I do not own Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends. They are strictly the property of both the Awdry Family and Britt Allcroft herself, this story is purely for entertainment and never profit. I also do no own Timothy, he is owned by Kanefan701. This episode used to terrify me when I was a child, with the music and all.
Episode 54: Ghost Train, Original Airdate: December 10th, 1986
It was Halloween on the Island of Sodor. Across the island jack-o'-lanterns were being put either outside or houses along with fake ghosts, plastic spiders, cats, and rats, even signs that read "Enter If You Dare". People were also buying sweets for the children whenever they came trick or treating in their ghost, mummy, police officer, and witch costumes.
Over in the Billinton house at the village of Ffarquhar, Thomas was getting ready to go trick or treating with Lucy. He was dressed up as Count Dracula whilst Lucy was dressed up as a little princess. They were currently waiting for Percy, Toby, and Henrietta to come trick or treating with them. Percy was going as the Wolfman, Toby was going as Frankenstein's Monsters and Henrietta was going a bumblebee.
"Right now, Lucy" said Thomas as he handed her the bucket for her sweets, "are you looking forward to trick or treating?".
"Yes daddy" replied Lucy happily.
Just then Howard, Tanya, Annie, and Clarabel entered the sitting room. Howard was dressed as Abraham Lincoln, Tanya as a witch, Annie and Clarabel were dressed as the Grady sisters from Stephen King's The Shining.
"Hey Thomas" Howard greeted his son, "I see that you've gotten Lucy ready for trick or treating".
"That I did dad" replied Thomas.
"I wonder how many sweets Lucy will get this year?" asked Tanya.
"I'm not sure mom" said Thomas, "it is after all her second Halloween".
"Come play with us" said Annie and Clarabel said to Lucy in an eerie tone of voice.
"Careful now you two" said Tanya, "don't scare your niece".
"We won't momma" replied Annie and Clarabel in unison.
Just then there was a knock at the door as Thomas ran to open it. Sure, enough Percy, Toby and Henrietta were all standing there in their costumes.
"Trick or treat" they all said.
"Oh, my what scary costumes" said Thomas in mock fright, "come in boys and ghoul".
Percy, Toby, and Henrietta all followed Thomas into the sitting room where they greeted Howard, Tanya, Annie, and Clarabel.
"So Thomas" asked Toby, "ready to take Lucy and Henrietta trick or treating?".
"We've still got time" said Thomas, "the sun hasn't gone down yet".
"And the ghosts and goblins come out to play" sniggered Percy.
Hearing the word goblins brought a smile to Thomas' lips, clearing reminding him of the time that he and Lady visited Otherworld, a magical land that lay in the sky between both heaven and earth populated by Wizards, Elves, Dwarves, Orcs, Goblins, Trolls, Faeries, Satyrs, Dark Elves, Leprechauns, Halflings, Centaurs, Dragons, and Unicorns. Edward, Sir Topham Hatt and Burnett had come along with them and the adventure they all had wasn't something they would ever forget, and the Elf King allowed them to keep their memories due to sense that they were truthful in their promise to never tell of it. But the word ghosts immediately made Thomas realize what story to tell, although Percy and Toby didn't like to be reminded of it as it as it nearly destroyed their friendship with Thomas.
"Say everyone" said Thomas, "whilst we wait for night to come, why don't I tell a Halloween story?".
"Halloween story" said Lucy excitedly.
"Ooh I like the sound of that," said Toby.
"Just the thing we need for tonight" said Tanya before asking, "what story did you have in mind Thomas?".
"I'm thinking of Percy's little joke involving the cart of lime" grinned Thomas.
Percy's face immediately dropped when Thomas mentioned "cart of lime". What started off as a harmless little payback joke on Thomas for calling him a silly little man quickly bounced back and bite him in the ass, what was worse was that it had also nearly destroyed his and Toby's friendship with Thomas.
"Please don't tell that story Thomas" begged Percy, "please pick something else".
