And so we come to the end of the 1920's, such a simple time where Sodor prospered even without the presence of it's original number 3, but this wasn't to last.

If any of you know your history, you know what event took place in the 30s shortly after 1920s, The Great Depression.

Many businesses and industries would suffer under the stock market crash and the NWR would not be unaffected.

Sodor would experience many trials and many eras throughout this decade, new engines would arrive, new projects would begin, new rivals would be made and some strange events were to occur.

Let's dive in, shall we?.

Sodor 1930

James the red engine pulled into Knapford station on one cold January evening with a huff, he was in a foul mood. Ever since Thomas had run off to work on his branchline back in 28, he and the other engines had to arrange their own trains and they didn't like that at all. James wanted to complain to the director, but he knew it wasn't wise, with the stocket market crash and the loss of so many businesses and jobs, money was hard to come by, plus he had recently bought a new tank engine to help out Edward on his branch so it'd be a while until another one arrived.

After his passengers got off, he shunted his coaches away and headed towards the sheds where Gordon, Alyssa and the Scottish Twins were waiting, Gordon was complaining loudly to the other engines.

"It's not fair" he grumbled, "Thomas runs off to run his branchline and now we're left to pick up the slack".

"Aye" Douglas replied, "Arranging our trains takes up time and then passengers complain about us being late, we can't help it".

"I agree" James putted in as he back down into his berth, "We're all being worked off our wheels and in need of a station pliot and what does the Fat Director do?, he goes and purchases an engine to help out on a branchline of all places, is that favouritism or what?".

Gordon and Douglas agreed, Alyssa and Donald were too tired to reply, they to felt annoyed at the lack of a pliot, but knew that the Fat Director was trying to keep the railway going and that the Ffarquhar branchline was a good source of income with it's stone deliveries, so said nothing about it and went to sleep.

Next morning the engines woke up to another day's work, some were feeling tired, while some were feeling annoyed and agitated, however their moods were soon to change when the Fat Director's car came into view and stopped outside the sheds, he walked over to the engines with a grin on his face.

"Good morning engines" he boomed.

"Good morning Sir" they all replied.

"Now before you all head off to work, i've a special announcement to make" said the Fat Director.

The engines perked up at this as the Fat Director continued.

"Now i know as of recent times things have been a little tough going, but i've recently been apporached by a Circus group that are planning to come to Sodor for a week" Said the Fat Director, "They've asked me if we could help with the preparations and if i could have one my engines bring the Circus on to Vicarstown after the week is over, i agreed and they promised to pay us well if all goes good".

The engines were excited at this, Gordon and James even stopped grumbling about the workload at the thought of pulling the Circus train.

Over the next few days, ships arrived at the harbour by the big station. The dock workers would help unload things for the Circus like Elephants and Tigers, as well as equipment such as tents and seats.

But unfortunately it wasn't too last as near the end of week, Gordon and James were once again complaining when Douglas was to take the Circus train away.

While this was all going on, Donald and Douglad noticed something, mainly about Alyssa, she seemed to be very distant when it came to the animals and suprising would often avoid taking the trains, always asking the Fat Director if someone else could take it for her.

When asked about this, she would always give the same answer, "I much prefer my normal work as it is, besides you guys deserve it more than me".

The two engines were beginning to worry, "This isn't like her" said Douglas, "She'd ususal be excited about these soet of thing".

"Aye she would" said Donald, "Maybe she doesn't like Circuses?".

"Maybe, but she seemed to be talking about it with Thomas alot at Wellsworth when he met her the other day from what the wee lad told me this morning" Douglas replied, remembering his conversation with the little blue engine this morning, "She seemed to be happy that it would bring people joy with the stock market crash and all".

The two couldn't think of any reason as to why she was worried, they agreed to keep an eye on her as the week went on.

Two days later it was time for the Circus to leave. Douglas puffed into Knapford yards to collect the train, which had thankfully been already arranged which would save him time.

