Old Habits Die Easy

Written by Davey Moore

The trucks on the Island of Sodor know better than to play tricks on Scottish twin engines Donald and Douglas!

The twins both whistled aloud as they crossed over the viaduct with their heavy load.

When the twins first arrived, there was a brake van known as Old Spiteful who had taken a disliking to Douglas and made the journey difficult for him every time the pair of them went out…until one day, Douglas inadvertently saw to it that the spiteful brake van was a threat to him no more…

… … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … …

Halfway up Gordon's hill, James panted heavily as he pulled the train up, short of steam.

"I can't do it! I can't DO IT!"

"Leave it te ME!" Douglas called from behind.

"Oh, please don't!" Old Spiteful coldly begged. "Just face it! We're going to be late anyway!"

But the two engines surged ahead as Douglas pushed from behind.

"Ouch!" the van winced. "THAT'S done it!"

The guard leaned over.

"Go steady! The van's breaking!"

"HELLLLLP!"

The guard jumped clear.

The two engines came to a stop.

"Uh oh!" Douglas frowned.

Edward soon arrived with Judy and Jerome to clear up the mess and lift the remains of the shattered brake van away.

Old Spiteful shot Douglas one last glare, as Sir Topham Hatt looked at the Caledonian engine long and hard.

… … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … …

Ever since then, Old Spiteful was never seen again and the twins had a much easier time handling the trucks…that is of course unless they think the twins bumped them on purpose…

"Stop, Donal!'"

"Oooh!"

The Caledonian engine applied his brakes right before the former from behind, just in sight of the red signal amongst them, bringing the train to an abrupt halt.

"Phew! Close call, dat one!" Donald admitted.

But the trucks were rather cross.

"Ouch! He's bumped us!"

"Let's pay him out!"

"On! On! On!"

The trucks surged forward, forcing the wailing twins to slam on their brakes and stop just in time before…

"Oh! Look out!"

"Nia!" Donald gasped.

"Back, Donal'!" Douglas shouted.

The twins reversed back and allowed Nia to cross over the points, as she slammed on her brakes and came to an abrupt stop.

"Phew!" the Kenyan engine sighed with relief.

"Are you alright, Nia?!" Donald asked.

"Yes, thank you both! That was very clever how you both managed to back away in time! Couldn't have thought of it any better myself! You two must really have a knack for those trucks!"

"Oh, think nothing of it, Nia!" Douglas humbly encouraged.

"I's only a natural talent!" Donald added. "De trucks know better than to play tricks on uz, unless they think we mean te bump 'em!"

"Ahem!"

Douglas raised a firm eyebrow at the trucks, who giggled nervously.

"Sorry, Douglas!"

"And Donald!"

"We should've known you didn't bump us on purpose!"

Donald smiled, and waited till the signal turned green before the cavalcade was ready to advance forward.

One day, the twin were busy shunting trucks about in the Goods Yard by Duck's Branch.

"Oh, oh! Easy!" one line of trucks groaned as Donald shouted them gently into place.

"Oops! Sorry, fellas!"

"Say, Donal'," Douglas suggested. "How about shunting dose trucks a little more gently?"

And he calmly demonstrated.

"Oh," Donald chuckled. "Right!"

And he proceeded to do the same with his own perch of trucks.

"Y'all be headin' off te market later in de day!" Douglas promised. "So i's best ye look sharp!"

Sir Topham Hatt slammed the door of his car closed in time to see the commotion. He chuckled as he walked his way over.

"Well done, both of you!" he congratulated.

"Thank ye, sir!" they both chanted in response, standing at his attention.

"Now, I have come to fill you in on some jobs that you need to do today! You'll both be working individually, so please listen up!"

The twins gazed as he went on.

"Now, Donald, you will be making some market stops here on Duck's Branch, first on a special route down to Tidmouth, then along the stations running from Arlesburgh West!"

"Yes, sir!"

"As for you, Douglas, I need you to make some special market runs, first to Vicarstown, then from Knapford to Arlesburgh!"

Douglas whistled obediently.

"Much obliged, sir! We'll 'ave dese trucks in line for de train in no time!"

"Good! But that's not all!" Sir Topham Hatt went on.

The twins listened hard, glancing at each other.

"Unfortunately, with Toad scheduled for lots of trains on market day, there is a shortage of brake vans in the yard!

"Oh!" the twins frowned together in response.