"Sorry Percy" said Thomas, "but it's the only Halloween story I have".
"Besides Percy" said Howard sternly, "perhaps it will teach a lesson for disrespecting Timothy's memory".
Percy knew that Howard was right, his prank did indeed disrespect Thomas' late older brother and it did greatly upset the Billinton family.
"Alright" said Percy reluctantly, "take it away Thomas".
"Thank you Percy" said Thomas as he began his story, "it all began one dark and foggy night".
(Story Begins)
It was a dark and foggy night on the Island of Sodor. Everyone was fast asleep in their beds, with the only people being awake were either the emergency services or workmen doing night jobs. At the viaduct on the mainline, everything was silent and still. The breakdown train was still there, having been needed during its repairs. But the viaducts repairs were almost complete, another month and they would be done.
It was fortunate for the workmen that they weren't working a night on the viaduct, for soon they would see something that would scare then out of their wits.
A barn owl was out on a hunting trip, looking for some tasty mice or shrews to eat. It hooted as it flew over the viaduct, as it flew away there was a ghostly whistle. A moment later, a ghostly steam engine crossed over the viaduct.
"And every year on the date of the accident, it runs again as a warning to others. Plunging into the gap, shrieking like a lost soul".
"Percy what are you talking about?" asked Thomas.
The Thomas, Lady, Percy, and Toby were in Anopha Quarry one day picking up some stone. There was some time to kill before they needed to take their trucks to the harbour, Percy then decided to tell them the story of the "ghost train".
"The ghost train" said Percy, "Daisy saw it last night".
"Where?" asked Thomas, Lady, Toby, Howard, and Burnett.
"She didn't say but it must have been on our line" said Percy, "oh it makes me shiver to think of it".
"Huh" said Thomas, "you're just a silly little engine driver who believes everything he hears. I'm not scared".
Thomas and Howard then left the quarry with their train and headed to the harbour. Along the way there, Howard noticed that Thomas had a solemn look on his face, he knew that it must have had something to do with Percy's story.
"Are you okay Thomas?" Howard asked his son.
"I'm fine dad" replied Thomas solemnly.
"Was it to do with Percy's story?" he asked.
"It was" replied Thomas, "it reminded me that it's his anniversary tomorrow".
Howard looked sadly at Thomas, knowing full well what Thomas was talking about. Five years before, his and Tanya's first born and Thomas, Annie and Clarabel's older brother, Timothy had died in a railway accident. He had been taking a passenger train, his last one of the day, towards Vicarstown when it came off the rails at the viaduct and plunged into the ravine below.
Luckily Timothy had managed to uncouple his coaches and the guard was able to apply the brakes. Tragically, Timothy couldn't escape in time and was killed upon impact, a fact that greatly devastated the Billinton family.
When they went to retrieve Timothy's body and the wreckage of his engine, Sir Topham Hatt and the Billinton's went to confront the signalman for not setting the signal to danger. This was due to the rails near the viaduct being bumpy and in need of repair, but when they entered the signal box, they were shocked to find the signalman bound and gagged.
The signalman then relieved that the night before, a man wearing a ski mask had broken into the signal box and had knocked him unconscious. An examination of the remains of Timothy's engine revealed that the brakes had been tampered with, both these facts made both Sir Topham Hatt and the Billinton's realize that Timothy had then being murdered.
Unfortunately, the police couldn't find out who caused Timothy's fatal accident and so the case remained open much to the sadness of Thomas, Annie, Clarabel, Howard, and Tanya. The only other people who knew the story were Lady, Burnett, and Sir Topham Hatt.
"I know that son" said Howard gently, clearing missing his eldest son very much.
Both father and son hugged each other as they continued to do their work for the day.
Meanwhile back at the quarry, both Lady and Burnett were discussing the story with Percy. To his surprise, they both sounded a little annoyed with him.
"Honestly Percy" said Lady, "why on earth did you have to tell Thomas that kind of story?".
