With the news of Darla the Tangiawi Engine coming to the U.K from New Zealand, all of the engines of the Josephine Railway were getting excited for when Darla arrives on their railway. Still, they have a railway to run, so they are more than focused on their work.
Belle, Jane, Kieron, Austin, and Max handled the shunting and light trains around the railway. Jonson, Shadow, and Madeline got the heavy goods traffic, and Braedey, Diana, Charlotte, Anna, and Ella handled the passenger services. Fortunately, the engines all juggled about with their work accordingly, and they all were able to handle everything.
On an early morning, the engines were getting prepped and ready for their day at work. As they were soon fired up, they could see Mr. Franklin driving up. But as he got out of the car to greet the engines, he looks to have an expression of uncertainty and concern.
"Mr. Franklin, good morning. You look glum." Jonson greeted.
"Everyone, I know you all are excited about the arrival of Darla from New Zealand, but unfortunately, we have gotten a lot of heavy goods to contend with thanks to an influx of ships due to Brendam Docks on Sodor undergoing restoration and repairs." Mr. Franklin began to explain to his engines. "So, with much reluctance, I've no choice but to bring in two diesel shunters from Sodor to assist us. However, these two aren't exactly... the best of engines." He added in hesitantly.
"Sir, how long will the repairs at Brendam go for?" Jane now asked.
"Not sure for how long, but we'll just have to wait for when they're complete." Mr. Franklin answered back. "Best guess, maybe about about a week or more. I'll get work from Sir Topham when it happens." With that, he turns on his heel and walked off to his office.
"Just perfect." Shadow sighed.
"Braedey, do you know who these shunters might be?" Diana now asked to the crimson locomotive.
"If I had to guess, especially since there's only two diesel shunters that work together all the time..." Braedey said to them with concern. "It can no doubt be that of 'Arry and Bert." He finished ominously.
"Hate those clowns." Kieron muttered.
"You and me both." Jane agreed.
"Prideful fools." Shadow grunted as well.
"Total scrap jockeys." Austin included.
The other engines have been told by the Sodor engines about these two diesels. They are BR Class 08 diesel-electric shunters, who work at the smelters and scrapyards of the Sodor Ironworks. 'Arry and Bert are questionably devious and scheming. They feel superior to steam engines and working at the scrapyards, they enjoy the chance to break up engines or at least make their lives more difficult. Due to their grim task, they have earned a reputation on Sodor as "The Grim Messengers of Doom". They also have a tendency to act scheming, slimy, greasy and oozy, playing tricks and coming up with schemes to make the steam engines' lives miserable and more difficult.
Sure enough, later that morning, the toots of two diesel shunters could be heard approaching, the engines all standing firm, just as 'Arry and Bert rolled into view, the former leading ahead of the latter.
Both diesels are painted green-grey with yellow cabs and yellow hazard stripes on their fronts. They have their company's name 'Sodor Ironworks' painted on their sides in white. 'Arry also has more of a stubble around his chin than Bert does.
"Well, well, well." 'Arry spoke first with a sly smirk. "Look who we have here, Bert. A bunch of steamies who won't kick the bucket."
"Talk like that again, and it'll be the last thing you ever do on these rails." Jonson threatened.
"He's right." Liliana added.
"Like we're scared of you lazy old kettles." Bert mocked.
"You should be." Anna huffed, steaming into view. The size of her form gave 'Arry and Bert a moment to pause but they still smirked to one another.
"Well, we are here to do your work at the docks. Seems like there is too much work for you steamies." 'Arry now said.
"You want to start something?!" Kieron fumed.
"What you gonna do, slow and useless?" Bert challenged.
"You keep going on with the insults, you're gonna end up turning into immobile generators faster than you could even blink!" Diana threatened the two, the two shunter diesels looking at her.
"Alright, that's enough." A yard manager stepped in to cut off everyone. He looked to 'Arry and Bert. "You two sent here? You're needed down at the docks at once. There's some heavy goods to be shunted onto both Shadow and Jonson's trains." He said to them.
"Why not let us take the trains to Barrow-in-Furness?" Bert suggested, wanting to make him and 'Arry look better than the steamies. "We can do it much better than-"
"No. By orders of Mr. Franklin, you two are not to leave the docks, and only shunt the trains ready for the other engines to take away." The yard manager ordered in a very stern tone. "He does not want you causing any trouble while you're here."
The two diesel shunters both looked annoyed at this, then they began to leave the yards for the docks. The steam engines all just watched them go, knowing they are gonna have some trouble with those twins. So, to be sure that both diesels won't cause issues, Kieron, Austin, and Max were allocated to the docks to make sure 'Arry and Bert didn't do anything.
