TWO YELLOW ENGINES

Written by Zack Wanzer and Rachel Ravens

Set during Series 17-18

When Paxton got involved in an accident at the Blue Mountain Quarry, Thomas had been assigned by Sir Topham Hatt to take his place there until the green diesel was mended. It was during this time that Thomas encountered a pea-green tank engine by the name of Luke, and discovered that he was hiding because he accidentally bumped a yellow engine off of a ship while being unloaded. The yellow engine turned out to be Victor, giving Thomas the information he needed to clear Luke's name. At first, Skarloey and the other little engines were upset with Thomas for breaking his promise to not tell anyone about Luke, but they soon understood why he did what he did when Paxton brought Victor to vindicate Luke's name, and apologized for jumping to conclusions.

A few days had gone by since Luke's name had been cleared, and Thomas arrived at the Sodor Steamworks to see him and Victor.

"Hello, Thomas!" greeted Luke.

"Hello, Luke! Hello, Victor!"

"Hello, Thomas," the red works engine replied. "I know you've been looking for a yellow engine. Well… I think I found him! Thomas, meet the yellow engine!"

Thomas looked surprised when he saw a familiar, yet different looking, engine emerge from inside the Steamworks, blowing his whistle.

"Ta-da!"

"Rheneas!" Thomas, Victor and Luke exclaimed all at once.

"It's me!" the gallant old engine laughed, blowing his whistle again; the other three engines laughed with Rheneas.

"Yellow looks great on you, Rheneas," remarked Thomas. "Is this going to be a permanent change for you?"

"I'm just going to experiment a bit with this color," Rheneas admitted. "It's not the first time an engine has been repainted on the island.

"I guess that is true," said Thomas. It seemed to be quite common… but that was typically with new engines. The engine who took the longest to change their livery upon arrival to Thomas' memory was Duck, and even then, that was because the viaduct was out on his first week. And then Diesel arrived not long after that…

The blue tank engine pushed that thought to the back of his mind.

"Well," said Luke, "I'll be keepin' me green paint. I match Peter Sam, an' we are cousins. But I may need a number change here."

"Ah yes," chuckled Rheneas. "You'll be our number eleven, after Duke, Fred and Mighty Mac."

Months had passed since Luke had been officially introduced to the Skarloey Railway as its eleventh engine, as well as Rheneas' repaint. Since then, very little had changed for the engines. Among the more recent events were the re-opening of Ulfstead Castle to the public, Luke agreeing to swap places with Millie - one of the Estate Railway's engines - for the day, and the former encountering a fawn at the Blue Mountain Quarry.

As the summer drew closer, Mr. Percival had an exciting announcement for the engines.

"One of our engines' overhauls has finally been completed," he announced, "and he is expected to return to service in time for the summer rush."

"Is it Duke, sir?" asked Peter Sam hopefully. "It's been ages since we last saw him!"

"I'd imagine he'll need a lot of catching up on recent events," added Sir Handel, "now that Luke is officially part of the railway."

"Oh, I'm afraid that Duke's overhaul is taking longer than anticipated," said Mr. Percival, shaking his head sadly. "It's Duncan who will be re-entering service today."

The engines were glad to hear this, although Sir Handel and Peter Sam were still disappointed that their old mentor was still under overhaul.

"Cheer up, you two," assured Skarloey. "I'm sure Duke will re-enter service sooner or later."

"I hope he comes back soon," said Luke. "I can't wait ta meet him."

Just then, Duncan emerged from the Steamworks.

"Welcome home, Duncan!" called Rusty.

"Aye, it's about time Ah got out," Duncan sighed. "Mah wheels were cramped up in there…" He broke off in surprise. "Luke?! Yer in the open!"

"Oh, that's a long story, Duncan," the Irish tank engine said. "But I did reunite with Victor after we first met on that ship."

Duncan was surprised. "Victor?! What's he got tae do with it?"

"As it turns out, he was the engine that was knocked into the sea at Brendam docks!" Sir Handel told him, and quickly summarized the situation with how he became the Steamworks' engine.

"Och, that's a mercy," Duncan said in relief. "Well, welcome tae the crew, Luke."

"Thanks, Duncan. I've been enjoying things on the line since my name was cleared!"

Duncan then turned his attention to the other seven engines, and his eyes widened in shock.

"R-Rheneas?! Y-yer yellow lak me!"

"Er, yes," said the older engine. "Bit of a funny story; Thomas was looking for a yellow engine and you weren't back yet."

