Zachery the Big Boy

A new engine arrived in the Island of Sodor. It was a special delivery from America. Sir Topham Hat heard of the investment and paid for its service. Thomas arrived on the transfer station to his branch line and Henry arrived from the main line. The two saw the new visitor and they couldn't believe their eyes. The engine was a large ebony black engine consisting of four pilot wheels two pairs of eight driving wheels and 4 rear wheels. Its tender was half the size of the engine.

Henry was the first to speak to the engine, "H-H-Hello...Who are you?"

"Why hello. A pleasure to meet you. I am a Union Pacific Big Boy," The engine said, "Sir Topham Hat called me from America to help you with some heavy freight. So where do I start?" The engine smiled. He couldn't wait to help his new found acquaintances.

Thomas, however, wasn't impressed. He thought the engine was just going to act like gordon.

"We don't need an American steamie to do OUR jobs," Thomas said as he puffed off with Annie and Clarabel hissing steam at the big boy.

The big boy looked hurt, but Henry smiled and said, "Don't mind Thomas. He just doesn't trust new engines, but he is a good engine. It is nice to meet you too Mr. uh"

The big boy smiled and said, "Please...call me Zachery."

"Well then Zachery," smiled Henry, "let's see what you can do."

With that the two set off. They arrived at Knapford Yards where the whole line of freight was waiting. Henry had explained the situation to Zachery about how Murdoc and Henry tried to pull this line of freight to no avail. Zachery, smiling and with confidence in his boiler, backed up and coupled to the long line of heavy freight and began to pull the freight. At first the trucks, who were enjoying their cozy little spot, lurched back with their brakes and said, "NO NO NO! We won't go!"

"Yes you will. Yes you will, we've got to go!" Said Zachery. He wasn't going to have any nonsense from the trucks. His wheels began to spin and grip the rails as he slowly but surely pulls the trucks. Henry was surprised as the trucks slowly but surely were trying to stay put. Zachery gives one more ounce of puff and finally the trucks moved.

"Ok ok ok! Don't be rough! Don't be rough!" They cried.

"Good then let's go" Zachery said, determined to get to his destination.

With a mighty whistle and a lot of steam, he was off, trundling down the line. It was a sight to see really. Many of the by standers were staring at awe as Zachery smiled and whistled to them, "Poooop pooooop. Hello!". When he reached Gordon's hill, the trucks tried pulling back. The weight that they carried would bring an engine back so, and Zachery was no different. Zachery, however, was not intending on giving up. He puffed and he pulled. He pulled and he puffed.

"I can do it...I can do it," He said puffing and panting

"No you can't. No you can't" Said the trucks.

Slowly but surely Zachery reached the top, and pulled them over the hill. The trucks did not play any tricks after that. Having experience with troublesome trucks, Zachery knew how to behave with them. Rather than making them feel cross, he simply replied with a friendly whistle.

"Come along now, we can't be late." Zachery smiled to his freight.

"We're coming along. We're coming along," they replied smoothly.

He reached Edward's station where the good's yard was just up ahead. Zachery delivered the freight there and just waiting for him was Edward and Sir Topham Hat. Sir Topham Hat was very pleased at this work.

"Very good Zachery. Your next task is to collect some trucks from the smelter's yards," he said.

"Yes sir, right away," Zachery replied steaming to get ready to go.

Edward quickly said, "Also could you find out where Thomas is. He was supposed to be back with some goods from the smelter's yards."

Zachery frowned but agreed. He was still hurt about what Thomas said to him earlier, but he had a job to do and a promise to make. With a whistle and some hiss of steam, Zachery ran as fast as he could to the smelter's yards. Thomas was at the smelter's yards waiting for his train to be loaded. The foreman on duty was on his lunch break, and so the train could not be loaded. Arry and Bert were there making fun of Thomas. They constantly were teasing him about how small he was compared to them. Thomas tried everything but nothing would make them go away.

"You can't scare us, you are just a small steamie," They teased.

Thomas tried everything, but he could not make them go away. He just hoped that something could be down to chase Arry and Bert away. Suddenly the ground shook a bit and the rails rattled. Arry and Bert look around at first in shock trying to see what was going on, but could see nothing. Then, to their surprise and horror, they see a big tender followed by the engine that had the tender. Zachery looked cross as he saw and heard the two diesels making fun of Thomas.

"Hello boys, I came for my freight...So why not be good diesels and fetch them," Zachery said firmly.

The diesels were so frightened they did exactly that. Thomas and Zachery spent the rest of the day pulling their trucks and became good friends. Thomas wondered why Zachery wasn't mad at him for earlier. His response was: It doesn't matter what country an engine comes from, but a steamie is a steamie tide and true."