James and the Mail Train - Part 3

At first, when the second world war was announced, the engines didn't see much change.

But they eventually did, troop trains were scheduled into the regular ones. Factories began to stop their own work in the industrial estates and begin making weapons for the battlefields such as guns, planes and tanks. And the fort near the outskirts of Vicarstown was storming in with people coming to train before being shipped off to France.

James had the most experience with pulling heavy machinery, he would constantly collect trains of material shipped from Isle of Man at Tidmouth Harbour, or collect a few tanks from Brendam or take troop trains from Vicarstown to the mainland where he would swap with other engines further down south.

There was also another engine, owned by the Sodor's own military, his name was Matthew, he was an London, Brighton and South Coast E4 tank engine. He helped with the work but was planned to go and help down south with the others in the Battle of Britain.

When he did, Molly came to take his place and James was loaned off to help with the workload at the fort. This meant that some work had to passed around with the other engines, but the Fat Controller came a to a problem with the Sudric Owl. Gordon had been ordered to be kept in the shed most of the time for being too valuable for the island to lose and Henry was busy with the workload giving to him whilst the others were away.

The Fat Controller had sort everything out and went with the only option he found suitable for the task.

"Me?!" exclaimed Thomas is alarm, "you want me to pull an express mail train across the island?!"

"I wouldn't be asking you if wasn't for the circumstances Thomas," sighed the Fat Controller, "you must understand that we don't have the engine power we use to have and with the war giving us extra and longer trains, the bigger engines will be exhausted and Percy cannot do it he's too small for it!"

Thomas sighed hastily. "Yes sir, I understand sir," he murmured.

The Fat Controller nodded and walked away back to his car. But he knew Thomas wouldn't be able to cope if he didn't find a solution fast and there wasn't much options available for him!

When James heard about Thomas taking his place with the Sudric Owl, he wasn't best pleased. But when seeing Thomas he couldn't be cross and explained to him on what to do with the trains. Thomas listened carefully and soon the blue tank engine began to take the trains. He couldn't go quite as fast as James, otherwise he would bounce himself off the rails. He would often stop at junctions or do the exchange system on other stations along the line. He would also stop at Wellsworth or Maron station to refill on water since his tanks didn't carry as much as James'.

One night though, a week and a half after Thomas started pulling the Sudric Owl, Edward was backing down into his banker's siding. He had taken a late night goods train to Vicarstown and had gone all the way back to his station tender first, but now he had to wait for Thomas to arrive with the mail train.

A few minutes passed. But eventually, Thomas arrived and Edward was very surprised to see the look of Thomas' face. He hadn't seen the tank engine for a while and was surprised to see him with two massive bags underneath his eyes and a short stumble had form across the bottom of his face. Edward blinked when he saw it.

"Well... Thomas," said Edward, "I didn't you could--"

"Get a stumble? Yeah!" snapped Thomas, he then paused and sighed, "sorry Edward, I've just been so busy with the workload and this blasted mail train has been causing most of my problems."

Edward raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean?" he asked.

"The mail train is heavy," replied Thomas, "James can cope with it because he's bigger and a tender engine. I'm an E2 tank engine, terrible water capacity and rough fast running! I'm not fit for these heavy trains."

"I'm sorry I can't help Thomas," said Edward, "I'm quite busy myself with the morning work, I could lend a helping buffer for you to go up Gordon's Hill."

"No, it's fine," said Thomas dismissively, "I need to make by axelboxes stronger anyways."

The guard blew his whistle, and Thomas pulled out of the station, heaving and groaning. Edward was left alone in the quiet, dark station with much to ponder.

*

Edward couldn't help but worry all night. He was still worrying midday when he arrived with some empty vans to the harbour. James the Red Engine was there, ready to collect a goods train from the Isle of Man and take them to the fort or the mainland beyond.

"Afternoon Edward," James called as the blue engine came up next to him.

"Hullo James," said Edward, "I saw Gordon go by me. Thank goodness they're letting him run."

"I know, Henry says he's been bored and grumpy," agreed James, "he must be very relieved that the attacks are coming in less now."

