THOMAS AND THE MOUNTAIN ENGINES

Based upon "Mountain Engine" and "Bad Look Out" by The Rev. W. Awdry and "Thomas and the Sunday School Outing" by Christopher Awdry

"I've recently received a message from the Vicar of Ffarquhar," Sir Topham Hatt was telling the engines that morning. "The Sunday school will be making a trip up to the Culdee Fell Railway, and they've requested for Thomas to take the train up the Peel Godred branch line to meet with their connection at Kirk Machan."

"It's always Thomas who gets the special jobs," pouted James.

"Not always," insisted Thomas. "Sometimes other engines get even more exciting jobs than this. Like when Gordon got to take the Queen to visit our railway."

"Still wish they could have asked for me…" mumbled James.

"Who will be handling my trains on my branch line, sir?" asked Thomas.

"Rosie will manage them with some other coaches while you take Annie and Clarabel," explained Sir Topham Hatt. With that, he strode away back to his car.

"It's been a long time since I've been up near Peel Godred," admitted Thomas. "I wonder how much different that line has become."

"The line's received some new engines not too long ago," explained James. "One of them was a right old misery, I can tell you that!"

"She makes someone like Cranky seem as cheerful as a child in a candy store by comparison," put in Henry.

Thomas felt uneasy about meeting this engine, but he knew that really useful engines did as they were told. So he puffed away to collect his coaches.

Thomas, Annie and Clarabel arrived at Killdane, the junction to the Peel Godred branch line. On the electrified line was an electric multiple-unit with two engines at each end, and one coach between them. The engine facing the same way as Thomas was painted a dark shade of purple, and the engine facing away was in light purple, with the unit in between diagonally split right down the middle.

"Why, hello there," the dark purple engine purred, giving her eyelids a playful bat towards Thomas. "I don't recall seeing a handsome little engine like you around here before."

Thomas couldn't help but blush. It was always nice to be complimented, but for some reason, a compliment like this made him feel a tad uncomfortable.

"Er… I see you're one of the new engines running this line," he said at last. "I'm Thomas."

"Mmm, you catch on quick for such a little engine, Thomas," the dark purple engine insisted. "My name's Selina."

"And my name's Kyle!" Thomas looked back; the light purple engine had spoken up. "I see my sister's been giving her usual 'welcome'. Selina can be particularly 'friendly' towards other engines."

"So I've noticed," said Thomas. "How have you two been adapting to this line?"

"Oh, it's been lovely for the time we've been here so far," said Selina. "Most of the engines who stop here have been rather welcoming."

"It's a nice change from being stuck with that old stick-in-the-mud Pamela," grumbled Kyle. "I swear, the only thing that sourpuss is good for is to scare away saboteurs."

This Pamela must be who James was referring to, thought Thomas. "Why does Pamela act so grouchy?" he asked aloud.

"Who knows?" sighed Kyle. "I suspect that she was always like that when first built."

"Probably a traumatic accident that changed her outlook on life forever," suggested Selina. "She won't tell any of us what her reasons are, so we don't bother asking about it."

By that point, Thomas had run around Annie and Clarabel so that he could head on down the Peel Godred branch line. Just as he was about to leave, a black cat strayed out onto the line.

"Bruce, you naughty kitty, move out of the way," coaxed Selina. In seconds, the cat jumped onto the platform, and began rubbing on Selina while purring.

"You know him?" asked Thomas.

"He's our pet cat," explained Selina. "My driver found him in our sheds not long after we arrived here. He's an absolute sweetheart to me."

"Meow!"

Soon, Thomas was out on the branch line, making his way to Kirk Machan.

"It's been ages since I've last been down here," he remarked to Annie and Clarabel. "I hardly even recognize it!"

At that moment, Thomas could see another engine approaching. She was painted in two-tone green and her scowl looked permanent. This, Thomas assumed, must be Pamela.

"Hello there!" the blue tank engine greeted with a blow of his whistle. But Pamela didn't say anything as he passed by. She just simply scowled.

"Er, nice talking with you," said Thomas nervously, continuing on his way.

"What a rude engine," insisted Annie.