"That is why I have called on James to make a special delivery to resolve that problem!"

"That is good news, sir!" Douglas admitted.

"Mmmmm, yes, yes! Couldn't think of any better decision, but I'm sure you both will manage splendidly! Must be off now! Good luck!"

Watching him set off, the twins pondered to each other.

"I wonder what tis special delivery could be!" Donald wandered.

"Search me!" Douglas replied, lost for ideas.

The twins found out soon enough!

"Hello, you two!" James whistled, chuckling, as he arrived, then jokingly remarked, "I think you'll both be happy to see who you'll be working with!"

The twins glanced at each other with confusion.

"Who?" Donald wondered.

Douglas gasped as he saw a familiar face from the back, glaring at the pair!

The twins saw very well who they would be working with: Old Spiteful the Brake Van, whom Douglas had accidentally smashed and sent for scrap long ago!

James laughed.

"I'm just glad I don't have to deal with him myself!"

The twins groaned.

"Huh!" the newcomer scoffed. "Wouldn't fancy this myself in case you're wondering!"

"How did ye escape the scrapyard?" Douglas demanded.

"Oh, there was a way, I assure you!"

"Oh, I'm sure there was!" Douglas remarked.

"Oh, brother!" Donald groaned.

"Silence!" the brake van bellowed.

Douglas scoffed.

"Ach! Who da ya think ye…"

"I've been sitting aside in Reg's scrapyard for ages! At least till yesterday when your ol' pal Edward picked me up and brought me to the Steamworks for repairs!"

The twins eyed him suspiciously as he went on.

"It was there where I was mended and put back together! You'll both have to stick with me now for eternity!"

"Ach! And why would dat be?" Douglas demanded.

Old Spiteful scoffed with disbelief.

"Why? Well, I'm essential, you see!"

"Aye! But nothing more dan a screeching and a noise when all is said and done!" Donald hastily insisted.

"Aye!" Douglas agreed.

He resumed shunting his trucks right away.

James chuckled, being uncoupled from the brake van.

"Well, I'll leave you guys to it!" he remarked, as he started off. "Good luck!"

But the twins were in too much of a foul mood to take any notice.

Donald faced Old Spiteful and spoke severely to him.

"I's market day! Good ting I won't 'avin be takin' ye out!"

The brake van snorted.

"You might eventually!"

"Ach, perhaps!" Donald halfheartedly agreed.

He edged slightly closer towards him.

"But I'm warning ye now! Spite Dougie again and you'll have much coming to ye!"

Old Spiteful chuckled dryly.

"Not like he won't smash me again anyway!" he remarked.

Donald lost patience.

"Ach! Be off with ye!"

He reversed away, watching the brake van as he switched tracks and backed out of sight.

All the time Douglas got his trucks ready, he couldn't keep his eyes off Old Spiteful.

He raised an eyebrow at the brake van, who exchanged a dark glance with him right back, making him feel slightly uneasy.

"I'll give that no good engine what's coming to him!" he coldly muttered to himself.

At last, Douglas' train was ready and they were well on their way.

The brake van glared as Douglas pinned his brakes on and stopped at the nearest red signal.

"Ouch!" he winced. "Watch it, you silly great engine!"

"Watch it yerself!" Douglas argued back, as they set off. "I's lucky for you I don't leave you behind!"

Old Spiteful scoffed and chuckled.

"How can you do that then? I'm in fine working shape now! It'll take a miracle to smash me again!"

"Ooh, pity! Ye'd be better off!" Douglas remarked, as he got going again.

"If what? You smashed me again?"

"Ooh, but I thought ye weren't easy to break!"

"Maybe, by an engine who actually knows his own strength!"

"At least I'm able to run a train to time!"

"Pah! We'll see about that!"

And he quickly pinned his brakes on, causing the giddy trucks to laugh and chuckle.

"What do ya think yer doin?" Douglas demanded.

"Perhaps you need some more sand to help you grip!" Old Spiteful sarcastically insisted.

"Ach! Nonsense! Now quit messin' 'round!"

The brake van yawned, continuing to screeching his wheels to a stop.

"Oh, poor ol' Douglas! You'll have to stick around with me forever!"

Douglas winced, feeling a sudden jerk as the train went further.

"Not if I can help it! Next thing ya know, I'lla be leaving ye behind!"

"You can't do that! If you recall, I have something you don't!"

"Oh? And what would dat be?"

"Necessity!"

