Sodor 1924

Two years had passed since the Scottish Twins had arrived and much had changed since then.

The railway was getting more and more busy. Many of the loaned engines contracts had ended and they had all gone back to their respected reigons. This of course ment that there was a massive gap in the mainline roster, with only Edward, Neil and the Scottish Twins left to run the mainline.

Luckly The Fat Director had already accounted for this and had managed to purchase two new engines from the newly formed LMS to assist them. One of them would handle the passenger work, while the other engine would assist with the mixed traffic duties.

Also happening around this time was the roster of the Farquhar Branchline.The engine who previously ran it were deemed far to old to manage to workload, so a new engine was to work there, The Fat Director was still deciding who to send there.

"I hope he picks me" said Thomas to Edward in yards one morning.

Edward smilied, he knew that for the longest time that Thomas had been wanting to leave the yards and see the world. While the others thought Thomas was just being silly, Edward supported his friend's dreams and gave him advice when he could.

"Im sure you will Thomas" Edward beamed, "Just remember what i said".

"Focus on what you want to achieve and it will happen, i know" Thomas rolled his eyes, "You and your quotes Edward,you're like a granddad".

Edward chuckled, "Be off with you young'on" he said in an old man voice.

The two engines laughed and Edward puffed off towards the sheds.

Thomas watched him go with a look of sympathy, he felt bad.

As the years went by, Edward began to be used less and less. As much more stronger and modern engines like Donald and Douglas started working. As a result, he spent most of his time in the sheds and with the arrival of the new engines happening tomorrow, Edward would only spend more at sheds and would get even less work.

"I hope these two are nice" Thomas thought as he puffed off to do more shunting.

The next day came and all the engines were gathered at Vicarstown Station to meet them.

They soon puffed into the platform and they were a sight to behold.

The engine on the Left was an LMS 4-4-0 Compund Passenger engine. She was painted in the LMS red livery and had a very kind expression on his face.

The engine on the left was a LYR class 27,but he was modified as he had a pony truck and bigger driving wheels than most members of his class. He was painted in a black livery and looked slightly annoyed.

"This is James and Alyssa, they are here to help with the workload, please make them feel welcome" said The Fat Director, "Now if you excuse me, i have some paper work to attend to" he hurried away.

"Hello" said Donald, being the first to greet them ,"Welcome to Sodor".

James spoke first, he eyed up the station and sniffed, "A bit small for a station,but it will do, At least your all not dusty,dust could ruin my splendid paintwork"

The engines were shocked.

"JAMES!" said Alyssa, "Don't be rude,it's there railway".

James muttered into submission.

"Thank you" she said, her voice was very soft sounding, "You lot have a very lovely railway, sorry about James here, he's a bit vain".

"HEY!".

Soon the two engines set to work. Alyssa was a very kind engine and did what work was needed. She handled the coaches with care and the trucks didn't dare play tricks on her. She was very easy to talk to and generally great to be around.

James was completely different on the other hand. While he worked hard, he was very vain and arrogant and he hated pulling trucks and would complain when ever he was put on goods work. As a resulted, he mostly took passengers, much to the dismay of the other engines.

"He acts like he's loyalty" Douglas complained.

"He's barely laid a buffer on any trucks at all" said Thomas.

Alyssa sighed, "Im sorry about him,He's nice once you get to know him, i swear".

"Hah!" Neil laughed ,"im sure".

After the engines left for work. Alysaa stayed to behind to talk to Edward about James.

"Edward, i'm really sorry about-".

"No need to be sorry Alyssa" the old engine replied, "I believe you,but just one question, do you know why he's like that?".

"I think it's because he's an experimental design" said Alyssa.

Edward thought she ment that James thought he was above everyone because he was an experimental design. But based on Alyssa's expression, he knew there was more to it. He stayed silent as she continued.

"The engines on our old railway teased him about his design and said he was nothing but a common goods engine. I guess he wanted to fit in,so he began to follow in their footsteps. As a result, their personalities rubbed off of him after awhile. He tries to not pull goods or do work that'll get him dirty as he fears him pulling goods is showing weakness" said Alyssa.

