UNITED WE STAND

Duck was worried. Days had past and Oliver had still not returned from Ffarqhar. He had hoped Sir Topham Hatt would forgive him, but he hadn't seen the good manager since the morning after the accident. So Duck was left to run the branch line alone. He didn't mind the extra work, but since Oliver's departure, the entire line seemed to become quiet and characterless. His friends would ask about Oliver, but Duck could give no answer. Douglas often came from the Mainline to help him and to take Oliver's trains - "Dinna fash yersel Duck", he would say, "The wee engine'll be back in nor time at all!". Duck certainly hoped so.

*

One early morning, Duck arrived at the first station, on time as usual, ready to take the morning passengers to Knapford. But much to his surprise, the platform was empty with the exception of the station-master and one or two of Duck's friends.

"I can't understand it", said the station-master, "The news couldn't have spread that quickly"

"One accident could never make us give up our train trips with Duck and Oliver", said Duck's friend, "I would never give up my ticket on the Little Western for a bus!"

"A bus?", asked Duck worriedly.

"That big red brute was down at the village green", explained a second man, "His crew were giving out leaflets. They were trying to get us to sign a partition to surrender railway passenger traffic to their shameless company. They had newspaper article cuttings from last week about the accident as 'evidence' against the line".

"Oliver may be away", Duck hissed, trying to hold back his anger, "But I won't surrender any of my passengers to Brutus or his company. I don't care if I arrive in Knapford with only one passenger".

"That's the spirit old boy", said his driver, "Let's get going before we make ourselves late. Besides, there are several stations along the way. Brutus couldn't have gone that far".

They set off with little time to waste. Duck was anxious, and kept an eye on the road-side whenever it came parallel with the railway. But all seemed clear, and there was no sign of Brutus, or their passengers. Indeed, they did stop at several stations, met by their loyal friends, but it was clear from their numbers that Brutus had beaten them to it.

An hour or so later, Duck arrived at the level crossing where Oliver and George had 'dueled'. The road-maintenance company had built gates and a signal-box to control the road and rail traffic coming and going (and also to prevent 'duels' in the future, by demand of Sir Topham Hatt). However, the wind was playing tricks, and the gates were swinging about dangerously. Duck had to stop, as his driver and fireman jumped down to help the signal-man keep them under control. But as he was waiting, none other then Brutus arrived. He was heading back towards the first station from Knapford. He was looking extremely pleased with himself.

"Hello Duck", he said with his usual grin, "It's a pity that you couldn't make it in time. I had to stand in for you"

Duck ignored him. He was in no mood to argue with the arrogant bus, but much to his annoyance Brutus continued - "It is a shame about your friend", he went on sarcastically, "Loosing an important load. It just goes back to what I said before... 'It's Safer By Road', and now, all your passengers know it!".

Both of Brutus' decks were full. Alice and Mirabel gasped - "Those are our passengers!", they tittered, "How dare he!". But Duck hushed them before speaking - "You should be careful what you say", he said warningly, "Your up to something and be warned that whatever it is, you'll be caught out before you can even think of replacing us. I won't let you, even if I have to do it alone".

At that moment, the gates to the crossing were fixed and set open to allow Duck to pass. Brutus watched him puff away, before trundling off, back towards the top-station chuckling ghoulishly.

*

On some occasions, Douglas would bring Toad to the Little Western Branch to assist with goods work. But today, Douglas was called back to the Mainline. Toad, on the other hand, was concerned - "May I say here and work with Mr. Duck for a while?", he asked, "I can't bare to see a fellow 'Westerner' suffer". Douglas agreed and left Toad on the works siding. Duck was pleased to see the loyal brake van as he arrived back from Knapford that afternoon. He was glad to have someone else 'Great Western' around, though he still missed Oliver.

"Would something be troubling you Mr. Duck?", asked Toad that evening, as Duck pulled him home to the yard having just taken an important goods train to the Mainline, "Mr. Douglas tells me you've been down at late".