"Ach, aye? An' for what? Makin' other engines late?"

The brake van slowly got his wheels rolling again.

"Hey! I can't help it if they bring that upon themselves, can I?"

Douglas raised an eyebrow.

"What do ya mean?"

Emily whistled.

"Watch out, Douglas!"

Douglas gasped, looking to his left and pinning on his brakes.

"Douglas!" Edward whistled from behind, stopping just in time.

Old Spiteful squinted an eye at the commotion.

"Oops!" he remarked.

"Sorry, Emily! And Edward! I didna see de red signal!"

He watched as Edward's signal turned red and his turned green, allowing him and Emily to whistle and start off on our way again.

"Ye silly no-good break van!" Douglas remarked. "Look what ye made me do!"

"It's not my fault you can't watch where you're going, you reckless hunk of scrap!"

"Ach! Look who's talkin'!"

"Look who almost ended up as such when his own brother was called upon!"

He continued to slow the train down as Douglas struggled to go any faster.

"You're a disservice to the railway!" he remarked.

"And you're a disreputation to your own fleet!" Old Spiteful fired back.

"Mucked nuisance!"

"Railmonger!"

"Lag behind!"

"Pusher puffer!"

"At least I can actually chuff!"

"Oh, I'm sure of that!"

"Are ye now?"

"Why, it only makes you even more discreditable!"

"Discreditable, aye? Even given my many years of service on de railway? How many years does that have on ye?"

James whistled loudly in warning.

"Ooh!" Douglas cried. "'nother red signal!"

He applied his brakes, much to the screeching and groaning of the trucks.

"Oof!" Old Spiteful groaned, in response to the sudden halt of the train.

"Douglas!" James demanded. "What are you playing at?"

"Nothin', James! It was dat no-good brake van!"

"Oh," James amusingly realized, looking at the back of the train. "I see!"

"Ha!" Old Spiteful scoffed. "Blaming Old Spiteful for your recklessness again, are you?"

"Wouldna lookie'a any oter way!"

"I would! Turn yourself in and get yourself demoted!"

"Ooh, but how but yerself with all the delays ye cauze!"

"Ha! Like that would happen!"

"Aye, it'd make a muckle difference wit'out ye bein' a screeching an' a noise!"

At last, the signal was green, and Douglas was able to make it back on his way again, but this time he was more careful not to argue with Old Spiteful.

"Foolish engine!" the brake van remarked.

The trucks giggled and gossiped to each other.

"Boy, are those two at it with each other or what?"

"Hehehe, I'd say!"

"Shhhhh! Wouldn't want old Douglas to smash us too!"

Old Spiteful smirked slyly at this remark! He continued to pin his brakes down hard as the journey continued.

By the time they arrived at Vicarstown, Douglas was very late indeed!

The stationmaster pointed sternly at his watch.

Douglas sighed wearily.

Gordon chuckled.

"You look tired, Douglas! I wonder what held you up!"

Henry smiled as he entered the station with his train.

"I don't think it was his fault, Gordon!" he humorously remarked.

"Oh!"

Gordon smirked and laughed, looking aside at Douglas' train.

"I see!" he marveled, as he steadily left the station with the express.

But the stationmaster wasn't very happy.

"That was quite the hold up, Douglas!" he reprimanded. "These trucks were supposed to be here 20 minutes ago!"

"I'm sorry, sir! But it wasne my fault! It was this ol' brake van holdin' me up and on purpose too…!"

The stationmaster groaned.

"I don't have time for excuses, Douglas! Take these trucks away as soon as they're unloaded, please!"

Douglas sighed with dismay.

Henry frowned, trying hard not to laugh.

"Sorry, Douglas!" he expressed pitifully, as he exited the station with his train.

Douglas was in a lot of trouble for the delay, as his old nemesis smirked with triumph from the back of his perch of trucks…

As Douglas arrived back yet at the Junction, he was in a very foul mood indeed!

"Hello, Douglas!" Duck whistled. "How's your day going?"

"Went fine until I was paired up with this no good muck of a lag! I tell ya, Duck, it's to leave him behind I'd be wantin' like Donal' suggested!"

"You can't do that!" the brake van coldly reminded him. "I'm essential, irreplaceable! Whether you like it or not, we're intertwined!"

He finished his rant as Donald buffered up to him.

"Alright, Ol' Spiteful! Look sharp cuz ye'll be dealin' wit me next!"

