Hello! I'm the writer of this story! Now first, you may be asking yourselves…why write a fan fiction about Smudger? He was in only one episode!
The truth is, although he had only one very short appearance, he became my favorite Narrow Gauge engine ever. And after lots of research, I wanted to figure out what happened to him. I emailed Britt Alcroft, and she couldn't explain what happened to him. So after researching of the time period and international trade, as well as Sodor itself, I finally was able to tell what happened after Mid Sodor.
So now, what you were probably waiting for…
WHATEVER HAPPENED TO SMUDGER?
CHAPTER 1: Moody Blues
A long time ago, on a faraway island, there was a small railroad. It was run by very small engines, three going by the names of Duke, Stuart, and Falcon. Many engines came and went, but Duke seemed to outlast them all.
The three would get up every morning, work hard during the day, and return to their sheds at night. There, they would talk about the day's work, and Duke would babble on about "His Grace."
But at the other side of a shed was another engine. He was painted green, and locked up in a shed and depressed. This engine's name was Smudger. He was sad and lonely, and wanted to be useful again. He could still remember the times he had on the railway…
---
Smudger puffed into the yard and looked around. He could see a small shed, a large shed, a station platform, a nearby mine, and plenty of track. In front of the shed was an old-looking brown engine with a tender.
"Hello, and welcome to Mid-Sodor," the old engine said, "The name's Duke, and don't forget it."
Smudger rolled his eyes. "Sure I won't…" he said with a sarcastic tone.
"What was that?" snapped Duke.
"Nothing."
Smudger puffed away to find work. But as he turned a bend, he unexpectedly came off the rails. Duke could only laugh. Smudger growled at him.
---
"So yeah, Grandpuff, why are you back so early?"
"Uch, they closed the line I used to go on…"
Smudger couldn't help but listen in on their conversation…he was, after all, right behind them. He heaved a sigh just as his driver came into the shed.
"Things are startin' to look bad, Smudgy. They closin' down mines and railroadin' routs…I expect they'll close this whole railroad soon."
"Really?" Smudger asked.
"Yup. Dunno wuts gonna happen to yon engines, though. We won't find out for a while. Now c'mon you've got to get back to work."
His driver hopped into Smudger's can and pulled the leaver, and Smudger's piston's began to move, spinning some strange black machines that worked up electricity.
Smudger closed his eyes and thought back…
---
Smudger was fuming. He had come off the tracks yet again, but it wasn't his fault. He wasn't really a showoff, like Duke had thought, but misunderstood. He wasn't built for such smooth lines. Duke's nagging for him to be more careful were giving Smudger a bad attitude.
Duke pulled up with some cranes to help the green loco back on the rails. "One again, Smudger," grumbled the old engine, "you failed to heed my warnings, and here you are—"
"Listen Dukie," snapped Smudger, who was now crosser than ever, "In the Sates, who worries about a few spills?
He looked back at the derailed trucks, whose contents of dark gravel were spilled all over the ground.
"We do HERE," said Duke, glaring at him.
Smudger could only laugh. Duke gave him such a look!
---
Smudger's flashback was interrupted rudely by a fast passing train, pulled by a small blue engine. The engine stopped by the shed.
"Hey Grandpuff," he called out, "There are some weird people near the Mine Shed talking to the controller. What do you think is going on?"
"Not sure…" Duke muttered, "They were at Peel Godred as well…"
Smudger rolled his eyes. He didn't honestly care anything about the strange-shifty people. All he wanted was to be normal again.
---
Duke and Smudger were waiting at the shed when their manager arrive.
"Smudger, I've heard from Duke that you have not been cooperative and have been making rude remarks. We will make you useful at last"
Smudger gulped. He didn't want to know what the manager was thinking…
---
The manager had taken away Smudger's wheels and added an extension to his funnel. They put him behind the shed and separated him slightly from his cab. And now Smudger was a generator.
It was late when the machine in him was turned off and his driver stepped out of the cab and walked home. Smudger was now lonely, listening to Duke's talking with the other engine.
"I'm sorry guys," came the manager's voice, "But the railway's closed."
"What? How could you—? "
"What's gonna happen to us?"
"We're not gonna get scrapped, are we?"
"No, you won't get scrapped. Some important businessmen will arrive tomorrow, and luckily somebody will buy you…"
Smudger closed his eyes. He couldn't believe what he had heard. He knew that the other engines would find nice homes…
…but what about him?
---The Next Day...---
The next day, several sleek, shiny cars arrived at the sheds. Important businessmen arrived and were looking at all the engines. Smudger was waking up when he noticed an important, old, balding Japanese man staring at him. He quickly turned away though.
Then Smudger heard some people talking. "We'll take Stuart and Falcon."
"Alright then, please sign here…"
Smudger was just about to go back asleep when the Japanese businessman arrived again, nearly dragging the manager with him. And then he said something so unexpected what Smudger's little train heart could've skipped a beat when he heard it.
"Excuse me sir, but how much for this engine?"
TO BE FRIGGIN CONTINUED