Thomas and Friends: California Gold
Chapter 1: 'Lucina' (Western Pacific No. 173)
It was a sunny day in Oakland, California with the cool breeze coming off the San Francisco Bay. An engine was resting her wheels after coming back from pulling a freight train of fruits, nuts, and other food items out to Salt Lake City. Her name is 'Lucina'. Those at the Western Pacific Roundhouse call her 'Big Lucy'. She's a happy, hardworking engine.
'Lucina' is a mixed-traffic tender engine called a 'Mountain Type' which means she has four front truck-wheels, eight drive wheels, and two rear truck-wheels below her cab. Her face and a part of her boiler are painted grey while the rest of her from her tender to her wheels are painted in black paintwork. She has a short little funnel, and a big brass bell
She's not a fussy engine either. She likes being really useful from pulling freight trains to pulling a passenger express that goes from Oakland to Denver. An engine's service life does not last forever, and when it seemed she had reached the end of the line and her fate was tied to a scrapper's torch, that's when she met him, "Stop! What are you doing?!"
"Orders from the top," said the scrapper
"This engine is to be scrapped," he added
The man was Sir Topham Hatt, 'The Fat Controller', the man in charge of all the engines on the Island of Sodor, "You don't want to do this, look at her," said Sir Topham Hatt, the scrapper knew he was right. It did pain him to have to scrap such a beautiful engine. He turned off the torch, "she's still a really useful engine, and I'll see to that on my railway"
"So you're Sir Topham Hatt, yes?" asked the scrapper, the Fat Controller tipped the brim of his hat to him, "can you wait right here? I can go get the head of the roundhouse out here, and maybe we can negotiate a deal," he made a nod in agreement. The scrapper went to the Controller's office at the Western Pacific Roundhouse. 'Big Lucy' smiled to him
"Thank you, sir," she puffed kindly to him, she looked down at the stout man. The Fat Controller was originally on holiday in San Francisco having enjoyed his time at the Marina, The Mission District, and Embarcadero. He gestured for her to come out to the turntable so he can get a look at her. Sir Topham Hatt inspected her, and scratched his chin to her
"What's your name?" he asked the engine
"Lucina, sir, everyone calls me 'Big Lucy',"
"A wonderful name for such a smart and wonderful engine," said Sir Topham Hatt, just then, the older Controller of the Western Pacific Roundhouse came by to talk with The Fat Controller. He was a thin gentleman with a brown suit and bowler hat, and round wireframe glasses. He walked with a cane not because he was of limited mobility, but for status.
"You're doing a great service to 'Big Lucy' here, you see, the Western Pacific Railway has been downsizing, and making more room for diesels, if you want to purchase her, then let me tell you, you're getting the nicest engine you'd ever want to meet," said the Controller, "$300,000.00, and she is yours, and I can help negotiate her safe travel to Sodor,"
"Done," said the 'Fat Controller' with a firm handshake and he made the purchase right there and then with his checkbook. Lucina beamed brightly to the 'Fat Controller'. He had saved her from the scrap heap. Later that day, she took Sir Topham Hatt for a run in her cab to the Locomotive Workshop in Sacramento where she was to be fixed up for Sodor.
"She's all set," said one of the workmen
"New brakes, new valves, new paintwork"
After she was mended, she chuffed down with the 'Fat Controller' to the Port of Oakland where her Old Controller was waiting with a ship ready to transport her to Sodor, "I will miss you, 'Big Lucy'," said the Controller, a tear fell from her eye as she smiled him, "don't be sad, you're going to a better place," he assured her as she got lifted onto the ship.
The 'Fat Controller' had a couple more days left on his holiday, and he got to see the ship set off for Sodor. The low groan of a ship's horn echoed on the bay breeze as the ship was leaving to give Lucina a fresh new start on Sodor. Lucina peaked out from the ship's hold to see the Old Controller and Sir Topham Hatt with a few workman waving goodbye
Along with a box of Ghirardelli for Lady Hatt, The 'Fat Controller' was bringing a new engine to Sodor. After nearly two weeks at sea, Lucina had arrived at Brendam Docks on the Island of Sodor. Carly happily lifted Lucina off the boat, and onto the rails "Oh! You're a big one" said Carly, putting her hook into it to place Lucina softly and safely onto the rails
"Thanks for the lift," she said up to the crane
"A pleasure, my name's Carly, what's yours?"
"My name's Lucina, but call me 'Big Lucy'," puffed the newest big engine on Sodor. Just then, a stout gentleman came out of a blue car. It was the 'Fat Controller'. She smiled to him, and puffed white steam from her short funnel and out her sides, "it's good to see you again, sir," she puffed, the 'Fat Controller' was happy to see the engine arrived safely.
"It's good to see you too, Lucy, now I need for you to chuff on over to the Sodor Steamworks so that you can looked over, and make that nothing shaken loose on your voyage here, Edward will show you the way," said the 'Fat Controller'. She smiled as Edward puffed up to her. Edward the Blue Engine reminded her of the 'Iron Horses' of the Wild West.
"It's nice to meet a new engine, come along now, I'll show you the way to the Sodor Steamworks," puffed Edward, and they chuffed and puffed along the Main Line to the Sodor Steamworks where the workmen looked her over, and inspected her for anything that might be out of place. Once she was cleared, she was ready to begin her new life on Sodor.