"Ah'd never thought ye'd try tae be part o' a publicity stunt…" muttered Duncan.

While Duncan was glad to be back in service, even having had to catch up on the recent events, with Rheneas being painted yellow instead of his usual vermillion, it began to have some rather unusual side effects…

"Morning, Duncan," Sir Handel greeted Rheneas at the water tower. "You're up early today."

"Ah'm o'er here, Sir Handel!" snapped Duncan in annoyance; he was behind the two engines. But the blue tank engine just grinned and continued looking at Rheneas.

"Your lips didn't move," he remarked. "Have you taken on ventriloquism?"

"Ah said, Ah'm o'er here, ye daft fool!" Duncan snapped, puffing alongside the two.

"Oh my; when did you decide to clone yourself, Duncan?" The other engines laughed, but Duncan was less than amused with Sir Handel's joking.

"Careful, big brother," chuckled Peter Sam. "You might be mistaking Luke and I for each other next."

"Ha ha ha, yer real comedians!" Duncan said sarcastically. "This is ridiculous. Rheneas has blue stripes an' Ah have black."

"Calm down, Duncan," assured Rusty. "We're only teasing."

"Well, Ah wasnae expectin' this when Ah came back intae service!" huffed Duncan. "Now the passengers cannae e'en tell me an' Rheneas apart!"

"Oh, come on," said Luke. "I'm sure the passengers wouldn't believe such a thing."

But as it turned out, Duncan was right. Rheneas was taking some empty trucks up to the Blue Mountain Quarry when he spotted some railfans by the lineside.

"Ah, hello there!" he whistled as he passed.

"I say!" called one. "There's Duncan."

"Gosh, he looks different," said another. "That overhaul certainly did change him."

"I bet he could haul every wagon on this line!" said a third.

Rheneas frowned as he heard the railfans talking amongst themselves. Perhaps this repaint hadn't been such a good idea after all, he thought to himself.

Meanwhile, up at Lakeside station…

"Is it just me, or did Rheneas get smaller all of a sudden?" asked a passenger.

"Did he go in for a rebuild too?" another questioned.

Duncan groaned with frustration. "Ah'm Duncan!" he snapped. "Mah nameplate's on mah boiler!"

"Must have gained a bit of an attitude for an old engine," a third passenger noted. Duncan snorted and hissed. On the platform, a little girl looked over worriedly at her father.

"That is Duncan!" she hissed to the passengers. "Can't you read? Or have all of you gone blind?"

"Calm down, Alice," said her father. "I'm sure they didn't mean any harm."

Duncan looked back at the little girl who had spoken up. "Oh, hullo there, Alice," he greeted, his tone softening. "What're ye an' yer dad doin' up here?"

"Dad's on a day off," Alice explained. "So we decided to take a train down granddad's railway. It's good to see you out and about."

"Aye, thanks," Duncan smiled. "Yer the first tae notice the differences between me an' Rheneas."

"Mom says she could pick up the difference between Gordon and Henry pre-repaint days," giggled Alice. "And she was only three."

"That's my Annabelle, alright," chuckled Paul.

"Ye definitely hae yer mother's passion," Duncan grinned. "Nae tae mention yer aunt Penny's spirit."

Some of the passengers boarding the coaches felt rather embarrassed at the fact that a seven year old child like Alice was able to deduce who their engine actually was. Not to mention her own mother figuring out a similar case at the age of three.

Despite Alice's assistance, many other passengers kept getting the two engines mixed up. The nameplates were only spotted at the last minute. Even Rheneas was getting to his wits' end.

"Maybe I should have changed back to vermillion as soon as Duncan came home," he muttered. "This is getting beyond a joke."

"So much for a publicity stunt," sighed Mighty.

"It's a pity passengers aren't too bright," added Mac. "At least your paintwork sure is."

"Yes, it was nice while it lasted," Rheneas admitted. "But the sooner I have my repaint, the better."

The next day saw a foggy morning, which meant that the little engines had to go out with their lamps on.

"Right, Rheneas," said a worker. "You're to go to the Steamworks to get repainted right away."

"On my way," replied the older engine. As he dashed off, his light caught sight of a passenger walking too close to the edge of Crovan's Gate.

"Watch out!" he cried. Immediately, he rushed over, and the passenger slid into his cab.

"Oh, thank you," she sighed. "I thought there was a train here, but apparently not."

"Peter Sam left a few minutes ago," Rheneas explained. "I can take you to the next stop if you like."

