Chapter 274: Middle Engine

No place on Sodor is liked less than The Sodor Ironworks. It's a desolate, eerie foundry where scrap from all over the island is taken, melted down, and reused again. It's run by two grim diesel drivers, who delight in scraping old engines. Their names are Arry and Bert, but their fellow workmates have taken to calling them the grim messengers of doom due to the dark nature of their work. But when they're not ripping steam engines to pieces, they love to play tricks on unsuspecting engine crews.

One day, Percy had to go and collect a train to take to Brendam Docks. When he got there, he was relieved to see that Arry and Bert were nowhere in sight.

"That's good. Maybe this trip won't be so bad after all."

But he was wrong. No sooner had he backed down onto his train did Arry drive another line of trucks towards him, blocking him in.

"Arry!"

"Little green piggy in the middle!"

And before anyone could scold him, Arry ran off laughing. The foreman shook his head.

"There's nothing for it. You'll just have to take the train as is."

"What? You can't be serious! I can't run middle engine, I won't be able to see where I'm going."

"You don't have much of a choice. It'll take too long to sort it out properly, and the ship leaves in an hour."

Knowing that this was a losing argument, Percy reluctantly set off. Arry and Bert snickered as they watched him leave.

"Ha, there's no way he'll get there."

"Yeah, he will look silly."

Soon, Percy was coasting down the mainline, but he wasn't enjoying it at all. With how long the train was, he couldn't see the line ahead. The guard kept an eye out, but Percy had to struggle to hear anything he said. Percy didn't know it, but they were headed for trouble.

Ahead, the signal was red, meaning that they needed to stop. The guard saw this, and shouted a warning to Percy, but all Percy could make out was indistinguishable shouting.

"Blast it, he can't hear me! I've got to try something else."

Grabbing his red flag, he began frantically waving it in the hopes that Percy would see it. By the time he did, it was too late to stop, and they sailed right past the signal. Just then, Percy heard a familiar whistle. There, in the distance, was Spencer rushing towards him.

"Horrors!"

Thinking quickly, Percy reversed his engine as fast as it could go. He managed to get into the siding just in time, Spencer thundering past the minute he was safe and sound.

"Watch where you're going!"

Percy breathed a sigh of relief, but it didn't last long. The signalman came storming out.

"What are you playing at? I had the signal at red, can't you see?"

Percy couldn't reply. He was too shaken up.

Later that evening, Sir Topham Hatt spoke severely to him.

"Percy, I thought you knew better than to go past a red signal. Clearl, I was mistaken."

"But sir, it wasn't my fault! Arry and Bert made me a middle engine."

"Hmm, I see. I shall look into the manner, but until then I shall arrange for you to work elsewhere."

Spencer, who was on Sodor while the Duke and Duchess were elsewhere, scoffed.

"Bah! Those two are just harmless dolts, they wouldn't dare play tricks on me."

"Then you shall take over Percy's work until this matter is settled."

"Er, yes sir," Spencer said, instantly regretting opening his mouth. Despite his own predicament, Percy couldn't help but chuckle. Spencer just glared at him darkly.

The next day, Spencer scowled as he drove into the Smelters Yard. Arry and Bert grinned "evily as they drove up alongside.

"Well, well, well, look what we have here Bert? The Duke and Duchess's private engine."

"A Little too good to be scrapped, isn't it?"

"Are you kidding? Any steam engine is destined for the scrap heap. Guess they wised up and decided to upgrade."

Spencer just rolled his eyes. He had been warned about the two of them, and for once decided to listen.

"Just shut up and fetch my train! And no tricks."

"As you wish, your highness."

Spencer snorted and waited. A few minutes later, he felt a line of trucks be coupled up to his engine.

"About time! Now shove off."

"Oh, you're not done yet. Arry's got more for you to take."

"Well, tell him to hurry up, or-HEY!"

While Spencer was distracted, Arry pushed another line of trucks right into his path.

"Little silver piggy in the middle!"

"Just like Percy!"

This made Spencer furious.

"I am not like Percy! And I refuse to move another inch!"

"What's going on here?"

Everyone froze. There, marching over to the trio, was Sir Topham Hatt.

"Percy told me all about your games. I'd come to investigate, but it seems you've saved me some time!"

"Sir, we didn't mean any harm."

"Yeah, we were just playing!"

"A railway is no place for games! What you two are doing is dangerous, now move those trucks NOW!"

Arry did just that, squirming under his intense glare. His words to Spencer were still sharp but softer.

"Spencer, take those trucks behind you, then I want you to take Gordon's next express. I'll send someone else for the rest of them."

"Yes sir, thank you sir."

As soon as Spencer left, Sir Topham Hatt turned his gaze to the two troublemakers.

"As for you two, I'm sending you to the waste dump for a few weeks. Perhaps THEN you'll learn to behave."

And I think they will, in time. Don't you?