Troublesome Engines – SpartanPrime101 Adaptation: Chapter 4
Hello, everyone. This is SpartanPrime101, bringing you the next update for my next Thomas the Tank Engine fanfiction/adaptation story.
Before I do or say anything else, I want to give praise and glory to God Almighty. Lord, I thank you for being with me and for guiding me over the past few months. Thank you for giving me the strength to acknowledge and battle the demons that resided in my soul. Thank you for the wonderful people in my life, including my family and mentors. Thank you!
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Disclaimer: I don't own Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends. If I did, it would be just like the old-style episodes that aired before the CGI episodes – when they actually cared about making an actual story rather than simple, childish ramblings and decisions.
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Chapter 4: Loudmouth Engines
There was a little tank engine who worked at the harbour at the big station by the sea. He was dark green like Robert, but was just smaller than Percy. The engine, who we shall call Reginald, was rude and boastful, and delighted in heckling the other engines, much to the other engines' displeasure.
One night, Reginald chuffed into the sheds feeling particularly boastful. He glanced over to the big engines, and smiled mischievously.
"Ah! It's truly a glorious time to be a really useful engine such as myself," he said loudly to the other engines. "All my trains were on time, and the passengers and coaches were most pleased with me. And, of course, the trucks were relieved to have me as their shunter today. They said they were tired of being bumped about the yard, and having to hear all those complaints about dirty trucks in dirty sidings. I don't suppose you three know anything about that?"
Gordon, James and Henry glared at him, but Reginald paid them no mind. He continued making crude jokes towards the three engines, until Robert spoke up from his berth. "Alright, that's enough. Let's save the chatter for tomorrow. It's time for us to get a good night's rest."
The other engines agreed, and soon, they were all asleep. All except Reginald, who continued making sly jokes under his breath.
He was worse the next morning. "Look at me now," Reginald said, as he chuffed onto the turntable, "fully steamed and ready for work." As he was turned around, Reginal smiled naughtily. "I say, you three," he started, "have you decided to stop being such lazy sausages? Or has the Fat Controller decided to make you permanent features? Sensible idea, if you ask me. Kept out of the way, while we reliable engines handle the important jobs."
"In fact, one has to wonder why the Controller would keep an express engine who gets stuck on a hill whilst pulling a simple goods train? Or some mixed goods engine who needs bootlaces to pull a train? Or, for that matter, a worthless failure who's only good for being shut up in tunnels, or playing water games with circus animals?"
Gordon, James, and Henry were furious.
"Of course," Reginald continued, "I suppose we can't all be really useful engines. Now, I'd never boost, but you'd never find me going against the Fat Controller's orders. Unlike some other engines I could mention."
And laughing rudely, he chuffed away towards the harbour yard.
The other engines were fuming. Even kind Edward was losing patience. "I'm sorry about Reginald," he said to Robert. "He's always been the jealous sort, and he's only gotten worse ever since Thomas started working on his Branchline."
"I understand," said Robert, apprehensively. "He reminds me of another engine I knew back at the workshop. He constantly belittled the other engines and workmen, and how they should try to work hard like him. Quite the loudmouth in my opinion, even after the manager put him into storage to teach him a lesson."
"A fitting name for Reginald, given his behavior," Edward frowned. "I just hope it doesn't cause any more trouble for the railway."
All the other engines muttered in agreement.
…
Later that day, Percy arrived at the station platform with Annie and Clarabel. He waited as the passengers climbed onboard, and for the Guard to secure the luggage. He was about to leave, when Reginald puffed up with a goods train. Percy hadn't met Reginald, and didn't know to be careful around him.
"Hello, there," said Reginald, coyly. "Taking a passenger train, I see."
"Yes, I am," replied Percy. "I'm taking the first passenger train up to Ffarquhar, while Thomas takes a light goods train up to Maron." Percy was so excited, that he didn't notice Reginald frown in envy.
Reginald had always wanted a Branchline of his own, and never missed a chance to brag about it to the other engines. When the Fat Controller offered the Ffarquhar Branch to Thomas for rescuing James after his accident, Reginald was absolutely livid. He became increasingly bitter towards the blue tank engine, and often taunted him for all his mishaps during his time as the former station pilot.
Today, Reginald was feeling particularly naughty, and decided to have some fun with the new little engine.
"Well, I suppose passenger work is a necessary chore," he said, disdainfully. "But it can be so slow and dreary. A shame, really, that you would be burdened with such a demeaning job. And, with such old and tedious objects, I might add."
Annie and Clarabel were cross. "Old and tedious? Old and tedious?" they fumed.
Percy was hurt. "I'm not slow!" he retorted. "Why, I could finish this train just as fast as you. Maybe even faster!"
"Is that so?" queried Reginald.