At the docks, 'Arry and Bert were doing the shunting of the trains they've been told to do, but they both would switch out the trains to mix them up. In response, Max and Austin would have to fix things up to make sure Shadow, Jonson, and the others collected the right trucks and goods before they got into trouble. Both the shunter diesels weren't too pleased to see their tricks not working, taking note that the J.R engines weren't so gullible, and began to spat out insults at them, only to get them aggravated and frustrated with them. The tank engines had to deal with 'Arry and Bert's pathetic attempts of sabotage for the rest of the day, on top of their regular work, just to keep everything in order.
It was gonna be a long week or so for everyone.
About three days later one evening, while 'Arry and Bert were asleep in the good sheds at the docks, the J.R engines were all having an indignation meeting around the turntable.
"Of all the engines Mr. Franklin had loaned to come here..." Austin grumbled. "It had to be those two pieces of useless work."
"Honestly, we've done so well with the goods, we don't need them." Shadow added in.
"Disgraceful." Braedey huffed.
"Disgusting!" Liliana shrieked.
"Despicable." Charlotte spluttered.
"Detestable!" Jonson added.
"Dishonourable." Kieron included.
"Deplorable." Max now stated, everyone looking over to him. "What? What did I say?" He questioned.
"But we all know that we have to try and get the work done without those two horrid diesels causing issues." Shadow now spoke up to the others.
"They always try to make things worse for us steamies, just to make themselves feel better than us." Diana sighed, having heard the stories from the engines of the NWR. "Honestly, don't they realise that the more issues they cause, the more money their company loses?"
"Guess they don't care about that and just care about being better than any steam engine in existence." Kieron muttered in exasperation. "I mean, who do they think they are?"
"Okay, everyone. Settle down." Braedey steamed into view up onto the turntable, getting the attention of the other engines. "You all sound like you're about to go off into a riot."
"Where have you been, Braedey?" Anna asked.
Braedey got himself turned around on the turntable and backed into his berth. "I've had to take the last train to Barrow-in-Furness, then take the suburban service down to Vicarstown when the diesel that was taking it broke down."
"Useless diesels." Max rolled his eyes.
"I understand what you're feeling right now regarding 'Arry and Bert, but we have to deal with them for now until they leave." Braedey said to them.
"I'd say we push them off the docks." Jonson suggests.
"Let's send them off to scrap." Liliana offered next.
"Bash them!" Austin included.
"Crash them!" Jane added.
"Tear them in two!" Anna announced.
"Stop!" Braedey blew his whistle loudly, everyone now stopping. The silence after that was deafening. "Yes. I agree with all of you about this: 'Arry and Bert are two of the worst diesels we know of. But unless the rebuild and construction efforts at Brendam Docks are done by tomorrow and all ships head back to Sodor, we need them to assist us with the heavy goods."
"We can handle all of that, Braedey." Austin now said.
"No, Austin. We've got passengers, coal, goods, and express duties to take care of, and not all of us can just drop everything and handle all of the goods from the docks." Braedey interjects back to the green boxy tank engine. "Like it or not, we'll just have to tolerate them."
As the other engines began to fall asleep, Austin, Max, Jane, Kieron, and Liliana began to plot and plan about what they can do to pay out the two diesels. They soon began to whisper about one another, a plan soon to set in motion.
The next morning, before the sun began to rise on the horizon, the tank engines immediately got fired up and they head on forth to the docks to get trucks and the trains prepared and ready before 'Arry and Bert could even leave their sheds. They got the trains all set up in just about an hour, and they all didn't skip a beat when ships arrived to drop off their cargo or collect it. When either Shadow, Charlotte, Jonson, or even Braedey arrived to collect their goods trains, they were in awe of how hard they worked around the docks, and it was all done before 'Arry and Bert were even woken up to get fired up.
By the time both diesel shunters have gotten fired up and soon arrived at the docks, they were shocked to see almost all the work around the docks were done by the steam engines, and were all done.
'Arry and Bert were both annoyed that their work had been taken. "You stole our jobs from us, you useless steamies."
"Actually, we did your work and did it faster than you." Max interjected.
"Oh, do you think you're so smart?" Bert argued.
"We can manage these yards without you. That's it." Austin spoke back firmly. "We don't need you lousy old generators on wheels."
"Well, why don't we settle a wager?" 'Arry suggests to them. "This week, we will work around the docks and see who can do the best with shunting and arranging trains. If we win, you all will be sent to be scrapped."
"That's a load of cinders and ashes!" Jane snapped. "Mr. Franklin would never scrap us!"
