ENGINES WHO NEED ENGINES

Coco was very pleased when the circus manager agreed to let him spend his time with Sir Topham Hatt's engines. It had been a little tense, as he sat outside on the siding, along with Edward, whilst the Fat Controller disappeared into the manager's caravan and emerged an hour later with a grin upon his face. The manger was a little reluctant.

"Coco, I am willing to allow you to spend the fortnight under Sir Topham Hatt's supervision", he said, "But I must ask you to represent us well. You are to do everything you are told, and if you cause any trouble, you'll be sent straight back here"

Coco tooted happily.

"Don't worry sir", he smiled, "You can trust me to represent the Grand Circus Company to the highest standard"

"That's a good engine", said the Fat Controller, "I'm sure Coco will be a credit to us whilst he is in service. We are quite busy at this time, and an extra engine is just what we are needing, on the Mainline especially. I'm sure Duck and the others will be happy to show you around"

"We'll take good care of you", added Edward kindly.

Coco was over come with joy, and couldn't' help but let off steam with excitement. He looked up to the sky and sighed deeply.

"Finally", he whispered, "I can put myself to good use"

"Come along now", said the Fat Controller, climbing into Edward's cab, "There's work to begin"

With that, the two engines set off to the Mainline.

"What's it like working on the Mainline Edward?", asked Coco, as the sped under a bridge, the line up head safe and clear.

"Its the busiest part of our line", explained Edward, "Trains come and go all day. There are a lot of trucks and coaches to be sorted, as well as goods coming in from the port and passengers from the big city"

Coco was becoming even more excited, but a thought struck him.

"Will they like me here?", he asked, slightly timidly.

"Of course", smiled Edward, "Here on Sodor, we except any engine, big, small, steam or diesel" Coco felt much better after that.

*

It was late evening when the two engines arrived on the Mainline. Edward had to return to the Big Station to take his special, so Coco was left at the coaling stage whilst his driver and fireman went to receive orders from the station master. He looked around. There were trucks and coaches everywhere. Trains were rushing back and forth out of the big station and on towards the city. The port was busy with boats coming in, full of passengers from the mainland, as well as goods being loaded and unloaded by tall cranes. Coco was very excited.

"I'm going to have a lot of fun working here", he thought, "It's such a busy working atmosphere"

Suddenly, there was a clang from up ahead. Coco peered over to the opposite line. Two long blue tender engines were arguing angrily at one another. Behind them was a long, heavy train of trucks. He couldn't hear what they were saying, but from what he could see, they appeared to be twins, identical in appearance with the exception of the numbers on their tenders, "9" and "10". Their drivers were trying to settle them down, but it seemed impossible. The twins just couldn't agree on whatever it was they were arguing over. Moments later, one twin puffed angrily away in one direction, the other in the opposite direction, leaving the long train of trucks unattended on the line.

"Oh dear", thought Coco, "Who will take those trucks?"

Suddenly, his driver and fireman came running across the line towards him.

"Coco!", they said excitedly, "We've been given our first job! It seems that a special goods train to the unloading depot has been abandoned with no engine to take it. So the station master has asked us to stand in. What do you think?"

Coco whistled loudly with excitement. He loved working with trucks.

"I can handle it rain or shine!", he tooted.

"Good boy", said his fireman, "Lets get you ready"

They quickly loaded his tender with fresh Sodor coal from the coaling stage and he backed down onto the long train of trucks. They were surprised to find such a colourful looking engine was about to take them.

"Where did he come from?", they whispered, "He's not from our line"

"I am Coco the Circus Engine", whistled Coco loudly to them, "And I have come to help. Be ready to leave now. No nonsense!"

The trucks were speechless. They had never met a circus engine before. The train was very long and heavy, but as soon as the guard pulled his whistle and waved his read flag, Coco pulled the dumb founded trucks away with ease. The circus train was a very heavy and bulky train to pull, and he had made the trip so many times, it came naturally. He steamed through the yard, passing Edward's special as he went.

