Wrong Road
Based upon the story by Rev. W. Awdry
Adapted by Rachel Ravens
Takes place between STLOE and F&W
BoCo was anxiously looking at Edward when Bill and Ben were shunting.
"You seem to know what my class is, Edward," said BoCo. "Does this mean you know what my mechanical faults are too?"
Edward's eyes went wide in shock.
"I'll take that as a no then," BoCo realised. "Long and short, my class has a lot of problems. I… I'm surprised I managed to get back here with a minor oil leak."
"Oh, BoCo," Edward said with sympathy. "You know, I was once a shy steamer; completely unwanted until Sir Topham Hatt acted at the last minute."
"You don't seem like one now," said BoCo. "Why, I heard a tale about you catching James when he ran away."
"Well, that's because I…" before Edward could explain, Bill and Ben were done arranging BoCo's trucks.
"There you go, BoCo," smiled Bill. "One train ready to go."
"Thank you, Bill and Ben," BoCo said warmly. He gently buffered up to the train and carefully crossed the points onto the main line.
"Why is BoCo so worried, Edward?" asked Ben. "He'll get repaired in no time." Bill's silent expression seemed to be asking the same question.
Oh, sweet, innocent Bill and Ben. Edward thought. "Well," he said aloud. "Sir Topham Hatt is a fair man. And he did choose BoCo for a reason. I'm sure things will improve as time goes on." The guard's whistle blew, and Edward was up and away with his goods train, which he had arranged in the siding ready to go earlier that day. Bill and Ben then followed down to the China Clay quarry.
Unfortunately, the 'things improving' did not happen right away. BoCo was climbing up Gordon's hill. As he did so, oil began to spill out even more than on the branch line.
"Oh, not again..." groaned BoCo. "I've got to get to the next station!"
"It's okay, BoCo," soothed the driver, taking pressure off his throttle. "You can do it, ol' boy."
"I've got to get there." he said with determination. But, moments before he could reach the top, he stopped.
"Uh oh!" cried BoCo, and he started to slide down the hill, going faster due to the rails slick with oil and the heavy train. "HELP!" He rolled right down to the bottom, completely helpless to apply the breaks due to being out of fuel.
The guard managed to break the train just outside of Wellsworth, and got out to flag down any approaching trains.
"Bust my boiler!" cried Henry when he came to the station with a passenger run. "What's happened here?"
"The new engine's failed," said the guard. "Can you help him over the hill?"
"I'll have to leave my passengers at Wellsworth for a moment." Henry explained, and took the coaches to the platform. "My apologies," he said to the passengers. "We'll continue the run shortly."
Henry then saw BoCo clearly for the first time. "Ha! First a diesel gets kicked off the island for ordering us about, then this diesel breaks down while taking a train over the hill."
"I can't help my design flaws!" BoCo retorted.
Henry was stunned silent for a moment, before letting out a quiet gasp. "Design flaws?" He asked, almost whispering.
BoCo was taken aback by Henry's reply. "Y-yes." he admitted. "Oil leaks, cab windows popping out, smokey fumes, you name it. No matter how many times I'm fixed, there's a new problem a few days later."
"Oh." said Henry. "Well… my deepest apologies. My name is Henry. I actually had design flaws myself when I was first built."
"You were that engine in the Flying Kipper crash, weren't you?" BoCo gasped in realisation.
"That's me," said Henry. "A rebuild at Crewe cured my problems for good. There's always a silver lining, you've just got to let that sun shine through the clouds."
BoCo gave a small smile. "Sir Topham Hatt really does look after you. Oh, my name's BoCo by the way."
"Pleasure to meet you, BoCo," smiled the steam engine. "Come on, I'll get you over to Crovan's Gate."
He started to push the heavy train up the hill, and BoCo wished he could help, though of course, the best he could do was keep his brakes off. He eventually reached Crovan's Gate, where Rusty was tending to some maintenance work nearby and Peter Sam had the connecting train to Henry's - a guaranteed connection - and he had Ada, Jane, Mabel and Cora behind him.
"Henry?" asked Peter Sam. "Where's your passengers? And who's this?"
"I had to help BoCo over the hill because he broke down," Henry explained. "Oh, Peter Sam, Rusty, coaches, this is BoCo. He's the newest engine helping on Edward's branch line. BoCo, this is Peter Sam, Rusty, Ada, Jane, Mabel and Cora. They all work on the Skarloey line."
"Pleasure to meet the six of you," smiled BoCo.
"Likewise," said Rusty. "It's good to finally have another diesel on Sodor to talk to, even though you're not on our railway."
"I'm just coming in for repairs," BoCo explained as Henry shunted him into a siding. Then the big green steam engine went back for his passengers.
Gordon was waiting in Tidmouth sheds when he was told what had happened.
"What?!" he exclaimed. "I'm to take this diesel's trucks to Vicarstown? Disgraceful."
"Oh come on," grunted his driver. "You handled trucks just fine when Thomas was hurt."
