THE INTERNATIONAL RAILWAY SERIES No. 5
IVO HUGH THE NEW ENGINE
Based upon the original stories by Christopher Awdry and Becky Overton
New material by Zack Wanzer and Rachel Ravens
Foreword
Greetings, friends young and old!
To say that the Skarloey Railway has changed a lot since my overhaul would be an understatement. Luke makes a fine addition to our railway, as does Millie for the estate railway up at Ulfstead Castle, and the Blue Mountain Quarry is quite the location! We've also got a new engine built for our railway, although he and I didn't quite get on at first…
I'd say more, but I'd be spoiling the stories, and that wouldn't suit His Grace now, would it? Please, see for yourself!
Duke a.k.a. "Granpuff"
THE CONTROVERSY OF SEVEN
Gordon was at the Steamworks. His motion had been damaged when his boiler had primed and his regulator jammed wide open, causing his wheels to slip at a standstill and his cylinders to burst. It would take a very long time for Gordon to be repaired, but he wasn't alone, even when Victor and Kevin were busy with other things, for he had some company following Nia and Rebecca's repaints.
"I say, youngster. What brings you here this time?"
Gordon glanced over at the voice. Though he hadn't heard it in a few years, it was unmistakable.
"Duke!" gasped Gordon. "It's so good to see you again. And I see you've gotten some buffers installed."
"It's about time too," said Duke. "You'd think they would have done it when they were mending me for service here when I was first found."
"Ah, yes, I've sometimes wondered why you weren't given buffers sooner," agreed Gordon. "Oh! I haven't answered your question yet, have I?" He then explained about the damage he sustained several days ago.
"My word!" gasped Duke. "It's a good thing you were brought here as soon as that occurred. And are Nia and Rebecca the only new arrivals since my overhaul?"
"Goodness, no," laughed Gordon. "There've been a lot of new arrivals on the North Western Railway; about eleven steam engines - Nia and Rebecca included - five diesels and four coaches - some of them are privately owned, mind you."
"That sounds like a lot to take in," exclaimed Duke.
"Indeed, and there's two new engines in your ranks too," added Gordon. "Luke and Millie."
Before Gordon could say anymore, the workmen came to see Duke for a final inspection.
"Well, Duke," said the head workman, "it seems like you're ready to get moving."
"You be careful out there, Duke," called Victor. "Don't push yourself too hard on your first day back."
Duke chuckled. "I'll be alright, Victor. Thank you for helping to oversee my repairs."
"Not a problem, Duke," smiled the red narrow gauge engine.
The brown tender engine carefully puffed towards Crovan's Gate for the first time in years, when he spotted two familiar tank engines chatting with their trains.
"Hmm, I wonder…" Duke rolled forwards as quietly as he could.
"…so, Sir Handel, what do you make of our visitor?" asked Peter Sam.
"Olton Hall is definitely a pleasant sort," replied Sir Handel. "I wonder how she'll go on the Little Western today…"
PEEP PEEP!
"Whoa!" Both engines jumped in surprise. Then they heard some laughter, an all-too familiar voice to both of them.
"Granpuff!" Sir Handel and Peter Sam grinned.
"Welcome back!" cried Sir Handel. "We've really missed you."
"And I've missed you two too," Duke smiled as he pulled up alongside them.
"Is it just me, or did you finally get buffers like the rest of us?" asked Peter Sam.
"I have indeed," said Duke. "Now I fit in with the rest of you. I have to take some trucks up to the quarry on my first run."
"Well, we're both on our way there right now," said Sir Handel. "Come on, we'll show you around."
"Er… I've been up to the incline before," said Duke.
The younger duo couldn't help but laugh. Their old mentor raised an eyebrow, a mixture of confusion and curiosity.
"We'll explain on the way," said Peter Sam.
The trio headed along the line and Duke was most surprised when the trio got to the Blue Mountain Quarry.
"By His Grace's name!" he exclaimed. "I didn't realize this quarry was here!"
"Hello!" called a voice from above. "Are you this Duke Owen and I have been hearing about?"
"That's Merrick," explained Sir Handel. "Owen's the incline over there."
