"There you go, Rusty," a workman said said as a metal panel was placed over the little diesel's engine and secured. "All fixed up."

"Thanks," Rusty, who was resting on a flatbed, said. "And thanks to your new parts fetcher. He did a good job making sure my new radiator stayed safe."

Billy chuckled. "Don't praise me, I'll get a swelled head! Oh, wait, that's James."

The diesels laughed. "Your jokes are much better that Chafe's!" Sidney laughed. Misnaming his idiot brother made Billy laugh. Eventually, they quieted down.

"It's a shame we don't have any narrow-gauge track here," Paxton said. "We'll have to figure out who should take Rusty back to Blue Mountain."

They had just begun to think about this when a deep horn sounded. The engines gasped as a tall, imposing figure entered the Dieselworks.

"Hello...boss," Den said nervously, as the tall, dark yellow Class 42 1/2 rolled over to the trucks containing the shipment of parts.

Diesel Ten pried open one of the crates with his claw and gingerly pulled out its contents. "A gearbox for a Class 7," he mused as he inspected the gray object. "Completely intact." He set it back down. "I must say, I'm rather surprised. A steamer, caring so much about the wellbeing of diesels."

"E-every engine deserves the chance to be really useful," Billy stuttered. "And engines can't be useful if they can't move."

"I suppose so," Ten replied. His gaze shifted to Billy. "I don't know whether you're very brave or very stupid to come here. I understand you were assigned to work here, but to willingly enter the lair of devious diesels without complaint or influence of manipulation is something new."

"There's a first time for every...thing..." Billy gulped as Diesel Ten neared him. The diesel then began to stare Billy down, looking into his eyes without blinking.

Billy was frightened. Diesel Ten certainly was a big engine, not to mention one of the tallest he'd ever seen. And then there was the toothed hydraulic claw, which looked much scarier up close.

But a thought suddenly came to Billy: no. I'm not letting you win. So his eyes set into a glare, and he stared Diesel Ten down back.

If the diesel was surprised, he didn't show it. "I like this one," he said, finally blinking. "He's got determination, and a good work ethic. If you need me, I'll be in my shed."

"What?!" Billy said. "Oh no, you are not going back in there! Aren't you the one the railway fears? Ten out of ten for brute strength and devious deeds?"

"One, that's not how I got my name. I was simply the tenth diesel purchased by my original railway. It's not my actual name anyway."

"...Well that's anticlimactic."

"Two, have you seen how the other engines treat me? They all think I'm a monster!"

"You're afraid of them, aren't you?"

Diesel Ten looked away, ashamed.

"Look, I know what happened on The Golden Railway. I was an apprentice for the 2008 winner. I know your story, and it never should've happened. But you can't hide from the world forever. One of these days, you'll have to get out there and face your fears."

Rusty spoke up. "I don't want to interrupt anything, but I should really be going back to Blue Mountain. Billy, I think it would be best if you took me so you can learn the route."

"Okay. Someone couple me up."

With Rusty in tow, Billy was about to leave the Dieselworks when a horn sounded. He was surprised to see Diesel Ten pull up next to him.

"I'm going with you."

"Really?" Billy asked, shocked.

"You're right. I'm tired of being a coward. If the world doesn't want to see me, too bad!"

Behind him, the other diesels had huge smiles on their faces. They'd waited for this day for years.

"Besides, Tangerine, you need a way to get Rusty back on the tracks."

"He's right," Rusty said.

"Did you just call me 'Tangerine'?" Billy asked incredulously.

Diesel Ten waved his claw dismissively. "Eh, it doesn't matter. Lead the way, Rusty."

And off they went.

They have met. Diesel Ten isn't exactly what everyone thought he was. He does fear. But it's time he regained the self he lost.

What will happen at Blue Mountain Quarry? What will we see of Diesel Ten's old railway, Mesa Roja? What other nicknames will Diesel Ten come up with?

All this and more in the next chapter - Diesel Ten's Day Out!