"I'm not sure Toad", Duck replied, "But something doesn't feel right" - he told Toad everything that had happened over the previous month.

"It's not like Mr. Oliver to let runaway trucks derail", muttered Toad, "He learns his lessons fast, especially when trucks are involved. He's never lost a train in years".

"Which is why I find it so odd", Duck continued, "Why would he start all of a sudden, without warning? I think something is up. Maybe", he added gravely, "Someone tried to 'frame' Oliver. But the question is, who? And better still, why?"

"Then there is only one thing to do", said Toad, "An investigation. And we present the evidence to the manager".

"I'm not sure", muttered Duck thoughtfully, "The Fat Controller can be very difficult to persuade. I've never seen him more angry the day he sent Oliver away..."

"Innocent, until proven guilt Mr. Oliver", Toad whispered with a smile.

Duck thought about this for a long time. And by the time they reached the yard, he had come to a conclusion - "If that's how we can prove Oliver's innocence", he said, "Then that is what we shall do. We'll start tomorrow!"

*

The next day, Duck and Toad were sent to work at the depot near the Small Railway. This was a perfect moment for them to start their investigation. As the men took a few minutes to break at midday, Duck shunted Toad up alongside where Rex, Bert, Mike and Jock stood outside their little shed, enjoying a rest.

"You wouldn't mind helping us would you?", asked Duck, "We're performing an investigation"

"Into what?", asked Mike swiftly.

"Into Mr. Oliver's 'runaway-trucks'", explained Toad.

"Ha!", Mike spat rudely, "That was just clumsiness. Not only that, but we've had to work twice as hard to make up for the ballast that he lost!" - But Bert quickly hushed him - "Don't be so rude Mike", he snapped, "It was an accident after all".

"Accident indeed", Mike sniffed.

"Don't listen to him", Rex winked, "Accident or not, we'll try and help you out in any way we can".

Duck and Toad put to the four little engines their suspicions of a 'set- up'. Quite to their surprise, the four were quite excited by the idea, Jock in particular - "It sounds like one of those things driver often sees on the tellysomething", he chuckled, "Only now we're caught up in it for real".

"You didn't see anything did you Mr. Jock?", asked Toad.

"Now that I think about it", Jock pondered, "I think I did. Yes, I remember. I couldn't sleep on that night because I was the last to wake up, and the Small Controller had asked me to do more as a punishment. It was that, and because Mike was snoring" - Rex and Bert snorted with laughter as Mike pulled a face of disgust - "I remember being awake quite late, and then I heard a noise from outside".

Duck gasped - "A noise? What kind of noise?"

"It sounded like 'puffing', like an engine. No, something big, heavy and noisy. I thought a steam-roller was coming at me..."

Duck jumped at the mention of steam-rollers. But before he could ask further questions, the foreman set them back to work. He couldn't concentrate. He already felt that he was onto something important. By the time that evening fell, the last train was ready to be taken back to the yard. Duck arranged the trucks in front of Toad and backed down, ready to set off. He rolled along past the siding where the ballast trucks had been the night of the accident.

"Don't worry Oliver", he thought, "We'll get to the bottom of it".

No sooner had they reached the hill when the entire train was brought to a screaming halt. Duck's driver looks back - "That was the guard's brake", he said, "Whatever could the matter be?"

"Mr. Duck!", Toad cried from the end of the train, "You must see this!".

The guard appeared, dragging along behind him, a long, dirty, rusty chain - "Toad spotted it beside the line", he explained, "Whatever it's doing here is beyond me. It looks like it's been here for some time".

Duck thought hard - "That's George's chain", he said, "And it was here that the trucks broke away. Maybe George had something to do with it. The small railway engines did say that they heard a noise that sounded like a steam- roller".

"Duck?", asked his crew, "What are you talking about?"

