WHISTLING WILFRED

Written by Zack Wanzer and Rachel Ravens

Set during Series 1-2

Lyrics to "Sentimental Journey" by Les Brown, Ben Homer and Bud Green

Lyricist to "You Are My Sunshine" unknown

If you should ever travel along the mountain of Culdee Fell, you may see a rack railway that climbs upwards to the summit. This railway is run by four little engines – Ernest is brown, Wilfred blue, Culdee purple, and Shane Dooiney green. The Culdee Fell Railway is within a mostly quiet part of Sodor, but every now and again, something big crops up.

One day, Stevie the blue electric engine was on one of her trips outside of Peel Godred.

"Hi, Wilfred!" called Stevie. "It's great to see you."

But much to her surprise, Wilfred didn't reply straight away. The blue mountain engine was caught up in his own world.

"Er… Wilfred? Are you… whistling?"

"Hmm? Oh!" Wilfred glanced up. "Ah, hello, Stevie. Yes, I was."

"I didn't know you were into music," smiled Stevie. "Lisa, Carole and I sing songs all the time too."

"Whenever it's off-season," explained Wilfred, "my driver brings his record player to the sheds so that we have something to listen to to prevent boredom. Other times, Ernest's crew brings in something by Shakespeare."

"Well, I'm glad you and your friends don't get bored during your time off," said Stevie. "Being stuck in your shed for weeks on end would drive any engine mad. I know what that's like sometimes, being stuck in the yards at Peel Godred."

"That's very true," said Elaine. "And how Wilfred started whistling… well, that's quite the tale."

"What happened?" asked Stevie. "Was it the influence of a famous singer who came to your line?"

"Not exactly," chuckled Wilfred, before becoming serious. "It was shortly after Godred had his accident…"

Past

Our line was forced to temporarily close so that stringent measures could be taken to ensure there wouldn't be a repeat of Godred's disaster. It was a stressful time for all involved, but we were happy when the line reopened again on Easter Monday the following year. However, the accident had left many of us feeling shaken, some more than others.

"I'm afraid to go beyond Devil's Back now," gulped Shane. "What if Sharon or I fly off the rails like a cannonball, and she's full of passengers?"

"That happened to Godred because he was too up his own bunker to pay attention to the tracks," huffed Ernest. "He brought it upon himself, and now look where he's at."

"I prefer not to," sighed Shane, "but I do see what you mean."

Shane and I headed out to the coach yard. While Shane collected Sharon, I was trying to find a coach to use myself. Much to my shock, I heard someone sobbing.

"W-what am I going to do…"

"Elaine?" I asked in surprise. "Are… are you okay?"

"Huh… oh, hi, Wilfred," she said quickly. "Yeah, yeah, I'm completely fine. Nothing wrong here."

"I don't think so." If I had a head, I would have been shaking it. "If you are fine, why are you crying?"

Elaine sighed. "Well… with Godred no longer in service, I don't have anyone to push me up the mountain. And… if I don't have anyone to take me along, then…"

I winced at the implications. Elaine didn't deserve such a fate; she did nothing wrong that day.

"Please don't think that," I insisted. "You're far too useful to retire from active service so soon."

"But who would I work with?" asked Elaine. "I mean, Winifred is due to be rebuilt to a regular working coach with you and Ernest soon." Elaine was referring to the open-topped coach who was with Culdee and Catherine on the trial trip.

"Tell you what," I said. "I'll speak with Mr. Richards about it. We'll see if you can work with me."

"R-really?!" gasped Elaine. "You'd do that for me?"

"Of course," I said warmly. "We can start work today if you like."

"I'd love that!" cried Elaine. "Oh, thank you, Wilfred. You're an angel."

I blushed a bit before I went to speak with Mr. Richards. It didn't take him long to agree to the idea.

Later on, Elaine and I were out for our first trip up the mountain. The sun was warm and the rails were dry.

"Wow, Wilfred," smiled Elaine. "You're a much smoother rider than Godred ever was."

"Aww, thanks, Elaine," I replied modestly. "Though, I don't think it'd take much effort to do that."

We both laughed heartily at the joke, and we continued to talk and smile as we went higher and higher. Eventually, Elaine was so happy, she began to sing.

"Gonna take a sentimental journey

Gonna set my heart at ease

Gonna take a sentimental journey

To renew old memories…"

"Wow…" I said quietly. "She's got a beautiful voice." Being a fan of music, I naturally wanted to join in too. But I discovered that was a bit of a mistake…

"Got my bag, got my reservation…"

The passengers all covered their ears and a few of the kids inside Elaine started screaming.

"Ugh, make it stop, daddy!" one cried.

"What sort of voice is that?!" another passenger called out.

