Here it is folks. The big project. I have been super excited to share this story with you. I present to you, Rosie and the Lost Lorry, the soft pilot for my spin-off series, Jack and The Pack: Tails From Off the Rails.

Chapter 8: Rosie and the Lost Lorry

Written by Henryandbrunodude1234

The railways of Sodor are home to the main attraction for visitors: the engines. But there is a team of vehicles who live off the rails and are just as important. And we call them The Pack.

Owned by Ms. Jenny Packard, the pack is a team of construction vehicles who work all over the island on construction projects. They are; Nelson, Jack, Alfie, Oliver, Max, Monty, Kelly, Byron, Ned, Isobella, Patrick, and Buster. Some of the vehicles (Nelson, Kelly, and Patrick) used to work for Ms. Jenny's father. They also had another friend who worked with them. And this story is about him.

Nelson was working hard as he transported Byron to the site. He was running late and Byron was growing restless. "Come on!" he called. "Can't we go a little faster!"

"Ok!" Nelson sighed. He sped up, but there was trouble ahead. He slipped in some mud and crashed off the road and into a ditch.

"Bother!" called Byron. "We won't be making it on time!" Nelson knew that.

Thomas soon arrived at the site. He brought a loader to load Nelson on. Alfie, Byron, Kelly, and Patrick watched on.

"Ms. Jenny?" asked Alfie. "If Nelson can't take us around to the sites, then who will?"

"I'll see if Sir Topham Hatt can spare an engine to help out".

"This wouldn't have happened if Nigel were here", grumbled Patrick.

"Who's Nigel?" asked Alfie.

"He used to work with Me, Nelson, and Patrick, long before you came", Kelly told him.

"What happened to him?" said Alfie. "No one knows", chuckled Kelly. "He and Nelson always would race around and see who was faster. He probably got off course and had an accident".

Alfie became very curious about Nigel the Lost Lorry.

Rosie had been sent by Sir Topham Hatt to help The Pack. She quite enjoyed it, and it seemed The Pack were enjoying themselves as well.

Everyone did except for the little green excavator. He looked like something was troubling him. Eventually, the little excavator rolled by her.

"Excuse me!" she called to Alfie. "Are you okay?"

Alfie told Rosie about Nigel. "What if we could find him?" asked Rosie. "Wouldn't that be wonderful?"

"I'll ask Kelly!" Alfie said happily. And he raced away to find the old crane.

Kelly was watching Max and Monty race around with stones. Alfie rolled up next to him. "Excuse me, Kelly", Alfie asked, "but do you have any idea on where Nigel went?"

Kelly thought hard. "Last time I remember seeing him on a construction site, he was helping with the old loop line near Kirk Ronan".

"Loop line at Kirk Ronan?" Alfie asked. "There isn't one there!"

"But there was", said Kelly as he rolled away. "Don't get any ideas of exploring around there".

Alfie told Rosie about the line. "Kelly told me not to look there, but I think we should", Alfie told Rosie. "I agree", Rosie whispered, trying not to draw attention. And the machines rolled off.

The mainline came to a set of a points a quarter of a mile ahead of the big station. It took the duo a long while to find the track as it had become overgrown. When they did find it, Alfie cleared the track and Rosie set off on it, Alfie rolling through the debris in the ground right behind her.

They searched for what felt like centuries. They kept finding themselves ending up in the same spot. "We should split up", Rosie told Alfie. "Cover more ground, you know?" "Good idea", Alfie replied. "I'll see you soon". And Alfie rolled away into the deep forest.

As Rosie headed forward, she wasn't paying attention and didn't notice the broken section of track ahead. She bumped over it and slid down the side of the hill. She landed right in a muddy ditch.

"Help!" cried Rosie. "Alfie!"

"I don't know who Alfie is", called a voice. "But I've been here for a while and no one's found me".

In the mud pit was a cream and green lorry. He had the number 21 painted on his cab.

"Then again", the lorry continued, "this line's been abandoned for a while. In fact, why are you here?"

"I'm looking for..." began Rosie. But at that moment Alfie came racing over. "Rosie!" he called. "I heard you scream!"

Alfie then sled down the slope and into the muddy pit. The lorry rolled his eyes.

Back at the yard, Kelly was looking for Alfie. He saw Jack roll by.

"Jack!" called Kelly. "Have you seen Alfie?"

"I haven't", replied Jack. "Why?"

"He asked me about Nigel and I think he might have went to check the loop line near Kirk Ronan. They could be in danger!"

"I'll go and find them!" Jack said. And he raced towards the yards exit.

"With all do respect", called a voice from the back of the yard, "but you don't know how to get to the loop line".

It was Nelson, back from the works. "Need a lift?" he chuckled brightly. Jack was loaded onto Nelson's low loader.

Down at the mud pits, Alfie, Rosie, and the lorry were waiting in an awkward silence. "Is it alway this quiet?" Rosie asked the lorry. "You'll get used to it", the lorry said plainly.

Just then, Nelson rolled up with Jack.

"Alfie!" called Jack.

"Nigel?" Nelson said in shock.

"Nelson?" went the lorry.

"And we thought you were gone for good!" Nelson said excitedly.

"I always seem to stick around", chuckled Nigel. "We'll get Kelly and we'll have you all back up in no time".

Kelly soon arrived and went to work on hauling Rosie out. When she finished with Rosie and Alfie, she went to grab Nigel.

"Nigel", said Kelly as she pulled Nigel back up.

"Kelly", said Nigel.

The workmen Kelly brought checked over Nigel. He was in surprisingly well condition. So well that he was able to load Alfie onto his low loader and bring him home. As Kelly, Rosie, Nigel, Nelson, Jack, and Alfie all went home, Nelson looked at Nigel cheerfully. "Race you to the yard?" he asked.

"That's so immature", Nigel scolded. "Come on!" cheered Kelly. "It'll be like the olden days!"

Nigel looked at his best friend and smiled. "No ramming into each other this time", Nigel smiled. Nelson chuckled happily.

The two lorries raced off with their low loader and turned the corner into the sunset, just like they did in the olden days.