Months had passed by on the Island of Sodor, and there were few changes here and there. Amongst these changes were the arrival of Toby the tram engine and his coach Henrietta, as well as Henry getting a rebuild after an accident at Killdane with the Flying Kipper and the saving of Trevor the traction engine from being scrapped. The forest between Vicarstown and Crovan's Gate was also dubbed Henry's forest, and a bunch of other minor happenings have also happened on the island.


"So, let me get this straight," Stevie was saying to Carole. "Gordon and James still aren't letting up about this baggage trolley incident that Percy had?"

"That's what Henry confirmed to me," said Carole. "Incidents like that usually pass by within a week or so, but not a few months."

"Something has really gotten to Gordon and James' smokeboxes," grunted Stevie. "You'd think that the strike from a few years ago would've gotten them to calm down."

"I wouldn't be surprised if something or someone decided to take them down a peg or two," said Lisa as she came in with the coaches.

"Apparently Percy's trick on James wasn't enough," said Carole, "but it did cause a lot of problems for the main line and the other branch lines."

"I'm glad we weren't affected," said Simon, "but Edward and Johnson taking the express together? Hoo boy, that'd be exhausting."

"Well, I hope Percy can get that sorted," said Stevie. "Then maybe the work on the rest of the island can smoothen out again."


I'm pleased to say, thanks to some quick thinking from Thomas, Percy was able to not be on the receiving end of jokes for a while after a "backing signal" prank set up by Gordon and James. And more good news had come to the island.

"A new tank engine has arrived?" asked Lisa to Johnson at the junction.

"A 57xx from the Great Western who prefers to go by the name of Duck," the Midi goods engine confirmed.

"Well, when you get the chance, tell him we said 'welcome to Sodor'," said Lisa.

"I'll make sure to do that," promised Johnson. "Finally, Sodor's got something to celebrate." He puffed away.

"Nothing can go wrong with a newcomer," smiled Lisa as she departed. "The only thing that is wrong is that we can't be there to greet Duck ourselves."


However, the very next day, Lisa couldn't be more wrong.

"I don't like the looks of those clouds," said Carole when she and her friends were getting ready for the day. "I get the feeling that something bad's going to happen."

"Let's just hope it's going to rain and nothing else," sighed Simon. "Lightning can do such damage to the power lines."

"Oh, that is the last thing we need when running," agreed Lisa.

"I'll check up on Falcon and Stuart when I pick up their aluminum," said Stevie. "Goodness knows they need all the support they can get. Especially since it's just the two of them and Colin now."

Yes, poor Freddie had also been tragically lost before now, and it still stung the electric engines and Falcon and Stuart very hard. The numbers three and four had looked up to Freddie as one of their rays of hope until he had been cruelly taken from them.


The blue electric engine hurried along the branch line, being mindful of any sharp corners up the line. The sky grew darker as she got closer to Peel Godred.

"I seriously doubt Conner, Patch and the girls will be out riding today," she said to himself.


The engine who was waiting for Stevie to arrive was Stuart, who too was glancing up at the sky worriedly. Light rain had started to patter onto the ground.

"This storm looks to be a big one," gasped Stuart.

"You might not be wrong there," agreed Stevie. "The weather report says it'll be worse that night."

"I hope we'll all be fine," sighed Stuart. "You four are lucky to have a controller who cares for your wellbeing."

"I don't care what your controller says," Stevie said firmly. "When the storm hits, you two run for that shelter."


Meanwhile at Killdane, the storm was getting increasingly heavier. Much to Lisa's surprise, it wasn't James taking the main line local.

"Edward?!" she gasped. "What are you doing up here?"

"Gordon and James got the 'brilliant idea' of making fun of Duck yesterday," Edward explained. "I had to take over James' passengers and Henry has Gordon's express."

"Ah, typical of those two," muttered Lisa. "Did you have a smooth run up here?"

