Edward's Exploit

Based upon the story by Rev. W. Awdry

Adapted by Rachel Ravens

Takes place between STLOE and F&W


Gordon got back that evening after his new dome came in, and James told him what happened.

"So the bees stung you and BoCo had to take the express?" he laughed. James was stunned.

"Yes, BoCo took it. You're not…"

"After setting the China Clay twins straight, he earned that." Gordon smiled.

The red engine was utterly speechless.


A few days later, Algy was bustling around various stations. He came into Ffarqhuar one morning where Bertie, Toby and Henrietta were all talking.

"Hello, Algy," said Bertie. "What's going on?"

"Oh, I'm on a coach tour, Bertie," explained the blue bus. "Taking enthusiasts all over Sodor."

"Hey," said one of them. "There's Toby and Henrietta. Let's get some photos of them."

"Well," smiled Henrietta, "I suppose a photo or two wouldn't hurt."

The enthusiasts all crowded round and took pictures of the duo.

"There seems to be a lot of enthusiasts coming to our humble island," chuckled Toby. "I'm not sure why, but I'll go with it."

"It's good for tourism," said Algy. "At any rate, more people and goods traffic will flock to the island, and we need all wheels on deck."

The passengers boarded him again.

"I'll see you three later," smiled the blue bus, and he roared away.


A few more days had flown by and the engines all had photos taken all over the railway. Pretty soon, it was their final afternoon on the island.

"Oh, there's Edward," said another enthusiast at Knapford. "We'll have to take a picture of him before we board his train."

"Well, alright," smiled the old blue engine, "if you insist."

He made sure to smile brightly for the camera, except he didn't know where to look as they were all clicking at once.

"Okay," said Edward, "we don't want to be delayed to see Bill and Ben. They love enthusiasts too."

"Have they been behaving?" asked Audrey.

"Oh, once I told them that enthusiasts were coming in a few days, the twins haven't played any tricks on anyone," chuckled the blue engine.

"Edward," said Hilary anxiously, "our train is quite full. Are you sure you can handle it?"

"Of course I can," Edward spoke with full confidence and the guard's whistle sounded out. "Okay, that's our cue."

But unfortunately, Hilary was right. The train was very difficult to move.

"Edward!" cried Henry in concern. "Do you need a buffer with the train?"

"I'll be okay," panted Edward. "You've got your own train to worry about. You all do."

"Look at him straining," remarked James. "Positively painful."

"Just pathetic," added Gordon. "He should give up and be preserved before it's too late."

"Shut up!" burst out Duck, who was bringing in coaches for BoCo's train. "You're both jealous. Edward's better than the both of you!"

"You're right, Duck," said BoCo as Duck shunted the coaches behind him. "Edward's old, but he'll surprise us all."

"Need I remind you, Gordon, that he helped you up the hill several times?" growled Henry. "And James, remember when Edward caught you after you ran away?"

Gordon and James felt the need to subside.

"I've got the train moving!" Cried Edward in triumph as he finally departed the station. Unknown to the other engines, Donald and Douglas, who had been waiting to depart with a double header goods train, had overheard everything.

"How rude o' Gòrdan 'n' James tae say sic hings aboot Edward," growled Donald.

"Aye," agreed Douglas, "bit at least Hendrie, Dook 'n' BoCo subsided thaim."

Donald paused to let Douglas' words sink in. He had overheard what BoCo had to say.

"BoCo… He really isnae lik' th' diesels we met oan th' run doon fae Scootlund," the older twin realised, "or lik' Diesel his-sel."

"We misjudged him… badly," sighed Douglas; by now, their guard's whistle rang out. "We'll talk wi' him wance we git a chance."


Back out on the line, Edward continued along, bringing the train up to speed.

"You're doing well, Edward," said Mark. "But are you sure you don't need another engine to help?"

"I'll be okay, Mark," Edward assured. "It was just a slipup at the station."

"He can do it," Audrey said with confidence. "He's not clanking like he was a couple of years ago."

Hilary and Mark both wished they could be as confident as their sister, but chose not to say anymore about it.


Down at the harbour, Bill and Ben were resting and waiting.

"I'm bored," said Bill. "Hey, want to play 'I Spy' until Edward gets here?"

"Why not," Ben agreed. "I'll start. I spy with my little eye, something beginning with 'R'."

"Rails?"

"Yes, your turn."

"That was too easy," Bill chuckled. "Okay. I spy with my little eye something beginning with…" he looked over in the distance. "Something beginning with 'T'."

Ben looked around. "Tracks? Hey, that was basically my one!"

"No," said Bill. "Try again."

Ben then saw something coming closer.

"Train!" Ben cried in triumph. "It's Edward!"

Indeed it was. Edward puffed into the harbour with the old coaches in tow, panting as he did so.

"Edward, are you okay?" asked Bill.

"You look tired," added Ben.

"Oh, just a lot of happy enthusiasts who wanted to see you," Edward said cheerfully.

