Hello my friends, and welcome to another new series from me. I don't know how I came up with this idea, but I'm sure I did. I'll admit, my writing style is not quite the same as Rev. Wilbert and Christopher Awdry's styles, but still, I hope these tales will bring you smiles to your faces.
Now onto this first book. This is set after the events of the book Tramway Engines, and it features two new engines. One is Queen Maud, who's actually a princess class from the LMS, only in dark green British Railway's paint. The second is our main engine; Nigel. He is an LNER N7 and so far, he's still in his original black paint, though that might change. Guess only time will tell.
What Could've Been: The Railway Series
Written by: ThomasZoey3000
Book 27: Nigel the Red Tank Engine
Greetings Readers,
As Steam started to disappear from the Other Railway, the Fat Controller began his own hunt for more engines. One of his first new engines was Nigel, a big tank engine with six wheels and two back wheels. When I was told of him, I wanted to write a book all about this tank engine. He didn't want me to, and said; 'I'm not as interesting as the other engines'. But I think he is, and you will too.
The Author
Railtour Rescue
Nigel is a big tank engine. He mostly works around the big station, but he can take trains to other locations if he needs to.
When he first started work, he was left in his old black paint with the crest of the Other Railway on his side. Many have asked why he doesn't just have it painted over, but his response is always the same.
"If I feel it's needed, then that will be the time to change it out, but since it's not, I'll keep it. Work comes first."
The Fat Controller was always quite pleased with Nigel's attitude. Why just the other day, he commented how he could teach the big engines about modesty.
One evening, Nigel was finishing his shunting in the yards when he saw Gordon backing down on his express. He looked quite miserable.
"What's the matter Gordon? Aren't you excited? There is a railtour coming to visit us."
A few days ago, the Fat Controller announced that a new railtour company had been launched, and much like Sodor, it would run with both steam and diesel. Their first tour was to come to Sodor, and it would be pulled by a steam engine.
"Don't get me wrong, I am looking forward to the visitors coming. I'm just not excited about the engine that's bringing the train here."
Nigel was curious, "you know which engine is pulling the train?"
"Indeed I do," Gordon answered. "My fireman was curious, and so looked in something he called 'A Railway Magazine' and told me of which engine was featured in it. Needless to say, I'm not looking forward to seeing her again."
Before Nigel could ask anymore, there came a loud whistle, the sound of brakes screeching and shouting.
"Come on you lazy signalman! This train can't be kept waiting. Do your job right, and let the grand engine through!"
Gordon rolled his eyes, "it's definetly her alright."
A minute later, the train finally arrived. It was being pulled behind a big dark green tender engine. From what Nigel could see, the engine had a nameplate on her side, which read; Queen Maud.
Queen Maud skidded into the station, passing a wincing Gordon, and stopping before the buffers.
"What's my time?!" she barked at her crew.
The Driver, a little dazed, pulled out his watch, "twenty minutes early. I'm not surprised with how you were speeding over here."
"Speed is nothing to a grand engine like me. After all, the people bought tickets to ride behind a real fast engine, and I gave them that. If they don't like that, then they can go ride on other trains more suited to, erm, their needs."
Nigel gasped, "that's no way to speak, especially about passengers."
Gordon looked across to the tank engine, "believe me, this is the way she talks about everyone and everything." And with that, he left with his express.
The passengers buzzed out of the carriages to complain to the Railtour manager. The manager, Mister Cory Webber, was an American who loved british trains. He was the man who came up with Voyeger tours, which would allow visitors to travel all over the United Kingdom behind vintage engines.
Today, the passengers were shouting at Mr Webber, saying how they shouldn't have rode on his train.
"I'm so sorry about this whole experience ladies and gentleman," said Mr Webber. "Rest assured, I will deal with this engine, and your dinners tonight are on myself and Voyeger tours."
The passengers soon left, leaving Mr Webber to deal with his engine. Nigel meanwhile brought the coaches to the carriage shed.
"That engine is too rough with us," grumbled the front coach.
"We tell her to slow down, but she just speeds up. We tell her to be careful with us, she bumps us," added the second coach. "Just because she's a queen, that doesn't mean she needs to treat us like that."
"Indeed she shouldn't," agreed Nigel. "An engine should treat her coaches, and passengers with great respect."
The first coach smiled, "you could teach her a thing or two with how kind you are."
"You're not the first to say that to me," Nigel smiled back.
No one was smiling that night in the sheds. Queen Maud was boasting out loud, "I pull my trains with speed and grand elegance, something very few engines could ever achieve. Why that windbag Flying Scotsman is no much for a Queen like me."
Gordon looked like he was going to blow a steam pipe over this engine.
"You're a Princess, not a queen," Nigel said as he came in. "And from what I saw, and heard, speed and boasting is all you can do. You treat your coaches so badly that they don't like you, and from what I saw, your passengers don't trust you. Aren't you ashamed?"
"The only thing I'm ashamed of is sharing this shed with a tank engine! Now buzz off!"
Bear piped up, "You do not speak to Nigel like that. He's one of us, and you do well to show respect."
Gordon snorted, "respect is the one thing this engine doesn't know. Even when she worked on the Other Railway, she was always too boastful for her own good."