"I did, yes," the old blue tender engine smiled. "Except the viaduct has been unstable. I only hope it doesn't get any worse."

"That's what connects the island between Crosby and Wellsworth, right?" asked Ashley.

"Cronk and Maron," Edward corrected. "But it is a vital part of the main line. If that collapses, I'll be stuck up here with Henry, Johnson, Nicole and Lauren."

"Do be careful, then," said Melanie.

"I will," said Edward as he puffed away.


Later, the storm was causing severe lighting strikes on the Peel Godred branch line.

"Simon, Lisa, Carole, Stevie!" called the stationmaster at Peel Godred. "Get to the sheds, now."

"I hope Falcon, Stuart and the mountain engines will be okay," said Carole.

"The only reason one of the mountain engines would be in this weather is to save injured climbers," said Simon. "I'm more worried about Falcon and Stuart."

"As am I," said Stevie.

"And Colin!" cried Lisa. "He can't get to shelter like we can."

"I hope he makes it through this alive," sighed Simon.

The quartet could only watch from the sheds as various lightning strikes hit everywhere, a couple of them were right on their power lines.

"We won't be able to check on Falcon, Stuart or Colin now," whispered Lisa.

"Maybe it's a good thing that the power lines don't run through all of the North Western," muttered Stevie.


Before everyone knew it, by morning, the storm was over, but the damage had been done. Some of the power lines needed to be repaired, and Edward and Johnson had to take it in turns to help on the Peel Godred branch and help the workmen fix them.

"Are you four alright?" asked Edward when he came with some trucks of supplies near the Peel Godred sheds.

"Thankfully," sighed Carole. "But we're useless without our power lines."

"It's a shame none of you have the option to work without them," said Edward. "Johnson and I are already hard pressed helping Henry on the far side of the main line as it is."

"Are you sure you'll be okay?" asked Lisa. "I mean, I did hear you clanking up here-"

"I'll be fine!" said Edward firmly. "I'll go to the Steamworks when this storm damage is cleared up."

Simon and the girls silently exchanged knowing looks. Edward might be a wise engine, but even he could be rather stubborn sometimes.


Despite being limited in their movement, the electric engines took it in turns to arrange trucks for Edward and Johnson to take away. Today, it was Simon's turn, and it was Stuart who was bringing trucks of debris and aluminum.

"Stuart, I'm glad you're okay," sighed Simon with relief. "How's Falcon and Colin?"

"Falcon's okay too, but Colin…" Poor Stuart had tears in his eyes. "He… t-the storm… there was lightning and heavy rain and…"

Simon gasped. "He's… gone?"

"…yes…"

"Oh, Stuart…" whispered Simon. "I'm so sorry…"

"T-the storm couldn't be h-helped…" Stuart hiccupped. "But… at least Colin won't be abused anymore…"

"And you and Falcon shouldn't be either!" cried Simon. "We'll have to try that police report again."

"You and the girls will get yourselves into trouble," said Stuart. "First Mr. Hockings hid Bertram's parts, then made it look as if Freddie's death was an accident, and now with Colin-"

"We can handle this," said Simon firmly. "You and Falcon hang in there."

Stuart reluctantly agreed to the idea.

"Just be careful how you go about it," he called as Simon headed off back to the sheds.


Simon reported his findings to Carole, Stevie and Lisa.

"Colin's dead?!" cried Stevie.

"And the scariest thing about it is, unlike the first two happenings, this one was a genuine freak accident," Simon put in.

"Or… was it?" asked Carole. "If Colin was owned by the North Western Railway, do you think Sir Topham Hatt would have just left him there to be destroyed?"

Stevie, Simon and Lisa all paused for a moment.

"Well, if he knew about the weather warning in advance, probably not," said Lisa. "He would at least try to get the workmen to cover Colin in tarps or put up sandbags or something."

"So this is another form of neglect on Mr. Hockings' part!" gasped Stevie. "Simon, are the power lines fixed yet?"