"Ahh i see" said Edward, Alyssa looked at the old engine as he thought for a moment before his face lit up.

"Thank you for telling me this" he said to her kindly.

"No worries" said Alyssa.

"Now you best get going, you have a passenger train soon" said Edward.

"Oh your right i probally should" said Alyssa, she was about to leave until she remembered something.

"Oh Edward".

"Yes Alyssa?" Edward asked.

"Thomas told me to ask you if your ok" said Alyssa.

Edward raised an eyebrow, "Yes im fine,why does he think im not?".

"He said he's worried about you because your not coming out of the shed as often as you did in the past" Alyssa replied.

Edward sighed, "Yes im afraid im starting to be put aside as more modern engines start coming here".

"Oh dear, i'm sorry Edward" said Alyssa.

"It fine Alyssa" said Edward as he sighed again, "I do wish i could just go out and pull trains again".

Alyssa left the sheds shortly after the conversation ended, feeling bad for Edward.

A few hours later. James arrived back at the sheds. Ge'd just finished pulling a local stopping train and was going to fill up on coal before his next train. Edward saw him and took this chance to have a chat with him.

He puffed up along side him and spoke kindly to him.

"Hello James" Said Edward.

"Hi Edward" James replied.

"Are you feeling alright?" Edward asked.

"Yeah why" James replied hastily.

Edward sighed and told him what Alyssa had told him.

James looked down at his buffers with a mixed expression of anger and shame, "Look i know my fear is stupid and i know i've been a bit of a jerk since i've arrived but-".

"James,listen to me, i can understand where your coming from" Edward cut in.

"Wait really?" James looked up at Edward with suprise.

"Yes, i was bullied alot back in the day when i worked on the Furness railway by the other engines for being small and weak, but when i bought by The Fat Director he told me that everyone is special in their own way and no matter what happens, i'll always be a really useful engine"

"Really?"

"Really, so there's no need for you to be worried about taking goods. Nobody here will judge you once you tell them why, but being rude and arrogant won't help, understood?" said Edward.

James smilied, he felt a bit better after that, "Thank you Edward and im sorry for being so rude".

Edward smilied back at him, "No problem James. Remember if you still feel uncomfortable about goods, i can-".

Edward was cut off by the sound of an alarm. Both engines looked over to see the yard manager run up to them.

"There's been an accident outside of Maron. Donald's off the line, we need both of you to go up there with the breakdown train and assist in the clean up" said the yard manager.

"Yes sir, right away Sir" The two engine replied.

They soon coupled up to the Breakdown train and set off for Maron.

When they arrived, they servade the scene.

Donald was laying on his side in a field by the line as the trucks laughed and giggled behind him.

"What a mess!" Exclaimed Edward, "We best get to work".

As they began to help clean up the mess, Donald's driver came up to their crews.

"Donald is damaged from the crash so he can't pull the remaining trucks from the train, can one of you do it?" his Driver asked.

Edward was about to volunteer when James spoke up, "I'll pull it Sir".

Everyone was suprised at this but agreed to it and soon James was coupled up to the front of the train.

He began to look around nervously, but Edward gave him a comforting smile and told him to just relax and not panic.

With a wave of the guard's whistle, James started, "Come on,come on" he huffed to the trucks.

As the journey went on, James began to relax a bit. The trucks were being annoying yes, but he began to feel less worried about what the other engines would think of him. He coasted down the line, listening to his steady beat.

He soon arrived at Wellsworth with the goods just in time and the stationmaster was very pleased with him.

"Thank you for delivering this James, we were worried we'd never get in time" said the Stationmaster.

"Your welcome" said James, he was proud of himself for overcoming his fear.

"A thank you is deserved indeed" said a familar voice as James noticed the Fat Director walking into view. He gulped "What would he say?" he said to himself nervously.

The Fat Director smilied at him, "While i wasn't pleased to hear about your behaviour to the other engines. I'm am pleased to see you trying to redeem yourself".

