The North Western Railway is one of the most unique railways one could find, it is the only railway to still use steam engines in favor of diesel engines. It is also one of the only railways in the world to refuse sending one of their own engines for scrap despite how it could benefit the railway. The Fat Controller always says the same thing when he is given offers on his engines,

"These engines are not for sale and never will be as long as my name is Charles Topham Hatt!"

One morning Gordon, James, Henry, and Bear were all sitting in the big sheds talking to each other.

"It's a shame,"

Started Gordon,

"Whenever I go to Barrow with the express I see less and less of our own kind, it truly is disheartening."

"Agreed"

Replied Henry,

"Whenever I go with the kipper I'm only met with a diesel who then takes the train the rest of the way. He never says hello or goodbye, he only gives me a glare or tells me I'm out of date. It's repulsive and proves that our glory days are over."

James and Gordon both agreed. Bear wasn't so sure however,

"Well they can't be all bad, can they?"

He asked. The other looked over at him for a moment before James spoke,

"Well of course they're not all bad Bear, the only problem is that there are so few good diesels that it's hard to separate them from the rest."

This made Bear cross as his engine growled, he didn't say anything as he rolled out of the sheds to go gather a train.

When he arrived at the yards with his train he saw The Fat Controller talking to the yardmaster. When he was done bear broke in.

"Excuse me sir, but is it true sir?"

"Is what true Bear?"

"Is it true what the others all say, is it true that the glory days of steam are over?"

The Fat Controller smiled as he looked up at the large green diesel.

"Maybe on the mainland Bear, but never on my railway. The glory days of steam will live on through my engines no matter what."

Bear smiled, satisfied with his answer he trundled away from the yards to collect his coaches for the limited.

A few days passed and the season began to change from the nice and warm summer to its cooler and calmer cousin, Autumn. The engines were getting fussy, thanks to the change in the weather and winter season coming they had more passengers than they usually would. Bear had been taken off the limited duties however and a newer trial diesel had been brought in to give the train a run, however Bear left before he could see the diesel get on.

When he arrived at the goods yard a long line of cars full of scrap were ready and waiting to go to the other railway as it was too much for any sodor scrap yard to handle. As Bear coupled up and was leaving he saw the diesel struggling hard trying to pull the train to no avail. This gave Bear a bit of hope that maybe The Fat Controller would bring in a steam engine instead.

When Bear arrived at barrow he was stopped at a red signal and peered over to the station and was shocked. He only saw two steam engines in the entire station and one of them was Henry. The other had no steam and was being shunted into a siding with a solemn look on his face. Bear looked at the rest of the station and only saw diesels with trains. He felt uncomfortable and unwelcome and was pleased when his signal turned green.

When Bear arrived at the scrap yard he was astonished at how quiet the yards could be at night when no one was around. He felt uneasy and shunted his train into its siding and was about to leave with a short train of steel when he heard a voice coming from the sidings. It was faint at first but became slightly louder.

"Help me!"

Bear quickly looked over at the sidings and saw an older engine with rusted black paint sitting in the sidings, her eyes pleading for help. Without a second thought bear quickly shunted the black engine onto the front of his train and was getting ready to leave when he suddenly heard a voice shouting at them.

"Oi!"

It was the yard manager, but before he could get another word in Bear's engine growled loudly and he pulled out of the yards as fast as he could. What he didn't know was that the yard manager had rushed to his office and raised the alarm giving the message to look out for a diesel engine with an old steam engine in tow.

As the two rushed through stations and yards the alarm was raised by them as well warning of a runaway diesel with a stow away steamer. Bear became more and more worried as they rushed through the countryside and it soon came to a head at Barrow where they were stopped by a red signal.

The yard manager walked up to them with a smirk on his face and said

"Now where might you two be headed tonight? Not Sodor I assume?"

Bear gulped and was about to speak when he saw the signal change from its dark scarlet to a lively green. He took his chance and growled his engine as loud as he could and moved the train right out of the station. As he rushed through he saw the bridge in sight and smiled.

"Almost home now, you'll be safe here. I promise."

And as their wheels finished crossing the bridge and touched Sudrian rails Bear honked his horn loudly with a large smile on his face.

As the train entered Crovan's Gate Bear kept his large smile and shunted his train into the works siding and then Shunted the black engine into a small secluded siding where the only engine who was near was rusty who was now awake. Bear asked him to keep the engine a secret for now and the little diesel happily agreed.

When Bear arrived back at the big sheds the others were all still asleep and Bear happily did the same before his buffers could even touch the buffers. Now long after he was suddenly woken wide awake by a chorus of whistles and cheers by the other engines. Before Bear could responde a loud voice boomed through the yards.

"Silence!

The others all quieted down and looked over to where The Fat Controller was standing, he looked at Bear sternly.

"Now Bear, I know you are keen to prove yourself, but this seems a bit much. Runaway engine, stowaway, escaped steam engine? I have been getting calls nonstop all night thanks to you."

"But Sir!"

Started Donald,

"Ye didne send wee Oliver back to the scrap heap after me brother saved him from scrap!"

"Too right Donald!"

The Fat Controller's tone completely changed and he now had a large smile on his face,

"That's why I've told the workmen to get straight to work on Molly and get her right back into working order at once!"

The yards exploded into another chorus of cheers by the others and Bear just smiled.

A few weeks passed and soon the mainline engines all met at crovan's gate on a cold winter morning to see the new engine. A beautiful yellow victorian styled engine pulled out of the works with a large smile on her face.

"I guess the glory days aren't ever ay Gordon?"

Came a voice

The big blue engine could only agree as he welcomed the new engine.

Molly now runs the limited with Bear and tells the other engines her own stories before British Railways took ever and her own escapades and adventured and the big engines do the same.