"Halfway there, Stevie," said the black electric engine. "Edward and Johnson have done the lines from Peel Godred to Hawin Lake so far."

"Good enough," said Stevie. "I'll get the stationmaster at Peel Godred to call the police tomorrow."

Unknown to the electric quartet, they had an unwelcome visitor outside their shed that evening.

"Trying to save my worn out rust buckets and now filing to the cops…" he muttered. "I'll show her…"


The next morning, the sun rose as usual.

"You three can handle the front half of the branch," said Simon. "Johnson and I can do the back half."

"I hope Melanie, Ashley and Jess don't cause him too much grief," chuckled Lisa.

"I'm more worried about Stevie's 'crazy ideas' making Johnson lose his temper," laughed Carole. Lisa and Simon chuckled as they looked over at their blue friend.

"Stevie, the sun's up," said Simon. "Are you pretending to doze off again?"

However, much to his surprise, Stevie didn't respond, nor did her eyes open. In fact, she remained completely still, her expression not changing.

"Stevie, this isn't a funny game," gasped Lisa. "Wake up!"

"Stephanie!" cried Carole. "Please! This is just a cruel joke, right?"

But there was no eye twitch, noise or even a smile from their blue friend.

"Oh, Great Railway above…" gulped Simon. "She's…"

"No! She can't be!" cried Carole.

Their worst fears were confirmed when Stevie's driver came to try and start her up. Not a single part of her motor would roar into life.

"I can't believe it…" sobbed Lisa. "Oh, Stevie…"

"Oh, my dear old friend…" sighed her driver. "What am I to do without you…?"


Word quickly spread around the island about Stevie's sudden death. Sir Topham Hatt felt like he had been beaten into the ground by the railway board who took the lives of the pre-grouping engines and nearly had Henry scrapped, several times over.

"No, no, no, no!" he cried and he drove over to the Peel Godred branch. By the time he had arrived, Barbara Regaby and several other police officers had arrived at the scene, wondering how this might have happened.

"Stevie…" Sir Topham Hatt whispered hoarsely. "Barbara, please let it not be true."

"I'm sorry, father…" she sighed. "Judging by the fact there's no physical damage done to her externally, I think there's only one way she could have died."

"The final firing…" gulped Sir Topham Hatt. "Who could've done such a thing…?"

"If I may say, sir, ma'am," said Simon, addressing father and daughter, "Stevie mentioned last night that she was going to tell the stationmaster at Peel Godred about what happened with Colin during the storm so she can call the police."

Sir Topham Hatt and Barbara looked at each other.

"You don't suppose…?" said Sir Topham Hatt.

"There's only one way to know for sure," said Barbara.

"In the meantime, I'll see about preparing a funeral service for Stevie," sighed Sir Topham Hatt. "Thank you for investigating, Barbara." He hugged her tightly.

Carole, Lisa and Simon were saddened about what had happened with Stevie, but they hoped that whoever did this to her would receive their just desserts.


Author's Comments

Zack: So here's the penultimate chapter to the second volume of The Peel Godred Chronicles, but far from the end of this saga. Now we've done a time skip to the events of Little Engines Can Do Big Things, around the time of the big storm that led to the viaduct's partial collapse. It's always fun to go back and revisit older stories from another angle, isn't it? But on a more serious note, we've now got the first causality for the Peel Godred branch line; Stevie's death was not a decision we were going to take lightly, and this is going to have an impact on her friends for the remainder of the saga.

Rachel: The last two chapters of this part of the saga were more or less planned from the get go, and my goodness... It was hard to kill off one of my favorite OCs, especially when she's dedicated to a show I love so much. This also adds more fear to Diesels and Westerners, as the engines had experienced loosing someone - Stevie - to a forced Final Firing. Freddie's and Colin's deaths will be explored more in the Series 9/10 and 11/12 Reduxes, but this gives you a rough idea of what happened.

Next time, we're Finishing Strongly with volume two!