Foreword from the author

I never expected myself to be writing Thomas the Tank Engine fan fiction but here we are, I watched the classic show as a kid, and even to this day I still have a fondness for the show. While I am not one who has seen every episode, or kept up with every character, the one thing that has really kept my interest is the timelessness of the characters themselves. The way Sodor worked, the way the talking engines worked with the humans. It's always been an interesting concept to me. I would often come up with stories of myself on the Island of Sodor, until eventually I grew onto other things.

Now, with the way the show is going right now and has grabbed my attention thanks to the rest of the fanbase rising up to continue making their own stories, I realised that I should share my own. So with that I present my own series of stories.

- MulticolourInk

The Thief of Sodor

Chapter 1

Winter had come pretty hard that year on Sodor. It was only just starting to show early signs of February, before the snow finally stopped, yet the ground remained hard and frosty.

The engines were all inside Tidmouth Sheds, grateful more than ever for it to be the one place they could be snug and warm.

"Thank goodness the snow is finally going away", said Percy.

"I'm glad that my branch line has been holding up", replied Thomas. "I don't know what I would've done if it had to be closed"

"It will be a relief yes", said Emily from Thomas' left, "but I will miss seeing the island looking so pretty"

"Well some of us will be more than grateful for this to be over", said Gordon sternly.

Gordon had had a rather scary incident during this winter. It had got so cold, that once when Gordon was on his usual Express run, the tracks had become so icy, that Gordon and the coaches went skating along it so fast as if they were suddenly on an ice rink. It had been quite terrifying for those involved at the time, but eventually the engines were able to tease Gordon about it for ages. Gordon had not found it amusing at all, and had remained disgruntled for weeks.

"It will also mean that a lot of deliveries can be made now", said Edward, referring to the delays in shipments that were not able to get to the island over winter, due to the snowstorms.

"Well some of us Edward need to remember that we have passengers to look after", boomed Gordon. He frowned as the other engines started giggling.

...

The next day, Edward was on his way to the Steam Works with a truckload of new parts.

When he got there however, things did not seem right. A group of workers were huddled together, raising their voices at each other and causing quite a commotion.

"Goodness", said Edward, "what's happened here?"

"Ah hello my friend", said Victor, trundling towards him on his narrow gauge rails. "I'm sorry you appear to have come at a bad time. It appears that a lot of the tools that our workers need have gone missing"

"Missing?", asked Edward.

"Yes", sighed Victor. "We were struggling enough to fix engines during this harsh winter, but now that we do have the parts - thank you for bringing those by the way - we cannot even do anything without the tools!"

"I canne even get ma wheels fixed!", shouted Douglas from above them. The Scottish engine has become derailed following an accident due to a blizzard, and three of his wheels had bent out of shape. He had been suspended on his cage at the Steam Works for weeks, miserable. The only thing that had cheered him up was Donald's visits.

"I'm so sorry Douglas", Edward called up to him. "Is there something I can do?", he asked Victor.

Victor sighed again.

"That is very kind of you, my friend", he said. "Unfortunately, I cannot see what there is we can do right now. Unless the tools are found, we will have to order new ones, which could delay things even more"

A great "AGH!" came from Douglas above them.

"It is funny", said Victor deep in thought. "Most of the tools missing are ones to help assemble a wheel…"

"Which is just ma luck!", cried Douglas.

"This is quite peculiar…", agreed Edward. I'll tell the other engines and their crew to keep an eye out at least, just in case they turn up somewhere on the island.

Victor thanked him for the help. Edward dropped off his parts and was on his way again.

"Tools going missing…", Edward thought to himself. "Why does this feel more mysterious than it sounds?"

...

On his way back to his branch line, Edward saw Thomas at Kirk Ronan junction, and told him everything.

"That does sound strange", Thomas agreed. "I'm sure it's nothing to worry about though, It's only tools. They'll turn up eventually!"

He peeped his whistle and headed off. Edward was not so sure.

...

Soon Edward had arrived at Brendam Docks, ready to take trucks back along his branch line.

"Ahoy me hearty!" The excited voice of Salty the diesel rang through the air. "What a fine looking day this is today! No more bad weather on the horizon!"

"And plenty more work!", added Porter.

"It certainly is", said Edward, his voice coming out less excited than he intended.

"Oh what's the trouble me hearty?", asked Salty. "You look distracted"

"I am Salty", Edward agreed. And he told Salty and Porter what he had learnt at the Steam Works.

"I'm sure that it's nothing", finished Edward. "but the fact that it all seems so mysterious and sudden…"

"It is a strange case", agreed Salty. "Well we'll keep an eye out. And our crews will too"

"You can probably keep an eye on all this workload I'm having to do!", yelled Cranky from above them. "Those snow storms caused delays. And I'm the one that has to unload them. My hook isn't going to hold out after this!"

"Well we're the one's that are going to have to shunt them", Porter called back. "And you've faced worse than this!"

Cranky didn't say anything. He went on grumbling to himself as usual.

"Don't worry Edward", came a new voice. Boco the BR Class 28 diesel came sliding in. "We'll all keep an eye out for you. I'll spread the word up the main line. It'll be a fun mystery to solve.

"Yes indeed…", said Edward.

However he had the feeling it was going to be a lot more than that.