Duck explained everything to them, about his and Toad's plan to try and uncover the truth about Oliver's accident. But much to his confusion, they laughed - "This is serious", he said worriedly, "Oliver hasn't had an accident since he run in with the turn-table well. Why would he start having them now all of a sudden?".

"Maybe he's just having a rough time", chuckled the fireman. But no sooner had he spoken, Toad called out again from the back of the train - "Mr. Duck! Mr. Guard!", he called excitedly, "You must take a look at this!".

The guard ran back as Duck's driver and fireman backed him slowly down the hill. Sure enough, the fence that separated the road from the railway up the hill was broken. But what caught their attention most was a large black stain in the middle of the concrete road - "That's motor oil from the looks of it", said the guard, "But what significance does it have?"

"Look closer", said Toad, "It forms a trail".

And sure enough it did. It dripped all the way up the hill from the large patch, and seemed to take off at a cross-roads near the top - "That leads to the old bus station", said the fireman, "But does it supposed to mean something?" Duck let off steam loudly - "Why didn't I think of it before", he gasped. He whispered to his driver, fireman and the guard, who in turn told Toad, "Doesn't it make sense now?", he asked.

"Surely", said Toad, "I had a feeling that brute was up to no good from the start".

"The only problem is", said the guard, "If you want to prove your point, you'd better provide solid evidence if the Fat Controller is to believe a word of it. You'll need more then a rusty chain and some oil stains".

Duck knew this was true, but was determined not to give up. Instead, he rolled home, thinking long and hard - "There must be a way! There must be a way!". But by the time he arrived back at the station, evening had drawn on, and he still hadn't thought of a single idea. But he soon discovered the next morning that he was not the only one trying to conjure a plan.

*

Duck bustled into the goods yard the next morning to collect Toad for another day at the ballast depot. But he was still feeling down - "If we leave it too late", he thought, "It'll only get worse". He found Toad on his usual siding, but was surprised to find him looking extremely happy.

"I've been doing some thinking Mr. Duck", he said excitedly, "And I have the ideal plan" - He whispered everything to Duck.

"Good gracious Toad", Duck gasped, "Are you it's safe? And what if it goes wrong? You could get hurt"

"I'm willing to take the risk if it means Mr. Oliver puffs away a free engine", chuckled Toad, "Us 'Westerners' are a united front. We must stick together".

"But how are you going to attract attention?", asked Duck, "You don't have a bell"

"Don't be silly Mr. Duck", Toad grinned, "I'm not the one attracting attention!".

Duck laughed as he realized - "Of course, Isabel!" - And he wasted no time, quickly pulling Toad out of the siding and off down the line to the carriage shed at the nearby station.

They found Isabel sitting in the carriage shed alone, weeping. She hadn't been out since Oliver left for Ffarqhar. She missed Oliver and wanted him back. Duck and Toad felt sorry for her - "Come on my dear", said Toad kindly, "Don't cry now", and he told her everything, for she had not been informed of the accident.

"Oooo", she shivered, "That's terrible". But she didn't feel at all pleased when Toad explained to her his plan - "I refuse", she said stubbornly, "I won't act as bait in this silly scheme".

"This silly scheme just might prove to Sir Topham Hatt that Oliver is innocent", added Duck swiftly, "And if you are brave, he will be back here with us on the Little Western Branch, and he'll take you for a nice long run at once".

Isabel couldn't refuse and she agreed at once. With everything settled, the three of them made final arrangements before Duck and Toad set off for the depot. During the afternoon break, they explained their plan to the Small Railway Engines as well, who were just as excited as Isabel - "It'll be quite a sight to see the expressions on their faces", Frank chuckled, but they kept everything quiet, and went about their days work as if nothing was to happen. But Duck knew there was only one thing left to do before he could give everyone the 'all clear'.

