Failed Experiment

One day on the North Western Railway, most of the engines were busy at Brendam Docks. On that afternoon, Cranky the crane had loaded a unique looking engine onto Edward's flatbed loader. This engine had two sets of driving wheels.

"You look like a strong little engine," Edward said. "Of course I am," the engine said, "My name is Etsuko." "Pleased to meet you, Etsuko," Edward said, "My name is Edward. So, you're going to the Arelsdale Railway, right?"

"Yes, I am," Etsuko said, "I am going to help shunt trucks and coaches." "Well," Edward said, "All right. Good luck." "You'd better get going," Cranky told Edward. "Yes," Edward replied and he set off.

Soon enough, Edward dropped Etsuko off at the Arelsdale Railway. "There you go," Edward said. "Oh, thanks," Etsuko said, "You're a very kind engine, Edward." "Why thank you," Edward replied. The other engines gazed at the new arrival.

"She looks strong," Rex said. "I know," said Bert. "We'll see," said Mike, uninterested. "Good luck," Edward called out. "Thanks," Etsuko said.

However, nearby, Edward heard a crashing sound. "Oh dear," Edward thought, "That must be Derek. He must have broken down again." Edward raced to where a thick black cloud of smoke was coming from. Sure enough, it was Derek. "Sorry, Edward," Derek said, "I was trying to pull Boco's trucks, but it overloaded my engine. I-"

"No need to worry," Edward said kindly, "I'll get you to the works." "Thanks," Derek said as Edward was coupled up to the diesel and he took him to the works.

When work was over for the day, many of the engines were resting at Tidmouth Yards. "Did you hear about the new engine?" Emily said, "On the other railway." "You mean Arlesdale railway," James said. "Yeah," Gordon said, "I've heard of her."

"Today," Hank said, "She has proven herself to be a really useful engine." "I've seen her moving 20 trucks," Charlie said, "She is a strong engine." "Yes," Thomas agreed. The engines were talking about Etsuko when Edward puffed up to talk to everyone. "Hello," he said, "I see that you're talking about the new arrival."

"We are!" Percy said. "Right," Toby agreed. "I wonder if everything could be made," Charlie said, "I mean limitless things." "Well," Edward said sternly, "There is something you should know. Not everything is limitless."

"Yeah, we know," Thomas and Toby said. "Well," Edward said, "Let me tell you a story about an experimental machine that didn't go the way that it had hoped. The machine is a crane." "Oh," said Rocky. "The crane's name was Gerald," Edward began, "And to be precise, he is what is known as a walking crane."

"A walking crane?" Rocky repeated. "Mr. Sand," Edward said, "Please draw in image." "Yes," Edward's driver replied and he drew an image of what Edward is talking about. The engines gasped. "Looks like a poor artwork," James snorted.

"James," Henry said, "Shut your mouth!" "It looks like a robot," Charlie said. "Ok," Edward said, "The story began when an experimental machine designer thought of a crane that could easily move around quarry sights. As you can see this drawing that my driver, Charlie Sands had drawn, this is the design that he came up with."

"Sorry that I've offended you, Mr. Sands," James muttered.

"Anyway," Edward went on, "The walking crane named Gerald was built to maneuver around tight corners. However, there were problems. The legs that he moved with didn't always work out the way it was supposed to work."

"What do you mean?" Charlie asked, starting to get worried. "The legs were never synched right," Edward answered. "Oh," the engines gasped. "The crane kept collapsing from its own weight and unbalanced position," Edward went on, "And at one point, Gerald toppled over. Luckily, no one has been hurt."

"Oh," James said. "So what happened afterwards?" Percy asked. "It was decided that Gerald was to be scrapped, Edward answered gloomy, "He had proven himself to be a failed experiment. He was cut up and never seen or heard from again."

"Oh dear," Toby said in a sad tone of voice, "How dreadful." "That's the story," Edward concluded, "Of an invention that was too far ahead of its time. So you see, Charlie, there are limits." "I see," Charlie said.

However, Henry was left speechless. "Well," Thomas said, "Let's get back to work." "Right," everyone else agreed. The engines went back to work, but Henry was slow to return to his own train.