Douglas gapsed.

"Donal', what ye doin'?"

Donald smiled.

"Givin' ye a break! Hopefully it means ye can run yer next train to time!"

"Huh! Pitiful he can't with me at the back!"

Donald glared back at him.

"Ooh, I'll give you something pitiful for sure!"

"Ha! Try me!"

"I warned ya 'bout spitin' Dougie!"

Douglas glared as he backed away.

Duck sighed as he set off with his coaches.

"Oh, dear. Seems to be bad atmosphere being spread. Eh, Alice and Mirabel?"

But the coaches only laughed.

"Quite amusing I find it!" Alice admitted.

But Duck took no notice.

"What can be done about it?" he wondered.

"Nothing! It'll wear off!" Mirabel wittily remarked.

Alice chuckled along with her, as Duck continued along with a fixated expression of concern.

Douglas made his way along down to Knapford for his next job; he was very relieved about not having to work with Old Spiteful!

"Dat muckled screeching of a lad!" he remarked to himself. "Thank goodness for Donal', though I hope he don't spite him too!"

At Knapford Station, he told the other engines all about the brake van!

"I tell ye both, 'e's been no short of trouble ever since 'e's been back! Causin' me delays at every twist an' turn! 'ed bein' a left behind if it were for me!"

Thomas and Percy glanced at each at other with concern.

"Oh, dear, Douglas!" Percy expressed. "He does sound like trouble!"

"Aye, Percy! But de Fat Controller insists that there's no other way 'avin' such shortage of vans! Who needs them anyway?"

James chuckled, exiting the station platform in full steam with his goods train.

"Pity for you, Douglas! It's a good thing I don't have to work with such a no-good brake van!"

Gordon laughed.

"Me too! My express coaches wouldn't have it!"

Thomas shot them both a look, then glanced over at Douglas.

"Never mind them, Douglas!" he sympathized. "I'm sure the Fat Controller will understand that the delays aren't your fault!"

"Aye, Thomas! But will he figure out what to do about dat silly brake van?"

At last, his vans were hitched up and he was ready to go!

Philip honked as he backed down from the brake van.

Thomas chuckled.

"This one doesn't seem like too much trouble!"

"Nope!" Douglas agreed. "Should be fine!"

"Good luck, Douglas!" Percy whistled.

Douglas whistled back in response as he set off with his train!

All along the way to Arlesburgh, Douglas was able to pull the train without a hitch!

"Come along, ye trucks! We're all goin' straight off te market!"

"Ooh, ooh, to market!" one expressed.

"I like the sound of that!" chipped in another.

The trucks remained on their best behavior as well!

"Hip-hip, hurrah! Hip-hip, hurrah!" they chanted out.

Douglas smiled as he pulled them sturdily along! For the time all day, everything seem to be going right!

"Good day, Emily!" he whistled.

"Hi, Douglas!" the Stirling engine whistled and greeted in response.

"Keep it up!"

He advanced further along, his wheels swiftly pounding the rails.

"Well done, Henry!" he whistled, as he noticed the green engine approaching.

Henry expressed a look of surprise.

"Thank you, Douglas!" he expressed gratefully.

Douglas smiled. The trucks were chattering and laughing cheerfully behind him.

"Who needs dat silly ol' brake van anyways?!" he wondered to himself.

He delivered his vans to market at Arlesburgh all in good time and the stationmaster was very pleased with him!

"Thank you, Douglas! Now, leave these vans here please! Duck shall bring them back down to Knapford as soon as he gets a moment! Got a call from the Junction with orders to send you back there right away for another job!"

"Ach aye, sir!" Douglas agreed.

And he set off, whistling goodbye to the chattering trucks!

However, when he arrived back at the yard, he saw the stationmaster speaking to Donald.

"I understand the delay wasn't your fault, Donald! But that's why I highly encourage you to keep to time with your next job!"

"Aye, sir! I'll work doubly fast!"

"Splendid!"

Douglas rolled up alongside.

"You got delayed, Donal'?"

"Aye, Dougie! An' de Fat Controller wasne' happy aboot it!"

Douglas' expression soured. He was pretty sure he had an idea of who caused the delay!

"Why, dat muckled…!"

"Ah! Douglas!"

Douglas looked over with surprised, as the yard manager came into sight, pen and paper in hand.

Donald smiled and whistled as he left the station.

"You're back! Splendid! Now, I need you to collect a load of ballast and deliver it for Harwick!"