"Oh, hello," said Duke. "Yes, I'm Duke. Nice to meet the two of you. How long have you two been here?"
"Quite a few years," said Owen. "It's an honor to meet you at last, Duke. The others have been missing you a lot, especially these two."
Just then, Luke came up with his trucks.
"There you are, Sir Handel and Peter Sam. We're… oh my! Is this Duke?"
"That's correct," smiled Peter Sam. "Duke, this is Luke. Luke, Duke."
"It's a pleasure to meet you too, Luke," the brown tender engine smiled. "When did you get here?"
"Er… it's… a bit of a long story, Duke," sighed Luke. "I… hid myself up here in the quarry for a couple of years." He quickly explained the story between himself, Victor and the other engines hiding him up at the quarry, and how Thomas helped to uncover the mystery of it all.
"Goodness me," gasped Duke. "Well, I can understand why you did that, but jumping to conclusions is never a good thing. I remember a time where I did that once."
"Y-you did?" asked Luke. "What exactly happened?"
"I'll explain another time," said Duke. "Meanwhile, could you three show me how this new quarry works?"
The younger engines eagerly agreed. Though Duke was a bit out of the loop in his new surroundings, the trio and the other engines coming into the quarry were very willing to show him the ropes.
That evening, the engines were discussing the day's work.
"It's fantastic you're back home again, Duke," said Rusty. "We've all missed you a lot."
"You should make a run up to Ulfstead Castle," said Skarloey. "I'm sure Millie would like to meet you."
"Is she a part of the railway as well?" asked Duke.
"No," said Rheneas. "She's privately owned by the estate railway, alongside Stephen and Glynn."
"Glynn's alive?!" gasped Duke. "I thought he was scrapped years ago!"
Before anyone else could explain further, Mr. Percival walked over with his bicycle in tow.
"Good evening, engines," he greeted.
"Evening, sir," they all replied.
"First of all, welcome back, Duke," smiled Mr. Percival. "I trust you settled back into your routine alright."
"I have indeed, sir," smiled Duke. "Although it will take a while to get used to these changes that have taken place in my absence. I must say, sir," he continued, observing his controller, "you look as though you haven't aged a day! How'd you manage that?"
Mr. Percival laughed. "Oh, no, Duke, my father retired a while back. I'm Peter Percival."
"Ah. I see," said Duke, a little embarrassed. "I trust your father's enjoying a well-deserved rest?"
"He sure is," smiled Mr. Percival. "I'm sorry you didn't see that little transition, Duke."
"Quite alright, sir," said Duke. "I'll adjust."
"Now, onto the next bit of news," said Mr. Percival. "We're having a new engine being built right here at Crovan's Gate. He, she or they will be the younger sibling of Tom Rolt."
"From the Talyllyn Railway, sir?" asked Fred. "What is it with the majority of us being siblings of engines from that railway, anyway?"
"I don't think I have a sibling there," said Luke. "And nor do Mighty Mac or Duke."
"That's true," said Mighty. "Ours and Duke's siblings are on the Ffestiniog Railway."
Mr. Percival chuckled. "All that considered," he went on, "our new engine is going to be numbered seven."
"Er, seven, sir?" asked Duncan, sounding rather uneasy with what he and the others had just heard.
"Yes, that's what I said, Duncan-" He then heard his phone buzzing. "Oh, bother, that'll be my wife. She'll be picking up our daughter from her friend's house so I'll have to mind the other kids." He quickly hopped on his bike and pedaled away.
"Number seven?" gasped Rusty. "Tell me I didn't just hear that."
"I'm afraid that we all did," sighed Duke. Luke looked over at the other engines with a confused expression.
"Why are you all skeptical about this?" asked Luke. "As a matter of fact, why doesn't this railway have a number seven at all? Skarloey, Rheneas, Sir Handel, Peter Sam, Rusty and Duncan make up one through six, and Duke, Fred, Mighty Mac and I make up eight through eleven."
"That's… a long story, Luke," sighed Mac.
"And it was the reason why I was on an overhaul for so long," added Duke.