This managed to subside the express engine and he headed up to get the trucks; the oil had been cleaned from Gordon's namesake hill. He eventually got to Crovan's Gate.
"I'm surprised Sir Topham Hatt picked up an unreliable diesel like you," he grunted. "You'll be sent away in the blink of an eye."
"It wasn't his fault that he broke down!" snapped Skarloey, who had brought in a train of slate trucks from the quarry.
Gordon didn't say anything and puffed away.
"Terribly sorry about him," sighed the old narrow gauge engine. "The engines on the North Western Railway don't really trust any new diesels."
"It's alright," sighed BoCo. "I have a feeling that would be the case, given what's happened with Diesel."
Later, Gordon was down at the sheds with Edward; both were resting with the other engines, residents of Tidmouth sheds or not.
"It's not fair," grumbled Gordon.
"What's not fair?" asked Edward.
"Letting me take that diesel's goods train up to Vicarstown!" Gordon exclaimed. "It came from the branch lines. They are vulgar!"
"But they make such a nice change of pace," said Duck. "I'm always eager to lend a buffer on the Brandam and Ffarquhar branch lines whenever I can."
"Ah think th' branch lines ur wonderful," smiled Donald.
"Aye," agreed Douglas. "It wid be nice tae hulp oot mair often."
"The branch lines are only going to get busier," said Thomas. "The Ffarqhuar branch line may need a fourth engine at this rate."
"Besides, I'm sure you'd allow BoCo to take your express one day, Gordon." said Edward with a cheeky smile, "That would make it quite fair."
"A diesel, take my express?!" snapped Gordon; Henry, Donald, Douglas, Toby, Nicole, Johnson and the tank engines burst out laughing. "The indignity of the thought. That'll be the day!"
Gordon puffed onto the turntable and left the shed; the turntable then began to turn Edward's way. Though, despite laughing, some of the engines felt uncomfortable.
"Are you sure that this uh… 'BoCo', isn't like Diesel, Edward?" asked Duck.
"I'm positive," smiled the blue engine as he puffed onto it. "He may surprise you, Duck. Just wait and see."
"Ah'ament sure aboot trusting yin masell," said Douglas quietly. Donald looked at his twin, sharing his thoughts as Edward puffed away.
Every evening, Edward and Gordon pull two fast trains from the station. Gordon's train leaves at 6:25, and Edward departs five minutes later with the old coaches. These trains usually run like clockwork, and tonight the sky was clear.
"Look, Gordon," said Edward. "The stars are coming out."
Gordon had to admit, even he felt relaxed by looking up at the sky.
"Clear sky and dry rails," smiled the express engine. "I think we've got a good run tonight."
But, Gordon had forgotten he had a new fireman. It was nearly time for the train to leave, and the fireman glanced back. He thought he saw a green flag waving.
"Right away, mate!" called the fireman. The driver was a bit confused, but started Gordon away.
"Oh, and I think I see a shooting star- Oh, time already?" gasped Gordon. "Er, goodbye little Edward."
"Goodbye, Gordon," Edward said, a bit confused. But then, he glanced back at Gordon's platform to see several indignant faces, some baggage trolleys still full of luggage, and the guard waving a red flag. "Uh oh… Gordon, come back!"
Unfortunately, Gordon could not hear Edward, as he was thundering down the line.
"Express coming through!" he announced. But soon, he was halted by a red signal. "Bust my buffers!" he braked to a stop. "What's going on?"
"You left too early," said the signalman. "Some passengers, luggage and the guard are still on the platform."
"Oh, the indignity," grunted Gordon, and he puffed all the way back. He glanced at the clock. "6:35?!" he exclaimed.
"I'm afraid so, Gordon," Sir Topham Hatt sighed. "This wasn't your fault; your fireman should have known the difference between a green flag and a green hat."
"Oh…" the fireman felt embarrassed. "Sorry, sir…"
"All the same, Gordon," sighed Sir Topham Hatt. "You've missed your path. Because you have to wait for the remaining passengers and luggage, Edward has to take his train first."
"Oh, this cannot get any worse…" muttered Gordon, as Edward puffed away.
"Well, at least we can make up time on the way," said Edward as he coasted along the line. He approached the junction for Wellsworth. "Okay, driver, slow down a bit."
But instead of turning, Edward felt his wheels go straight.
"Er, Edward," said Mark. "Were we supposed to turn there?"
"You are absolutely right!" gasped the old engine.
"I don't think we can go back, can we?" asked Hilary.
"Oh, clattering carriages," exclaimed Audrey. "This is not going to go down well with Sir Topham Hatt."
"I think that we can all agree," sighed Edward.
Later, Gordon thundered by with the express.
"Hurry, hurry, hurry!" he cried, trying to make up for lost time. Unfortunately, when he got to Wellsworth.
"What the?!" he exclaimed. "I don't remember rounding a bend here…"
"Uh oh!" gasped his driver, slowing down. "I think we're on the branch line."