"Ach aye, sir! I'll have it there on the double!"

He advanced further along, reserved to his own thoughts.

"An' I'll teach dat Old Spiteful a lesson too eventually! Spite Donal', would 'e? Let's hope I don't have to work with him again!"

But as he arrived at the sidings, he found that unfortunately, Old Spiteful was the only brake van.

Douglas gasped with horror.

Old Spiteful raised an eyebrow, and the two engaged in a dark-glancing stare off!

"Mind your looks!" the brake van remarked. "And while you're at that, your buffers too!"

"Ach! I'm perfectly capable!"

"Then mind as you go with them! You never know when you may actually…"

But his rant was cut off by Douglas inching closer, glaring at him.

"Ye best mind yerself! Yer a real stubborn stickler for trouble! I hear ye'd be spitin' Donal' too!"

The brake van spluttered.

"Me? Balderdash! His bark may very well not equal his bump! But at least it's not as bad as yours!"

As he spoke, Douglas backed slowly up.

"Ye've been making de both of uz late!" he accused.

He gradually advanced forward.

"I'll show ye to cause uz a'trouble!"

He biffed hard.

"Ye big, belligerent muckle catastrophe of a van!"

"Ow! Oh! Oof!" Old Spiteful winced.

The trucks groaned and cried from behind him, for Douglas had biffed Old Spiteful into them.

"Ye'd been warned, Old Spiteful!" Douglas went on, as he switched tracks and passsd the van. "There'd be more comin' if ye misbehave and now you've crossed de line!"

"Hey! You can't get rid of me! You know I'll always come creeping back! I'm essential!"

Douglas laughed, as he was hitched up to his trucks.

"Ach! Are ye now? We'll just 'ave de see 'bout dat!"

He whistled and took off, right before the shunter could the van up.

"Huh? Wait!" he called, waving his arms up and down.

"Douglas!" Old Spiteful demanded. "Where do you think you're going?"

"So long, Old Spiteful!" Douglas called out.

He got a good run at his wheels as he exited the yard, chortling to himself!

"Dat was clever! Now I'll just 'ave te speak wit' de Fat Controller 'boot gettin' a replacement van! Dat one will never do!"

He arrived at the Junction, grinning and taking a deep breath of relief, as his trucks were filled up with ballast.

Donald pulled up alongside.

"Dougie!" he demanded. "Wherever is yer van?"

"I left dat no-good Old Spiteful back at the sidings, Donal'! 'e's no use to either de pair of uz or any other engine either! I'll go without a van just this once!"

"But, Dougie…!"

"'e's made de both of uz late, Donald, and advertently too! I shall get to de bottom of de situation after I'm done with dis next job!"

He waited until his last truck was loaded before setting off, leaving Donald with surprise.

"Wait, Dougie!" he whistled.

Douglas was well and truly on his way that he couldn't hear Donald! However, the trucks were cross with Douglas for bumping them and vowed to get their own back!

"Pay Douglas out! Pay Douglas out!" they whispered and gossiped amongst each other.

But Douglas didn't hear them as he progressed further on his way!

The Caledonian engine whistled to Oliver as he passed by with his coaches. He beamed brightly.

"I will be making express time without dat silly spiteful brake van, I'm sure of it!"

He looked all around at the evergreen and took a deep breath, feeling content.

The trucks surged forward.

"On! On! On!" they chanted.

Douglas only laughed, gently applying his brakes.

"Ye trucks should know better dan to try an' play tricks on me now!"

But they didn't respond.

"Hold back! Hold back!" they whispered to each other.

"Oof!" Douglas winced,

He felt a sudden jolt, but the trucks weren't satisfied!

"This won't do!" admitted the one in front. "There's a steep hill up ahead! We'll just get him when he makes his way over!"

"Yeah, yeah, let's!" one half-quietly chimed.

"Shhhhh!" the others hissed.

Douglas smiled, sensing nothing as he made his way up the hill.

It wasn't as easy without a van in particular, but at long last, Douglas was able to make his way over the top of the hill!

"Here we go!" he chanted.

But the trucks pushed him quickly ahead.

"On! On! Faster! Faster!"

"Ohhhhh!" Douglas gasped, taken by surprise.

Douglas slammed on his brakes hard but it wasn't enough to stop the runaway trucks!

"On! On! On!" they wailed.

"Stooooop!" Douglas wailed.

