"Do ya mean sirr?"

The Fat Controller laughed. "Of course Douglas," he said, as he stood before his engines in front of the sheds. "He is now at our works, Oliver is just what we need for Duck's branch line!"

A chorus of whistles and cheers from the engines echoed through Tidmouth. The Fat Controller had to calm all of them down, but he was right. Henry had taken a new, rescued engine and his coach and brake van to the works. Their names were Oliver, Isabel and Toad. All from breaded from the Great Western Railway.

Oliver, was a 1400 class who was auto fitted like most of his siblings too. Now, he was cocky and could get overconfident, but was kind and liked to learn. So when the Fat Controller told Oliver about why he had a red eye, the others were concerned immediately when first seeing him.

"An infection!" said James, "I mean, he's been through lot's from what I've heard, but he won't be coming near me anytime soon."

"James," scolded Gordon, "you know it isn't contagious right?"

"Non-communicable disease," the red engine replied, "I know that it's just the sclera that's red."

"Juest remember Jeames," said Douglas, "that the wee engine hasn't had a proper wash for so long. It might be one of those wee infections."

"Aye," agreed Donald, "it'll probably be gone once it's been properly treated, he's been given a daily wash around the face. It won't even get tae ya."

"But imagine if it did," mused Henry from the other side of the shed, "the red will match his paintwork!"

"Aye!" grinned Douglas, "it'll be like that red nose thing all over again! Ya know, with the bees-"

"Alright! Alright!" interrupted James grumpily, "don't need to be reminded!"

Then a whistle sounded from the distance. An engine then came into site. "Her' he comes!" called Douglas.

The others all cheered and blew their whistles. Oliver came to a careful stop, he looked smart. His paint in a rich, Great Western green. His coach Isabel had been repainted as well, a cream white at the top and a rich, blood red and the bottom. Toad had also been given a dark grey livery which suited him more than his previous, orange-red. Their faces had been cleaned and were now looking smart. Except for Oliver's red eye. James sniffed from the right side of Gordon, who wheeshed a little steam at him, enough to not make the western engine notice, but enough to make the red engine shut up. Henry gave Oliver a warm smile. "Welcome!" he greeted, "my name is Henry. You must be infamous Oliver!"

The western engine chuckled lightly. "I wouldn't say infamous," he said bashfully.

"How are ya holding up?" asked Donald.

"I feel much better now," replied Oliver, "the railway staff did what they could to make sure they could run but it's much better to have a workshop do it. I feel like I've come out from the place I was built again."

"Good ta her' ya doing fine," smiled Douglas.

"Have you heard of what timetable you've got today?" asked Henry.

"Oh yes," responded Oliver, "I've got pull my first passenger train to Arlesburgh with Isabel."

"Aye ya do," smiled Douglas, "Duck will be there tae."

"Duck?" quizzed the western engine, with an eyebrow raised.

"Nickname given to a fellow western engine of yours," replied Gordon grandly.

Oliver looked over to the big engine and grinned, Gordon knew that sort of grin. All the steam engines that don't belong to their rails have given him such respect and astonishment. "You must be the grand Gordon I've heard so much," said Oliver, "what you did in London was... was incredible and bold."

"Well," said Gordon, "it did come at a cost with no allowance into the capital, but I'm glad I had managed to be a part of something evolutionary."

"You certainly did," said Oliver, "thanks to you, engines of all sorts are getting preserved across the country, with railways becoming private again and out of the-"

"Yeah, I think we all know the story," James said, "we worked with him on these rails when that period came so we all know what happened."

"James," snapped Henry.

James rolled his eyes, Oliver surprisingly smiled back. "Sorry," he said, "just never thought I would be able to meet such an enterprising fleet."

"Now where have I heard that from?" sniggered Donald to Henry, who chuckled in response.

"Now Ollie," said Douglas, "I think it's best if ya refill and take your first train with Isabel, don't ya think?"

"Oh yes," said Oliver, "I'll give you Toad by the way, he's looking forward to being your brake van."

"Och! Me tae!"

"It will be such an honour to be working with you Mr Douglas," came a voice from behind. Oliver smiled and began to pull away with Douglas following in suit.

