Okay Mr Starr, we're still going! ...Mr Starr? Oh god, can someone try and find him!? He's probably wandering around the studio in a alcoholic trance again!
...
Trevor the Traction Engine enjoys living in the Vicarage Orchard. True,he gets to hear the many boring lectures from some of the lesser preachers, but on the plus side, he does get a great view of the changing seasons. His shed is also relatively deluxe, and he was pretty sure that Vicar Teddy had implied that he would get another traction engine to talk to as a pen pal. Edward came to see him everyday, but sometimes Trevor didn't have much work to do.
"Sup." Edward said one morning, following the James incident.
"Bloody hell! You look like you've been in the wars!"
"Certainly would have been easier than what I had to do. Anyway, this is my last visit for today, I've got to go and get some overhauling done. But I have a surpri-" Edward frowned. "You don't look happy."
"I do like to keep busy all the time." Trevor sighed. "And I do like company...especially chlldren." He paused. "Sounded weird again, didn't it?"
"Yeah, yeah, let's not say that as much." Edward smirked. "Well, it's funny you mention that Trevor. Cheer up! The Fat Controller has some new harbor scheme set up. He has work for you there. I'm to take you right now to meet Thomas today."
"Ah!" said Trevor in excitement. "The harbor! The seaside! Children! That will be lovely!"
"Well you're jumping to a lot of conclusions quickly but sure." Edward looked around. "So...no crane to lift you up...this is a problem."
"Yeah, we really should have thought this through more."
...
"Edward, were all the chains necessary?"
"We had a incident a year or so back when we tried to take a crane to the docks. One of the reasons we phased out the old trucks. Trust me, you're safer chained up than let loose on this thing."
...
Thomas was on his way to the harbor with a trainload of metal pilings, and a (for the moment) permanent smile that made him look like plastic surgery gone horribly wrong. "Swear to god I'm going to murder James once this day is over." he muttered angrily. The pilings were needed to make the harbor wall firm and safe. He arrived at Elsbridge yards, and looked to Edward. "All right, let's get this over with."
"Hello Thomas." said Edward calmly. "This is Trevor, a friend of mine. He's a traction engine."
Thomas looked and did a double take. He eyed the newcomer doubtfully. "He's a what engine!? IS HE RELATED TO TERRANCE!? BECAUSE I CAN'T DEAL WITH ANOTHER GRINNING DEMON FROM HELL!?"
"I'm a traction engine." said Trevor, who was used to far worse. "I run on roads instead of rails."
"SORCERY!" gasped Thomas.
"Can you please take me to the harbor? The Fat Controller has a job for me."
Thomas looked at Edward pleadingly. Edward was thinking of his overhaul however, and merely glared at Thomas. "Yes." said Thomas through clenched teeth. "Of course." But he was still puzzled.
One transfer later, the workmen had coupled Trevor's truck to Thomas's train. Soon, they were ready to start their journey. Thomas whistled at Edward, who was too busy thinking of the overhaul to care.
As the odd couple puffed away, Edward frowned. "How did we get Trevor onto that truck?"
The driver shrugged. "World is full of mysteries."
...
"I'm glad the Fat Controller needs me!" called Trevor as they went over a bridge. "I don't have enough to do some times!"
"Wait!" Thomas said in shock. "You WANT to do work!?"
"Of course! It's fun! I can work anywhere. In orchards, on farms, in scrapyards, and even at harbors!"
"Well bully for you! But you still don't run on rails!" puffed Thomas the Racist Engine.
"I'm a traction engine! I don't need rails to be useful!" said Trevor. "You wait and see."
"Uh huh, sure."
"You know I had a chat with Bertie the other day. Talking about snowdrifts...and snowplows."
Thomas shut up for the rest of the journey, or tried to, but his mouth had for whatever reason decided to stick open. He wondered if he was coming down with lockjaw, and if he was, if he would be justified in slamming James into the back of the shed.
...
But when they reached the harbor, they found everything in confusion. Trucks had been derailed, locking the line, stone slabs lay in pieces and there was a distinct smell of booze and tears in the air.
"We must get these pilings past." said the driver. "They are essential. Trevor, we need you to drag them round this mess."
"So we're not doing anything, right?" Thomas asked innocently. "I'd just like to catch up with James and, er, give him a talk."
"Oh no you don't!"
"Just the sort of job I like." said Trevor happily. "Now you'll see Thomas! Now I'll show you what a traction engine can do!"
Jem Cole started Trevor up, and the traction engine hit Thomas in the back.
"OW!"
...
Trevor was as good as his word. He dragged the pilings clear with chains and towed them into position. "Who needs rails!?" he asked rhetorically to the air where Thomas was supposed to be. "Coward!" he laughed mockingly.
Later, Thomas returned with his two coaches, and was amazed to see how well Trevor had cleaned up. "Bloody hell!" he muttered as he turned the corner. Thomas had brought Annie and Clarabel to visit him, carrying in them a present for Trevor. Thomas sighed, and was aware that he had a hearty meal to digest. He had to eat his words. Despite himself, Thomas was most impressed. "Now I understand how useful a traction engine can be!" He declared out loud.
"So you won't be racist again!" snapped Annie.
"I never was a racist!"
"Yeah! He just didn't like things that weren't the same as him!" said Clarabel with no hint of irony in her voice.
The coaches were full of children, Trevor gave them all rides around the harbor. They all liked this best of all, and he was greeted with cheers each time he returned, though that may have been because he accidentally blew off their teacher's hat.
"He's very kind." Annie muttered begrudgingly.
"He reminds me of Thomas." added Clarabel.
"Let's not go that far."
Everyone was sorry when it was time for Trevor to go. The children cried goodbye and Thomas pulled him back to a junction. There was a silence, and then the teacher turned to tell the children it was home time. And then realized that they were without a train.
They did have two very irate coaches though.
...
Once off the truck, a small tear came into Trevor's eye. Not even Thomas was that heartless, and so pretended not to see. He whistled gaily to make Trevor happy. "I'll come and see you when I can." he remarked. "And Edward'll be back in a few days. The vicar can look after you now, and there's apparently plenty more work in the orchard. But we may need you at the harbor someday again."
"That would be lovely." said Trevor happily.
"Yeah."
Traction engine and steam engine looked at each other.
"Well...good bye."
"Goodbye."
...
That evening, Trevor stood in the orchard shed remembering. He thought of his new friend Thomas, the harbor and most of all, the smiling faces of the children. Then he went happily to sleep, in the shed at the bottom of the orchard.
...
Late that night, Thomas woke up.
"OH BALLS! I FORGOT THE COACHES!"