Disclaimer: I do not own Thomas the tank engine and friends. Also, this chapter contains implications of graphic violence. You have been warned.

Chapter 98: Bad Look Out

Culdee was talking to Skarloey and Rheneas when Sir Handel and Duncan rode up.

"Oh dear, here we go."

"I nearly got thrown from the cab today," Duncan grumbled, "Rusty didn't check the line properly, but Mr. Percival said he did. He said I didn't keep a good look out. 'We've no money to mend your engine, he says, 'If it happens again, I'll leave it in the back, and suspend you.' Why does he always pick on me?"

Skarloey said nothing. He just winked at Rheneas.

"As you were saying, Culdee. You took two coaches on your trial. Do you ever take more?"

"Good heavens, no. Our line is so steep, that we can only take one. And we need to be extremely cautious to."

"Why? Your engine's wheels can grip the track."

"Yes, but there's more to it than that, Sir Handel. Unlike your railway, where you normally pull your trains up the line, we push ours up, meaning we can't see the line ahead. Our guards have to be on the upmost attention, otherwise they put the whole train at risk."

"Sounds like frightening work."

"Yes, but we're not alone. Unlike the other railways on the island, we have two crewmen per cab: a driver, and a fireman. That way we have an extra pair of eyes to watch the line on the way back down, so we can more easily divert our attention between the line and keeping the engine running. We each work with our own. I work with a nice woman named Catherine. Known her for years and I trust her with my life."

He took out a picture and showed it to the Skarloey engine drivers.

"Whoa, she's beautiful."

"Watch your words, Romeo, that's my wife you're talking about."

"Your wife?"

"Yes, married since last spring. Happiest day of my life for sure. Sadly, she had to stay behind while I went to help on the Snowdon Mountain Railway after my engine was overhauled, but I do look forward to seeing her."

"Well, congratulations, Culdee. It must take a load off your mind knowing that you have someone you can trust in the cab to help you."

"Yes, but not off my body. It takes a lot of hard work to keep an engine running, especially when you're going uphill. Catherine and I have a tiring time getting the steam up. Downhill is different, though. Catherine and I just let the engine roll. Don't need any steam for that."

Sir Handel sighed enviously.

"Oh, I would love that. With your automatic brakes it seems like a rest cure."

Culdee's expression fell.

"That's the exact mistake poor Godred made."

"Who?"

(Flashback, Culdee narrating)

Godred was an engine driver on my railway and drove our number one. He was named after a Sudrian king. This made him conceited, and he believed he was better than everyone else. He would race down the line, looking anywhere but at the track.

"You'll have an accident one of these days, Godred."

"Nonsense, Culdee. My engine has automatic brakes, and I've got the air brake on hand, so what's the risk."

"With you, Godred, getting on the coach. A driver must always be on guard, no matter how safe he may feel."

"The first thing a young engine driver learns."

"Quite right, Skarloey."

Yes, but Godred never learned sense. The manager scolded him numerous times. They even took the engine to pieces to see if anything was wrong. But he still went on in the same old way.

One day I was going up the mountain and waited at Skarloey Road for Godred to pass me. As I waited, so it happened. One minute, Godred's engine was on the tracks. The next his fireman jumps clear as it tumbles off the side, hitting the bottom with a loud boom. None of the passengers were hurt. The coach remained on the rails and the guard braked it to a stop.

They found the remains the next day.

"We've no money to mend it," said our manager, "Send it to the back of the shed."

Overtime, it got smaller, and smaller, until nothing was left. It's spare parts, what was left anyway, were used to repair our engines

(End Flashback)

The other engine drivers gaped in horror.

"Wh-what happened to Godred."

"It's… not nice to talk about."

"But what happened? Why isn't it nice."

Culdee took a deep breath.

"Godred didn't jump out in time. He was still in the cab when the engine fell. When we found him… let's just say that we all needed therapy after the horror that we saw."

Douglas soon arrived to take Culdee away. Sir Handel and Duncan remained quiet for the next several days. Skarloey and Rheneas never told him Culdee made the whole thing up.

A/N: I think that may have been the darkest thing I ever wrote. Can't say I didn't warn you, but if you read the original story you knew what was going to happen. Anyway, see you guys next time.