*

Duck arrived back at the top station with the last train of the day, which was empty with the exception of a few of his friends. As they climbed down from the coaches, they each whispered 'good luck' to him as they left the platform. Sir Topham Hatt was there too, and so was someone else, waiting to take him home. Sure enough, Brutus sat waiting in the station car-park, his motor humming. For the first time since his arrival, Duck was glad to see him. Everything had gone according to plan. The bus was scowling down at the ground as the passengers boarded. On closer inspection, Duck could see a mechanic was trying to fix something under his bonnet- an oil leak. But before he could observe any further, Sir Topham Hatt approached him warmly.

"You have done well on your own Duck", he said proudly, "I knew that I could count on you to keep our service alive, even without Oliver".

"Please sir", said Duck, "You will invite Oliver back eventually won't you? Otherwise this line wouldn't be the same again".

The Fat Controller pondered - "Oliver's recent actions have caused a lot of trouble for me. The railway board are yet to take action. Until then, Oliver will have to remain at Ffarqhar until I can get to the bottom of this 'mystery'. But in the meantime, it should not distract you from your work".

For a moment, Duck could see the pressure that the good manager was under. But he couldn't let it get in the way of his plan. He had to cough to get rid of the anxious lump in his throat - "Excuse me sir", he said at last, "Douglas is ill. Could I stand in for him tonight as the ballast depot 'pilot'?".

"Certainly Duck", smiled the Fat Controller, "I'm glad to see that you are keeping our standards high" - and with that, he turned and headed for the bus. Brutus grinned at Duck as the mechanic slammed his bonnet down and shook his head hopelessly. But Duck was certain that very soon, the tables would be turning. Brutus had heard everything, which was exactly what Duck wanted. He hated lying, especially to the Fat Controller, but in this case, it was for an important cause. He waited for the bus to trundle out of the courtyard, oil leaking from his underside, blasting it's horn rudely, before setting off quickly for the carriage shed.

Isabel whimpered loudly as Duck quietly shunted her and Toad into the
siding. They had to be extra-careful so as not to wake up the night- watchman, or at least not just yet. She was nervous and the cold night air
was whistling through her frames - "Oooo", she shivered, "I want to go
home! I want to go home!"

"Not now dear!", soothed Toad, "We've come this far. Just remember what you have to do. And above all, think of Oliver".

Isabel stood, silent and brave as Duck was uncoupled. With the 'bait' in place, he scuttled around to the other side where the Small Railway Engines sat, waiting excitedly - "Remember to whistle as loud as you can when you hear the signal", he whispered, and with one final wink from each of them, he backed down behind a long line of trucks, well hidden.

He waited, and he waited. An hour had passed, and still no activity occurred. The common fog was now beginning to seep into the yard, coating everything in silvery mist, making it almost ghost-like. Duck could hear Isabel whimpering, but he too was beginning to feel anxious - "Maybe this won't work after all", he thought, "What if..."

"Good going Brutus! And that old tea-pot isn't anywhere to be seen!"

"Keep ya voice down! You'll wake the night man!"

"Look! A 'Western-Auto' and a 'goods-brake' too! They'll be lost without these!"

"Stop wasting time and get the chain hooked"

Duck nervously peered around the last truck, not daring to breath or make a sound. Sure enough, two lumbering shadows appeared out of the thick mist, one which he could immediately recognize as Brutus, standing in the distance. Closer to the line was George. A man, presumably his driver, was rummaging about in a tool-box to find something whilst two others looked anxiously up and down the line with flash-torches. The man with the tool- box looked up suddenly.

"It's gone!", he shouted, "The chain!"

Duck chuckled. The chain they had found beside the line sat safely in his coal bunker. He was certain to need it when presenting the case to Sir Topham Hatt. Just then, one of the two men with the flash-torches disappeared into Brutus, and emerged with a strong cable - "Here!", he hissed, "Use this".