"And if we win, you two will leave our railway, and never come back." Austin stated back firmly.
"Fine." 'Arry answered back.
With that set, the two types of locomotives head forth to go and settle their bets, and to prove to one another that one is better than the other. As this was going on, unbeknown to the engines, Mr. Franklin was watching on in amusement as well as concern.
So, throughout the next few days, both shunter diesels and the Josephine Railway tank engines were going on about the shunting yards and the docks, all of them going about faster than they've ever gone, both sides trying to outdo the other. However, in Austin's eyes, it was time to make his move against both 'Arry and Bert.
One morning, Austin made his way into the yards to play a trick on both the shunter diesels. He snuck over to the trucks, him remembering Diesel had pulled a trick on the trucks years ago. So, he then thought what comes around goes around.
Austin stopped over by some trucks. "I hear that you trucks all like any jokes. You once made a good joke one day. I laughed and laughed." He said to them with a whisper. "But I heard this from 'Arry and Bert when they were talking about you. I'll whisper it... Don't tell them I told you."
The trucks, all of them having heard what Austin said to them before he left, were now all agitated and ready to pay them out. "Those useless generators on wheels! They think they can biff and bash us?! They think they're better than us?! Let's pay 'em out!"
So, whenever the shunter diesels would try and move the trucks, they were surprised that the trucks were all fighting back against both 'Arry and Bert. However, whenever the steamies would collect them, the trucks were all well-behaved and respected them. In both the diesel's eyes, it just didn't make sense. They thought they were the only ones that can handle trucks. So, the two began to try and work their hardest, but the trucks would give them what for; either jamming their brakes, bashing either 'Arry or Bert whenever they can, even getting one another stuck while the steam engines go by. It was rather embarrassing for the two diesels, and they both tried to do better than the J.R engines, but to no avail. Eventually, the strain and attempts of working were all too much for both 'Arry and Bert, and their engines broke down, the two diesel shunters coming to a halt with smoke erupting from his sides. They were broken and won't be able to function at all anymore.
The trucks all laughed in amusement as they look on of what just happened. The other engines nearby also laughed at the two diesels, both of them looking sad and broken. It was all over now.
Later, 'Arry and Bert have been loaded up onto a set of well-wagons, both chained down and to be taken away back to Sodor. As they sat there awaiting departure, they both saw Mr. Franklin now walking up with a stern expression on his face. Even his family was there, and they too were not happy with the two shunters.
"I've heard of how disrespectful you both have been to my engines, and on top of that, you both break down." Mr. Franklin states firmly to the two diesels. "You both have failed to perform your duties, and on top of that, you thought you could outperform my engines, even proclaiming that I would scrap them." He gave a sharp glare at 'Arry and Bert. "I would do NOTHING of the sort with my engines. They are part of my family, and that will not change."
"You two will leave this railway and go back to Sodor, and you all will never come back." Caitlyn stated next.
'Arry and Bert just sat there in silence, just as Shadow puffed up and buffered up to the goods train the two diesels were coupled up to. With nothing else to say, the blue LNER V4 locomotive puffed away to take the goods train to Barrow-in-Furness, everyone watching the two diesels go.
Mr. Franklin now turned to his tank engines. "Now, I've heard about your bet with 'Arry and Bert, and it seems you all have beaten them. However, Austin..." He looked to the boxy green tank engine. "I've talked to some of the trucks and asked them about a certain engine that has been spreading rumours-"
Austin was taken aback. "S-Sir, I was just trying to pay those two out-"
"It's alright, Austin. As long as it remains an isolated incident, we won't speak of it again." Mr. Franklin winks to Austin, the latter smirking in understanding. "Now, I understand that all of you have been working your hardest as of recently, but I know you need some help." Mr. Franklin said to the other engines.
"Sir, with all due respect, we all can't be everywhere at once." Liliana now spoke up.
"She's right. We've had to do our own jobs, on top of shunting here." Jane agreed. "It's been taking a toll on us."
"Good thing you won't be doing this for long. I've made some arrangements over the week, and have been able to purchase a new shunter diesel to help us out." Mr. Franklin now informed to them, to their surprise.
"His name is Benjamin, a BR Class 04 shunter. When he arrives, please make him feel welcome." Caitlyn said to the other engines. With that, she and her family left to allow the engines to head off back to work or to get to the sheds.
After hearing the news, Kieron, Jane, Liliana, Austin, and Max informed to the other engines about the news of Benjamin and his arrival, along with 'Arry and Bert's departure. The others were relived to be free from both the shunter diesels, but they were all excited, not just for Darla's arrival, but also for Benjamin's.