The enthusiasts scrambled out of the train, flashing their cameras at Bill and Ben.

"Oh, this is fun!" grinned Bill. "Hey, I'm over here!"

"No, come and photo me!" Ben argued. "I'm the better looking one."

"No, I am!" argued Bill.

"Come on, you two," Edward said firmly. "If you keep this up, I may just take everyone back right now."

Bill and Ben glanced anxiously at each other.

"We'll be good," said Bill. "Oh, Ben, there was a brake van special we were going to take down to the China Clay works."

"Oh yes," agreed Ben. "You take half of them, and I'll take the other half."

The two of them went to fetch the brake vans and puffed excitedly off to the China Clay works.


"I've never ridden in a brake van before," said a young enthusiast excitedly.

"It's quite fun," said an older enthusiast. "It's like we're guards, making sure the train departs each location on time."

"Here we are," said Bill, "our home sweet home."

"It gets a bit dusty here," said Ben, "be careful if you want to keep your clothes clean."

The enthusiasts eagerly looked around, and took more photos, some were of the China Clay twins. They had a wonderful afternoon.

"Time to head back," said Bill.

"Do you think Edward would be alright?" asked Ben. "He did sound tired when he came into the harbour."

"Buffers crossed, Ben." Bill said anxiously.


The twins managed to return to the harbour where Edward had taken on water and coal.

"Had a lovely time, you two?" asked Edward.

"We sure did," smiled Bill. "There were so many photos taken we didn't know where to look."

"Our drivers and fireman signed autographs too," added Ben. Then he and Bill looked anxiously at Edward. "Will you be alright getting back?"

"Don't worry, you two," said Edward. "I'll be fine."


Edward started to puff away, and much to his relief, there was no wheel slip this time.

"First rate," Edward said to himself. "I'll have no problems getting home."

But the coaches looked up at the sky.

"Uh oh," said Audrey, "is it just me, or are the clouds looking heavy?"

"I think you're right," agreed Hilary. "We could be in for rain."

"I hope it's not as bad as the storm that tore down Henry's forest," shuddered Mark.


The coaches were right. The clouds continued to grow heavy and dark, and rain began to fall.

"Bother," sighed Edward; feeling the wind buffeting him. "So much for a dry run. Oh well, I'll just have to work even harder." His wheels started to pound the rails as he forged on, dropping sand as he went for extra grip.

"We're doing fine," said Audrey. "If we keep it up, we'll be back on the dot."

But then, Edward felt something off.

"Oh dear," he gasped. "There's no more sand under my wheels."

"Your sanding gear has failed," his fireman explained, and he carefully scrambled to the front with a watering can full of sand, pouring it on the rails. "Here, let me assist with that."

"Be careful, Sidney," Edward called. "Charlie, ease off the regulator, please."

The driver nodded with acknowledgement and gently eased it to a slower, steady pace so the fireman wouldn't fall off Edward's bufferbeam. He held onto Edward's water pipe on his boiler.

"You'll need to go to the Steamworks to get that fixed, Edward," said Hilary. "And no putting it off this time."

"I will, once the passengers are safely home," Edward insisted. "Their safety comes above everything else."

"Well, passengers are important," Mark agreed. "But don't hold off on your trip to the Steamworks for almost a year."

"I understand that, Mark," sighed Edward. "I'll be fine as long as we go steady, and that's what Driver has done."

But I'm sorry to say that Edward wasn't fine. There was a particularly slippery area of the line up ahead.

"Whoa!" gasped Edward as his wheels slipped helplessly. "Driver, please stop the-"

CRACK!

"AHHHHHH!"

"Edward!" cried the coaches in shock. The driver stopped the train and he and the fireman jumped down to look, the guard coming out of Mark. Poor Edward had his splashers bent out of shape, some of the bottom of his cab was dented, even his cab window had been smashed by the impact of his crank pins coming loose.

"Ow…" Edward winced in pain, trying not to let tears show. "Oh… I wasn't expecting this…"

"Hang on, boy," soothed his driver, and he, the fireman and the guard went to repair Edward as best they could, with anxious passengers crowding around him.

"Will Edward be okay?" asked a little girl.

"Let the crew do what they need to," soothed her mother. "They know what they're doing."

The fireman then turned to the coaches.

"I've got an idea," he said. "Do you mind if I loosen the couplings between you?"

"Er, sure," said Audrey. "If it's to help Edward, I'm okay with that."

"Of course," put in Hilary.

"We'll do what we can," finished Mark.

The fireman set about doing just that, while the driver made adjustments to Edward himself.

"I've taken your side rods off," he said. "Now you're like a 'single' engine like Nicole, and we've loosened the couplings so you can pick up the coaches one by one like you do with the trucks.

"That will be much easier," Edward said gratefully.

"Think you can get the passengers home, once we're on a level part of the line?"

"I will do my very best," Edward was filled with determination.

