The remaining four engines "kept their steam up" as the phrase goes for the engines. They all got by just fine for the next couple of months. Until one day, Mr. Dry came to the sheds to deliver an important message.

"Today," he said, "two new engines will be coming to the railway. I want you to make the duo feel welcome."

"New engines?" gasped Mildred. "Sir?"

"Mr. Hatt and I wanted to wait a bit longer," Mr. Dry said quietly, "but the railway board has forced us to give into their demands."

"You should stand up to them!" snapped Glynn. "Don't you see how much they've ruined our lives already?"

"I'm sorry, Glynn…" he said quietly. "You four please remain strong. We need to pull together more than ever."

He walked away.

"I just hope no one else leaves or gets withdrawn," choked Edward. "I can't take anymore of this…"


A few days later, the two new engines arrived. Both were painted in blue, with numbers that didn't seem to match any of their respective classes' numbering systems. The one on the left, a male ex-ROD 2-8-0 with his number being 87546, and the one on the right, a female, an LNER C1 numbered 98462.

"Er… hello," ventured Albert bravely. "My name is Albert, and these are my friends Mildred, Edward and Glynn."

"Really?" sneered 98462. "The railway ran with you four little engines this whole time?"

"No wonder we were brought in," laughed 87546. "You lot just can't handle trains like we can."

"That's not true," snapped Mildred. "We just went through some heavy losses over the past few years because the railway board don't understand our feelings."

"All of my siblings were scrapped because of their selfish desires," agreed Glynn.

"Not to mention two of the Wellsworth and Suddery engines," put in Albert; he didn't dare mention what happened to Billy, and Tasha's fate was very ambiguous as he didn't see her at Crock's Scrap Yard.

Out of the four Tidmouth, Wellsworth and Suddery engines, only Edward had yet to speak up. The losses had hit everyone hard, but as the youngest and newest member, he felt like he had been through a war and back.

"Just… stay out of trouble…" Edward said in a hoarse whisper; he was trying not to cry.

98462 and 87546 looked at each other knowingly; the smaller blue tender engine seemed like an easy target, but they would only strike when the time was right.


Later on, Edward had taken Annie and Clarabel on a passenger run. The two coaches were not his - really, they were shared between him and Mildred, but they definitely provided a source of comfort.

"Don't worry, Edward," whispered Annie. "They won't hurt you with us around."

"We've got your back, Edward," added Clarabel soothingly.

"Thank you, Annie and Clarabel," smiled Edward gratefully.


Eventually, the trio pulled into Crovan's Gate, where they saw Rheneas with a saddened expression and with the old coaches in tow.

"Rheneas?" asked Edward. "What's up?"

"Oh…" trailed the old engine. "It's just… there's been a bit of hardship going on here too."

"What exactly happened?" asked Clarabel, bracing herself.

"Pr-Proteus…" Rheneas stammed. "Accident at the bridge. Skarloey tried to get there in time, but there was nothing that could be done…"

"Not Proteus!" gasped Annie.

"So Falcon and Proteus will never get to see each other…" Edward added quietly. "And we still don't know what's happened to the former…"

"I just hope Falcon's not up there too," said Jemima.

"Buffers crossed, Jemima," Beatrice said with feeling.

Just then, 87546 came up, covered in mud from when he was going up the hill between Wellsworth and Maron.

"What's happened to you?" asked Edward when he saw the dirty engine.

"Stupid mud got stuck to me," 87546 grumbled.

"You look like you've had a mud bath," chuckled Beatrice. "Have a shower instead."

"I haven't time to dawdle over my appearance like a fussy little guard's van," snorted 87546. "At this rate I'll be dirty and late."

"I'm sure he'll look better after a good hose down," joked Ruth.

"Pity about his face though," added Agnes.

Rheneas and the other coaches couldn't help but chuckle at this remark, even Edward felt like this was a great joke. However, this was a mistake, as 87546 suddenly let off steam, letting mud fly everywhere.

"Watch it!" cried Edward. "I only got my new paint job finished last week!"

"Serves you right then!" retorted 87546.

"Wh-what did I do…" stammered Edward.

"Leave him alone, you big bully!" snapped Rheneas.

"Fine then," grunted 87546, puffing away. "It's time I was off anyway."

"It's like he's too busy to waste time with water," muttered Annie.

"That's ironic," Rheneas grunted. "We steam engines need water. It's essential for us to move."

"What's going on?" asked Skarloey; he was still not his usual self from the accident from earlier.