"I just thought it would be a good one to tell" said Percy in defence, "besides why wouldn't Thomas like it?".
"He has his reasons Percy" said Burnett, "so I suggest that you be a little respectful of that in the future".
Lady and Burnett then left the quarry with their loads of stone.
"Thomas didn't believe in your story" said Percy to Daisy the next morning.
"Neither did I Percy" laughed Daisy, "it was a pretend ghost on television".
Percy was a little disappointed, but he was too busy with his stone trucks that day to think about ghosts. Later that evening he brought his last train of stone to the new harbour; he uncoupled it from his engine and then set off for home light engine. It was dark by the time he reached the branch line cutting and mist had begun to descend.
Percy knew where he was, even in the dark of the night. He was passing the windmill when he saw a sign.
"Crowe's Farm Crossing" he said to himself, "we shan't be long now".
Percy liked running at night, rails hummed, and signal lights shown green as he approached. But unbeknownst to Percy, there was trouble waiting for him just up ahead.
Terence had was helping his good friend, Sam the Farmer, to deliver a cartload of lime for Mr. Crowe and forty-acre field. Sam had meant to deliver it earlier that day, but unfortunately he had been busy that day with his own farm and by the time he remembered it was nearly dark, so he called Terence and asked if he could help him to which Terence kindly agreed. Terence hooked the cart to his tractor and headed off for forty-acre field with Sam riding shotgun.
"And again, thank you so much for helping me Terence" said Sam.
"It's no trouble Sam" replied Terence kindly.
"I would have done it earlier myself" said Sam, "but the farm was just too busy".
"The same goes for every farmer" replied Terence.
They were just going over the crossing when they heard a crashing noise. The two then looked around to see that the carts wheel had broken off, Terence stopped his tractor and went to check the cart along with Sam.
"Oh botheration" said Sam in annoyance, "this just had to happen".
"Come on Sam" said Terence as he unhooked the cart from his tractor, "we better head back to the farm for help".
Sam then reluctantly hopped back on the tractor as Terence drove back to the farm as fast as he could.
"Are you sure that we should just leave the cart there Terence?" asked Sam uncertainly, "what if a train comes through?".
"Don't worry Sam" said Terence reassuringly, "Thomas neither Thomas nor Lady are coming through tonight. Sir Topham Hatt gave them the night off".
"Why?" asked Sam curiously.
"I'm not too sure" said Terence, "I'll ask Thomas if I see him tomorrow."
But Terence had reckoned without Percy. About 10 minutes later Percy was approaching the crossing when he saw the cart on the line.
"What the heck?" Percy said in shock.
He tried to apply his saddle tanks brakes, but it was too late. He then broke the cart to smithereens; lime flew every covering both Percy and his saddle tank. There was no one at the crossing and so he drove his engine quickly to the nearest signal box. When he arrived at the signal box, he found that Toby was already there and talking to the signalman.
"Hello Percy" said Toby in surprise, "whatever happened to you and why is your tank engine all white?".
Percy then explained to both Toby and the signalman about his crash the cart of lime.
"I'll see to it" said the signalman, "but you better get both yourself and your engine cleaned soon Percy or else people will think that you're a ghost".
This gave Percy an idea.
"Do let's pretend I'm a ghost and scare Thomas" said Percy mischievously, "that'll teach him to teach to say that I'm a silly little engine driver".
Percy then explained his plan to Toby, who agreed to it. They decided that Toby would leave for Ffarquhar first, and that Percy would follow 10 minutes later. Toby would then arrive at the sheds first and inform Thomas that Percy had had an accident but was okay. He would then explain that Percy had seen a ghost that was coming to warn them, Percy would then arrive and pretend to be a ghost and scare heck out of Thomas.