"He seems a friendly sort," said Henry.

"He's been through a lot my dear engine," replied Gordon, "he might've not thought he would actually make it this far, so he might just want to appreciate us more."

"Ya her' that Jeames?" called Donald, "you might be appreciated for once!"

James growled crossly whilst the other two just laughed.

*

Oliver made excellent time, his passengers enjoyed the ride and the western engine and his coach were filled with a mixture of relief and excitement for running a train again. They arrived at the top station of the branch line on time. Oliver gave a gentle stop next to the platform, the passengers all got out and the western engine began to examine the station and yard. But his eyes fixed on something else within the yard. A Great Western pannier tank engine was right next to the water tower, readying himself for a trip back down the line.

"Umm... hello?" called Oliver.

The Great Western engine looked back and beamed. "Right on time," he called, knowing that unfamiliar voice was belonging to the newcomer. He began to reverse backwards, another track separating them. "My name is Montague, but you can call me Duck."

"Ahhh, so I've heard," replied Oliver, "my name is Oliver."

"Please to meet you," said Duck, "I'm looking forward to working with you."

"Me too," replied Oliver, "how long have you worked this line?"

"Only for two months."

Oliver's brow raised a little. "Two months?" he repeated, "what did you do previous?"

"Worked the yards and station at Tidmouth," Duck smiled, "I have been helping to restore the line and actually pulled a few trains on this line.." he then chuckled, "unbeknown to me the Fat Controller did that so to test me on this branch line."

"I see," said Oliver. Duck then looked back from Oliver and saw his only auto-coach. He turned back to Oliver.

"What's your coach's name?" he asked.

"Isabel."

"Nice name."

"Well I didn't chose it."

"Neither did I," came a cheeky reply.

"Sorry my dear," called Duck.

"Don't be," said Isabel, "I mean, I have to cope with cocky brat for all my life."

"Well thank you Isabel," replied Oliver sarcastically.

Duck laughed at that. "Good to know we've got a signature coach," he said, "but you might need another coach if you're gonna run on this line."

"I think Sir Topham Hatt did mention to me before I left the works that some coaches are being delivered from a scrapyard in Wales, could have something to do with that."

"Possibly," said Duck.

*

Oliver was right, the Fat Controller had ordered new coaches for the branch line. Not the common Mark I, but another three auto-coaches. They were inspected, repaired and repainted at the works and immediately sent to Tidmouth. It had been one and a half weeks since Oliver had come to the railway, by then his red eye had become more pinkish but it was still noticeable. Jame brought the three coaches into the yard, where Duck, Oliver and Isabel were waiting for them eagerly in the yards.

James introduced the three to other trio. "Duck, Oliver and Isabella-"

"Isabel darling!"

"Yes... Isabel. Meet Alice, Maribel and Dulcie," he said, "Alice and Maribel are assigned to you Duck."

Duck looked over to the auto-coaches, who had a cream coat of paint at the top similar to Isabel, but with chocolate brown at the bottom. Dulcie, on the other buffer, had the exact same livery as Isabel. Oliver glanced over to the different coach.

"I'm guessing the other coach is joining me and Isabel?"

"Yes," replied James, who had been uncoupled from the coaches, "now that's it for me, I'll see you guys later."

He pulled away, and puffed past the Great Western engines. Duck ginned at Oliver. "Good luck with your coach," he said, and he went over the points, buffered up to his new coaches and took them away to the station. Leaving Oliver and Isabel with their new companion. Surprisingly, Dulcie was facing their direction. It was good thing too since Isabel was turned to face the same direction as Oliver. It was just by luck. But Dulcie didn't think so, as she looked at something still quite noticeable to Oliver.

"My, my," she said indignantly, "what on earth has happened to your eye!"

"Oh that's nothing," replied Oliver, "just an infection."

"An infection?!" cried Dulcie, "I'm afraid I won't be working with you if that's the case!"

"Won't be working with us?" said Oliver, slightly hurt by the refusal, "I insist you must, otherwise you won't be doing anything at all."