"What worked for me then, works for me now, and you can't change my mind on it. Now be quiet, and let your queen get some sleep!"
And with that, the sheds went silent. Not because Queen Maud asked for it, but because the engines didn't want to hear a peep out of her.
Over the next few days, the visitors travelled across the island, checking out many landmarks, and visiting the other railways. They had a wonderful time, and didn't want to leave. But all good things do come to an end, and the day soon arrived for Queen Maud to bring them all home.
"Come on! Come on!" she barked. "The sooner we go, the sooner I can be away from these slow, good for nothing things they call engines! Them and their speed limits! They're worthless compared to engines like me!"
As she was being coupled up to her train, the shunter noticed something. He called the fireman over, "the coupling on this coach is quite worn, you'll want to take care when going home."
The fireman thought about it, then spoke to the Driver. "We'll have to go at around thirty five, but it should hold till we get home."
The Driver agreed, but they hadn't counted on Maud.
Nigel was puffing along the main line with a goods train for Wellsworth. He wasn't rushing as he puffed along.
"Nice and gentle, that's the way of the North Western," he puffed out loud.
Faintly, he heard a whistle from another train, "that sounds like Maud. From the sounds of it, she's going slower than before. Maybe she's finally learned sense."
But she hadn't. She wanted to go fast, but her crew had made it clear that she couldn't go fast, or she would break the coupling. She didn't like it, and so came up with a plan.
She started slowing down, much to her crew's surprise.
"Come on old girl, you can go a little bit faster than that," said her Driver.
But Queen Maud continued at her speed. The Driver sighed and opened the regulator. This would prove to be a big mistake as Queen Maud suddenly picked up speed.
She was going so fast that her Driver fell over, and in the process, accidently opened the regulator almost to full. This forced her to speed up down the line. She passed Nigel, giving him quite a surprise.
"Slow down you silly engine! Your passengers won't like this!" Nigel shouted.
"Forget them! It's all about me! It always has been!"
She sped through Wellsworth, and charged up Gordon's hill. The poor passengers were tossed around like a salad.
"I hate rides like this," groaned a lady.
"I'm demanding a full refund when we get to where we're going," grumbled a man.
"That is, if we make it at this speed!" the lady cried. "I know Gordon's hill, and there is a sharp bend on the other side!"
The Driver knew too, and after regaining his footing, he reduced the speed. Maud fought aganist him, but it worked as they made it down the other side safely.
The rough treatment though wore down the coupling, and after going around the bend, it snapped. Maud didn't notice and continued on. The Driver and fireman didn't hear the snap, so assumed the train was still connected.
The guard thankfully stopped the train using the brakes on the coaches.
"Finally, the bumpy ride is over," groaned one of the passengers.
"But now, how are we going to get home?" asked another.
They needn't have worried. The next signalman saw the railtour engine race by with no passengers, and sent a message down the line.
Nigel was arriving at Wellsworth with his trucks, when the stationmaster came out.
"That silly railtour engine left her coaches somewhere between here and Crovan's Gate. Please go down the line and take the train to the next station."
"As you wish Sir," sighed Nigel. He was uncoupled and puffed off, "what a silly engine she is. Running off without her passengers, whatever next?"
He soon found the stranded train, and the grumping passengers. The guard came up, "thank goodness you're here. If we can get to the next station, I can phone for another engine to collect us."
Nigel thought about it, but decided, "actually Sir, I have no other jobs for a couple of hours, I'll take you all to Borrow myself."
The guard wasn't so sure, "can you though? This is normally a train suited for a big engine."
"Big or small, for the passengers, I'll do it."
And so, Nigel was coupled up to the train. His crew placed plenty of sand on the rails, and slowly and carefully, Nigel took up the strain. The train was very heavy on his coupling, but he didn't give up.
"I'll get them home. I'll get them home," he puffed to himself.
Meanwhile down the line, Maud had been stopped. Once her crew knew of why, they scolded their engine to no end.
"Just wait till Mr Webber sees you, you'll really be in trouble then," they said firmly.
Nigel puffed past Crovan's Gate, surprising Skarloey as he did.
"Now that's the way to do it boy-o!" he called out to the tank engine.
Nigel could only smile as he was using his steam to keep the train moving. But he kept on puffing.
He soon passed Maud, and didn't stop till he reached the station. The Fat Controller and Mr Webber were surprised, and apologized to the passengers, but they weren't cross.
"This engine was a blessing," they said. "He was so smooth, and so kind to us. A true example of steam engines."
"Not really," puffed Nigel. "I just did what any engine would do."
"Certainly not Maud," said Mr Webber as he walked over. "Thank you for bringing the train here Nigel, you certainly prove how useful Sodor engines are."
"I have to agree," smiled the Fat Controller. "Nigel, you and your crew have done well today, and as such, you deserve rewards."
But they rejected the offers, "work comes before rewards Sir."
"Oh, well - very well then, but be sure to keep up the good work Nigel."
"Yes Sir."
Mr Webber called for a diesel to take the railtour home, but not before the passengers cheered to the echo over Nigel and his crew's work.
On his way home, he brought Mr Webber to Maud, and the words said - well, they weren't polite. And it left her, well I won't say anymore, or I shall spoil the next story.
