The Fat Director was talking furiously into his phone.
"How dare you insinuate I am trying to rip you off! I'm only asking for a Paddleboat!"
"Why should we commit a T14 to your railway, then? Give me one reason why we should sell."
The Fat Director began to speak, but the man hung up.
"Well, screw you!" he shouted into the phone. Lord Harwick had also been talking with the chairman of the LSWR.
"How did it go? Not very well I take it?"
"Not at all," sighed the Fat Director. "He hung up on my face."
"If only they would take us more seriously," groaned Lord Harwick. "Our current fleet are barely able to handle the increasing workload as it is."
"Especially since Edward has now been withdrawn," agreed the Fat Director. "I'm surprised the board hasn't considered returning him to steam to help us out."
"With how much of a gang of pennypickers they are, I'm sure they'll try to scrap him if we aren't careful," Lord Harwick cautioned.
"Yes, that's true…well, let's try with the LNWR." At that moment, a knock was heard and another man came walking in.
"How may I help you?" asked the Fat Director.
"I represent the Peel Godred Power Company," said the man. "Would your railway be interested in building a line up to Peel Godred? A line someone else would pay for?"
"And what makes you ask this?" asked Lord Harwick.
"My company has recently received permission to build a dam and hydroelectric power station one mile north of Peel Godred," the man answered. "What we need is a line to supply it. We tried asking the Mid Sodor, but their clearances are too tight for us. Thus, with you, we're interested in splitting the price of construction for a line under one condition: make it electric."
"Electric?!" asked Lord Harwick and the Fat Director in surprise.
"That's right: electric. We've seen electric locomotives used on the Tyneside, and the London, Brighton, and South Coast Railway also operates electrics. They're more capable of handling grades than any steam locomotive could."
"I absolutely refuse to have electricity on my railway!" shouted Lord Harwick. "Do you have any idea how dangerous it is? A stray spark could light anything near on fire! And what about birds?"
"Birds have no issues with electric wires, you see them sitting on telegraph poles," said the man. "And electricity isn't dangerous, you're being paranoid. I know: a man on Giant's Causeway in Ireland actually sat on the third rail to prove it wasn't dangerous."
"My answer is no. Good day, sir!" and he slammed the door in his face. "Electricity indeed, what kind of loony would use electricity for railways when steam is doing just fine?"
"I disagree. The money from the aluminium contracts could boost our revenue. And why do you refuse to have an electrified line?"
"That man looked like a door-to-door salesman! That's reason enough, not to mention how horrendously bad the idea is."
"Perhaps," suggested the Fat Director, "we take a look at the Tyneside electrics and see how they manage to run."
"Fine. But I'm remaining sceptical about this enterprise, Topham," said Lord Harwick firmly.
At that moment, the phone rang. Lord Harwick picked it up.
"Yes? The SECR? Well, yes…when will she arrive? HOW MUCH?! Give me a second."
"Why is the SECR calling us?" asked The Fat Director.
"They want to sell us one of their N Class moguls," answered Lord Harwick. "Our problem may be over…except for the price they slapped on it. Around two thousand pounds."
"TWO THOUSAND POUNDS?! We could buy an Atlantic for that!"
"We need more options. We can't afford two thousand pounds."
"Right, well…we better give those Tyneside electrics a visit."
"Fine."
At the same time, Lily was conducting a boat train run from Kirk Ronan to Vicarstown. She was exhausted: it had been a heavy day.
"All these trains. Passenger, then goods, then passengers again…wears an engine out it does!"
"Come on, girl!" encouraged her driver. "Just one more train and then you can rest."
"I'm trying, I'm trying…"
Once she reached Vicarstown, she crossed paths with Emily, who was due to depart with a down goods train.
"Nonstop trains…I'm tired."
"I know the feeling," admitted Emily. "I hope the Fat Director gets some new engines, because we need them. Why won't they let Edward help? He may be old, but he isn't weak."
"Try telling that to the stuck-up board," said Lily dryly. "Oh, wait. They don't listen to us engines."
"I really don't get why: we're just as much alive as them!" added Thomas.
"Because they're arseholes, that's why," growled Lily.
"Now, Lily. That assumption may be too much," scolded Emily.
"Do you have a counter-argument?"
Before Emily could answer, someone else cut in.
"While I don't think I can solve the board refusing to listen, I may be able to solve the locomotive crisis"
It was Perkins, the CME.
"My new Decapod will have enough power to take over as a heavy goods engine. And another heavy goods engine seems to be needed."
"A Decapod, Perkins?" asked the Fat Director.
"Yes, sir. An 0-10-0 engine. If you give me enough resources…"
"Do we really need an 0-10-0?" asked the Fat Director. "It does sound overkill."
"Sir, there is no kill like overkill. How much budget can you give me?""
"I didn't agree to give you a budget," said the Fat Director.
"How am I supposed to build the Decapod, then?"
"You're not supposed to do so."
"Sir, I can solve this locomotive crisis. Give me a chance. What other choices do you have? Can you actually afford to buy a locomotive?"
"I prefer a Decapod than those horrible electrics. You have my approval, Perkins"
"Thanks, My Lord. I will try not to disappoint"
"I…fine. You can build that decapod. With one condition"
"Which would be?"
"Your building costs must not go over two thousand pounds. Understood?"
"I'll only need half of that!"
Arrangements were made: Perkins would build his Decapod, while Lord Harwick and Sir Topham would inspect the electric locomotives the Peel Godred Power Co. employee had mentioned. The Tyneside ES1s, it turned out, were very capable locomotives: they were capable of drawing power from both third rail and overhead wires. Changing from one to the other meant that two people were needed due to the dexterity required. Their wheel arrangement also gave them a pretty solid grip, while being short enough to shunt in tight curves.
Nonetheless, Lord Harwick remained sceptical. By the time they'd returned to Sodor on the 10th of July, 1922, about a week after they departed, he still had his reservations.
"Those electrics didn't talk much," he said. "They're just like worms: you could cut them in half and they wouldn't mind."
"Lord Harwick, we need the electric plant supply contract. You know it, I know it, we can't let personal feelings get in the way of business. Besides, we could give the Culdee Fell at Kirk Machan more passengers and they could provide us with some in return."
"The Culdee Fell only carries tourists, it doesn't serve any industries," scoffed Lord Harwick. "And then, I doubt that anyone who lives in those small village stations the railway passes by would be interested in travelling by our line."
"It's worth a shot, in any case."
"The Mid Sodor Railway already serves Peel Godred. I say we answer with a complete no, and leave the electric plant to fare on its own."
"And what good will that do? If we don't support it, the electric plant may go bankrupt, and where would we get electricity from? Can you answer that?"
"This island has survived without electricity. In any case, I bet they'll get their damn supplies by road."
"Is this a no, then? The lack of electricity isn't something we can live without forever: electric lights, for example, are becoming necessary, and radios operate on electricity. What do you have against electric locomotives? Would you agree to supply the plant if steam engines were involved?"
"Of course I would! Steam is better than any other traction, and much more of a conversationalist. All those electrics did was agree on everything."
"Very well, how about this? I'll speak to the Power Company and see if they're willing to have a railway line operating both steam and electrics."
"Sounds good to me. Now, where…" he was interrupted by an unfamiliar whistle: The whistle of Perkin's new locomotive. The man himself barged into the office.
"Come! I want you to meet Hurricane!"
"Hurricane? Who's Hurricane?"
"My Decapod! Come on, quick! He's awakening!"