"It's a bit of a long story," Rheneas said to his brother. "The short version; two new engines are on the big railway, and they are harassing Edward."

Skarloey glanced over at the bigger engine. "Edward, are you alright?" he gasped.

"That 87546 sprayed me," Edward sighed unhappily.

"You only got your new blue livery recently," gasped Skarloey. "That's no way to treat an engine."

"Yes, that's true," Edward said quietly. "I wish Leslie and Phyllis were still around instead of these two."

"We all miss them, Edward," sighed Clarabel.

Edward's guard's whistle blew.

"That's us," sighed the blue - now almost brown - engine. "Annie, Clarabel and I will see the seven of you later."

He puffed out of the station.

"This disrespect for engines," muttered Skarloey. "When's it going to end?"

"I don't know, Skarloey," sighed Rheneas. "I really don't…" The coaches could only agree.


Later, it was nearly time for some new trains that were being tested out for the evening. The 6:25 Wild Nor'Wester express, and the 6:30 Wellsworth-Brendam branch line train. 87546 was going to take the former, and Albert - with Victoria and Helena - was going to take the latter.

"Goodness gracious!" exclaimed Mr. Dry when he saw 87546. "You can't pull the train; 98462 will have to do it. 87546, you'd better get cleaned straight away."

Albert, Victoria and Helena all burst out laughing as 87546 puffed away.

"Serves you right for being so rude this morning," Albert said through his giggles.


98462 backed down onto the Wild Nor'Wester a few moments later.

"I don't see why my companion thinks it's not important to get cleaned," she muttered under her breath. "Just because he entered war service doesn't mean he has to not care about his appearance!"

Albert and his coaches chose not to comment on that as the passengers boarded the trains. The guard's whistle blew for 98462.

"That'd be me," she grinned as she got the train underway.

"I sure hope Edward's okay," said Helena. "He seemed very upset when he left Wellsworth earlier today."


Down at the washdown, Edward had just finished being cleaned up.

"Now that's better," he smiled as the last workman climbed down. But Edward's happiness didn't last long when 87546 steamed towards the washdown and blew mud all over him once again!

"You foolish engine!" snapped his driver. "Now Edward will need to be cleaned up again."

"Pah!" scoffed 87546. "That's what he gets for making a fool out of me!"

"I… I…" Edward stammered.

"Easy, boy," soothed his driver. "Some engines just don't understand compassion."

"Humph!" 87546 rolled his eyes.

"If you're going to keep doing that, the workmen will need to clean you first," 87546's fireman scolded. He and the driver looked over at Edward. "We're terribly sorry about this."

"It's not your fault," assured Edward's fireman. "Some engines just don't know how to behave."


Down at the sheds later that evening, 87546 and Edward met up with Mildred and Glynn.

"Are you alright, Edward?" asked Glynn, seeing his sad eyes.

"I wish I was," sighed Edward. He told the two engines about what 87546 had done to him at Crovan's Gate and the washdown.

"All of this over a bit of mud?!" exclaimed Mildred.

"That's just rude!" snapped Glynn. "Beatrice might have made the joke, but that doesn't excuse you to take out your anger on anyone like that."

"Well, it's not my fault the old iron is an easy target," grunted 87546.

"Wh-what?!" cried Edward, trying not to cry.

"You heard me," 87546 remarked. "You make us wait all day thanks to that shy steaming of yours, and you clank about like old iron too. Is it any wonder why Albert was chosen for that branch line train instead of you?"

"You take that back!" growled Mildred. "Shy steaming can't be helped."

"What can I say? Some engines just can't handle the truth!"

"Edward is a hard worker," argued Glynn, "and he gets his trains done no matter what. Besides, I heard you were taken off the Wild Nor'Wester tonight."

That made 87546 subside into silence as he went to sleep. Poor Edward burst into tears.

"He's right," he whimpered. "I can't get up to steam like everyone else can."

"That's as may be, Edward," said Glynn, "but you do put your best effort into everything you do.

"And you are so gentle with Annie and Clarabel," added Mildred. "Sometimes I hear them say they wish you were pulling them more often."

Edward managed a weak chuckle. "I love taking those two out."

"Tell you what," said Mildred. "If Mr. Dry allows it, you can take out Annie and Clarabel for all your passenger runs tomorrow. I'll take the old coaches."

"Thank you, Mildred," smiled Edward. "I'd love that."


The next day, all the engines were at the sheds. 98462 had woken up early. Mr. Dry had been pleased with her taking the express the previous night, and she had been repainted at the Steamworks.

