurted out, "Are you a steam engine too?"
The distinguished gentleman's jaw dropped in astonishment at 106's cheekiness. Even Boxhill looked shocked. He knew that the gentleman was Rear-Admiral Brand, who was on the railway's Board of Directors. Naturally, all the engines were very respectful to him, as they were with all members of the railway's directors. He was just about to tell 106 who the gentleman was when Mr Billinton and Mr Riley joined the group. The gentleman turned to greet them.
"Rear-Admiral Brand!" Mr Billinton gushed as the men shook hands. "I'm so sorry I wasn't at the station to greet you, sir. I didn't know you'd be visiting us today."
"Relax, Mr Billinton," Rear-Admiral Brand replied. "It's my fault for not informing you that I'd be coming today. Actually, my visit is rather impromptu. You see, I was curious to meet our new engine. However, he seems to be rather cheeky to authority…" He glared pointedly at 106.
Mr Billinton raised his eyebrows in surprise. "Why? What did he say to you?"
"He asked me if I was a steam engine."
Mr Riley snorted a laugh, which he quickly turned into a cough. "Sorry, sir," he muttered. "Allergies…"
Mr Billinton had only just managed to keep a straight face by biting his own tongue. "Sir, if you'll forgive me for my bluntness, but you've been around railways long enough to know that young engines are full of curiousness and innocence. I'm sure 106 didn't mean to be cheeky… One-oh-six, why did you think Rear-Admiral Brand was a steam engine."
"Well, he-he has a funnel…" 106 faltered.
Rear-Admiral Brand glanced up at his top hat. "You mean my topper?" he asked as he removed it to show it to 106.
"Humans wear hats to keep the sun off their heads," Boxhill whispered to 106.
"Oh!" 106 exclaimed as he finally understood. "Oops! I'm so sorry, sir! I didn't mean to insult you."
Rear-Admiral Brand finally burst out laughing. "That's all right. It was an honest misunderstanding. I suppose my topper does resemble a funnel."
At that moment, the firelighter opened 106's cylinder-drain cocks, releasing a moderate cloud of steam. However, 106 still felt tired. He yawned again.
"Boxhill, you'd better take one-oh-six for a run to shake up his fire," the firelighter called from the cab. He gave a signal to Boxhill's crew, who made Boxhill whistle in response. Boxhill set off in reverse, pulling 106 along with him.
Mr Billinton, Mr Riley, and Rear-Admiral Brand watched as Boxhill pulled 106 further into the yard. They were heading towards Brighton Station, which at that time of day wasn't terribly busy. It was a good place for Boxhill to shunt 106 over numerous sets of points to help shake up his fire and wake him up a bit more.
"He's not a bad little engine, Billinton," Rear-Admiral Brand said. "Rather cheeky though. He's going to be trouble if he isn't pulled into line quickly."
"Oh, don't worry about that, sir," Mr Billinton replied. "His crew have already been selected. I know the driver well. He's very experienced at dealing with young engines."
"Good. Have you selected a name for him yet?"
Mr Billinton and Mr Riley exchanged glances.
"We don't normally name goods engines and shunters," Mr Riley pointed out.
"Well, that policy is changing," Rear-Admiral Brand said firmly. "Other railways name all of their engines. Why shouldn't we?"
Mr Billinton smirked as a novel thought struck him. "In that case, sir, why don't we name him after you? After all, one-oh-six did think that you were steam engine too."
Rear-Admiral Brand frowned indignantly. "Are you taking the mickey out of me?"
"Maybe a little, sir," Mr Billinton admitted. "But you deserve to have one of our engines named after you."
"So, I do. I just never imagined that my name would be given to a rather insignificant shunting engine. Also, I can't see a nameplate with 'The Right Honourable Rear-Admiral Thomas S. Brand' fitting that little tank engine," Rear-Admiral Brand retorted. "My name is far too grand for him."
"Why don't we just call him 'Thomas' then?" Mr Riley suggested. "After all, it does mean 'twin' and since he thought you were a steam engine too…"
"All right, that's enough of that!" Rear-Admiral Brand exclaimed, throwing up his hands indignantly. "Call him Thomas then for all I care! Only do me a favour and never mention this incident to another living soul. I'll have you both sacked if you do. I'd never live it down if the rest of the Board of Directors found out that I'd been confused for a steam engine."
"Mum's the word," Mr Billinton promised. He winked at Mr Riley, hinting that it'd be their inside joke from now on.
Author's response to reviews:
racefangurl - I know the 2nd batch of E2s got the extended tanks. Is that one of the issue (sic) fixes you refer to? The first of my Sodor Tales covers Thomas' Mainland days. You're not the only one to think Thomas is cute. I do, too and so does someone who commented on a video and mentioned his "very cute face".
CarsWorldFan – Yes, Thomas is the second E2 of the second batch with extended tanks. There were many other steaming issues with the first batch of E2s that they tried to fix. I've alluded to that in this chapter (2). I'm sorry but I haven't come across any of your stories yet. If I do, I'll be sure to read them!
mean-scarlet-deceiver - I'M. SO. ON. BOARD. Nice opening! I've also held to the idea that the engines are sort of in a coma-like state as they're being built that allows them to absorb language and some basic knowledge. But I never thought about engines needing lots of sleep, like babies, for the first few weeks—corresponding to the time when they're being tested and run-in, of course. Love that! I must nick it. ;) Love your incorporation of the war into every aspect of Thomas's first day of life and Thomas being laden with so much to think about on his first day alive. Gladstone and La France are good OCs, too. I look forward to see where you take this! Best of luck!
CarsWorldFan - Aww, thank you! So glad to have you aboard! I've worked on steam heritage railways as an engine cleaner, trainee fire(wo)man and trainee guard, so I was able to imagine first-hand how they might perceive the world. For the first few weeks of their lives, I'm sure they're very babyish as they learn what's expected of them. Having read two of your stories so far (brilliant work! Your level of research and storytelling is very refreshing, despite your occasional use of Americanisms), I'm comfortable with you borrowing that idea. Sadly, the war will become very prominent in Thomas's first few weeks of life. Gladstone and La France are based on real locomotives that were in service on the LB&SCR when Thomas was built, as is Boxhill.
Saleem Shiro - I'm loving this~ with Tom Tom being no106 instead. I always imagined Thomas as no111 the one that was never meant to exist and was secretly built. Keep up the great story.
CarsWorldFan - Thank you! I selected 106 for Thomas because of the timeline of when he was built to when he arrived on Sodor; both occurred in the latter half of 1915. The time gap is very limited, and only 105 and 106 would fit it. I selected 106 because his road number becomes a very important detail later in the story.