"What!?" cried Gordon. "Oh, the indignity…"
Sir Topham Hatt was called about the mixup.
"Oh flatten my hat!" he cried. "Okay, I'll arrange for buses to pick up the passengers to take them to their stations." He hung up. "This is going to take ages…"
And it did. Bertie, Algy, Bertrand and other buses were all called in to help with sorting out the tangle.
"Fancy that," grunted Bertrand. "Engines ending up on the wrong tracks! Don't they have signalmen to do that for them?"
"And I hear it was because of a floppy green hat," laughed Bertie. "Oh, Gordon, what will happen next?"
"It was my fireman's fault!" Gordon insisted, but Bertie kept laughing.
"Wait until Thomas hears this tomorrow."
"Come on you two," chuckled Algy. "We've got passengers to get to their proper destinations."
With the buses gone, Gordon ended up cold and cross on one of Edward's sidings near the harbour.
The next day, Bill and Ben arrived at the harbour.
"Hmm, where are those trucks BoCo said he'd bring down?" asked Bill. "He's coming back from the Steamworks today after he gets his oil leaks sorted."
"I dunno," said Ben. "I wonder if they should get a Dieselworks up and running, or change the name of the Steamworks to Crovan's Gate works."
"Perhaps," Bill said thoughtfully. Then the two heard Gordon's voice carry from over the harbour.
"First I had to take that unreliable diesel's trucks," they heard him grunt, "and now I'm sent down this vulgar branch line! This is not a good pair of days!"
"'Unreliable!?'" exclaimed Bill to Ben. "'Vulgar?!' How rude of Gordon to say those things about BoCo and the branch line."
Ben then had his mind whirr. "Hey, why don't we teach Gordon a lesson?" He winked at Bill, who seemed to figure out exactly what Ben was thinking.
"Not a bad idea," he grinned. The two tank engines crept up quietly toward Gordon. "I say, I say, Ben," Bill said loudly. "What's that?"
"Ssh," Ben whispered. "It's Gordon."
"It looks like Gordon," said Bill, "but it can't be. Gordon never comes on branch lines. He thinks them vulgar."
Gordon pretended he didn't hear them.
"If it isn't Gordon," sniggered Ben, "it's just a load of old iron..."
"... which we'd better take to the scrapyard." Bill insisted.
"Oh no, no, no." said Ben. "This lot's useless for scrap. We'd better dump it into the sea. It'll make a lovely splash."
Gordon was horrified by both prospects. "I am Gordon!" he cried in alarm. "Stop!"
Just then, the trio heard the sound of a diesel horn, and in came BoCo with a line of newly repaired trucks. Gordon felt a rush of relief when he saw the diesel.
"BoCo!" he gasped, "My dear engine, save me!"
"Bill and Ben," said BoCo, sizing things up quickly. "What is going on?"
"We just found this load of old iron," said Bill. "And I suggested that we take it to the scrapyard."
"And I think it should be dumped in the sea," insisted Ben. "Besides, the kippers do need a home."
"I see," said BoCo. "Well, if you continue this attitude, I may just take away these trucks I bought you."
"Oh, uh… that won't be necessary, BoCo." sighed Bill.
"We'll arrange them as you want them," added Ben.
The twins quickly set to work, and BoCo came over to Gordon.
"Those little demons," Gordon gasped. "H-how do you do it?"
"Oh, just a knack," said BoCo modestly. "Something I've been slowly picking up from Edward."
"You were wonderful," smiled Gordon grandly. "Thank you for saving my life."
Later on, BoCo and Edward came over to talk to the twins.
"You two," snapped Edward. "Joking about scrap?! Especially after Donald and Douglas were purchased and after I saved Trevor a few years ago? What were you thinking?!"
"Er… we're sorry, Edward," sighed Bill.
"We just wanted Gordon to respect BoCo," added Ben. "Oh, and maybe the Brandam branch too."
"Well, I don't exactly approve of your methods Bill and Ben," sighed Edward. "But, I admit, you two had good intentions. So long as we don't mention this to Trevor, Donald or Douglas, I'll let you off with a warning."
"And the plan did work," admitted BoCo. "Gordon truly thinks I saved his life. Though I don't think we should tell him that you two were joking."
"Indeed," said Edward. "He did deserve a wake up call. And let's hope this sticks with him."
And the rest of the Wellsworth engines had to agree.
The End
Well, as Zack put Buzz Buzz after Wrong Road, I had to be creative with the conversation with Edward and Gordon before the main events of the story. I also tossed in Henry, who empathizes with BoCo because of their shared design flaws. Now, BoCo hasn't had a rebuild just yet, but he soon will. This also foreshadows Duck, Donald and Douglas' distrust of BoCo, which will come into play in later episodes. Like with The Dieseal, this adds more context behind Bill and Ben's teasing; then want Gordon to have respect for BoCo.
Next time, we're heading back to the Ffarqhuar Branch line. See you then.
