Chapter 166: Timothy's Revenge Part 2: Edward's Tale

That night, Edward arrived at the Ffarquhar house. Thomas had never seen Edward look so serious before, and it made him nervous. Edward eyed his audience quietly.

"What I'm about to tell you is very important. Don't interrupt me until I'm finished. Understood."

All four nodded, very spooked out by his expression. With a sigh, Edward began his tale.

"It all started many years ago, on this very line…"

Many years ago, the rail network on Sodor was controlled by three companies: The Wellsworth and Suddery Railway. The Sodor and Mainland Railway, and the Tidmouth, Knapford, and Elsbridge Light Railway, the focus of our tale.

The main engine driver for this line was a man named Timothy. He had silver hair, and was a kind man. He always worked hard, and never complained. But one night, something snapped inside him. Something that drove him to do something unthinkable.

It was a foggy, moonlit night. Timothy was taking the late nighter from Knapford Harbor to the end of the line.

"All set, Timothy?"

"The fire's lit and she's ready to go!"

"Good. All aboard! Full Steam Ahead, Timothy!"

And so the train set off into the night. At first, all was well and they made good time, but no one could predict what lay ahead.

Back then, the viaduct was still under construction, so the terminus was Elsbridge. Timothy knew this, but even as the station came into sight he didn't let off steam. The fireman, Samuel Blunt, noticed this and tried to get Timothy's attention.

"Uh, Timothy, shouldn't we slow down?"

Timothy didn't respond, he just opened the throttle even more.

"Timothy, this is the last station! We need to stop!"

But Timothy wouldn't even glance up. The train roared through the station, pistons pumping so fast they were a blur. Samuel's eyes went wide with fright.

"TIMOTHY, PLEASE STOP! YOU'RE GOING TO KILL US ALL!"

But as the barrier got closer and closer, Timothy just stared straight ahead. Samuel jumped clear as the train toppled into the abyss below, leaving all on board to be lost."

Edward's audience gasped in shock.

"Wh-why would he do that?"

"No one knows for sure, Percy, but there are plenty of rumors. Maybe the train was sabotaged, a poorly thought out attempt by the railway to collect insurance. Some say Timothy had cracked under pressure, that the stress of running the line was too much. Others believe he had been possessed, driven to violence by some otherworldly presence. But regardless, the railway was set back, forced to pay damages and reparation for the victim's families. A year later, they collapsed and merged with the other two railways. But our story doesn't end there. Oh no…"

Many years later, on the anniversary of the crash, a signalman was working late one night when the air grew cold.

"Guess the fire's beginning to die. Better put some more wood on the fire."

Outside, fog began to roll in, making it almost impossible to see. Then, a low, ghastly whistle sounded out.

"Huh? But there isn't any trains due for another hour."

Then, before his very eyes, the ghostly figure of an engine came roaring through, whistling fit to burst. Then, just as suddenly, it vanished into thin air. The signalman couldn't believe his eyes.

"Ah man, what was in my coffee? I must be seeing things."

But he wasn't. Several people saw the same sight that night, all up to the viaduct where it vanishes completely. And every year on the date of the accident, it rides again. Plunging into the gap, shrieking like a lost soul.

With his story finished, Edward glanced at his four friends, their eyes wide with fright as they shook.

"So, Timothy is the one we've been seeing. That answers one question."

But Thomas wasn't so sure.

"But if everybody else saw the engine, why did he show himself to me?"

"I don't know, Thomas. Ghosts are mysterious creatures. My best guess is that he has unfinished business, and believes you may be able to help him."

"Do you have any photos of him? Something we could use to research more about him or the TK&E."

"I do have one. Its in a book somewhere….Ah, here it is!"

Edward pulled out the photo and passed it around. When Thomas received the photo, he nearly dropped it in shock.

"What's wrong, Thomas?"

"That woman in the photo…that's my grandmother."