"Ha!" laughed a third. "This engine can't sing to save his life."

I bit my lip in shock. My voice couldn't be that bad… could it?

Later that evening, I was in the shed with my friends, telling them about my failed attempt at singing up the mountain.

"Do you promise me that you won't judge my vocals?" I asked anxiously.

"Come now, Wilfred," said Culdee. "You know what some passengers are like. Maybe you just got a bad lot today."

"I hope so too…" I said doubtfully. "Okay then. Here goes…" I took a deep breath and began singing again.

"Gonna take a sentimental journey…"

Much to my dismay, the other engines all closed their eyes and winced.

"Augh, that's awful! Make it stop, please!" cried Shane, wishing that he had something to block out the noise.

"It sounds like a bunch of old cats on a fence trying to sing!" exclaimed Ernest.

"That… wasn't good," said Culdee, trying to sound more polite.

"Oh…" I sighed. "You… really feel that way?"

"Yes!" snorted Ernest. "Leave music to the professionals so we can have peace around here!"

"Ernest," hissed Culdee.

"No…" I bit my lip. "I… I understand. L-let's try and get some sleep…" I was trying so hard not to cry myself to sleep.

"Very tactful, brother," muttered Shane. "You've gone and made Wilfred depressed."

"Oh dear…" sighed Ernest.

My depression over being unable to sing carried over into next morning, and my fire wouldn't light up, no matter how hard my stoker tried.

"I don't know what's up with Wilfred," they said to my driver. "He's usually more responsive than this."

"Huh…" sighed my driver. "Maybe leave him in the shed. Ernest may have to take Elaine today."

"And that may be for the best," grunted Shane meaningfully. "Someone needs to get their words together."

"Simmer down, Shane," sighed Culdee. "You and Ernest go, I'll speak with Wilfred."

The two engines set off on their passenger runs, leaving me and Culdee in the shed.

"Come now, brother," soothed Culdee. "Ernest wasn't thinking about his words last night. You know he still loves you."

"Maybe he's right," I said mournfully. "I'm not cut out for singing at all…"

"Well… my crew mentioned something about singing being one of those things that either you have, or you don't," said Culdee. "But music still makes you happy, doesn't it?"

"Yes…" I said quietly. "But… as an engine, I can't learn an instrument to play in a band or anything. And… I still want to join in. I'd be lucky if I could join a choir with the right whistle."

"That… is quite a conundrum," Culdee sighed. "Still, when I get a chance, I'd like a word with those passengers for their rudeness toward you."

"Thank you, sister," I smiled weakly.

While we were chatting, Ernest was heading up the mountain with Elaine.

"Really, Ernest?" muttered Elaine. "You just had to upset your brother like that?!"

"I know, that was not my best move," sighed Ernest. "I was really irritated at the time, and said some words I shouldn't have."

"It's one thing if the passengers say it," Elaine sighed, "but another if it comes from one of your siblings. I hope you can clear this up with him."

"Me too," Ernest said to himself. Unknown to the two of them, they were heading for trouble. Some dust blew as Ernest climbed higher and higher, and it went straight into his whistle. Eventually, Ernest started coming into the station, and his driver blew the whistle.

"Huh?!" cried his driver. "Ernest, you can stop whistling now!"

"I'm trying!" exclaimed Ernest. "Maybe you should stop pulling my whistle chain!"

"But I did stop!" Passengers getting in or out of Elaine were covering their ears due to the noise, and some headed straight for the station building. One even dropped their hat.

"Ugh!" groaned the stoker. "What could be causing this?!"

"I don't know!" cried the driver. "One thing I do know, I'm phoning for help!"

I was the engine who was called in to help. By now, Ernest's whistle had been silenced by a workman's sledgehammer… which also damaged it in the process.

"Why can't a jammed whistle be fixed instead of silenced and broken?" muttered Ernest.

"I'd much rather silence than that awful noise!" grunted one passenger.

"But… it's a bit too quiet," said another passenger. "We are high on a mountain, and not many trains come up here."

"Hmm…" said a third passenger. "Elaine, how about you sing us a song?"

Elaine gave a small smile as one came to her.

"You are my sunshine

My only sunshine

You make me happy

When skies are gray…"

Some of the passengers couldn't help but join in.

"You'll never know, dear

How much I love you

Please don't take

My sunshine away…"

Just then, my whistle rang out.

"Ernest!" I called, still whistling at intervals. "Ernest, are you alright?!"

"Oh… yes, Wilfred," muttered Ernest. "If you call a jammed whistle and delayed train 'alright'."

"Well, you aren't hurt," I said. "That's the… main thing…" I stared as the passengers all looked at me. "Er… do I have something on my face?"

"No, it's your whistling," said one passenger. "That sounded beautiful."