"Yes, it is!" huffed Percy.
"Well then," smirked Reginald, "how about a little race, then? Shall we say, erm, first to the junction is the fastest engine?"
Percy gave an excited "Peep-peep!" on his whistle, not seeing Reginald smiling darkly. Their crews and the stationmaster agreed, and once the passengers were onboard Annie and Clarabel, the two engines waited for the Guards to blow their whistles.
Reginald said, "Are you ready?"
"Yes, I am!" replied Percy."
"Then, get set…"
The Guards blew their whistles.
"Go!"
And off the two engines went, with Reginald pulling an early lead. Percy tried his hardest, but he couldn't go too fast with a passenger train.
"Come along, we shan't lose! Come along, we shan't lose!" called Percy to the coaches.
"We're coming along, we're coming along," sang Annie and Clarabel. They were eager to get back at Reginald for mocking them.
The two engines raced down the line, their buffers nearly aligned as they approached the junction. Reginald smirked as he glanced over at Percy, and he began to pull ahead. His diver tried to keep him under control, but Reginald only went faster.
"Silly little engine," he thought to himself. "As if he could possibly be as useful as me." Reginald was so conceited, that neither he nor his driver noticed the signal, which had been set to danger. As they came round the bend, he was shocked to see Robert parked on the same line with a local goods train.
"Brakes, Driver! Stop!" he shouted in horror. His driver applied the brakes, but the weight of his trucks kept pushing him forward regardless. His driver and fireman quickly bailed from his cab, leaving Reginald to continue charging down the track. Reginald gave a great whoop of horror as, with a resounding 'CRASH!', he careened headlong into the back of Robert's train.
As the dust settled, everyone came to see what had happened. Miraculously, no one had been injured; the Guard in the brake van had heard the warning and managed to jump clear before the crash. Neither Robert nor his crew were hurt, and Reginald's crew had escaped with only minor scrapes and bruises.
Reginald, however, was in a far worse state: his front end was badly twisted, his wheels were wedged in the ballast between the rails, and pieces of the brake van hung from his lamp irons and funnel.
A stunned Percy puffed quickly to the station at the junction. His Driver and Fireman explained what had happened told the stationmaster, who then telephoned for the Breakdown Train to be sent at once.
…
It took quite some time to clear the wreckage. The brake van and rear-most trucks were all to pieces, and Reginald and some of his trucks were in need of repairs. When the Fat Controller arrived, he spoke severely to Reginald. "I will not tolerate my engines racing about at high speeds, and endangering the passengers and staff. This is a railway, not a race course; and you are not an equestrian thoroughbred!"
Reginald could hardly speak; the broken wood still lingered on his buffer beam.
"Furthermore," he continued, "Edward and Robert have told me about your attitude towards the other engines. I assure you that I will not condone such behavior on my railway. Perhaps some time at the Works will tamper your, ahem, self-importance."
Soon, another engine arrived to take Reginald to the new Works station near the other end of the line. The remnants of the brake van remained firmly on Reginald's buffer beam, thankfully keeping him quiet for the remainder of the day.
That night in the shed, the engines laughed and joked about what had happened. "I say, Edward," snickered Thomas, "what did Robert call that engine at the workshop? Loudmouth, was it?"
"Well, from what I heard," chuckled Edward, "Reginald wasn't so loudmouthed as he was being taken to the Works station."
"Perhaps he'll finally learn a thing or two about being 'reliable'," Robert suggested. "At least now, we can enjoy a night of peace and quiet without his 'loudmouth' nonsense keeping us awake."
All the engines whole-heartedly agreed.
…
It would be some time before Reginald returned from the Works. During this time, the Fat Controller placed Robert in charge of handling the local goods around the harbour and the station. By the time Reginald returned, word about his little race had spread, much to his irritation. I'm sorry to say that the accident had done nothing to dampen his boastfulness, and he soon returned to his old ways.
But that is a story…for another day.
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Phew…okay…I'm gonna come out and say it…Jesus Tap-Dancing Christ! That was way more work than it should've been. Seriously, how did it take me this long to finish this chapter, when the first two chapters were up within days of each other.
So, Reginald is actually based on another small green tank engine that was mentioned in an annual remake of James and the Troublesome Trucks back in the 1980's; he was the engine who mocked James about having some bootlaces ready in case of an accident.
Also, Reginald's accident is based on a real-life accident on August 16th, 1902, when a Canadian Pacific Railway westbound freight train ran into the tail end of a stopped freight train. The incident occurred about 200 yards east of the station depot at Maple Creek, Saskatchewan. Fortunately, the crews of both trains were unhurt, but the body of a suspected hobo was found as the wreckage was cleared.
Rest assured that the next/final chapter WILL be updated before the weekend is over. Until then, please read and review.
