A/N A reader suggested I could kill Luke and Victor together, so I decided to give them a fatal accident with each other.
Victor was on the track near the Steamworks and Luke, who was distracted, ran a red signal. The two engines were taken to the Steamworks and were declared dead on arrival. Mr. Percival was notified by each engine's crew.
A meeting was called and Mr. Percival said, dabbing his tears with a handkerchief, "We've lost Luke and Victor." The engines' respective crews sniffed and sobbed into handkerchiefs.
The narrow-gauge engines tearfully buffer pressed each other, comforted by their drivers and Percy pressed his buffers tightly against Thomas', as the latter began to cry and choked out a speech, through his sobbing and sniffling. His driver pressed a cloth to his eyes.
Thomas said, huge water droplets constantly pouring from his eyes and soaking the cloth, "W-We sh-shall m-miss th-the R-Really U-Useful E-Engines wh-who've g-gone t-to Th-The B-Big R-Railway I-In th-the Sk-Sky. I-I sh-shall m-miss L-Luke dr-dreadfully. W-We c-can m-miss ou-our d-dead fr-friends, b-but w-we m-must c-carry o-on b-being R-Really U-Useful E-Engines, b-because th-they w-would w-want u-us t-to. W-We sh-shall gr-grieve th-them a-and th-that's f-fine.". His wailing sobs went on until he could cry no more. The tank engine's driver went back to the cab with the sodden cloth and his crew gave him a drink.
The Skarloey Railway was closed to allow its engines time to grieve and have a memorial service for Luke and Victor. Thomas was allowed to attend the service, because Luke was his friend and Percy came along to buffer press his broken-hearted friend. Charity spent the outdoor service bawling her eyes out in a corner with her driver drying her tears with a cloth. The other emotional engines present, like Thomas, were teary as well and comforted by their drivers.
The railway reopened and Johnny, a big-hearted and very kind Mainland scrapyard escapee went to the Steamworks to take Victor's work, with a litle diesel, Rowena, who liked to sing and was very pleasant, taking Luke's place. Johnny was warm and dependable, always being nice to someone because he deeply cared about others. Rowena was deeply feeling, making her sensitive and understanding. She teared up easily, unable to keep her emotion from coming out most of the time when this happened, but she wasn't afraid of emotions. She was quiet, friendly and a good listener. ready to give practical comfort and be present with those who were unhappy and lift their spirits. She could be cheeky at times. Life took on a more normal rhythm for the narrow-gauge engines.
A/N I may have the miniature engines die in the rest of this collection.