"Well done Coco!", he called as they passed, exchanging friendly whistles, "Your handling those silly trucks with ease. It's a shame Donald and Douglas had to argue over who took it. We're glad you were here to stand in for them"

"So that's why those two were arguing", Coco chuckled as he sped away, "It reminds me of my old days"

*

Coco arrived back at the sheds that night feeling very pleased with himself. His first job had been a success and he was surprised at how friendly everyone had been too him. The trucks had been on good behaviour, and the people at the depot had been very kind. He had also found new friends in Rex, Bert, Mike, Jock and Frank, who had been at the depot to collect his special load. He backed happily into the shed, but as he rolled onto the turntable, he noticed that the shed was occupied by two other engines. They were twins, Donald and Douglas, who he had seen arguing earlier that evening. They were not speaking and refused to look at one another. Coco backed down between them.

"Hello", he said cheerfully, "I'm Coco. You are Donald and Douglas I presume"

"Aye, so you be the wee engine who took my load earlier", said Douglas.

"Ya mean, my load!", snapped Donald, cutting in massively.

"Scruff!", snapped Douglas, "It be my load the wee engine be takin"

"Mine!"

"MINE!"

Coco was confused.

"What's wrong?", he asked.

"I was told by the station master to take a special to the depot this evening", muttered Douglas, "And when I arrive, he is there, claiming that he was asked to take it!"

"I'm tellin' ya!", snapped Donald, "It be I the station master asked!"

"It was I!"

The twins burst back into outrageous arguing. Coco felt extremely uncomfortable, sat right in the middle of it all. But he couldn't help but smile at how much it reminded him of something. "You know", he said, cutting into the twin's argument, "I know how you both feel. It's not always easy having a twin"

"The wee engine be talking sense", sniffed Donald, throwing Douglas a dark look.

"Aye", added Douglas, casting his twin an equally warning look.

"As a matter of fact", continued Coco, "I have two brothers!"

"Ya don't say!", gasped Douglas with surprise.

"Triplets?", added Donald, "Imagine the crisis!"

"Just you watch it scruff!", snapped Douglas.

"Exactly", smiled Coco, "I was built along with two other engines. We were finished at the same time and both built to the exact same design, just like you two. Before we were given colours or names, you couldn't tell us apart. It wasn't until we were bought by the Grand Circus Company as their official circus train 'puller' locomotives that we were given unique names and colours. We're known by the company as the Circus Triplets"

"Another Duggie", laughed Donald mischievously, "How would a wee engine cope?"

"That's enough...", growled Douglas, "Let the wee engine finish his story"

Coco paused for a moment, just in case Donald were to throw another comment. When all Douglas received was an arrogant sniff, he continued.

"Well, as I was saying", he went on, "There were three of us. The company decided to name us after famous circus clowns. I was named Coco, and given a red coat of paint. My second brother was named Bobo, and he was given a blue coat. The third brother was painted yellow, and he was named Jojo. At first, we were all grey, but until we were given paint and name plates, the company drivers couldn't tell who was who. You see, we each had our different characteristics, and each was best at a certain job"

"All three of us had the main task of pulling the circus trains. The company was divided into three smaller groups, and each of us was assigned to one of the three. Mine travels the coast of England and this is the first time we've come to Sodor. Bobo's company takes the South of England and Jojo's is more foreign. He's gone as far as Scotland"

"Good old Scotland", sighed the twins in unison. They cast each other dark looks once again and Coco continued, pausing just in case they wanted to start another argument.

"We don't see that much of one another, only in winter when we are taken back to company head quarters for routine check up. Other then that, when we are travelling around, we don't see anything of one another. When we are apart, I often miss them, but when we are together, we can't stand one another"

"We are always constantly competing for the fastest runner, the one to pull the longest trains, to go the furthest distant. It was chaos. Sometimes, we'll be up all night arguing, keeping the workman awake. I remember once when Jojo returned from the North, and came back to head quarters for a check up. Bobo and I were being mended and Jojo started boasting about how he had managed to pull his train through a violent thunder storm at high speed, without stopping"

"Poor engine", muttered the twins.