"I'd greatly appreciate it," the passenger smiled. "Thank you, er…"

"Rheneas."

The passenger smiled as the older engine puffed away. "Glad it's you and not Duncan. He's always complaining about something." Rheneas just chuckled.

Meanwhile, Duncan was up at the Blue Mountain Quarry. He watched, rolling his eyes at how Luke was dashing through the tunnels and laughing.

"At least he's not hidin' anymore," he said to himself.

"Ah, there you are!" said another worker. "I've been looking for you all morning."

"Ugh, what do ye want this time?" Duncan grunted.

"You're wanted at the Steamworks right now!"

Duncan stared at the worker as if she had two heads. "B-but Ah came out o' the Steamworks weeks ago!" he protested.

"I don't care if it were weeks or months ago!" retorted the worker. "I was running around like crazy trying to find you. Now hurry along before I get lost in this fog again."

"Ugh, alright. If it'll make ye happy!" And Duncan huffed away.

Rheneas had helped the lost passenger to Cros-ny-Cuirn, and was about to head back to Crovan's Gate when the stationmaster came up.

"Luke needs assistance up at the quarry," he explained. "Can you help him out?"

"Of course," he replied. "Heh, maybe Duncan's derailed himself," he remarked. Peter Sam, Gertrude and Millicent giggled at that.

"Thanks again for helping out that passenger," Peter Sam called as Rheneas puffed away.

Luke was pleased to see Rheneas.

"Thank goodness ye've come!" he remarked. "Duncan's just been sent ta the Steamworks."

"I knew it," chuckled Rheneas. "Another minor derailment. What happened this time?"

Luke was confused by Rheneas' question. "Duncan didn't have an accident."

"He didn't? Then what was he sent to the Steamworks for?"

"The worker didn't say."

The engines found out a couple of days later. They heard a familiar Scottish whistle coming out of the Steamworks, and out puffed Duncan… except he looked rather different.

"Ah cannae believe Ah've been repainted red!" he exclaimed to the others. "Those daft workers mistook me fer Rheneas… again!"

"Oh dear…" sighed the older well tank. "So that's why you were sent there…"

"What exactly happened the other day?" asked Skarloey. Rheneas quickly explained about helping the lost passenger and getting her to Peter Sam's train.

"Well, we can't fault an act of kindness," said Rusty. "But we can fault a repeated case of mistaken identity."

"Quite right, Rusty," said Mr. Percival. "I'm sorry that this happened, Rheneas and Duncan. But unfortunately, you two will have to stay as you are until we can afford more paint to have you back in your normal colors."

"Well, that's just peachy…" grumbled Duncan.

"But look on the bright side," assured Rheneas. "At least the passengers and workers won't mix us up anymore!"

"Unless they think of you in your old colors," said Fred. "Then there may be a problem."

There was a problem, for some of the passengers still somehow managed to mix up Rheneas and Duncan for one another!

"Glad Rheneas is back in his old colors," said a passenger. "That should clear up that nonsense."

"No, that's clearly Duncan," said Alice. "Rheneas is longer and still painted yellow." She then caught sight of a worker casually whistling. "And I think I know why… Hey, you! Were you the one who sent Duncan to the Steamworks instead of Rheneas?"

"I… erm…" She nervously twiddled her fingers. At that moment, Rheneas pulled in with some trucks.

"How many times do I have to point it out? Rheneas is longer than Duncan, the latter's wheels are closer together, and they have a large age gap!" Alice fumed. "And their voices are totally different. Not to mention their personalities…"

"Alice is really letting her have it," chuckled Rheneas.

"Aye, at least there's one good thing comin' out o' this mess," agreed Duncan, cheering up a little. "No doubt this wee spitfire's got a future on our line when she's older."

"Like mother, like daughter," smiled Rheneas.

THE END

Author's Comments

Now here's a story I've wanted to write about for a while, especially since last year marked ten years since the release of Blue Mountain Mystery. A few months late, but at least I was able to get it done. I've often thought that there should've been a follow-up on Rheneas being painted yellow as it was never really expanded upon, especially given Duncan's eventual return in Series 18. That was pretty much where the genesis for this story came from, and it leads to a few funny moments. A fair number of them come from Alice Percival, daughter of Annabelle and Paul; she's a lot more hot-headed than her mother was in her youth, the blazing fire to Annabelle's gentle wave.

Upcoming stories:

- Terence and Trevor