When it was time, Toby then left and headed for Ffarquhar sheds, ten minutes later Percy then set off for the sheds. The signalman had ordered himself a Domino's Pizza and was waiting for it to arrive, he had ordered himself a Texan BBQ with chicken wings, chocolate cinnamon balls and a coke zero to drink. He had offered to order one for Percy and Toby who politely declined his kind offer. The pizzaman soon arrived and after paying him the money and a tip, took the food into his signal box to eat.
But just before he could take the first bite, the signalman heard an engines whistle that he had never heard before.
"Strange" he said to himself, "Sir Topham Hatt said that they weren't any engines coming though tonight".
He heard the whistle again and this time he heard an engine chuffing, the signalman then decided to see who it was. He had just stepped out his signal box to see who it was when what appeared to be a tank engine speed by, although it passed by quickly, the signal could just make out that it looked like Thomas' E2 but painted silver and with the number 0 on its side tanks.
"I wonder who that was" the signalman said to himself.
The engine was soon out of sight, shrugging his shoulders the signalman then went back into his signal box to have his dinner. Meanwhile Toby had just arrived at Ffarquhar sheds, he then brought his tram into its berth where he was greeted by a strange sight.
Thomas, Lady, Lucy, Howard, Tanya, Annie, Clarabel, and Burnett were in the sheds, and they were all dressed as if for something special. Ignoring it, Toby stopped his tram and hopped down from the cab.
"Percy's had an accident" he said.
"What?" said Thomas with concern as the others did the same, "is he okay. As the breakdown train being sent?".
"He's okay" said Toby, "the line's been cleared but there's something worse".
"Please just tell us already Toby" said Howard, "we can't wait all evening".
"I've just seen something" said Toby in a trembling voice, "it looked like a ghost engine. It said that it was coming here t-t-to warn us".
At the mention of ghost engine, Thomas, Lady, Howard, Tanya, Annie, Clarabel, and Burnett all went silent. Toby then began to wonder what was going on and why they were all dressed up.
"You've mean that you seen him?" asked Tanya low voice.
"I'm sorry who?" asked Toby.
"Timothy me and Tanya's eldest," said Howard in a sad tone.
Seeing that Toby didn't know who Timothy was, Thomas then decided to tell Toby the story of Timothy and of his demise.
"And every year since then" said Thomas, "Timothy comes back to visit us on his anniversary".
"And tonight is his anniversary," said Lady.
Toby didn't know what to say at this, he then immediately knew that both he and Percy and just made a horrible mistake.
"Really I'm so sorry to hear that," said Toby.
"Are you okay Toby?" asked Burnett noticing the tone of Toby's voice.
"I'm fine Burnett really" said Toby, "I just need a bit air to get my head clear".
"Okay then" said Thomas, "just don't be too long. You'll like Timothy when he shows up".
"Off course I will" said Toby with a fake smile.
Quickly heading outside the sheds, Toby whipped out his mobile phone and tried to call Percy and tell him that the prank was off. But he didn't answer, Toby then remembered that Percy had turned his phone so that no one would ring when he was pulling the prank and so he reluctantly went back into the sheds.
A few minutes later, the Billinton's and Toby heard an engine approaching the sheds. The Billinton's, Lady and Burnett gave each other knowing looks, whilst Toby gave a look of guilt which they didn't see.
"Well, he's here," said Thomas.
Just then they heard a whistle as the engine stopped outside the sheds, the Billinton's looked confused.
"Wait that's not Timothy," said Tanya.
Outside Percy had just stopped his engine and hopped down from the cab and walked up to the shed doors.
"Peeeeeeeeeep! Peeeeeeeeeep! Pip-pip-pip, Peeeeeeeeeep" wailed Percy in a spooky tone of voice, "Let me in! Let me in!"
"What the?" asked Thomas in shock.
"I'll huff and I'll puff, and I'll break your door in" wailed Percy in a spooky voice.
Lucy had woken up and begun to cry as Lady held her closely. Just then the doors of the shed began to open, the Billinton's looked on in shock as a white figure entered the sheds.