"She could have at least said 'hello' to us back," added Clarabel.

Thomas didn't take much notice of the coaches' banter. He was too busy admiring the changes made to the line.

At last, the trio arrived at Kirk Machan station. Standing on the other track was a dark blue engine with white lining and appeared to be pushing his coach. The other engine's line was narrower than Thomas', but wider than that of the Skarloey Railway.

"Hello there," greeted the smaller engine. "I don't recall seeing you here before."

"I could say the same for you," replied Thomas. "My name is Thomas. What kind of engine are you?"

"My name's Wilfred," said the smaller engine. "And I'm a mountain engine."

"A mountain engine?" peeped Thomas in a very confused manner. "I've never heard of that before."

"Oh, we've been on Sodor for years," explained Wilfred. "It's just that we haven't had any major incidents for years save for the odd derailment. I see you've brought the Sunday school outing for a little journey up the mountain."

"I have indeed," said Thomas. He then noticed that a single coach was in front of Wilfred instead of being coupled behind. "Er, aren't you going to go to the front of your train? It's not safe to push a train when you can't see the line ahead of you."

"Oh no," chuckled Wilfred. "This is perfectly normal for us. Our coaches help to keep an eye out for us as we go up the mountain."

"Do they do so when you come down the mountain too?" asked Thomas.

"We don't have a turntable to turn around at the Summit," explained Wilfred. "So once it's time to go back down, we just back up down the mountain."

"Back down the mountain?!" gasped Annie.

"But that's too dangerous!" added Clarabel. "You can't see the line if you're going backwards!"

Smiling, Wilfred closed his eyes and puffed slightly forward until the back part of his cab was shown. To the shock of Thomas and his coaches, there was a second face on the back part of Wilfred, just opening its eyes.

"Way ahead of you," it said.

"Cinders and ashes!" cried Thomas, backing into his coaches slightly.

"I've heard of being two-faced, but this is ridiculous!" remarked Annie.

"How on earth can you engines do that?!" gasped Clarabel. "Engines like that should be in a sideshow!"

"We don't really know how these faces appeared on us," insisted Wilfred's second face, "but it helps us keep an eye out while going backwards."

By now, the children for the Sunday school outing and the Vicar of Ffarquhar had boarded Wilfred's coach.

"Are there any other engines like you?" asked Thomas.

"There's Culdee, our number four, who's currently at the sheds awaiting for her next run," said Wilfred. "I'm number three, you see. Ernest and Shane Dooiney - numbers two and five, respectively - are away on overhaul. Mr. Richards is looking to purchase a new engine to supplement us to become our number six."

"What about your number one?" asked Thomas curiously. Before he could get an answer, there was the sound of the guard's whistle.

"I best be off, Thomas," said Wilfred. "Sorry I can't tell you about our number one; perhaps Culdee will."

As Thomas didn't have any other assigned jobs for the rest of the day, he shunted Annie and Clarabel onto a siding and then parked himself close enough to where the sheds for the Culdee Fell Railway were. There, standing in one of the berths was an engine of a similar shape to Wilfred, but she was painted purple with orange lining.

"Hello there," called Thomas. "Is your name Culdee?"

"That's correct," the purple mountain engine smiled. "I was named after the mountain our railway climbs. And you, I take it, are Thomas."

"How'd you know my name?"

"We've heard all about your escapades," explained Culdee. "I believe you came down this line once to take a train up to Peel Godred."

"That's right, I did," confirmed Thomas. "And that was after James played a trick on Percy so he could take the express instead of Gordon. I was thankful that I'd managed to get James' train up there on time, especially with the way the aluminum company was run."

"Oh yes, the infamous aluminum plant," groaned Culdee. "How could the railway board allow that horrid man to get away with his misdeeds for so long before that big storm hit? Had they taken action sooner, perhaps there wouldn't have been so many losses."

"At least Sir Handel and Peter Sam managed to find a new home on the Skarloey Railway," insisted Thomas. "But what's going to happen to the remains of the plant?"

"Rumor has it they're going to refurbish it into a waste treatment center," said Culdee. "They may bring in their own engine for the job."