"Oh, wake up everyone," she said impatiently. "I want to show off my new paintwork."

"Our drivers aren't there yet," grunted Albert. "It's still early, after all."

"Then what's driver and fireman doing?" snorted 98462.

"Sleeping," yawned Glynn. "I was having a good dream too…"

"But that means I'll be late!" snapped 98462. "The coaches will be waiting and the passengers will be cross."

"Rubbish, it's way too early," muttered Mildred. "You just want to show off."

"I do not!"

"If you're not careful, you'll run into danger," said Edward quietly. "And Duke won't be there to save you."

"Who's this 'Duke' you speak of?" grunted 98462. "How can a person do anything to save us from danger?"

"Not that kind of Duke," chuckled Mildred. "The Duke Edward is referring to was an engine on the Mid Sodor Railway."

"He was quite a hero," Edward smiled. "It all started when a tank engine named Falcon was new to the-"

"Do you really think I have time to listen to a story about a railway that isn't even our own?!" 98462 interrupted.

"Excuse me!" snapped 87546. "I've been trying to get some sleep over here."

"You know, I'm starting to feel sleepy again too," muttered 98462 and she closed her eyes.

"There will be trouble sooner or later…" sighed Albert.


When it was time for the engines to get to work, Edward had trouble getting started.

"Come on, fire…" Edward said quietly. "I have to get going."

"My companion was right," laughed 98462. "You really are old iron, aren't ya?"

"I'm not," Edward said through a sob. "I'm just trying to get up to steam, but it's hard."

"Keep trying, Edward," soothed Albert. "If you keep this up, you and 87546 will be sent away for rude behavior!"

"Fat chance of that," 98462 grunted. "There's a locomotive shortage at the moment. Neither of us will be going anytime soon."

The rude engine was away and Albert quickly followed. The tank engine arranged the express coaches accordingly and went to fetch Helena and Victoria for himself.

"What's happened, Albert?" asked Victoria. "You seem a bit put out."

"That's one way of putting it," sighed Albert, and he quickly explained about the conversations between the engines the previous night and that morning.

"Oh, poor Edward!" cried Helena. "No one should treat engines like that."

"Despicable behavior, that's what it is," agreed Victoria.

"I just hope that 98462's new paint doesn't go to her smokebox," Albert said quietly. "Especially since the viaduct's under maintenance at the moment."

"That would be bad news indeed," said Helena quietly.


Indeed, the viaduct was under maintenance, and Mildred had been sent to take Judy and Jerome to help with strengthening it. Behind the two was a goods train.

"I'm glad the viaduct didn't collapse in the heavy rain we had a couple of days ago," Mildred said with feeling.

"Indeed," agreed Judy. "The worst it did was make the ground muddy."

"I'd best leave you both to it," said Mildred. "I'd better get this goods train to Peel Godred."

"Why did you have to take us and the goods train together?" asked Jerome. "It would be easier with two trips."

"All I really know is, Mr. Hockings runs a tight ship at the Peel Godred project," Mildred admitted; she ran around to separate her goods train from the two cranes. "That being said, I think there's something dark about him. The two newer engines there apparently had names before, but when their nameplates came off, they were revoked. Now Mr. Hockings just calls them No. 3 and No. 4."

Judy and Jerome both shuddered sadly.

"Having your names revoked?!" cried Judy. "The poor dears."

"I tried asking what their names were," Mildred admitted, "but neither of them gave me an answer. On top of that, neither of them asked to be painted in gray; it was just dropped on them when they got there."

"Those two don't deserve this abuse," grunted Jerome. "What of Bertram and Freddie? Are they being treated any better?"

"Other than the fact they actually have names? Probably not," Mildred sighed. By now, she was ready to get moving. "I'll see you two later, okay? Edward should be down later to pick you both up."

With a blow of her whistle, Mildred set off to Peel Godred.


"I sure hope the engines down there are holding up okay," she said to herself.

Eventually, she got to Peel Godred where Bertram was waiting. He was in a darker brown livery than Duke, but looked almost exactly the same other than his nameplate, face and a bunker instead of a coal tender. Both even bore the number one.

"Hello, Bertram," said Mildred. "How are you doing today?"

"It's been hard, all things considered," Bertram admitted. "Seeing you and the electric engines brings small comfort to us."

"I'm sure things will get better for the four of you eventually," Mildred smiled weakly.

"Five, actually," Bertram corrected. "Colin sadly can't come up to see you."