Past
It wasn't too long after Mighty Mac and Fred were both sent to work on the Spring Lakes Heritage Line on a long term loan, and engines one through eight were running the railway. Duke was taking a train of slate down from the incline quarry during early December.
"Why did Mighty Mac choose to go?" muttered Duke. "There's lots of slate this time of year."
"We'll just have to make the best of it, ol' boy," said his driver.
Unfortunately, Duke didn't get too far when there was an uncomfortable twinge in both his cylinders.
"I'd better get that checked over when I have the chance of a rest," he decided. But his 'chance of a rest' came much sooner than he would have liked.
"Ugh!" Duke cried. "What's happened?" His crew went down and quickly inspected the damage.
"Your cylinder lining is gone on both sides," sighed Duke's fireman.
"Oh dear, this would never suit His Grace at all!" cried Duke. To make matters worse, there was a rumbling sound from up above.
"Avalanche!" cried Duke's driver.
"Driver, fireman, get out now!" Duke said quickly.
"We can't leave you," said Duke's fireman.
"You won't have to!" cried another voice. Duke glanced in front of him to see Flyer racing down the track. They pushed Duke into a siding out of the way of the oncoming snow and was about to hide themself when a thick wave of snow and rocks came rushing down the side of the cliff.
"FLYER!"
Duke was eventually recovered by Rusty, and they rallied the news back to the others.
"Y-you mean they're…" stammered Peter Sam.
"Afraid so," said Rusty sadly. "Flyer was very brave to save Duke the way they did."
The others mournfully agreed with the little diesel, and a small funeral was held the following day after Flyer's remains were melted down for scrap…
Present
"…and that was the year before you arrived too, Luke," finished Duke.
"So that's why I was given the number eleven when I became an official member," Luke realized. "Oh… everyone, I… I'm so sorry I brought this on."
"You've nothing to feel sorry for," assured Skarloey. "Flyer was a part of our railway, and you should know about them."
"I hope they found peace up in the Great Railway," said Luke.
The other engines agreed and they slowly fell asleep. What was surprising though, was that all the little engines found themselves in the same dream.
"Is this normal?" asked Luke.
"Not usually," said Rheneas. "Not unless…"
"Hi, everyone."
"Flyer?!" gasped the engines - barring Luke, who stared in surprise.
"F-Flyer," Fred exclaimed, "but… we thought…"
"That I was dead?" replied the inspection trolley. "Well, I'm afraid you are correct, Fred. You are all asleep."
"Well… not the first time we've seen this," said Sir Handel. "What brings you here in this shared dream?"
"I am here, Sir Handel," said Flyer, "because I'm aware you all are apprehensive of this new 'number seven' being built. Would I assume it is because that is my old number, and you feel as if I'm being replaced?"
"Aye, we all did," said Duncan. "Ah couldnae believe it when Mr. Percival said the new engine would take yer old number."
"It would be a bit of a shock to you lot," said Flyer. "But my time on the Skarloey Railway ended a long time ago, Duncan. The new number seven, he, she or they, should wear that number with pride, as I once have. You should be welcoming of the newcomer and allow him, her or them to show what they can do."
The other engines looked at their former number seven with surprise.
"You really want this, Flyer?" asked Peter Sam.
"I sure do," said the inspection trolley. "And don't worry; I'll be watching over you all. May the Great Railway light your rails, my friends."
As Flyer faded back into the Great Railway, the living engines continued to sleep, much more peacefully. They were now eagerly wondering who their new friend and co-worker was going to be. Little did they realize what a surprise the new little engine would bring to them…
Author's Comments
Here we go with the fifth book of The International Railway Series, Ivo Hugh the New Engine! This entire book, much like Fame Isn't Everything, is set during the time skip in which Gordon is being repaired following his mishap in Friends Together to the End, hence the cold opening with the big blue engine at the Steamworks. This story also marks the return of Duke into the CGI era after a lengthy overhaul, and him adjusting to new changes to the Skarloey Railway will serve as the B-plot to the entire book. And yes, Flyer is a posthumous character, going off of the brief flashback that takes place around the series 9-10 timeframe.
Next time, we meet the new number seven for the Skarloey Railway in A Recipe for Disaster!
