Zach and the Trucks

On the Little Western, Duck and Oliver were discussing the arrival of Churton Hall and the other visiting Locomotives that Gervase and the Kalos Controller sent over to Sodor to help with the extra work.

Oliver: Well it's about time the Fat Controller send us some help. With Donald and Douglas away on Edward's Branchline we're a bit shorthanded here. Even with the fact that we both have Great Western Auto Coaches I'm the only one who can actually use the Push Pull equipment.

Duck: I know Oliver. Considering you're a 1400 Class you were built with Push Pull Equipment but either way that doesn't change the fact that we both actually have to stop at stations. Still let's just hope that the Kalos Controller screened the help that he sent properly. The last thing we need is a bunch of liars on this railway.

?: You know I take offense to that but considering the fact that I'm familiar with the Thin Clergyman's books and the history of this railway I'm not surprised that you'd say such a thing. Either way I suppose I had best get to work. But the Fat Controller didn't give me a job yet so what is my first assignment here on Sodor?

Duck and Oliver were surprised to hear a new voice and more surprised at who had spoken. They were shocked to see a Tank Engine in Great Western Colors puffing into the yards and upon seeing the wheel arrangement they knew what class of Great Western Locomotive the engine was.

Oliver: (Shocked) Duck are you seeing the same thing I'm seeing?

Duck: (Surprised) I'm seeing it but I don't believe it. We're seeing a Great Western 7200 Class. I thought they were all out of service and only three of them were preserved but not in running condition. (To the 7200 Class) How did you manage to return to service?

7200 Class: Well it turns out the Kalos Controller purchased me along with two other Great Western Heavy Freight Tanks and had us work on the Great Western Section of the Kalos Railway in France. But I had best introduce myself. My name is Zach, I'm from the Great Western Railway and I'm built to pull heavy coal trains and I used to be a GWR 4200 class before being rebuilt.

Oliver: Well it's good to see you Zach. Let me introduce myself. I'm Oliver a Great Western 1400 Class built for branchline passenger trains.

Duck: And I'm Duck a Great Western pannier Tank built for various duties along the Great Western.

Oliver: Either way we could use the help. Duck and I are busy on passenger runts today so you'll be working ballast trains.

Zach: Bring it on. So where are the Ballast Trucks?

Duck: In the sidings but be careful. The Trucks on this railway are troublesome but Ballast Trucks are the worst. Only a handful of engines are able to keep them in check without trouble.

Zach: Yeah I know. I read the Thin Clergyman's books so I have a pretty good idea what I'm dealing with but do you have any additional advice?

Oliver: Be careful and stay focused on the task. The trucks have been acting a bit worse than usual lately. I suspect a dangerous enemy has arrived and is seeking to undermine us and by us I mean us Steam Engines.

Zach was about to go get the trucks before he noticed Duck was silent.

Zach: You sound worried Duck. Is there something that you want to say?

Duck: I would be tempted to say that what Oliver said sounds like stuff and nonsense conspiracy theories but considering all that has happened in the past two years I have to agree with him on this one.

Zach: And why is that?

Duck: Because somebody has been ratting us out to our enemies and they include no less than Chantal Payne, the United Kingdom Chapters of the Crows, or the terrible bosses of the Crows.

Oliver: Let's not forget Lord Arcanon and his crew.

Zach: Tell me you have an idea on who the rat is?

Duck: Unfortunately we don't know who it is but we do know that it has to be somebody who hates steam engines and anybody who likes steam engines.

Oliver: We also know it's somebody who has reason to harm steam engines or anybody who likes steam engines.

Zach: That's not much to go on but I'll keep an eye out and you should do the same. Myself, Churton Hall, and the other two locomotives that were chosen to visit are here to help and we'll also keep an eye out. Either way I wasted enough time here. I'd best get to work. But before I do that do either of you have any advice?

Duck: Be careful with the Trucks. They're sure to try and pay you out since you're new here.

Zach: If they're anything like the ones I used to handle here in the United Kingdom I think I can manage.

Oliver: Very well. We'll leave you to it.

So Zach puffed away to go get the trucks as Duck and Oliver discussed their guest.

Oliver: Do you really think Zach can manage the Trucks on his own?

Duck: I've known him since he was originally built as a GWR 4200 so I know the Ballast Trucks will think twice before messing with him.

Oliver: Under normal circumstances yes but if what Thomas says is true and Lord Arcanon is back then the trucks who are normally afraid of myself Donald or Douglas are sure to play tricks on us and it's sure to be worse than usual. Hopefully Zach can manage on the grounds that the Trucks don't know anything about him.

Duck: You and me both Oliver.

Meanwhile Zach had already made his way to the yards where the Ballast Trucks were waiting. He pushed some loaded trucks into a line that were due to leave and shunted some empty trucks under the chute before he came back to take the loaded trucks away.

Zach: That's everything driver. We should be ready to go.

Zach's Driver: Yep and we did all the safety checks so we should be ready.

Zach pulled out of the yards with his line of ballast trucks being careful not to get caught off guard and to focus on the task at hand.

The trucks on the other hand were waiting for the moment where Zach would drop his guard and then they'd pounce and pay him out.

Zach continued the trip and remembered the advice Duck and Oliver had given him about handling Trucks.

Zach's Driver: We're almost to Tidmoth, we better slow down.

Trucks: No go on go on.

Zach: Oh no you don't.

Zach and his crew put on the breaks as the trucks began to push Zach but Zach wouldn't give in to the stupidity of the trucks and put all the weight and steam he had against them.

The trucks continued to push but Zach was much stronger than they thought and by the time they arrived at Tidmoth they had worn themselves out.

Zach's Fireman: Well that was unexpected. I thought the Ballast Trucks would try much harder than that.

Zach: They probably figured that since it was a Tank Engine they could try and shove me like they'd do to engines like Thomas and Percy but I'm much stronger than they are.

Zach's Driver: And something tells me that the Trucks aren't gonna give up on paying you out that easily. Either way I'd say that this is a good first test of your abilities here on Sodor.

Zach and his Fireman agreed as they went to shunt the trucks into a siding before gathering some empty trucks to take back to Arlesburgh.