The driver gently backed Edward up while the fireman got back on Edward's bufferbeam with the sand.

"Come... on!" Edward panted when his driver eased the regulator open. Slowly, Audrey started to be pulled forward, who started pulling Hilary and lastly, Mark.

"You're doing it, Edward!" cried Audrey. "That's the way!"

"Wonderful job, Edward." came Hilary's voice.

"At a boy," smiled Mark.

"I've done it!" Edward cried in triumph, his wheels spinning with excitement. "We're moving now!"

"Steady, Edward," called his driver, checking his speed as he went up the hill. "Well done, boy. You got them!" He listened to Edward's steady beat as he forged ahead. He didn't go as quickly as before, but the passengers were still cheering.

"You can do it, Edward!" called the little girl. "You're doing great!"


At the station, Henry glanced at the clock. "Where's Edward?" he said anxiously. "It's not like him to be late."

"I know, Henry," sighed Sir Topham Hatt. "Something must be wrong. I'd better go out and see what's the matter."

Just then, the two heard a hoarse whistle, and they looked up. There, a battered, weary, but unbeaten Edward puffed right into the station.

"I… I did it!" Edward panted, coming to a stop.

"Well done, Edward!" The little girl from earlier raced to him with a huge smile. "You were so brave!"

The rest of the passengers congratulated Edward on his efforts, and hopped into Henry's train.

"Edward," gasped Henry. "What happened? Are you…"

"You take your train, Henry," panted Edward. "You're late enough as it is. I'll explain everything later."

Henry didn't want to leave Edward in this state, but he knew he was right. So, when the guard's whistle blew, he puffed away, the passengers still shouting Edward's praises.

"Edward," said Sir Topham Hatt, "that's some serious damage. I'm calling the Steamworks at once."

"Thank you sir," sighed Edward. "I couldn't let the passengers down. Coming home with full trains despite the damage is what Rheneas and Skarloey did."

"You are absolutely right, Edward," praised Sir Topham Hatt. "I know you would never be late without a good reason. Well done. I'll arrange for BoCo to take you to the Steamworks."


That night, Edward came into the sheds. Henry was out with the passengers, but Donald and Douglas were also out on a late goods train; it was heavier than usual and needed a double header. The Ffarquar trio were down at their own shed, and the Midland engines were at Vicarstown.

"Back late?" grunted Gordon, "That's unlike…" he then noticed the damage on Edward's side. "By Greasley's name! Edward, are you alright?!"

"What happened?!" James exclaimed.

"My crank pins broke," Edward sighed. "I had to take the train home in the storm."

"Very brave indeed, Edward," said Duck. "You rest up, okay? And go straight to the…"

"Steamworks," Edward finished. "Don't worry, I won't hold it off this time. Sir Topham Hatt said BoCo will take me there tomorrow." BoCo smiled at Edward in acknowledgement, and the engines went to sleep.


"You were extremely brave," smiled the diesel the following morning when he got Edward to the Steamworks. "You get better now, alright?"

"I will," smiled Edward.


BoCo left Edward and heard two deep toned whistles. Donald and Douglas came through with a double header goods train.

"BoCo," called Donald. "We wantae speak wi' ye."

"Of course, Donald and Douglas," smiled the diesel. "What is it?"

"We wish tae say... We're sorry fur nae treating ye wi' upmost respect," Douglas sighed.

"I think I can guess why you two were so judgemental," said BoCo. "You two were terrified of diesels back on British Railways, and it was natural for you to get bad flashbacks when you saw me."

"Bit, everything that's happened," said Donald, "Chatting wi' Dook, offering tae tak' th' express bit still worried aboot yer trucks, 'n' then standing up fur Edward 'n' taking him tae th' Steamwirks."

"Ye hae bin nothin' lik' th' diesels we saw," put in Douglas. "Fur a diesel, ye'r nae sic a bad engine."

"Thank you, Donald and Douglas," smiled BoCo. "You two are great engines too."

Donald and Douglas happily puffed away, and BoCo felt a rush of warmth through his radiator.

"I'm so glad to be part of the family."

The End


And with that, Main Line Engines is complete. This was a spine-chilling story. Showcasing Edward coming home bravely through a fierce storm is something to be appreciated. The Donald and Douglas subplot is also resolved here, as they witness BoCo coming to Edward's defence, and then apologising to him for being judgmental.

I fixed up Sir Topham Hatt being so cross with Edward. Because, I mean come on! I know Edward's late, but he was severely damage, give him a fair go.

Like with the other instances, Henry's nice guy persona sweeps in as he's concerned for Edward rather than the taunting given by Gordon and James earlier on. And I also added in a bit of concern from Gordon and James in the sheds during the night, as well as a bit of concern from Bill, Ben and the coaches.

The 'I Spy' scene was loosely based on Bill and Ben playing the game in one of WildNorWester's episodes. That just seemed like a very 'child like' thing to do. I love it.