He didn't have to ask who did it for him as he could hear James across the yards complaining about shunting, he chuckled at this and waited for the shunter to fasten the couplings, with the blow of the guard's whistle and the wave of his flag, Douglas set off.

"Come along now, come along" he huffed as he pulled away.

He made good time as he went along the line, it was nice not having to stop at many signals due to Circus's performence timetable, all went well, that is until he reach the Ballahoo Tunnels.

Ballahoo Tunnels were located just west of Vicarstown, during it's construction the railway had planned to build two row track in each tunnel, but due to cost and time restrains, only one two way track was build, while the other was just one.

It was no secret that the one track tunnel was in desprate need of repairs, as it's track and ballast had started to become warn, until the repairs could be done, heavy goods and passengers services were not to use the one way track tunnel.

Unfortunately, the Signalman had forgotten about this and was too late to switch Douglas onto the right line.

By the time Douglas and his crew had released the mishap, they stopped just before the tunnel.

"That stupid old Signalman" Douglas's fireman grumbled, "17 years of experience and yet he can't hear when a bloodly train's coming!"

"Calm down Andrew" replied the Driver, "Listen, it'll take to much time to turn back, the Circus needs to leave by 12 and we'll be late if we stay here any longer, we'll just it slow through the tunnel and than we'll be grand".

Douglas and his fireman were reluctant at first, but agreed.

Douglas soon started up again and entered the tunnel causiously, the sound of the animals and the vans's wheels turning were all that could be heard.

Just as he was nearing it's end, one of the Elephants let out a loud cry off it's trunk, which caught Douglas off guard, cauding him to bump into his train out of fright.

"It's alright old boy" comforted the driver, "It's only the Elephant, probably wants to gets out and stretch it's legs".

They soon made it out of the tunnel and made up for lost time once the reached Vicarstown.

A another engine from the Mainland was waiting for him as he pulled into the station, he gave the Scottish twin a puzzled look.

"Hey Scott, you brought an empty van with you?" he asked.

Douglas raised an eyebrow, "No, all these vans are filled with the Circus animals before i left".

"Then why's one of them open?" the engine asked.

Douglas looked back and gasped at the sight, one of the vans the was carrying one of the animals was empty, it's door had been flung open with lock damaged.

"LOSH SAKES!" Douglas cried, "WE'VE LOST ONE OF THE ANIMALS!".

His Driver, Firemen and Guard all strode up to the van, they began to check over the rest of the train to make sure none of the other animals had escaped.

"Looks like it was the Elephants that escaped" sighed the Driver, "must have been when we were in the tunnel".

"Well that's just great!" said the Fireman, "a nine ton animal running loose, who's knowns where it could be now".

Fortunately for the crew, it hadn't gone far, unfortunately for the crew, it was on a stretch of line with no signals or anything, only passing trains, the Elephant felt lonely and wandered the line to look for it's keeper.

Down the line, Alyssa was pulling as Passenger train, she was making good time, although that wasn't the main thing on her mind.

"It's alright old girl" Comforted her driver, "The Circus is gone now, you won't he seeing it for awhile".

"I know driver" Alyssa sighed, "It's just still makes me feel nervous with those-, things, i just don't want to be close to another one of them".

"Just know that if your uncomfortable with it being around them, i can talk to the Fat Director about it for you, he'll understand" replied the driver.

Alyssa smiled, "Thank you Arthur, i really-, OH DEAR LORD!, STOP, STOP!" Alyssa cried, her driver applied the breaks in panic as the train screeched to a stop.

There sitting infront them was a very large, cross Elephant, Alyssa was frozen in fear, the Elephant stared at her dead in the eyes, it let out a curious grumble as it moved slowly towards her.

"GET AWAY FROM ME!" Alyssa yelled as she began to reverse back in fear.

"WOAH OLD GIRL, CALM DOWN, DON'T PANIC!" her driver yelped as him and the driver were flung back.

