This story you're about to read was originally in the All New Thomas Adaptations page, and like the previous one in this folder, this one has also been edited. There are also two things that inspired this adaptation. The first features a moment that is based on the real events that happened to Eureka & Palasade #4 before she was bought by her current owner. The second is the rivalry between the GWR and the Southern Railway.

False Impressions

Based on "Thomas and the New Engine" (2005)

Goods work had been increasing on the North Western Railway as of late. The Fat Controller knew they needed another engine, and after a year long search, he finally found the engine he was looking for.

The engine was a six driving wheel black tender engine named Neville. He had a small funnel, a set of cylinders under his smokebox door, and had a square body like a diesel. He also had the word 'Southern' on both sides of his tender.

Mr. Robertson, his owner, showed him off to the Fat Controller.

"He sure is a unique engine," commented the Fat Controller.

"He sure is," agreed Mr. Robertson. "And I can tell you sir, he looks much better now than when I first found him."

Mr. Robertson then explained that Neville had been in an old workshop for many years after his retirement, then in 1984, the shops had caught fire and Neville had been burned badly. In 1987, he was bought by Mr. Robertson, who took him back to his house to be restored, and in 1992, Neville was steamed up for the first time.

"Ever since, we've been to a few gala events and he's had one railtour. Other than that, he hasn't been used much."

"Well my railway needs another goods engine, and I think Neville here would be perfect. Would you like that Neville?"

Neville smiled brightly, "oh sir, I would love that alot."

Mr. Robertson was sad to give up Neville, but he knew that his engine would be in good hands and be given the runs he's always wanted.

A week later, Neville arrived on Sodor and began work at once. For his first job, he was to take a goods train to Tidmouth Hault. He was doing well, but then, the grim Messengers of Doom, otherwise known as 'Arry and Bert, arrived. They saw Neville shunting and decided to have some fun.

Bert rattled up behind the trucks, then bumped them hard, they rolled along the tracks and bashed into Neville's back buffers.

"Oof," cried Neville.

"Watch where you're going clumsy wheels," Bert called rudely.

Then when Neville tried to move out of the siding, 'Arry blocked his way.

"Can you please move out of the way?"

"We don't move for stinky steamers, we just make things miserable for you," and the two diesels laughed loud and long.

Oliver the Western engine came into the yards at the moment and, from his point of view, he saw the engines laughing.

"Oh he's being friendly with them huh? Typical of his type," he grumbled and puffed away with his next train.

'Arry and Bert continued to bully Neville, that was until Duck stormed into the yards. He was cross.

"Oi! Buzz off you two! You got jobs to do, so leave our new friend alone!"

At first, the diesels didn't leave, but when Duck mentioned the Fat Controller having a talk with them, they rattled off back to the smelters yard without another word.

"I am so sorry about them," Duck apologized to Neville. "I'm afraid they are always like that."

"Nah it's okay, I've experienced worse in the past. The name is Neville by the way."

"Pleased to meet you, I'm Duck. I assume you are here to help out with the goods work."

"That is correct," Neville smiled. "It's why your controller brought me here, but to tell you the truth, I wouldn't want it any other way."

Duck smiled at the newcomer, "I can already tell that you're going to fit in greatly around here."

A little later, Oliver had arrived at the station near Dilly the Duck's pond with a passenger train. Douglas was there too, waiting for his path so he could leave with his goods train.

"Hullo Oliver, 'ave yoo seen the new engine yet?" he asked.

"Yes I have," Oliver answered crossly. "And I can tell you right now that he's no friend of ours."

"Whit makes ye say that?"

"I saw that Southern Railway engine talking with the Grim Messagers of Doom, and if I had to guess, he's probably plotting something aganist us."

"Och, I dinna believe ye, apart from a few bad apples Donal' and I 'ave seen, naw all engines from that railway 're bad."

A guard's whistle blew and Douglas pulled out of the station.

"You don't know the Southerners like I do!" he called.

For as long as he could remember, Oliver knew the Southern Railway and the Great Western Railway have always had a rivalry. Even after British Railways merged the railways into one company, the feud's never stopped. I'm sorry to say that even after moving to Sodor, Oliver has never learned to let go of the past.

Later that day, Oliver arrived at the big station where he found the new engine. He was waiting to go with a maintenance train, but Oliver thought he was being lazy.

"Hullo there," Neville called, "You must be Oliver."

Oliver didn't say anything, he just stared coldly at the former Southern engine.

"I've heard about you, I must say it's quite daring to run here to Sodor."

"I had to do what I had to do," he said coldly.

"And it's quite brave too." Neville wasn't sure of why Oliver was being so cold to him, especially since they had just met. Before he could ask him why, the guard had blown his whistle and Neville puffed out of the station.

After collecting new passengers, Oliver puffed back along the Little Western, still grumbling about the new engine.

"He can try to be friendly all he wants, but I'm not falling for it. I know he's plotting aganist us. Typical of him really."

He was so busy thinking about Neville that he didn't notice a man waving.

"Stop! Stop!" he shouted. "Your tracks are gone!"

Oliver didn't hear him until it was too late. His Driver applied the brakes, but Oliver rolled off the tracks, over the wooden ties and he stopped, dangerously close to the edge of a stone wall. Below was the fishing village.

"Help!" cried Oliver. "Someone help me!"

The man who tried to warn them, got out his mobile phone and called for help.

When the Fat Controller got the call, he went quickly to find Neville.

"Oliver is on the edge of a stone wall and he could fall at any moment. Please go help him."

"Yes sir," said Neville.

Several workmen went with the black tender engine, and brought along tools and supplies to help. Neville hurried along the line and soon found Oliver and his passenger train.

"Don't worry Oliver, we'll save you!"

Oliver didn't reply back, he was too scared to do so. Workmen used chains to hold Oliver in place, then gave the signal to Neville.

"Here we go," Neville muttered to himself.

He took the strain and pulled and puffed as hard as he could. Slowly and surely, Oliver moved away from the stone wall, over the ties and ballast, then finally back onto the steel rails. This was met with cheers from the villagers and workmen. Neville's Driver patted his boiler happily.

The fireman spoke to the man who shouted the warning, then went to speak with the Driver and Oliver's crew.

"Sneaky little thieves had stolen the rails and took off just as Oliver came into view. Don't worry though, the man saw where they went and has informed the police."

At last, Oliver found his voice. "Thank you for saving me, but why would a friend of 'Arry and Bert do that?"

"They're not my friends," called out Neville. "They were bullying me in the yards, that was until Duck showed up and sent them away."

"So that's what I saw," he thought to himself.

"Now, I know I am a Southern engine and you are Great Western, but I hope we can put our railway's rivalries away and become friends."

There was no response from Oliver, that was until;"Well I guess we can try, just give me a little time."

Several days later, the thieves were caught and arrested. They were charged for stealing from public property, and had to do work for the railway. As for the rails, they were recovered and returned to the North Western.

As for Oliver and Neville, they did put their differences aside and became good friends. They often work together and once in a while, they double head trains along the Little Western. Just the other day, Oliver said to Duck; "You know, for an engine from his region, he's not such a bad fella."

That coming from Oliver is high praise indeed.