Dulcie only sniffed. Oliver pulled a face at her. Isabel decided to break the tension as quickly as possible. "Now Oliver," she said, "I know you haven't had a refill since we got here, why don't you leave me with Dulcie whilst you do that? It'll at least make us not be stuck on the branch."

"Alright," agreed Oliver quietly, he then shunted Isabel into the back of Dulcie, making each of them face away. Whilst Oliver headed off, Isabel began to talk to the new coach.

"I guess there's no introductions since that red engine did for us," she mused.

Dulcie didn't reply, Isabel carried on. "You must understand that infection to the eye-"

"Looks like the sclera is red," replied Dulcie, "that means it's that very contagious disease from 1953."

"Well it does look like," admitted Isabel.

"You sound like I'm wrong."

"That's because you are," replied Isabel sternly.

Dulcie scoffed. "I'm not wrong," she said, "I've seen that infection and it is painful as hell."

"You had the genavirus?"

"Got in January 1954," Dulcie confirmed, "one of the other auto engines had it before and gave it to me. It was a pleasant experience."

"I wish I understood," said Isabel sympathetically, "but I was the fortunate few in the western region."

"Mmm-hmm," replied Dulcie, "your... Oliver seems to have it. It always starts with the eyes."

"That doesn't mean it's the genavirus," said Isabel.

"And you're so smart?" asked Dulcie.

Isabel harrumphed loudly and gave up on Dulcie almost instantly.

Oliver returned and took the two coaches to the platform where Duck had just been. The platform had been refurbished and was now standing next to the station. Even though the platform could be used in the past, it was only used for wooden creates, rusty trolleys and other junk abandoned on it. Now a passenger guard had blew his whistle and waved his green flag on it. Oliver pulled-well... pushed out of the station with Isabel and Dulcie in front.

The trip ran well and eventually Oliver arrived back at Tidmouth and got a drink at the water tower, he had to take the next passenger train again, he was only allowed to pull passengers since his class was built for that purpose. He soon went back to the station where Isabel and Dulcie were. But as the western engine backed down onto Isabel, the fireman noticed something odd whilst coupling the pair up. He returned to the driver and explained the situation. The driver nodded. "Then we'll have to do it the old fashion way," he said musingly.

Oliver was confused. "Pardon?"

"Isabel's auto-fitted coupling has got a leak," explained the driver, as the fireman went to uncouple the brake pipe and actual coupling. "So you'll have to pull the train instead."

Now Oliver didn't mind this, he had done it before and enjoyed something different. It was Dulcie who did mind, with Oliver's eye still red from the infection and her still thinking it was contagious to any engine, she was horrified when Oliver came up to her.

"What is the meaning of this?" she demanded, as Oliver came up to her. "He's got an infection!"

Isabel sighed from behind. "It isn't-"

"Get away! Get away!" yelled Dulcie, as Oliver buffered up to him. She wasn't listening to anyone.

"I don't want to be infected!" she said frantically.

"Please Dulcie," said Oliver, who was quickly losing patience.

"No!" said the auto-coach, "being behind him was acceptable, but with him being right in my face? No! It's too much! Therefore I won't be moving when this engine comes even an inch near me."

"Don't be silly," Oliver said crossly, "we're taking these passengers to their destinations and that is final! So look sharp!"

Dulcie glared at Oliver, and as the western engine heard the guard's whistle blowing out loud, he began to make his wheels turn. But the train didn't move. Oliver looked angrily at Dulcie. "Told you I wasn't moving," she said stubbornly.

Oliver began to pull even more, his wheels began to spin and the screeching of Dulcie's wheels was heard, as she began to move slowly along the rails. Dulcie tried harder to stop Oliver, but the western engine wouldn't give in. His wheels began to get faster and faster, the screeching of his wheels was heard throughout the big station. The passengers were all murmuring to each other what was going on outside of the auto-coaches. Sparks flew from the western engine's funnel and he growled crossly and his red eye narrowed, whilst his clean eye widened.

"Please both of you stop this!" ordered Isabel whilst ringing her bell

"I am not moving anywhere!" snapped Dulcie.

"Oh yes..." groaned Oliver, "...you...are!"

