The Dieaseal

Based upon the story by Rev. W. Awdry

Adapted by Rachel Ravens

Takes place between STLOE and F&W


We've mentioned Bill and Ben a lot in our stories so far, but they've yet to get a chance to shine. Well, let's give them a visit, shall we, but before we jump into the current story, let's go back to Duck's first run on the Wellsworth branch line…


He had taken a passenger train to Brandam station after Edward said he was swapping jobs with James to pass a message to Thomas. It was a quiet run, and Duck made good time as he entered.

"Lots of ships coming in," Duck observed. "I wonder if any other engines work here…"

Just then, Duck heard a high pitched whistle coming from the sidings.

"I don't recall Sir Topham Hatt ordering a ninth steam engine," he said to himself and headed over.

When he drew nearer, he noticed that the engine was painted bright yellow, had red wheels, and a squat cab.

"Hello mystery engine," said the yellow tank engine. "My name's Bill. Who are you?"

"Montague, but everyone calls me Duck," replied the pannier tank engine.

"You don't have wings or webbed feet," Bill said in surprise.

"No," chuckled Duck. "But I do prefer Duck to Montague."

"Bet I can beat you to the other end of the yard," challenged Bill.

"Oh, that's okay," said Duck, "I'm not really one for-"

"Ready, set, go!" Bill raced off, leaving Duck coughing steam.

"Energetic… little engine…" he coughed. He then saw Bill on the other side of the harbour and headed over.

"You are quick," he commented.

"I can be just as quick the other way!" cried Bill; Duck thought that Bill had a cough in his smokebox too, as his voice sounded slightly different.

"I really need to fill up on coal and water for my-"

"Ready, set, go!" Bill was off again, leaving Duck in another cloud of steam.

"Not again!" coughed Duck. "This engine… isn't letting me… get a word in… edgewise."

"I win again!" cried Bill, now his voice sounded like it did the first time.

Just then, Duck heard James arrive with the goods train. Thankfully, there was a long line of trucks shielding him from view, so James couldn't see him.

"Ugh, that Duck!" he grunted. "How dare he make up rude names about us! 'He'd never do it', so says Edward. He wasn't there!"

Bill then got an idea, and he moved toward an old pipe on the dock.

"Red engine," he called. "Leave those trucks right there."

"If you don't," said a second voice; also echoing in the pipes. "I, the ghost train, will come and steal your coaches."

"G-G-Ghost train?!" stammered James. "T-That's ridiculous."

"But it's true!" called Bill, "Leave these trucks behind, and no coaches will be stolen."

James was in too much of a shock to think straight, so he was uncoupled from the trucks and rushed away.

"I want my coaches back Edward!" he cried as he left the trucks.

Duck had silently witnessed the whole thing.

"Well," he said to himself. "I wouldn't have seen that coming."

"Don't worry, Duck." said the second voice; now free from the pipe, "that bully won't hurt you with us around."

Duck looked in absolute surprise.

"Bill and…"

"Ben!" said the second engine. "We're twins."

"Oh!" Duck realised. "I didn't know Sir Topham Hatt had two more new engines."

"We're not Sir Topham Hatt's engines," said Bill. "The China Clay manager owns us."

"Yeah," said Ben. "We met Edward a while ago, and we know whatever he says is the truth, so that bully engine must have been lying."

"Actually," sighed Duck. "It wasn't James that was lying. There's a bully that's on trial in the main yards named Diesel. He made up nicknames for Henry, Gordon and James, and pinned the blame on me."

Bill and Ben both gazed at Duck with sad eyes.

"No engine deserves that kind of treatment," said Bill.

"We'll double head James' return goods train," added Ben. "You just focus on your passengers."

"Thank you, Bill and Ben," smiled Duck, and he went to fill up on water and coal. "Quite cheeky, but they're not malicious. I think I'm going to like these two."


Almost a year after this occurrence, Bill and Ben were still happily working at the China Clay works and Edward also commonly works with them. Unfortunately for the trio, their line had been getting much too busy, and Sir Topham Hatt knew this.

"I'll see where I can get another engine," he said to Edward. He hopped onto the express, and Gordon took it all the way to the other end of the line.


While that was going on, down on the mainland, a diesel was taking a goods train. The diesel in question was a big green one, his number D7502 was painted on his sides. Unfortunately, things weren't going well for him.

"Easy on my throttle, driver," said the diesel, trying not to cough, "I'm feeling a bit funny."

"I understand BoCo," soothed his driver, slowing him down. "You want to rest and see what's wrong with you?"

"Not here, driver," BoCo said firmly. "There's a siding at the next station a couple of miles down."


BoCo slowly carried on the line, but even with his reduced speed, he still felt his motor giving him problems. Down at the next station, a large tank engine was waiting with his passenger run in the opposite direction. He was painted in the standard LMS black livery, and his number was 1204.