Duck continued to observe from his hiding-place, as the first man quickly darted across the track to where Toad and Isabel stood on their siding, pretending to be asleep. He fasted the cable to Toad's front coupling hook and attached the other end to George's rear bunker. They secured it to make sure it wouldn't snap before giving each other the thumbs up. Duck held his breath as the moment due closer.

"They's get these wagons rolling", said George, as he started up, his noisy engine echoing across the yard. The sound of wheels turning soon accompanied this, as Duck saw with his own eyes, the big brute of a steam- roller towing Toad and Isabel out of the siding and down the line towards the hill, with Brutus leading the way. All that was left for now was...

DING-A-LING-A-LING-A-LING-A-LING!

The noise was deafening, but victorious, as Isabel sounded her bell loud and clear. Both George and Brutus jumped in fright and as the clumsy steam- roller bumped straight into the baneful bus' rear end. Suddenly, the doors to the little railway shed flew open and out came all five of the little engines, sounding their whistled (Frank sounded his horn) long and loud - "Stop Right There!", shouted Mike.

The men were frozen with fear and didn't dare to move as the night-watchman came running down from his hut in his night-gown ran across the yard with his powerful lamp that shone brightly over the two stunned road-villains - "Royal Scot!", he cried, "What's all this?".

Duck rolled out of his hiding place, smiling with triumph - "We've caught our criminals red-handed", he laughed, "I knew all along that that arrogant bus was up to no good, and to sink down to the levels of George. You should be ashamed" - both the bus and the steam-roller turned red with anger and began to fume loudly - "Just as we suspected, it was this who tried to frame Oliver by causing that accident"

"No wonder", said the night-watchman, "I was sure I heard a steam-roller. Especially one as loud as that brute over there" - Ashes were starting to spit from George's funnel as the three men collapsed at the feet of the night-watchman.

"Spare us!", cried the bus driver, the conductor and George's driver, all in chorus, "We'll do anything! Just don't tell the Fat Controller!"

"And let you get away with attempting to steal rolling stock and cause another accident?", spluttered the night watchman, shining his torch upon Toad and Isabel, who was still ringing her bell loudly, "We'll see what the police have to say about that! Duck, go to Knapford and fetch Sir Topham Hatt and the chief of at once. Tell them that it's ergent".

Duck wasted no time, and set off immediately, as the three men burst into sobs, whilst Brutus and George squirmed with embarrassment.

*

Oliver's return home was met with an eruption of cheers and whistles. All his friends had gathered at the platform, and Duck was sure to gather his faithful coaches, along with Toad, Donald and Douglas, to join in the celebrations. Oliver was quite surprised. He thought everyone would be cross with him, but he soon found out that he was wrong.

"I would like to apologize to you Oliver", said the Fat Controller, who stood upon Duck's buffer beam to speak, "We were wrong to accuse you of these terrible crimes. But now, the real culprits have been caught, red- handed, and I can assure that they will not be interfering with us any more".

"To think", he added, turning to the crowd on the platform, "That I agreed to allow a bus other then Bertie to help my engines. It would put them to shame. I can solemnly say that I too have learnt a lesson. Never believe what you read on the side of buses, unless it's Bertie of course!".

The station exploded with laughter, as Bertie the Bus looked away, his cheeks flushing red as he sat in the courtyard outside the station.

"I don't know how much to thank you", Oliver whispered to Duck, as the celebrations continued well into the night, "They were kind at Ffarqhar, but I couldn't bare to be away from our Little Western Branch Line".

"Don't just thank me", smiled Duck, "Toad and Isabel were just as useful".

Toad chuckled modestly and Isabel rang her bell with delight at this - "You know", Oliver went on, "Together, we make a powerful united front".

"Us Great Westerners should stick together", added Toad.

"Through thick and thin", concluded Duck, "Rain or Shine! The Little Western Branch will always be the home of true friendship, true comradeship, true steam, and above all..."

"TRUE GREAT WESTERN ENGINES"

*****