Oliver made a great heave, but it was too much on the already strained coupling. It broke with a loud snap, causing Oliver to shoot backwards and leave Isabel and Dulcie. The western engine managed to stop and both he and Dulcie looked at each other. They both knew what was to come next.

*

The Fat Controller surveyed both Isabel's leaking auto-fitted pipe and Dulcie's broken brake pipe and snapped coupling, he nodded thoughtfully as he drew his conclusions.

"I am sorry sir," said Oliver, who had come back a few yards to Dulcie, whilst the Fat Controller was between them.

"I was given information when I surveying the damage Oliver," replied the stout gentleman, "and I do believe that you should've treated this situation a little differently, but you're not mostly to blame."

He then turned around and pointed an index finger at Dulcie's grey face. "As for you," he said sternly, "my coaches work hard and get along with their fellow engines. They shouldn't take matters into their own buffers."

"But sir!" whimpered Dulcie, "he has infection!"

"Yes he does," replied the Fat Controller, "what does he have to do with you not cooperating?"

"H-he has the genavirus."

The Fat Controller paused, then his straight face turned into a small grin, he then turned to Oliver. "Did you tell her what infection you've got?"

"Tried sir," replied Oliver, "but she wouldn't listen to neither me or Isabel."

"My dear coach," said the Fat Controller, spinning his head back to Dulcie once more. "Oliver doesn't have the genavirus! He has another infection called the dirtlean. It's where the engine hasn't been cleaned properly or for so long, making bacteria get into their face and cells. It mainly happens in the eye and isn't contagious to any other engine or rolling stock."

Suddenly, Dulcie realised her mistake. Her cheeks went bright red and she looked down at her buffers in embarrassment. "S-sorry sir," she said.

"Hmmm," said the Fat Controller, "you'd best be sent back to the coach shed then, we can't have auto-coaches not having their couplings or auto-fittings not working properly. Oliver, take them to the coach shed and collect two Mark I coaches. We cannot delay these passengers any longer."

Oliver looked over to the platform and saw the frustrated passengers all back on the platform, the western engine looked back at his new controller - who had stepped out of the way - and smiled. "Yes sir!" he replied and buffering up to his two auto coaches, he began to shunt them to the shed.

Dulcie looked up at Oliver with cheeks still bright as James' red coat of paint. "I'm sorry for thinking you had a contagious virus," she said, "I had jumped to the conclusion you had the genavirus since that's how it all started for me when I had it and I didn't want it again."

"That's alright," said Oliver, "we all made mistakes."

"Oliver always did that dear back on British Railways," called Isabel from behind, as they slowed to go over the points and into one of the sidings. Oliver rolled his eyes and came to a stop with the coaches only continuing slightly for a split second.

"Let's begin anew," proposed Oliver, "don't want a drift between a work partner?"

"No we can't!" grinned Dulcie.

"That's good," said Oliver, "I'll see you both later."

"You too!" both called in unison, as Oliver reversed out of the siding to collect the other pair of coaches.

*

It was only a day for Isabel and Dulcie to return to service and both them and Oliver were glad to be. Oliver's infection in his eye soon went and all three are now great friends. Both Duck and Oliver began to boast about their heritage with the Great Western. After all, they were cousins. The others laughed and began to call their line the Little Western, which was run by Little Westerners. Both Duck and Oliver took pride by this and even asked the Fat Controller to change the name from the Arlesburgh Branch Line, to the Little Western. The Fat Controller delightfully agreed and now nobody ever thinks of calling it anything else.

But the slight incident at the station didn't go unnoticed by the engines.

"He's pretty strong for his size," said Duck to Douglas and Toad one time. "I mean, he only tugged at Dulcie for a few seconds!"

"Aye," agreed Douglas, "quite shoockin' ain't it?"

"Wouldn't be grand Mr Douglas," said Toad, "if Mr Oliver could rip an entire truck into pieces?"

Douglas howled in laughter whilst Duck cringed at thought. "Quite dark Toad," replied the Great Western engine.

"An' barbaric tae!" added Douglas, still laughing at the thought, "I mean, lil' Ollie? Rippin' a truck in tae smither rines! Now that... that will likely never happen!"