I wonder what Sir Handel and Peter Sam will say about that, thought Thomas to himself. He made a mental note to inform them about it the next time he saw either of them. "Anyway," he said out loud, in hopes of changing up the topic, "do you and the other engines on your line really climb mountains?"

"Oh yes, we've done so for years, Thomas," smiled Culdee. "We've got pinion wheels on our driving axles which have teeth that fit into a rack rail. No matter how steep the line is, we won't be able to slip."

"I could never imagine trying to climb a mountain without it," chuckled Thomas. "My wheels would slip even if I was running light engine!"

"It's tough work climbing," Culdee admitted, "but it's just as difficult going back down. I found that out on my first trial."

"What happened?" asked Thomas curiously.

"This story," began Culdee, "took place back when our railway first opened…"

Past

Five engines stood in the sheds at Kirk Machan, each with their own liveries. Alongside Culdee and Wilfred, there was Shane Dooiney, who was painted green, Ernest, painted brown, and Godred, painted red and bearing the number one.

"I've heard that there's an inspector coming to our line to see if it's in good working order," said Wilfred.

"Who's it going to be that'll be on the run to the Summit?" asked Shane Dooiney, the youngest of the quintet.

"It ought to be me," said Godred snootily. "After all, I was named for a king and given the number one."

"That's a load of boiler sludge, Godred!" huffed Ernest. "Being number one doesn't automatically mean that you're the best of us!"

"Just you wait, young Ernest," boasted Godred. "When the inspector chooses me, I'll leave such an astounding impact that they'll decide to name this railway, nay, this entire island after yours truly! Can you just imagine it? The Island of Godred - a magical land where dreams come true."

"It'll be a cold day in summer when that happens, Your Highness," joked Shane Dooiney, referring to Godred's title with sarcasm. The red engine thought he'd blow his stack the way he'd been spoken to, but before any further arguing could commence, the manager of the railway, Mr. Richards' grandfather, and the inspector arrived at the sheds.

"No. 4," addressed the inspector.

"Oh! Uh, y-yes, sir," stammered Culdee, surprised that she was being addressed.

"You'll be pushing two empty coaches up to the Summit."

"M-me?!" squeaked Culdee in surprise.

"Her?!" Godred gawked. "Sir, I must protest. This engine is not suitable for such an honor as this. I am the railway's number one! Therefore, I am the more appropriate option!"

"Godred, please do us all a favor and stow it!" snapped Wilfred. "It's the inspector's and Mr. Richards' decision. If Culdee is to be chosen, then let her go."

"Yes, thank you, Wilfred," said the first Mr. Richards. "Just do your best, Culdee."

"I will, sir," promised Culdee, and she set off to collect two coaches.

One of the coaches that Culdee was pushing was open-topped, and the other was covered. The covered coach was the one closest to Culdee and noticed how nervous she felt.

"Have a case of cold wheels, do we?" the coach asked.

"Y-you could say that," said Culdee. "Do you have a name? Mine's Culdee."

"You can call me Catherine," said the coach. Before long, the guard blew his whistle, indicating that the trial run had now begun.

The run up to the Summit at Culdee Fell went by rather uneventfully, and the inspector was impressed by the namesake engine's performance.

"So far, so good," he said as he took down notes. "And now, Culdee, we shall be testing your brakes at the steepest part of the line at Devil's Back."

"Why is it called Devil's Back?" asked Culdee.

"It translates from the Sudric phrase 'Dreeym-y-Deighan'," explained her driver. "The wind almost always blows up there, so people assume the mountain is cursed by the devil to ensure bad weather will always ruin their day."

"I see…" said Culdee; she now sounded more nervous about what was to happen next.

Slowly, the purple engine and the two coaches drove backwards to the peak of the steepest part of the line. Below was a nasty curve, edging a precipice. The inspector stood in Culdee's cab with her crew.

"Right, brakes off, driver; let her roll."

"Oooh!" gasped Culdee in horror as the coaches nudged her and they gathered speed downhill. Culdee couldn't bear to watch through her rear face, but she had to keep her eyes on the track.