I blinked in surprise. "Er… I just whistled to alert Ernest that I was coming."

"But you whistled in time with the song that Elaine was singing," smiled another passenger. "You have a perfect pitch."

"Well… that was an accident," I admitted.

"Do you think you can do it on purpose?" asked a third passenger. "I think that would add just the right touch to the song."

"I… I can try," I said. "Everyone get aboard. Ernest, Culdee is coming to get you."

The passengers all boarded the train as I set off with Elaine. She started to sing again, and I blew my whistle in time with her song.

"The other night, dear

As I lay sleeping

I dreamed I held you

In my arms

When I awoke, dear

I was mistaken

So I hung my head and I cried

You are my sunshine

My only sunshine

You make me happy

When skies are gray

You'll never know, dear

How much I love you

Please don't take

My sunshine away…"

This time, the passengers were all humming or singing along to our music, and some even tried whistling along with me. Of course, being people, they did run out of breath, but I didn't mind.

"That's lovely, Wilfred," smiled Elaine. "Looks like you are a musical engine after all."

"I guess I am," I beamed.

That night, I told my friends about what had happened.

"Wow, Wilfred," said Shane. "I wish I was there to have seen it. You and Elaine must make a great team."

"And as it turns out," said Culdee, "people sometimes whistle songs to themselves too. You really made your mark after all, brother."

"I'm… I'm really sorry for being so blunt last night, Wilfred," sighed Ernest. "You can make music after all. And you have earned Elaine as your coach too."

"Hmm…" I pondered to myself. "Say, Ernest, the mountain railway won't have everyone out all at once. So not everyone would need a coach solely to themselves."

"Wilfred…" gasped Ernest. "Are you saying…"

"Well, we'll need to talk with Elaine first," I said. "Only if she agrees."

"Two?!" she gasped. "Oh, wow! I was worried that I wouldn't even get one engine after Godred's wreck, but now I get two?!"

"So, I assume that's a 'yes' then?" asked Ernest.

"Of course!" beamed Elaine. "I love listening to Wilfred's whistling while I sing, and I can't wait to see what you bring to the table, Ernest."

"Well, you may have to get used to hearing Shakespeare," chuckled Ernest.

"I think I can live with that," beamed Elaine.

Present

"…and live with that, she does," chuckled Wilfred. "Well, technically, we all live with that, but being Ernest's coach as well as my own… you know what I mean."

"I sure do," grinned Stevie. "You know, I ran into a similar incident with my brother back on the mainland. He couldn't sing, but he tooted his horn in time with mine and my besties' singing."

"Well, next time you and the girls sing, you know where to find me for backup whistling," said Wilfred.

"I will," said Stevie. "I'll keep it in mind when Christmas rolls around. Thank you for the story, Wilfred."

"Always a pleasure," smiled Wilfred. As Stevie departed, Wilfred saw Ernest coming out of the shed to take Shiloh, who was nicknamed "The Truck", up the mountain.

"Out on another your Shakespeare runs, Ern?" called Wilfred.

"You must stick with your heart of hearts, Wilfred," said Ernest. "And for me, that is reciting plays where I can."

"Heh, some things never change," chuckled Shilioh. And for the mountain railway engines, they hoped it wouldn't for a long time to come.

THE END

Author's Comments

And now we come to a story all about the Culdee Fell Railway! If you'll remember in previous stories, Culdee has been gender-flipped to female, the other engines have been given new liveries so that they're easier to tell apart, and, of course, their personalities have been expanded upon. In the 2002 trading cards, Wilfred was described as being "the musical engine" of the line, which is a good foundation to work off of. A bit of irony here is that while Wilfred loves music, he can't sing to save his life, so he whistles to a tune instead. And as for Ernest, although he's a good engine, he can be a little overly critical and stubborn, and tends to speak before he thinks, but, similarly to Wilfred, he has a love of literature.

Upcoming stories:

- Emily's Delivery - Helen Hatt goes into labor while on Emily's train, and the emerald engine has to rush her to the hospital, but can she make it on time?

- The Lion and the Antelope - The engines become afraid of a new crane that's been brought to help at Crock's Scrap Yard. However, one of the engines has a history with him...

- Diesels and Bluebells - BoCo's first day on the Bluebell Railway as ambassador to the North Western Railway is met with controversy as some enthusiasts were expecting a steam engine instead of a diesel. Can BoCo win those enthusiasts over?

- A Special Friend for Duck - Duck witnesses an incident at Knapford station in which a child is belittled for being unable to handle big environments.

- Serious Sigrid - A new diesel is brought to help out on the Arlesdale Railway, but Rex, Bert and Mike soon find out that she'll stand for no nonsense from anyone.