"But Bobo started accusing him of showing off. The two of them started arguing continuously. It went on for days. I was thankful when it was my turn to make a journey, leaving the two of them. But then, that's when the big problem came"

"Problem?", asked Douglas.

"Yes", laughed Coco, "I look back on it now and laugh, but at the time, it seemed impossible. I remember I was on my way home from a special show on the coast. When I got back, we were given news that the entire company had been offered to put on a special show in France. Jojo, being the strongest of us, was asked to pull the train. I remember arranging his coaches and trucks, and Bobo throwing him cold looks of envy as he sat there being cleaned and polished for the journey.

The train was the longest any of us had pulled, and I wasn't quite sure if Jojo would be able to make it, but he seemed confident. When all the coaches and trucks were loaded, Bobo and I backed away to watch the train move out. Jojo backed down onto the front coach with a grin on his face.

"Look at me you two!", I remember him whistling at us, "This is the longest train any of us has pulled. Just you watch me take it with ease"

"He won't last a minute", Bobo whispered to me, "No engine can take a load that long"

The guard blew his whistle and waved the flag. Jojo started, but nothing happened. The train remained where it was and didn't move. It was simply too long and far too heavy. I remember seeing Jojo's wheels spinning, but no movement occurring. Steam was pouring from his funnel and sparks were flying from his wheels, but he simply couldn't do it. He let off steam, panting. The manager jumped down from his special carriage.

"What's going on Jojo?", he thundered.

"I...can't...pull...the train", Jojo panted, "It's...too...heavy!"

The manger came running over to Bobo and I, with a firm look on his face.

"I am sorry to ask at such late notice you two", he told us, "But it seems we are going to need your help. Jojo isn't strong enough to take the train on his own, so we'll need you two to help him"

"Why?", asked Bobo stubbornly, "He says he's strong enough to take any train, no matter how long and heavy"

The manger snapped at him.

"Don't be silly", he said to Bobo, "The three of you were built together as brothers, and no matter how much you argue, you are still apart of the same team. We are going to France to put on one of our biggest shows ever, and we need to get their by train. Jojo can't do it on his own. As his twins and brothers, I expect the two of you to help"

I remember exchanging glances with Bobo. We had no choice, but it broke our boiler pipes to see our brother struggling so hard to move the train on his own. Soon, we each had the train broken up. We each took our own company's carriages and decided that we would help each other along. Jojo led with his company at the front, followed by Bobo in the middle, and me at the back. We would help each other along, whilst pulling our own trains at the same time. When everything was ready, we set off, with a mighty puff of steam. It was difficult at first, but we gradually built up speed and were coasting down the line in no time.

The journey was very long, and we had to make several stops, but we made it to the port just in time. Lorries and trucks took over from there. The three of us where very worn out. The long parade had attracted a lot of attention, but we didn't care. We were content that we had helped each other out. I remember as we backed into the shed that evening.

"Thank you very much you two", Jojo said, "I don't think I could have managed with you"

"What are twins for", Bobo smiled.

"That is what team work is all about", the manager added proudly, "See? The three of you work much better as one engine. Yes, it can be hard to get alone, but when you are together, you make a solid team. I am very proud of you"

Donald looked sadly down at his buffers.

"So it seems...", he whispered.

"Having a twin isn't that bad after all", added Douglas, equally sorrowful.

"Exactly", smiled Coco, "The two of you may have your differences, but are together you make an excellent team"

"He's right Duggie", said Donald, "I'm sorry about earlier"

"That's all right Donald", replied Douglas, "Tomorrow, we'll work as a team, and show everyone what we are made of"

Coco smiled happily as he drifted off to sleep, listening as the twins re- accounted the incident in the past when they had rescued Thomas in a snow drift.

*