Inside the cab, the inspector took hold of the driver's hand as he reached for the brake. "Hands off!" he ordered. "This test is on Culdee."

Oh no, oh no, oh no! Culdee thought fearfully. We're going to crash! We're going to plunge over the side of the mountain, I just know it!

But then, she remembered that she and the other mountain engines had been fitted with automatic brakes. This, Culdee assumed, must be the test that the inspector had in mind for her. The purple engine applied her automatic brakes and they worked beautifully, slowing down as they neared the curve.

"Well done, Culdee!" cheered the inspector. "You'll do! A fine piece of work, indeed."

Culdee smiled as she came to a complete stop, but she still felt rather shaky, as did her crew, who mopped their faces in relief.

Present

"I'm never nervous now," finished Culdee. "Why should I be? There's no need."

"It must have been terrifying," agreed Thomas. "But you never push two coaches up the line, do you?"

"No, we usually have one for safety reasons," explained Culdee. "Two coaches on a trip tend to be the exception and not the rule for us. I've worked with Catherine ever since that trial and I can't imagine working without her."

"I know what that's like," laughed Thomas. "Annie, Clarabel and I are inseparable, and I don't know what I'd do without them."

"The other engines often joke about the same for me and Catherine," smiled Culdee. "It's a shame poor Godred never got over me being picked."

"Which reminds me, Culdee," said Thomas. "What happened to Godred? I know that Ernest and Shane Dooiney are off on overhaul, but what about him?"

Culdee sighed and thought back to what happened many years ago. "Well…"

Past

"This is an outrage! An affront! It's unthinkable! Absurd! Inconceivable!" Godred had been going on about Culdee being chosen over him for the past few days, and the other engines' patience was already wearing thin.

"Oh, for Great Railway's sake, can you get over it already?" groaned Wilfred. "Culdee was chosen fair and square."

"It's still unfair!" insisted Godred. "I am this railway's number one, yet I get pushed to the side while that… female got the privilege of taking our line's first train?! It's slander against the very man I was named after!"

"Culdee's name means 'companion of the Lord' in Sudric," explained Ernest. "She's just as deserving of that honor as any of us are."

But Godred wasn't listening. I'm sorry to say that this jealousy led to him being reckless as he strolled about the line.

"I'll show them, I'll show them," he grumbled to himself. The only thing he managed to show them, however, was how careless he was. He would look anywhere but at the tracks, and he would go too fast for tight bends.

"You'll have an accident if you keep this up," Culdee warned.

"Don't be foolish!" snapped Godred. "We've all got automatic brakes, haven't we? And our drivers have their air brakes. What more do you want from your number one?"

"More sense from you, for a start," retorted Culdee. "No engine can stop at once if they aren't ready to obey their driver's controls."

"The first thing a young engine learns," agreed Catherine.

But Godred never learned sense. His crew, the workmen, and even Mr. Richards tried to reason with him. They even took him to pieces to see if anything was faulty. But he still carried on in his ignorant way.

"There's nothing wrong with me!" Godred bellowed. "You peasants are all paranoid, for I am the king!" But eventually, there came a time he would learn that he was anything but invincible…

One day, Culdee and Catherine had stopped at Devil's Back station. They were to wait for Godred and his coach Elaine to pass by from the Summit.

"Why does he have to be so rude to Elaine?" asked Culdee. "Engines are supposed to work together with their coaches, not belittle them and tell them to be quiet."

"It's a wonder Mr. Richards even allows him to stay on passenger duties," agreed Catherine. Suddenly, they heard a familiar whistle approach them.

"Clear the way, peasants!" Godred commanded.

"Godred, dear, we ought to slow down," called Elaine, sounding anxious. "What if there were some rocks on the line-"

"Silence!" ordered Godred. "Coaches are meant to be quiet and do their jobs without fuss!"

Elaine scowled. She was fed up with being ignored by such a pompous engine, and wished that he would shut up instead. Little did she know her wish would come true sooner than she realized…

No one realized that some rocks had gotten embedded in the rack rail on Godred's line. By the time Godred noticed them, it was already too late.