"You okay, BoCo?" he asked.

"Not really, Arthur," the diesel sighed. He gently backed into the siding. "I've got dreadful problems. It's like a disease that comes and goes."

"I'm sure you'll be fixed up again," Arthur said kindly.

"He won't," sneered a voice. Arthur and BoCo both groaned as another diesel came into view with a goods train and roared past. "BoCo's class is bound for the scrapheap, as are every steam engine in existence. If someone else took the train, I wouldn't have this delay."

"Oh, shut up, D261!" snapped Arthur. "At least BoCo has respect, which is more than what I can say for you."

Just then, Arthur's guard's whistle rang out.

"Some engines…" grunted Arthur as he pulled out, "hope you feel better soon, BoCo."

"Thanks, Arthur…"

His driver found the problem not long afterwards. Turned out there were a couple of bolts loose and the problem was quickly resolved.

"Come on, BoCo," said the driver, "we've delayed the train for long enough as is."

"Right…" sighed BoCo. "I wish I didn't have these problems every few days…"


Arthur meanwhile got to his last stop, Barrow in Furness, where he found some coaches from Gordon's express on another track, and a well dressed gentleman on the platform.

"Hello, my name is Sir Topham Hatt" he greeted the tank engine, who felt surprised. "And what is your name?"

"Arthur, sir," he replied. "Are you the controller of the North Western Railway, the one who saved the Scottish Twins just before Christmas?"

"Er, yes," the controller was stunned that information had spread so quickly. "I'm looking for another engine for the Brandem branch line. Would you like to trial on Sodor?"

Arthur was stunned by this request. Sodor did sound like a great place to be. A paradise for steam engines where they would never fear the scrapper's torch. But… he then thought of BoCo.

This could be BoCo's chance to get a rebuild. He thought. Henry was given a rebuild at Crewe a few years back. And maybe the engines will lighten up on diesels too.

"Sir," he said, "I'm honoured by the request. But I feel there's an engine who needs this chance more than me." And he explained about BoCo's situation.

"And he refused to stop until he got the line clear?" Sir Topham Hatt exclaimed. "I do like my engines to have a duty of care for others. Very well. I'll ring the controller when I get back. But rest assured, Arthur, I will keep you in mind."


"D7502?!" exclaimed the controller on the other end of the phone. "Er, sir, I don't think that would be the best choice. There's a large tank engine that would be-"

"Keep him in service for as long as possible," Sir Topham Hatt said firmly. "BoCo will be perfect for my railway."

"Er… okay, sir, but no refunds…"


BoCo was surprised when word got back to him.

"Me?!" he exclaimed. "Arthur, why didn't you…"

"Go on, BoCo," smiled the tank engine. "It's been an honour to work with you."

"Likewise, my friend," BoCo said. "And thank you for this chance."

BoCo happily rolled away, leaving D261 flabbergasted.

"You turned down life with steam engines to allow a diesel to go there?"

"Some engines don't understand kindness," grunted Arthur.


Later, back on Sodor, Edward was just arranging his passenger run, when he heard the toot of a diesel horn.

"That can't be Rusty," he said to himself. And before he knew it, BoCo rolled into Wellsworth.

"Hello," said Edward kindly. "You must be the new engine Sir Topham Hatt ordered. I'm Edward."

"My name is BoCo," replied the diesel. "Yeah, not exactly the most creative name; just a reverse of my wheel configuration."

"It fits you," commented Edward. "Welcome to Sodor. Did Sir Topham Hatt tell you what jobs you'll be doing?"

"I think he said something about some China Clay trucks," said BoCo. "I had to pick them up from… Brandam harbour or something."

"Ah yes," said Edward. "It's an unscheduled goods extra. You can go and collect them now if you like."


BoCo happily went off to collect them. Though he was a bit worried about what would happen on this run.

"Something may go wrong if I'm not careful," he said to himself. "This is a trial, and I could easily be sent back…"

"We'll do our best, ol' boy," soothed the driver as they coasted along the branch line.


Bill and Ben were happily shunting the China Clay trucks down at the harbour.

"I can get more shunting done than you!" called Ben.

"Oh, I've got five trucks already," said Bill, "you've only got three."

"Oh yeah?" Ben quickly added three trucks to his lot. "Now I'm beating you."

But then, the twins saw the front sidings empty.

"Bother," sighed Bill, "we'll have to go back for more trucks."

"Last one to the quarry has a missing cab!" challenged Ben, and the two raced away.


Later, BoCo arrived at the harbour.

"Hmm, those must be the trucks I'm due to pick up," he said. But as he buffered up to the trucks, he thought he felt something splash under him.

"Oh, I hope that was just a puddle that splashed in from the ocean," he said anxiously. He gently shunted the trucks into a line.

"Hey," said a truck. "A new engine. Let's play a joke on him."

