James and the Diesel Engines (SpartanPrime101 Rewrite) – Chapter 3

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!

…

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 a story that was enjoyable for everyone.

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Story 3: Fire Engine (SpartanPrime101 Rewrite)

"I have acquired a new Works Diesel to help with the maintenance trains," the Fat Controller said to the engines one evening. "He shall also be responsible for managing the Breakdown Train from now on. He will arrive tomorrow morning, and I expect all of you to make him welcome here." This was said with a stern look towards the only red engine in the shed.

"It's not fair!" James snapped, once the Fat Controller had left. "How can a splendid engine like me be expected to make friends with some smelly diesel? Honestly, I would've thought the Fat Controller had learned after the last diesels we had here."

The other engines said nothing. They had grown tired of James' prattling, and were eager to talk about other things. Soon, they were talking about their unique colors of paint.

"I remember my early days working for the LNER," said Gordon. "Flying Scotsman and my brothers were all green. It was all well in its own way, but now I prefer my blue. It makes me different, you see, and that's very suitable for an important engine like me."

"The engines on oor auld line used to be blue," remembered Donald, "but nae sae as we are. Dougie and me never were though – we had to be black, sae blue makes a nice change."

"I like my green too," agreed Henry. "While I did want to be blue like Gordon for a while all those years ago, I now much prefer my green paint with red stripes. It does make me look splendid against the countryside as I roll along the line."

"Pah!" snarled James, who had become fed up with being ignored. "All those diesels on the Other Railway are painted blue and green. Makes them look like rolling matchboxes on wheels, if you ask me."

"Well, I wouldn't want to be red like you," huffed Henry. "People would think I was a fire-engine."

"At least people can see me coming," retorted James. "I don't disappear into the background like some engines I could mention. If it wasn't for the noise, Henry, you'd need a yellow and black front like Mavis."

Henry's retort was drowned in the laughter from the other engines. He grumpily went to sleep, wondering how to pay James out.

…

Henry was still cross next morning. He chuffed gruffly into the yard, and was rough with the coaches. "What could be wrong? What could be wrong?" they twittered anxiously to each other. As soon as the Guard blew his whistle, Henry started off with a jolt. "Do come along, do come along!" he snorted impatiently.

They made good time, and had a fast run, but it didn't improve his temper. He bumped the coaches when he reached the end of the line, and again when he backed onto them for the return journey. He simmered angrily as he waited for the fireman to fasten the coupling.

"Stupid James," he grumbled to himself. "First, he constantly whines about diesels and their uselessness. Now, he insults me by claiming I need a footplate like Mavis because I 'disappear into the background'. How I'd like to pay him out, but how?"

Eventually, the Guard blew his whistle, and Henry started off. No-one noticed a rattle beneath Henry's footplate as he snorted out of the station.

Soon, the train was running well. "Hurry, hurry, hurry!" puffed Henry. Faster and faster, they went. The sunlight shone through the trees by the line, and at last, Henry began to feel better. Just then, the rattle came again. This time, Henry heard it. "What's that?" he asked.

The answer came when a sudden 'CRACK' came from beneath his cab. "Look out!" shouted the driver. He applied the brakes while the fireman scrambled forward to the footplate. He was just in time; both men watched in horror as a widening gap opened between Henry and his tender.

Henry stopped as soon as he could. All engines have two separate air brake systems. The system which controls the brake pipe is called an automatic brake, and provides service and emergency braking control for the entire train. Fortunately, Henry's automatic brake halted his tender and the train some way behind, while the driver engaged Henry's independent brake system.

"We must drop Henry's fire," said the driver urgently. "It will be dangerous to let him boil dry now that we can't get more water from the tender."

The fireman agreed. "Sorry, old boy," he said to Henry. "Just when we'd got it going so nicely too. But with the way you were banging your coaches earlier, it's a wonder your tender coupling didn't break sooner."

While the fireman dealt with the fire, the driver went back to tell the signalman what had happened. Soon, the signalman had set the signals to danger, and changed the points so that any other engines would be diverted off of Henry's line. When the driver returned, he found Henry completely hidden in a huge cloud of black smoke, which billowed from beneath his cab.

The fireman emerged, choking and covered in soot. "Henry's fire set the sleepers alight," he spluttered. "You stay here – I'm going to 'phone the fire-brigade."

The driver eased Henry clear of the blaze, while making sure to watch the fire in case it spread. Henry was covered in black soot and ash, but otherwise wasn't hurt. Soon, Edward arrived to take his train onward, just as the Fire Brigade arrived to put out the blaze. Edward gave Henry a sympathetic look as he chuffed away. Henry felt most uncomfortable and embarrassed.

Then, he heard a deep horn coming from down the line. He was surprised when a large, blue diesel engine appeared with the breakdown gang and cranes in tow. "Don't worry, mate," said the diesel, kindly. "We'll soon set you right."

The workmen made Henry a temporary coupling, and rejoined him to his tender. The driver and fireman got to work making a new fire. As they did so, the diesel looked Henry all over. "Right, all seems well. Nothing permanent, so you're good to go. We'll stay here and get those sleepers replaced. Can't have anyone else getting caught in this mess."

"I am sorry about this," apologized Henry. "I should've been more careful about bumping the coaches."

"Ah, well," said the diesel, "it happens to the best of us. I imagine I'll be seeing a lot more of this sort of thing, now that I'm handling maintenance duties at your Works."

Henry was surprised. "You're the new Works Diesel?"

"And proud of it," said the diesel. "I've been looking forward to starting work here. My old crew would tell me stories about you lot, and I must say, it didn't take much for it to wear off on me. My friend D261 also told me about his time here, and he looks forward to coming here again. 'They're quite the decent sort', he told me, 'Certainly better than old 'Stuck-Up!'"

Both engines laughed at this.

"Right, then," called the Work Foreman. "You best get a move on. I'd recommend you get a proper coupling on before anything else happens."

"Indeed," agreed Henry's driver. "And, I hope this will teach you to be more careful when arranging your train, Henry."

"Yes, it has," said Henry. Then, he looked back to the diesel. "Well, it was nice to meet you, er…"

"The name's Wendell," said the diesel. "And it's nice to meet you too. A word of advice: leave the job of being a…'fire-engine' to the professionals." He said this lightheartedly, though Henry blushed sheepishly. And with a friendly "Peep-peep!", Henry chuffed away.

When Henry returned to the sheds, he found everyone to be very quiet. Edward, who had witnessed everything, had told the other engines what had happened. Normally, there would be quiet teasing and jeering towards another engine's mishap. However, they all recognized that an engine engulfed in fire was no laughing matter. As such, they were very careful what they talked about that night, much to Henry's relief.

They were most surprised when Henry told them about Wendell. They were pleased to hear how friendly the diesel was, and shared a chuckle about his teasing of Old Stuck-Up. James, however, was not so pleased, and remained silent for the rest of the night.

As for Henry, he was touchy on the subject of fires for quite some time. The other engines also remained respectfully silent about the matter. However, James was quick to notice that, from that point forth, Henry stopped making rude remarks about the colour of fire-engines.

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Phew! At long last! I can't believe this took me four months to write. Four. Long. MONTHS.

FYI, I've been working on this adaptation since this past February, making sure that everything was well written and enjoyable to read. But, at last, it's finally finished. I hope you all liked this, because I did NOT enjoy the writer's block this chapter gave me.

Anyway, until next time, please read and review.