"Thomas Billinton" Percy said in a spooky voice, "I've come to claim your soul".
Percy was then cut off as Thomas' foot collided with his crotch, he then went ridged for a moment.
"AAAAAAHHHHHH" Percy screamed in pain as he fell to the ground clutching his crotch in pain.
"What the?" said Thomas in shock, "Percy what on earth are you doing?".
"Trying to scare you" groaned Percy in pain as he lay on the ground, clutching his crotch.
"Scare me" said Thomas confused, "what on earth for?".
"I'll explain it" said Toby as he came over and helped Percy to get back on his feet.
Toby then explained about Percy's accident with the cart of lime, he also revealed that both he and Percy had decided to play a trick on Thomas for calling Percy "silly little engine" yesterday. Needless to say, when they had both explained everything The Billinton's, Lady and Burnett were all furious with them, Tanya even walked up to Percy and Toby, giving them both a hard slap on the face each.
"How could you two do something like that to us" she said with tears streaming down her face, "and on my dead son's anniversary of all things".
"Wait what?" asked Percy as he managed to stand back up.
"Oh you didn't know Percy" asked Thomas angrily, "tonight is Timothy's anniversary".
Thomas then explained to Percy about his older brother Timothy of his fatal accident. When he had finished, Percy was incredibly guilt ridden especially with Tanya now crying in Howard's arms.
"Oh my God Thomas I'm so sorry" said Percy with guilt written all over his face.
"Sorry" said Lady crossly, "sorry doesn't even cut it".
Just then everyone heard the sound of an engine's whistle, it was the same whistle that the signalman had heard earlier. The Billinton's looked outside the sheds with brief hopeful expressions on their faces, but then they remembered the trick that had just been played on them and turned to Percy and Toby with angry looks on their faces.
"Percy Avonside and Toby Holden" said Howard angrily, "I swear if this is another I'm going to".
"But we're not doing anything we swear" said Toby interrupting him.
"That's right," said Percy.
The two engine drivers then raised their hands to prove that they weren't playing another trick, the Billinton's saw that they didn't have anything in their hands.
"But if you two aren't doing anything" said Burnett, "then maybe you two got Bill and Ben involved in this".
Just then they all the sounds of an engine chuffing towards the shed. Sure, enough a tank engine appeared out of the mists and entered the sheds where it stopped. Percy and Toby saw that it was an E2 tank engine like Thomas, but it was painted silver, had shorter side tanks, and had a yellow number 0 painted on the side tanks. They also noticed that the engine was a bit battered and dented, they wondered who would have their engine in this condition.
Just then the engines driver then hopped down from the cab and walked up to the group. Percy and Toby saw that he was a young man in his early twenties and wore a silvery engine drivers' uniform. But most disturbingly, they noticed that he was transparent, meaning that he was ghost and a real one at that.
The ghostly figure then approached Percy and Toby who were both unable to speak. The ghostly figure looked at them with an unreadable expression on his face.
"Boo" the figure said softly.
"AAAHHH" Percy screamed so loudly that everyone thought that they were going to go deaf.
With a splintering crash, Percy then leapt through the shed windows and bolted screaming into the darkness. The ghostly figure then gave a satisfied sigh before turning to face Thomas, Lady, Howard, Tanya, Annie, Clarabel, and Burnett. Howard and Tanya then both approached the ghostly figure with longing looks on their faces.
"Timothy?" asked Tanya.
"Mom, Dad" said Timothy with his expression softening.
Timothy then threw his arms around his parents and hugged them tightly, Howard and Tanya did the same, showing how much they missed their eldest son. After breaking away Timothy then turned towards Thomas, Annie, and Clarabel.
"Timothy" said Thomas, Annie, and Clarabel together as their older brother hugged them".
After breaking away, Thomas then brought Lady and Lucy, who was still crying, forward to meet Timothy.
"Timothy" said Thomas gently, "meet your niece, Lucy Tasha Billinton".
