Ghostly Presence

The Weeks past, but not a single engine saw a new locomotive. But strange things have been going one. At nearly every Station, there were Trucks, that were Shunted, but before someone could see an Engine, They would need to continuing one they're way. Complete Trains were waiting at the Station, but there weren't any Shunting Engines available, and Trains would be banked up Gordon's Hill, when Edward was working on his Branchline. One Evening a the Shed's, the Engines of the Mainline, as well as the Engines from the Little Western, were having a Discussion.

"I just don't understand it, its like a Ghost is doing the Shunting for us." Said Gordon.

"One good thing about this "Ghost" is, that he's taking Edwards Banking duties, you know how old he is." Said Duck.

A Visiting Class 67 was in the Shed's too, and had followed the Conversation between the Engines.

"What nonsense is that? There ain't no Ghosts!" He said rudely.

"I know that, all that I was saying is, that there is something fishy going one, and I don't mean Henry's Flying Kipper." Said Gordon, and the other chuckled about his Joke.

As the Night goes one, the Engines fell asleep, but soon Henry was woken up by his Driver for the Flying Kipper. As Henry was steaming into the Harbour at Knapford, he was thinking that he would be needing to Shunting the Trucks for the Kipper all by himself, but as he got to the loading Ramp, he saw that the Trucks were already at the Platform.

"That's strange, who would be up so early to shunt the Flying Kipper ?" He asked himself.

But he needed to got himself ready for the Train, so he couldn't ask a Harbour worker. After he was turned around he was coupled up to the Train and waited for the Signal to go. But as time goes forward, he was still waiting to go.

"Whey are we still here? If we won't go, the Fish will be rotten, before were past Maron!" Said Henry Crossly.

Then, a Harbour workman came to Henry's Cab and talked to his Crew. After a few Minutes, he walked away and Henry's Driver came up to him.

"We were held up by Shunting Operations." He said.

"But who would be Shunting at this Hour? I'm usually the only Engine that is awake now." Said Henry.

His Question was soon getting his answer as a Whistle was blown and from the other track, in a cloud of steam, a black tank Engine moved past him, into the Night. Henry couldn't make out what Class the Engine was, but he could see the Number at the back of his Bunker. It reed '80110'.

"That's strange, I don't know a Tank Engine from British Railways that was so small with the Number 80110." But he couldn't think about this for long, since after a short while, the Guard blew his Whistle and Henry could finally make his way to Barrow-in-Furness.

That Afternoon, Henry was at the Big Station of Tidmouth. Also there where James, Duck and the Class 67, who was ready with his Goods Train to leave for Home. Henry had just finished telling about the mysterious Tank Engine.

"I know about the 80xxx Class of British Railways, but they were Big 2-6-4 Tanks, an Engine like the one you described would be a 0-6-0." Said Duck.

"I know of a other Railway that had Tank Engines of 0-6-0 that were 80xxx." Said the 67 Class.

"And which one would that be?" Asked James.
"It was the Deutsche Reichsbahn. They had small 0-6-0 Tanks for Shunting Duties." Said the Diesel.

" OH great! A German Tank Engine. That's what we need. A big mouthed Shrimp that won't stop talking about how great Germany is!" Said James.

Suddenly, from the Yards there came a Hiss, a loud Whistle and from behind a row of Trucks came a black Tank Engine with Red Wheels and Runningboard and a Numberplate with the Number '80110' in White.

"James, I think that was the Tank Engine. And I Think he heard about what you said about him." Said Duck.

James just looked in the direction where the Engine was heading and he didn't say anything till he finally got his Brain working again.

"Damn it, I'm death when the Fat Controller hears about this!" And with the blew of the Guards whistle, he Steamed out of the Station and after the Locomotive.

In the meanwhile the little Tank Engine hat reached Knapford. He was ordered to Shunt Trucks and Coaches in The Yards, but what the Engines from Tidmouth didn't know was, that the little Engine, and his Crew had listened to the Radio, and hadn't heard the Insults that James had said. As he worked in the Yards, he didn't noticed that Percy had come in with a short Goods Train from the Harbour. The Small green Engine was Confused to see an Engine like this. He looked just like Thomas, but he had an very strange Paintwork. He had Red Wheels and Frames, but the rest of his Body was in rich Black. He also got an golden Whistle, that glisten in the Sun. Percy was interested in the Engine and moved forward to him.

"Hello there, I'm Percy, who are you?" Asked the little Engine.

The other Engine stop t in his Tracks and looked to the green Engine.

"Hallo, I'm Lukas, it a pleasure to meat such a famous Engine like you." Said the black Tank Engine.

"Oh, I'm not that famous." Said Percy modesty.

"Of course you are, like Thomas, Edward and all the other Engines." Said Lukas.

Percy grind, but then it hit him that he didn't known a thing about this Engine, but it seamed that the Engine knows plenty about him and the others. He then remembered the strange movements that had happened over the last few Days.

"Are you the Engine that had Worked at the Yards along the Mainline the last few Days?" Asked the little Engine.
"Yes, yes I did. I arrived a week ago, but instead of going to the Works to get me checked, I did Run a long way from my old Home, I got directly to work and helped around the Island."

"Where was your old Home?" Quizzed the green Engine.

"It was in an Railway Museum in Germany. It was a big Roundhouse, with many other Locomotives. The most of them were Diesel and Electric Engines, but to where Steam Engines. Both are big 2-10-0s, Alex and Tobias, but both are out of work. They hadn't had a Overhaul since the 1990's. I worked there as a Tourists Engine, Pulling Passengers on an small Branchline, but I'm happier here. I didn't fit in there, to big Locos in a rotten Shed. Everywhere where Buildings that were in need of repair, The Water Tower hat a gigantic Crack on one side, the old Coaling Crane was Rusty and Overgrown. And the worst thing was that the Museum couldn't get much Money. We had mostly enough to keep our Mainline connection, and had only just Enough Money to fix our roof. It was dreadful. But my Owner had helped them greatly. Just before we steamed of, he gave them a check for they're Museum and said that they should restore an Steam Engine and Buy some Coaches and then make as much Excursions that they could effort." Said Lukas.

Percy was amazed.

"Amazing. How Long where you in the Museum Lukas?"

"I was there Since I was Build, back in 1999." Said Lukas.

"Your Only 14 Years old?!" Gasped Percy.

"Yeah, and they did a fairly good Job in Meiningen. Its a shame that DB isn't uses Steam Locomotive any more. They have such a good Workshop, and it only repairs Locos. They Could Build an hole Army in the Shops of them." Said Lukas with pride, as he was an Engine build by them.
Percy wanted to know more, but the Conversation was cut short by his Driver.

"Sorry Percy, but we have to take some Trucks to Ffarquhar, for Toby." Said his Driver as he helped the Fireman finishing lubricating Percy's Joints.

"Well Percy, it was Nice Talking to You, but I must getting back to Work." Said the black Tank Engine as he began to steam away.

"Wait, I wanted to ask you something!" Called Percy.

"And what would that be?"
"What Class are you exactly?"
Lukas laughed as he heard the Question and called:
"Just ask Thomas, he will Tell You."
Percy didn't understand what Lukas meant, but he couldn't ask him neater, because he had already steamed of, shunting a line of Trucks.