But the silly trucks only giggled and chattered noisily behind him.

"Hellllp!"

Up ahead, Duck was humming as he made his way along with his own trucks, when he heard Douglas wailing from behind him.

"Look out, Duck!"

Duck gasped.

"Oh, no!"

He turned the bend as fast as he could and was off in a flash, but Douglas still raced on.

"Stop, stop! Stooooop!" he begged.

But it was too late!

"Woooahhhhh!" he wailed.

He shut his eyes at the bend, as his front wheels turned gradually off the rails, finally groaning him to a halt!

Douglas opened his eyes before he could see what had happened! Ballast lay everywhere and the trucks were giggling and laughing behind him!

"Oh," he groaned.

Ryan arrived with Judy and Jerome to lift Douglas back onto the rails.

The two cranes exchanged a look of sympathy.

"Oh, dear, Judy! Looks like poor Douglas did get himself into a mess!"

"Yes, indeed, Jerome! Not to worry though, Douglas! Nothing we can't do about getting you back in order again!"

Douglas smiled meekly, which was short-lived once he heard a car door slam. He gasped.

"Sir!"

"Ahem!"

Sir Topham Hatt folded his arms and raised a stern eyebrow as he stood before Douglas.

"Douglas, what were you thinking?" he reprimanded. "That was very irresponsible of you going off without a brake van!"

"But sir," Douglas insisted, "Old Spiteful's been no short of livin' up to his name ever since ye brought him back! Please, sir, may I request ye get another brake van instead?"

"I'm sorry, Douglas, but I simply can't! There's no other brake vans I can spare for to help run trains between these two branch lines! That is why I brought him back; to help!"

"But 'e 'asn't been helpin', sir! 'e's been makin' things a lot worse!"

Sir Topham Hatt looked at him long and hard.

"I will tend to the matter soon enough!" he promised. "Till then, Ryan will take these trucks to Harwick back with the breakdown crane, and you, Douglas, are to report back to the yard right away for your next train!"

"B-but, sir…"

"Ahem! Now, Douglas!"

Douglas sighed.

"Yes, sir!" he obliged, and limped slowly away.

Douglas arrived promptly back at the Goods Yard by Arlesburgh; Donald was there waiting for him.

"Dougie!" he demanded. "There ye are! Why ever do ye go gallivanting off without a brake van now?!"

"But Donal', de only van left was Old Spiteful! And need I remind ye dat he made uz both late with our trains so far today!"

The brake van raised an eyebrow, listening in from a nearby siding.

"I couldn't afford to have another delay and…"

Donald chuckled loudly.

Douglas was caught off-guard, raising an eyebrow at his brother.

"Whatever is so funny, Donal'?" he demanded.

The Caledonian engine smiled.

"Oh, Dougie, tis may be a surprise, but it wasne Old Spiteful who caused de delay!"

"Huh?"

Douglas was puzzled, but Donald just beamed.

"In fact, he wasne trouble for me at all, and neither were de trucks!"

"Oh," Douglas groaned, listening on with disbelief.

"We managed splendidly, but der was a faulty signal on de way, an' a trolley 'aving tipped at the track by the platform only made it worse! Other dan dat, de journey went fine, and less time was lost in de end!"

This left Douglas in deep thought.

"So dat brake van only be spitin' me now, eh?"

And he rushed off to find him, much to Donald's astonishment.

"Oh, brother," he expressed wearily.

Douglas found Old Spiteful in one of the sidings and decided it was time to to give him a piece of his mind!

He biffed the van hard and pushed him farther down towards the buffers.

"Ow! Ooh!"

"Alright, Old Spiteful!" he demanded. "Le's settle tis! Yed been careful 'bout spitin' Donal'! But dan why is it when I'da be takin' ye out that yed cause trouble?!"

Old Spiteful shot him a dirty look.

"I'll never surrender to you, biffer basher!" he protested. "I spent years in that scrapyard all because of you!"

"What?!" Douglas spluttered.

He raised an eyebrow as he listened on with suspicion.

"Silence!" the brake van bellowed. "And keep away while you're at it! I will never spare the satisfaction to work with a no-good engine like you again!"

"Aye! Nor would I if I'd be 'avin de choice!"

Old Spiteful scoffed.

"Ha! Oh, I'm sure you wouldn't!"

Douglas edged closer, glaring at him.