"Really Sir?" James asked.

"Yes indeed. Alyssa told me about your whole ordeal with goods and to see you taking a train you didn't have to take. I'm proud of you and i was going to tell you and Alyssa this later, but as a reward for all of your hard work, you shall get a fresh coat of paint" Beamed The Fat Director.

"Thank you Sir" James peeped with joy, "Can i make a request on my colour though?".

"Of course,what do you have mind?" The Fat Director asked.

Later that evening, all the engines were at the sheds.The Director said that James and Alysaa had gone for repaint and the engines were excited to see what colours they chose.

Soon Two whistles sounded and James and Alisa came puffing in. James was painted in a red with yellow stripes, while Alysaa was painted in bright blue with yellow stripes like Thomas.

"Oh my godness!" said Clive, "You two look amazing".

"Why'd you guys choose red and blue?" Thomas asked.

"Red just looks nicer than black in my opinion" James replied, "Besides it makes me look even more splendid than i already did".

The other engines chuckled at this.

"As for me" said Alyssa, "I liked my old red paint, but i always wanted to be painted blue It's just such a lovely colour, reminds me of the ocean".

The Fat Director stepped down from James's cab.

"Do you like the liveries?" The Fat Director asked.

"Yes sir" the engines replied.

"Good" said The Fat Director, "Now i not only came to the sheds".

The engines stared at The Fat Director with a questioning look as he continued.

"As you know,the Coffee Pots running the Farquhar Branchline are becoming to old to continuing working the branch" said The Fat Director.

"Will they be scrapped Sir?" asked Neil.

"Heavens no!" Replied The Fat Director, "I managed to find a man on the mainland who wants them to run on his own private line. Which leds me to my next point" He paused and looked over at Thomas.

"Thomas, your work in the yards over the years had been amazing and im proud of you,and after heavy consideration. I have made a decison" he paused impressively, "Would you like to run the Farquhar Branch?".

Everyone gasped in shock. Thomas was absolutely Flabbergasted. All the engines looked over at him and waited for his reply.

Thomas thought for what felt like years his mind. This was his chance,his opportunite to leave the yards and see the world. His mouth moved a bit, but then he looked over at Edward.

Thomas knew that as time went on, more engines new and modern would arrive. Edward would just be used less and less until either one of two things happened. Either Edward would be retired and sold off to a museam or if the railway board had their way, Edward could be scrapped. Thomas didn't want neither of thoses things to happen, not to Edward.

Then he said something no one expected him to say.

"Sir, as much i as i would love to see the world. I think that my place for now is in the yards. But i think i know an engine who would be better to run the branch" he looked over at Edward. Tthe old engine smiled back at him, with tears of pride beginning to well up in his eyes.

Everyone stared at Thomas with stunned expressions, even The Fat Director was shocked at this. Not in a million years did they think Thomas would not take up the offer for him to leave the yards.

The Fat Director gave the E2 the same expression that Edward gave him, a face of pride and proudness, "Of course Thomas, if that's what you truely want".

"It is Sir" the blue engine replied.

"Very well then, Edward,would you like to run the Farquhar branch in Thomas's place?" The Fat Director asked.

Edward's face lit up with joy, "I would be delighted to Sir".

The engines whistles and cheered,Edward looked over at Thomas, "Thank you,you can't imagine how proud of you i am" he beamed.

Thomas just smiled, he was glad he saved his friend.

The engines of Sodor are as happy as can be. James and Alyssa enjoy their new life on Sodor and although James can be vain at times. Both engines are still really useful engines.

But what about Thomas and Edward?, well Both are doing fine. Edward is now working hard on The Farquhar branch, greeting and befriending all the locals to the branch.

As for Thomas, he still works in yards. He's still the cheeky tank engine we all know and love, he's gained a new founded respect from the other engines for his humbleness and choice he made that day.

The Fat Director still has plans to givd Thomas a branchline of his own. But i'm afraid that's a story we won't hear about for a while.