Timothy then gently took Lucy from Lady and held her. Amazing Lucy stopped crying as Timothy then held her in his arms, Lady had been worried that Timothy might have dropped her due to him being a ghost and all. Luckily her worried faded away when she saw that Timothy held her just fine. Thomas then noticed that Toby was still there and decided to introduce his older brother to his "friend".
"Timothy" Thomas said to his older brother, "I'd like you to meet my friend Toby Holden".
Timothy walked up to Toby and shook his hand politely, the former had a smile on his face whilst the latter looked a little frightened.
"Pleased to meet you Toby" said Timothy.
"I-I-Its nice t-t-to meet y-y-you too Timothy" stammered Toby before he pretended to look at his watch, "oh dear look at the time it's getting late. Oh, I'd no idea, oh I must go pick up Henrietta".
Toby then left the sheds and headed for his car. The Billinton's, Lady and Burnett watched Toby drive off which amused looks on their faces.
"Hopefully this will teach the two of them never to play a trick like this again," said Howard.
"Here's hoping" replied Thomas.
The Billinton's, Lady and Burnett then headed back to the Billinton's house where they ordered Domino's and spent the entire night having fun, like watching some of their favourite shows and movies. This was because every year on Timothy's anniversary and Halloween, God would allow Timothy to go back to Earth and visit his family.
It was a merry night for the Billinton family, eventually though dawn began to break. The Billinton's then went back to the sheds where they would see Timothy off. Although they were sad that he had to leave they were happy at knowing that he was both in a better place and he'd visit them again next year.
"Another fun and happy night," said Timothy.
"That it was son" said Howard with a smile on his face.
"We wish you didn't have to go Timothy" said Annie sadly.
"Don't worry little sister" said Timothy as he ruffled her hair, "I'll be back next year".
This made Annie smile as it did Clarabel, Lucy made a pleading sound to Timothy as if to tell him she didn't want him to leave. Timothy however looked at his niece and gave her a tickle which made her giggle, smiling Timothy then turned to Burnett.
"As for you Burnett 'll be sure to give Tasha your love when I return to heaven," said Timothy.
"Thanks Timothy" said Burnett with a smile.
Giving one last smile at his family, Timothy hopped back onto his E2 and headed out of the sheds. The family watched as Timothy's E2 turned into golden light that floated up to the rising sun. This was always every emotional to them, although they knew that they would someday be reunited.
"What on Earth was that?" came a very familiar voice that broke the Billinton's from their trances.
They turned around to see Sir Topham Hatt, who had come to Ffarquhar to give Thomas, Lady, Percy, and Toby their jobs for the day, standing there with a shocked look on his face.
"I trust there's a story to this?" asked Sir Topham Hatt.
"I'm afraid that you won't believe it Sir" replied Thomas with a smile.
(Story Ends)
"And he still comes back to meet us every year on the date of his accident" said Thomas as he finished his story.
Percy and Toby both looked at Thomas with knowing looks. It had taken a month but eventually Thomas had forgiven them, they had also promised never to play a trick like that either on him or his family ever again.
"Hey would you look at that" said Howard.
Thomas, Percy, and Toby all looked outside the sitting room window to see that night had fallen. They could also see that several children and either their parents or older siblings were out trick or treating.
"Alright Lucy and Henrietta" said Thomas as he stood up, "it's time to go".
"Trick or treat," said Lucy happily.
"You said it Lucy" replied Henrietta.
Thomas, Lucy, Percy, Toby, Annie, Clarabel, and Henrietta then left the house to go trick or treating. Unbeknownst to them however, they didn't notice a ghostly figure watching them from across the road. The ghostly figure however meant them no harm and gave them a happy smile at seeing how much fun they were having. The ghostly figure then turned around and visit, but he would be back to visit his beloved family later.
And done. This chapter took me about a week to write and I must say I'm very happy with how it turned out. Anyway, please be so kind as to leave a preview and as always, see you all next time.