"Gadzooks!" he cried. The red mountain engine hit the rocks, and before anyone knew it, Godred had flown off the rails and tumbled cab over wheels down the mountain. His crew had jumped clear before the derailment, and Elaine's guard had braked her to a stop.

Culdee and Catherine had heard the crash from where they stood, and were horrified at what that meant.

"We've tried to warn him…" murmured Culdee sadly.

The next morning, a battered Godred had been brought home by traction engine. His funnel and dome were missing, his cab caved in, and his paint was scratched up. Mr. Richards was not happy in the slightest.

"You've always been quite the bother, haven't you?" he asked. "The damage you've caused yourself will not be easy to repair. Naming you after such an important figure in Sudrian history was a big mistake. Had we given you a more common name, perhaps you would not have been so full of yourself."

"I am truly sorry, Mr. Richards, sir," whimpered Godred pathetically. "I promise it won't happen again, honest!"

"No, it won't," Mr. Richards agreed. "Because we will not be repairing you."

"What?!"

"You are an utter nuisance, Godred," insisted Mr. Richards. "No one can stand you. Not the workmen, not the coaches, not even the other engines. Besides, even if we wanted to repair you fully, we do not have enough proper funds for such a restoration. Until such a time comes when we decide you've properly learned from your mistakes, you shall be rebuilt into a stationary boiler for the back of the sheds. At least that way you'll still be useful, and we'll be saving funds on keeping the sheds warm. Good day to you."

Present

"…and so, Godred has stayed at the back of the sheds ever since that fateful day," said Culdee mournfully. "Some of his parts were salvaged to keep us going, although we all felt a bit guilty about accepting his, er… 'spares'."

Thomas and the coaches were rather speechless.

"Just goes to show how complete arrogance can cost one everything they have," Culdee added. "I hope you'll be careful enough not to make Godred's same mistakes."

"I'll try to be more careful," promised Thomas. Just then, the stationmaster walked over to get Thomas' attention.

"Wilfred will be coming back with the Sunday school outing in about a few minutes," she reported. "You'd best get ready for the return trip to Ffarquhar."

"Yes, ma'am," said Thomas. "Thank you for the story, Culdee. I hope we can meet again someday. Your railway sounds like a special place to be."

"Oh, it is," smiled Culdee. "I hope our paths cross again one day too."

With a cheerful blow from his whistle, Thomas set off to bring Annie and Clarabel to the station platform to meet with Wilfred. Culdee watched him go until he was gone, then looked towards the back of the sheds.

"You've probably heard us talking," she said. "He now knows your story just like everyone else. No engine deserves to go through a fate like this, but we did try to help you avoid this trouble. You just didn't want our help, though. Hopefully, this new engine will be more careful than you were."

Although she couldn't see his expression, Culdee felt quite sure that Godred understood too.

THE END

Author's Comments

A surprise Railway Series adaptation from me! This one's based upon the first half of Mountain Engines, the one book by Wilbert that had yet to be adapted in any capacity for the Seventyverse, as well as elements from the 1991 annual story Thomas and the Sunday School Outing. As said story involved Thomas taking an outing to the Peel Godred branch line, the gears started turning in my head, giving me an excuse to formally introduce the Culdee Fell Railway into the Seventyverse, as well as the current Peel Godred fleet. Pamela, Selina and Kyle are each respectively named for Poison Ivy and Catwoman in the Batman comics (and yes, there will be a Harley Quinn equivalent soon enough), and hopefully you've gotten a decent idea as to what their individual characters are like. A similar thing also applies to the Culdee Fell engines, and yes, I've gender-flipped the namesake engine herself to becoming female. Culdee isn't a gender-specific name, and nor was Rusty, so I don't think that'll be a big deal. We've also ramped up Godred's arrogance to eleven, showing that he was a pompous git even before Culdee's first trial, with his envy at her being picked instead of him giving him further motivation to his poor attitude. And unlike the books, Godred actually survives, having been left at the back of the sheds as a stationary boiler. A lot of people have said that there's little to be done with the Culdee Fell engines, but I don't think that's quite true. You just have to tap into them to make them a bit more compelling and interesting.

More stories to come!