"But it's like ye said! We're intertwined! And if ye'd be so essentiall now, we'd be a gettin' goin'! Now, come!"

"Or what?! Are you going to smash me into bits again?! Just like you did intentionally when you had the chance!"

Douglas gasped, taken aback with shock!

"I smashed ye intentionally!"

"It was on purpose!"

"It sure'a was not, and yer a silly brake van for thinking so!"

"Whatever it was, it was a foolish occurrence! I was never the same again, and I thought it'd be that way for eternity!"

"Was it dan?!" Douglas reminded him.

"No! But that's not the point! I knew I needed to make up for the errors of my ways!"

"Dan why don't ye by not spitin' me?!"

"Because I'm not convinced by you!"

"Yer just lucky not to be sitting 'round in that scrapyard! De Fat Controller gave ye a second chance, same me and Donal'!"

"So I'm lucky, eh? You're the one that got away with what happened! You wouldn't still be working here on the railway if you hadn't!"

Douglas' eyes twinkled a little, as Donald rolled up alongside

"Is tat what you really tink, Ol' Spiteful?" Douglas wondered.

"That's exactly what I've been thinking the moment I saw your face again after all this time!"

Douglas' glare softened a little.

"If it be makin' ye feel a better, I actually didn't get away with what happened!"

"How's that?!"

"I almost got sent away after de incident, but it took a great deal of convincing de Fat Controller te keep both me and Donal' 'round!"

Donald smiled.

"I can vouch for that!" he admitted.

Old Spiteful's eyebrows narrowed a bit as his glare turned to a sorrowful expression.

"Oh," he thought. "I, uh, I mean, errrrr…"

"Eh, sorry te interrupt yer little heart-te-heart, ye two," Donald gently reminded them, "but eh, der's still a train te run!"

"Oh," Douglas gasped.

He quickly edged forward so that the shunter could couple him up to Old Spiteful when they heard a car door slam and footsteps approaching.

"Ahem!"

The twins gasped and looked over.

Old Spiteful frowned. There stood Sir Topham Hatt, tapping his foot and raising his eyebrow at him.

"Mmmm…" he wondered, sternly deep in thought towards the van.

"All settled here, sir!" Douglas beamed, pulling the brake van away. "Both Donal' an' I are certain now dat Old Spiteful will be as good as his word!"

"Oh," Sir Topham Hatt gasped, taking a moment before smiling. "Very well, carry on then!"

Donald beamed and whistled as he chuffed away.

All along the way with their next train, the two former enemies made up their quarrel!

Douglas gulped, amongst the perch of trucks behind him.

"I'm, eh, sorry dat I smashed ye all dose years ago, Old Spiteful! I'm also sorry for leavin' ye behind! It served neither of uz no good an'…!"

"No, Douglas!" the brake van bellowed.

Douglas was rather startled.

"I'm sorry!" Old Spiteful admitted. "I misjudged you greatly!"

The Caledonian engine listened on to the brake van, expressing surprise.

"I'm sure our feud would have been settled if I had communicated my feelings sooner, and I've held them in long enough to cause us another delay! I see something in you now that I've never seen when we first encountered: you and your brother are both very understanding engines and I feel bad for giving either of you grief in the first place!"

Douglas' heart warmed at the brake van's speech.

"I shoulda dealt with ye sooner rather than gallivant off like dat without a break van! De incident served me well!"

Old Spiteful chuckled dryly.

"Oh, really?" he wondered, smirking.

"Yes, and I think i's a best we put our differences aside an' be friends!"

"Excellent idea!" the brake van cried. "Well, that first bit, really! Not too sure about the second!"

"Oh, but why? We're both essential, an' strong and able! An' we both 'ave to work for dat second chance we both 'ave!"

"True! Nothing personal though! It's not you, it's me! I'm certainly no friend of the railway, but I am able and willing to cooperate whenever I'm needed, no matter who the engine and what the circumstance!"

"Oh?"

Douglas listened with curiosity.

"It's a pact I've made to myself that I thought about given many years laying about in that dreaded scrapyard! I'm happy to cooperate now, if it means that I won't go back!"

Douglas smiled.

"Then we'd be happy te 'ave ye, if it means ye'd be a credit to uz!"

He whistled aloud.

"Come along, ye trucks!"

And they giggled and chattered all the way to Tidmouth Station.

"G'day, Duck!"

"Hello again, Douglas!" the Great Western engine greeted in response. "I say, what was that all about earlier?"