"Oh, yes, your crane friend," sighed Mildred. "Give him my hello as well."

"Don't worry, I will," smiled Bertram.


While Mildred and Bertram were talking, Edward had been taking a local train and had stopped at Maron with Annie and Clarabel.

"Sorry I was a bit late, girls," sighed Edward.

"Edward, for the fifth time, it wasn't your fault," Clarabel soothed.

"Yes, no one can help the way they are," agreed Annie.

"At least I have you two," smiled Edward weakly.

Just then, 98462 thundered past with the express.

"About time you got there," she muttered. "I was flagged down at Elsbridge because of you."

"There's a slow order in place at the…" Clarabel couldn't finish her warning before the bigger engine was out of sight. "…viaduct."

"I have a bad feeling about it," Edward said quietly. "Girls, if you don't mind, I'll go see what's going on, and be back in a bit." He was uncoupled and puffed off carefully but quickly.


If 98462 had listened to Clarabel's warning, perhaps she could've had a different path to life.

"I'm running very late, thanks to that old iron!" she grunted. "I've got to make up for lost time."

"You'd better slow down, girl," said her driver. "I think we've almost reached the speed limit."

"Slow down? The idea!" snapped 98462.

Her driver and fireman tried to adjust the controls, but 98462 just wouldn't budge, and she kept going, right onto the viaduct.

"What the-?!" cried Judy. "Jerome, did you see that?"

"Was that a blue rocket?" he asked. "No, that actually doesn't add up. What would a rocket be doing on the rails?"

"Ha," grinned 98462. "That old box on wheels telling me to go slow. What a joke."

"Slow down!" a workman called out to the boastful engine. "The viaduct isn't safe to cross at high speeds!"

"There's a slow order in place!" added another one.

No sooner that 98462 was off the viaduct with the train, that the viaduct started to slowly feel unstable.

"Everyone!" cried Judy. "Get off here, quickly!" Almost immediately, the workmen working on the viaduct ran for safety. But Judy and Jerome both realized something.

"We can't get off here ourselves!" cried Jerome.

"Help us!" wailed Judy.

The two cranes heard a frantic whistle and careful puffing of a steam engine.

"Edward!" the cranes cried together.

"I'm coming, you two!" Edward panted as he slowly came onto the viaduct. His driver quickly got out to couple him onto the cranes.

"Okay, back, Edward," his driver carefully opened the reverser.

The little engine backed gently off the viaduct with the cranes in tow. He was very scared that the three of them would fall into the abyss below, and let out little whimpers as he moved.

"We're almost there," soothed the fireman. "Don't worry, Edward."

Eventually, they crossed safely to the west side of the bridge, just in time. Part of the viaduct had completely crumbled when they touched firm rails, and there was a giant pile of rubble, sleepers and ballast below, severing the viaduct into two halves. Edward, Judy and Jerome were panting when they realized what they had just avoided.

"Are you two alright?" asked Edward.

"We are now," gasped Judy. "Thank you, Edward."

"You were very brave, Edward," smiled Jerome.

"Actually, I was terrified," Edward admitted. "I didn't feel brave at all."

"If you were scared," said Judy, "you would have gone back the other way to save yourself."

"But you still went onto the bridge to save us," smiled Jerome. "That is the mark of true bravery, Edward."


Edward smiled as he got the breakdown cranes back to Maron. Annie and Clarabel looked on in surprise.

"So that's why you rushed over to the viaduct," said Annie.

"Yes," sighed Edward. "I'm glad Judy and Jerome are okay. But… this also means that we can't get trains over the viaduct."

"This is going to be a huge problem," Clarabel said quietly.

And indeed it was. How things were going to be fixed, no one quite knew for sure.


Here's chapter two of North Western Origins. The remaining four engines finally meet 98462 and 87546. Their working names were Doris and Herbert, but we didn't end up dubbing them those names. In the present day, Edward would have definitely had thin patience with these two and tell them off, but this Edward hasn't really gotten that backbone yet. Poor thing needs a hug.

Elements of The Trouble With Mud and the TVS take on Bulldog also show up here, even down to Edward mentioning the events of the latter before being cut off. The former was also used as we didn't have to worry about any potential character derailment from Gordon, who would jump at the chance to be given a washdown. We also see the events of the viaduct being under repairs and nearly collapsing due to 98462's recklessness, and Edward's first act of heroism at the end of the chapter.

Next time, we're going to see karma bite 98462 and 87546 in the tenders as they are Sent Packing.