Alyssa ran back faster than she'd ever gone before, the passengers were very confused and cross, Alyssa didn't listen to them or her driver, she needed to get away, she couldn't be near those things for another second longer.

When she reach the tunnel, she braked hard and came to a stop inside of it, she closed her eyes tight and didn't move a muscle.

Her driver got down to check on her, "Are you alright Alyssa?" he asked concerned.

Alyssa didn't respond, she kept her eyes closed and kept mumbling to herself.

"Is she okay?" asked the fireman.

"No, i think she's gone into shock" replied the driver, "You best go up the line and call for help, i'll stay here and look after the train".

The fireman agreed and headed off to the nearest Signalbox, once he got there he telephoned for help.

Donald was in Kildane Yards, he was waiting for the Iron Works engine to bring him a load of steel from the Iron Works, when the Yard Master ran up to him.

"There been trouble up the line, Alyssa run into the tunnel and won't come out, apperantly something concerning a lost Elephant" said the Yard Master.

Donald's face grew worried, he was now very concerned about Alyssa and quickly rushed away to the Tunnel.

Once he arrived, the guard told him to take the train onto to the next station where buses would be waiting to take the passengers on, once he finished that he was to come back and take Alyssa home.

He pulled Alyssa out of the tunnel and put her onto to a siding, "Are you okay?" he asked concerned.

Alyssa didn't reply and kept mumbling to herself, Donald listen closely, "Not again, please don't let it near me again" she mumbled to herself.

"Dinna worry Lassie" Douglas said softly, "Your safe now".

Douglas left her on the siding and quickly took the train on, he wanted to get back to her as quick as possible.

When he arrived at the next station, he was greeted by Douglas, who had with him one of the Circus vans, a keeper was taking the Elephant away as Douglas explained to him what had happened, Donald told him about Alyssa and the two engines agreed to talk to her about it once they reached the sheds.

They soon arrived back at the tunnel and coupled Alyssa up to them and brought her home, the sheds were empty, they were glad they were.

Once they were all in the sheds, Donald broke the silence.

"Is there something you want to talk about Lassie?" he asked.

Alyssa looked up, her eyes were still stained with tears, she seemed uncomfortable, but knew the twins for long enough to trust them, she took a deep breath and explained.

"Before i arrived here, i was tasked with pulling a Circus train back on the LMS" she said softly, "I was excited and looked forward to it at first. But when i got there, One of the elephants was furstrated with it's keeper who was wipping it non-stop for fun, it got angry and started roaming around the yards knocking over things. When it saw me, it ran over and rammed into me, knocking me off the rails, injuring my crew and damaging me badly, ever since then, i've always been frightened of elephants, espically those Circus ones".

The Scottish Twins looked on in sympathy, they felt sorry that Alyssa had to go through all that.

"Why didn't you tell one of us or the Fat Director?" Douglas asked.

"I thought you would all laugh at me" Alyssa sighed.

"Rubbish!" replied Donald, "The Fat Director would understand, he's a kind man and im sure the others would too".

"Are you certain?" Alyssa asked, looking up at them.

"Aye" said Douglas, "All of us are here for you Alyssa, we'd hate to see you suffer in slience, just remember we're here for you if you ever need to talk about something".

Alyssa smiled, "Thank you two, this means alot to me".

Unbeknownst to the three engines, the Fat Director had been listening from afar, he had arrived to ask Alyssa about today's ordeal but upon hearing her confession, he decided to leave it at that, next time the Circus arrived, he would make sure to keep an eye on her.

Alyssa is now as happy as can be, she now feels confident enough to confide in her friends if she is ever feeling down.

Gordon did tease her about the Elephant for a short while, but quickly subsided with his comments once he got a very stern lecture about being rude to others from the Fat Director.

As for James, he didn't tease her too much about the incident, Douglas however, let's just say James had alot to say about lost animals, but that's another story.

And that's episode 10 done!, first episode of the 1930s and im happy with it, there's gonna be lot more to come on the 30s that i can't wait to write, until then, i see you's all in the next episode.