"Oh, just a little trouble with the trucks!"

The trucks gasped, chattering and gossiping amongst each other.

"Was a very fatal thing to go off without a van! I've realized my error, though, and now I have Old Spiteful to cooperate with me!"

The brake van grinned, winking and narrowing an eyebrow from the back of the train.

"Oh," Duck expressed, looking over.

Alice and Mirabel exchanged glances of disbelief.

At that moment, the guard's whistle blew.

"Well, best be off now! Goodbye, Duck!"

"Halt!" Old Spiteful bellowed.

He slammed on the brakes, causing Douglas to roll his eyes around with surprise.

"Now what?!" he demanded.

"Stretch of track felt a little wobbly!" he admitted. "Go on! Carry on now!"

Douglas expressed a serious look.

"We have a schedule to keep, Ol' Spiteful!" he admitted.

"Well, don't let me hold you up!"

"Oh, surely, no desire!"

"Hey, what's that supposed to mean?"

"It means we 'aven ne time te dawdle!"

"Pah, get going!"

"I am!"

The trucks giggled giddily as the cavalcade surged sternly out of the station.

Duck and the coaches chuckled amongst each other, ready to take out on their own journey as soon as Mirabel's guard blew his whistle.

Old Spiteful still doesn't get along with the other engines when they take him out, but they are at least relieved that he's more reliable than he was before!

Happy New Year! This was a real doozy to write; took a while but it was worth it! Old Spiteful the Brake Van is back at it and I was able to tackle his dynamic with Donald and Douglas in an expansive way from the original Break Van story. I think this was the largest role I've ever given Douglas with as much screen time as he got to himself, but with an old nemesis back, I thought this only a fitting storyline to do so while Donald took a slight backseat, because in other stories like The Missing Snowplow and The Twins' Race, he was sort of more front and center with the likes of James and Henry, so this was more Douglas' story, really. It felt refreshing having the twins spotlight in a story where they don't banter, making their relationship more nuanced than arguing all the time. As for the story itself, Old Spiteful was a fun character to bring back, and being there to stay as he is, he's continued holding a grudge against Douglas, but resents him only more so due to the fact that he believes Douglas purposefully smashed him and had him scrapped. Douglas' rivalry with Old Spiteful increases as he endures him throughout the first portion of the story, and reaching his nadir with the brake van clouds his judgment and causes him even more trouble. In the end, he learns that he has to deal with Old Spiteful and the pair end up seeking to understand each other as Douglas understands why Old Spiteful spites no other engine other than him, and Old Spiteful realizes he misjudged Douglas as he realizes that the Caledonian engine almost got sent away. The two end the story remaining friendly and cordial rather than actual friends, and make a pact to cooperate with each other due to their history of almost having second chances and realizing that they need each other. The supporting cast was fun to sprinkle around the heart of this story; more mainstream characters were incorporated to feature alongside the twins, and I also worked on Alice and Mirabel's joking, chucklesome nature with Duck. Old Spiteful is due for his own spotlight story later on this set, and I'm very glad to have made the decision to bring him back! Be sure to leave thoughts, and as usual, stay tuned for...

Swashbuckling Skiff - Skiff enjoys watching other sailboats race by in the water and wishes that he could take part in the regatta just like them, which is unexpectedly granted when high winds pick up!

Samson And The Wrong Advice - [Based on the Mr. Men book Little Miss Stubborn and the Wrong Advice] - Nia suggests that Samson takes advice from others on how to do different jobs. Samson, not surprisingly, agrees, but he takes the suggestion literally, and starts taking advice from every engine on Sodor, including taking advice on how to shunt trucks from Diesel - by bashing them from behind!

A Stretch Too Far - when Thomas is taken ill, Stepney the Bluebell Engine visits Sodor to run his Branch Line in his palce. He is so eager to work that his expectations aren't met as delays happen commonly. However, Stepney gets more than he bargained for when having to take Hasty Hannah out!

Fair Play - Stanley feels threatened when Stepney takes on his duty as head shunter in the Shunting Yard, and is jealous of the popularity that he gets in amongst other engines, so he hatches a plan to make him look weaker...

Status Quo - when Gordon has boilerache, his brother the Flying Scotsman pulls the express in his place. However, he is disappointed when he doesn't get to stop at stations between Knapford and Vicarstown to let passengers admire him! So he goes slower between stations to get his wish, which only makes his own passengers late!