"But he's being so gentle with us," said another. "I don't think we should try."

"Yeah," agreed a third. "Let's let this go just this once."

"Oh, you're not fun," sighed the first truck, but he was very outvoted by the others and decided now would be good to play it safe as BoCo took the train back.


No sooner than BoCo left, Bill and Ben returned to the harbour.

"They're gone!" squeaked Bill.

"Look!" cried Ben, "there's a puddle on the track."

His driver went to clean it up.

"It came from a diesel," said the driver.

"A what'll?" asked Bill.

"A dieseal." said Ben, "there's a notice in our shed. 'Coughs and sneezles spread dieseals', remember? You had a cough in your smokebox the other day."

"Driver cleaned it out." retorted Bill.

"It was your fault the dieseal came! Your driver was coughing."

"It's not my fault!"

"It is then!"

"Stop arguing," laughed the drivers together.

"Let's go rescue the trucks instead," added Bill's driver.

"But," Ben exclaimed, "we'll be magiced away like the trucks!"

"Oh, I think we'll magic them away instead," chuckled Ben's driver. He removed Ben's nameplates, and Bill's driver did the same for him. Both twins started chuckling as their idea fell into place.

"Last one there has their buffers fall off," chuckled Bill.

"I will not have my buffers fall off!" retorted Ben as they zipped away.


BoCo managed to get to Wellsworth in good time and was quietly resting in a siding. His driver went to eat some lunch.

Not too bad for a first run. BoCo smiled to himself. I just hope I'll be able to prove myself worthy…

Meanwhile, Bill crept up on the line alongside BoCo, and let out a sharp whistle.

"Do you mind?" BoCo asked firmly.

"Yes," said Bill bravely. "I want my trucks, please."

"These are mine," BoCo demanded. "Go away."

"You're a big bully," Bill whimpered, pretending to be frightened. "You'll be sorry." He dashed back, and gave a wink.

"My turn." whispered Ben, puffing up on BoCo's left. "Truck stealer!" he cried.

"What in the world?"

Then BoCo looked to his right. Bill came up again.

"Hello again!" he said before rushing back.

"How did you…"

"Hi!"

This went backwards and forwards for a while until BoCo's eyes nearly popped out.

"Stop, stop!" he cried. "You're making me giddy!"

At last, Bill and Ben stopped on the tracks either side.

"Are there two of you?!" BoCo exclaimed in surprise.

"Yes," said Bill. "We're twins."

"I might have known it." BoCo chuckled. The trio then heard a whistle, and Edward came up with his return passenger train.

"Bill and Ben!" he snapped. "Why are you playing here?"

"We're not playing." Ben insisted. "We're rescuing trucks!"

"What do you mean?"

"Even you don't come into our yard without asking," said Bill, "and you only take the trucks we give you!"

"But," squeaked Ben indignantly, "this dieseal didn't even ask! He just took the lot."

"There is no cause to be rude," said Edward sternly. "This is a 'Metropolitan Vicars Diesel Electric Type 2.'"

BoCo tried to smile, but now Edward told the twins exactly what type of engine he was.

There goes my reputation. He thought sadly. But much to his surprise, the twins looked over with sad expressions.

"We're sorry, Mr… Metrove-Vicars… uh…"

BoCo grinned genuinely now. "Never mind. Call me BoCo. I'm sorry I didn't understand about the trucks."

"Okay, now that's sorted," said Edward, "go find BoCo's trucks, Bill and Ben. I'll be down with a goods train for you later, myself."

Bill and Ben grinned and happily scampered away.

"There's no real harm in them," said Edward to BoCo, "but they can be maddening at times."

BoCo chuckled. "'Maddening' is the word." He then looked over at the twins. "How did you know I was a… dieseal?"

"You left some oil on the tracks where the trucks were," said Ben.

"Oh… bother my engine troubles," groaned BoCo. "My apologies."

"You'll just be mended and be right as rain in no time." smiled Bill, "Whatever that means."

BoCo wished he could share the twins' optimistic views, but not even their kind words and Edward's reassuring gaze could make him feel better.

The End?


This episode was a treat to do, let me tell you. I was hoping Zack would compile Main Line Engines together, as we can expand on BoCo's character arc. But it seems to work with what we have going on here.

Bill and Ben's scene with Duck at the harbour was a lot of fun to do. This helps to establish them as characters, and even shows an "everyone has standards" attitude for them. They may play tricks, but they will stand up for an engine who's being bullied, which is giving me an idea for the next episode, Wrong Road (spoilers by the way). Unfortunately, the placement of Wrong Road will mean BoCo has not taken the express for James yet, but I have an idea for what Gordon will say instead. Keep your eyes open for that, next time.

At the time of this upload, I have completed writing all the one-shots up to Ghost Train, which was actually quite tricky to write, as you will see later on.