"Indeed," Edward chortled, "speaking of the others, I finally saw Thomas after he started taking your mail runs."

"Hmm," hummed James, "how did you find him?"

"Well he's got a stubble for a starters!" cried Edward, "he hates facial hair! It must be a very serious thing if he's got that!"

"I know," said James, "I pity him, if it weren't for how much mail he's carrying, I think he'll try less harder to pull."

"There has to be another way to stop this," said Edward.

"There isn't," said James snootily, "you can't stop mail being delivered Edward."

"But Thomas won't be pulling it soon," said Edward darkly, "he will be shattered by next week if he keeps it up!"

James pondered, he clicked his tongue and looked around the harbour. Then, he noticed a familiar, bright green shape shunting in the background. He smirked broadly. "I've got an idea," he said with a wink to the blue engine.

Edward raised a brow, but before he could say anything, James spoke to his driver. "Could you move me towards Percy please?" he asked.

"Percy is on the out-of-bounds areas for you to go to James," said the driver, after surveying where he was at."

Edward was now seeing where James' idea was going. "Then tell Percy to come here and talk to us!" James replied.

The driver, rolled his eyes, but did as his engine asked and a few minutes later, Percy came puffing up. "Hello!" he peeped happily, "what's going on?"

"Percy, I need to ask you something," said James sternly.

"Sure," said Percy, rather hesitantly. "What is it?"

"Do you like to pull important trains?"

"Well... I haven't pulled one before, but I'd love to!"

"Do you like the night?"

"Oh yes!!"

"Perfect! Congratulations Percy, you're now going to pull the Sudric Owl!!"

"REALLY!! WOW--I!"

"Hang on!" whistled Edward, "Percy can't pull the mail train James, you know he isn't strong."

"Wait--I-well--y--yeah James!" peeped Percy, "way t--to go!"

James only sneered at the small engine. "That's not what I meant," he said to Edward, "of course Percy can't pull the mail train all on his own. However, I've got an idea which might solve it."

Edward and Percy raised their brows and listened to James' plan.

*

Two nights later, Thomas arrived at the harbour at Tidmouth to take the mail train once more. He grumbled crossly as he puffed backwards towards the loading stations. But was very surprised to see Percy on the other track as he backed down onto the train.

"Percy?" he said, "what are you doing here?"

"We decided to make it a surprise reveal!" replied Percy brightly.

Thomas was very confused, until the foreman came up. "Ahh, number one, glad you're still working," he said amusingly, "as you can see, Percy will be helping with your mail runs along the line."

"Helping me?" the tank engine echoed, he then looked back and gasped. Behind Percy, half of the mail train was behind him.

"The remaining four vans are on your own train," said the foreman, "they've been equally divided onto stations where you'll be stopping or getting an exchange from, don't worry, your drivers will be given the information on what to do along the lines."

Thomas couldn't believe it. He looked towards Percy. "How?" he asked.

"Edward saw you looking exhausted and thought to tell James who came up with the idea!" smiled Percy, "I find it brilliant and enthusiastic!"

"Of course you would," Thomas smirked back.

The mail trains ran on time after that, Thomas got better and Percy enjoyed taking the mail along the mainline. All throughout the war they did until they happily handed back to James a few months after it all came to an end.

*

Winston sighed after finishing his second story. The others gaped in disbelief.

"James?" said Alice.

"Indeed," chuckled Gordon, "it came to shock to us too!"

"Silly engine changed for the worse once diesels arrived," said Henry, "he'll never change, not now, not ever!"

James said nothing, he only looked at his buffers.

The midland engine smiled back at him. "Listen James," he said, trying to sound as wise as Edward or Toby, "you're a good engine, but sometimes, you have to except change, with your own trains, or the entire world around you!"

James glanced up at him. "I don't know what you're talking about," he said sheepishly.

"I think you do," said Winston, as he wheeshed his steam, "just remember, sometimes you just got to adapt."

Winston then left the sheds with many faithful goodbyes, but he did leave a red engine, very much lost in thought.