With Darla now feeling better, as well as having some therapy lessons with Miss Sunohara, she was now feeling like her old self again, her old self back before her 1950's accident. She didn't mind taking the goods trains whenever one engine wasn't available, and even lends a buffer when double-heading passenger trains. Braedey, Diana, Shadow, Madeline, Anna. and the others are very pleased to have Darla on the team.
Benjamin, meanwhile, he had been sitting in the sheds for a while. But fortunately, good news came his way: Mr. Franklin had managed to procure a second-hand Gardner 8-cylinder engine, which was cleaned and had been prepared for use. Once it was installed and ready to go, Benjamin now felt like a new locomotive, and he soon got to work shunting trucks, wagons, coaches, and he was actually very good at his shunting duties.
Over on Sodor, Braedey, Anna, Darla, and Shadow had been taking some excursion trains from their railway to Sodor, by special request from Sir Topham Hatt. They were confused as to what the occasion was, and yet, it seems nobody else on the island knows about what's going on.
At Knapford Station, the other engines have gathered up at the adjacent platforms and were wondering what was going on. Braedey and his fellow engines were all sitting on the adjacent tracks as well, all of them in confusion and curiosity as to what's going on. There was also a lot of photographers and cameras around at Platform 1, as well as a podium stand being set up.
Thomas steamed in from his branchline at Ffarquhar. "Hey. What's going on?" He asked.
"I don't know, Thomas. I've not seen anything like this before or for a while." Braedey answered back to him. "I've seen something like this back when the Josephine Railway first opened back in 1972. But if I had to guess on what's going on..."
"Possibly someone special is arriving here." Silver Link finished, reversing up alongside Gordon to take a local train. "Though, I've not seen so many photographers before. Last I saw of this was years ago in London."
"Whatever it might be, it's disturbing my timetable." Gordon fumed. He looked to the clock to see the time. "The express was to leave Platform 1 30 minutes ago."
"Gordon, the express was set back for a reason, and you know why." Edward lightly scolds him as he got his trucks to take to Brendam. "Sir Topham Hatt knows what he is doing. We should respect his ideas."
"And what might be the reason as to that?" Gordon raised an eyebrow at this.
Just then, a man in a black suit with a microphone in hand walked up the podium, the sound of the feedback from the microphone being heard for a short moment. As this happens, the faint sound of an approaching engine could be heard in the distance, Braedey and Thomas both hearing the sound as it's coming in fast.
"Ladies and Gentlemen. Boys and Girls. Locomotives of all shapes and size." The gentleman announced on the microphone. "Are you ready?" As some children cheer, the sound of a fast-approaching locomotive could be heard closing in fast to the station. "Diesels of the modern era, cower in fear..." Suddenly, a wall of steam erupts from out of nowhere, as the sound of some kind of engine pulled to a stop before the station with a hiss of its brakes.
"Mighty Thunderbolt is here!"
The steam clears to reveal the locomotive to everyone. The engine is an LNER P2 2-8-2 express locomotive. He has the form of the P2s, such as a V-shaped cab front, designed to give a better view forward, and fitted with Walschaerts valve gear, as is used on Gresley Pacifics, but with his external design modified to resemble the streamlined A4 Pacific with the valances removed, fitted with a corridor tender, which many A4s used for non-stop runs in LNER and British Railways service. He is painted in LNER apple green, along with his wheels. He has a red nameplate with the name 'Thunderbolt' painted on them in gold on the sides of his smokebox, the letters 'LNER' on his tender, along with the number 2007 on his cab and front buffer.
The locomotive, Thunderbolt, looked around at the station with a smile on his face, then he does two short bursts with his whistle, and a long one at the end that echoed like thunder. At once, the crowds and photographers now began to cheer loudly and taking the LNER P2's picture, the engines all looking in awe and curiosity about this new visitor.
"Amazing..." Thomas remarked.
"Definitely an eye catcher, he is." Anna added in.
"He's got style, and charisma." Darla included.
"Pah." James scoffed quietly. "What's so special about that big green lumbering locomotive?"
"Thomas, do you know who that is?" Braedey asked. "That is the last surviving LNER P2 locomotive in the whole world. He'd be just as famous, if not on par, with those like Mallard, Flying Scotsman, maybe even on the same level as the Big Boy." That got Thomas' curiosity. What did Braedey mean by 'Big Boy'?
"He is kinda like you, Thomas." Toby commented next. "Being the only one of his class left. Much like us all."
"Really?" Thomas asked in surprise.
Gordon huffed, but secretly, he was impressed. He had heard about the P2 Class from his brother, Flying Scotsman when he came to Sodor back in 1967 on a visit.
The P2 locomotives worked heavy express trains over the harsh Edinburgh to Aberdeen Line. As they were to serve on Scottish expresses, they were given famous names from Scottish lore. Only seven of them were built in 1934 and 1936, most of them getting the streamlining like the A4 Pacifics in '36. The other six engine were named 'Cock o' the North', 'Earl Marischal', 'Lord President', 'Mons Meg', 'Thane of Fife', and 'Wolf of Badenoch'. Sadly, all of them rebuilt into the failed Thompson A2/2 Class in 1943. After that, they were all withdrawn and scrapped between 1959 and 1961. So, for him to see a real-life and surviving P2 in prime condition like Thunderbolt, it's quite an honour.
"Thunderbolt. Welcome to the North Western Railway." Sir Topham Hatt greeted to the LNER P2 as he walked over to the streamlined locomotive. "We are pleased to have such a famous locomotive like yourself here in our railway. Hope your stay here will be most enjoyable."
"Much obliged, Sir Topham." Thunderbolt smiled back. "And I'll be happy to do whatever I can to assist your railway." With that, he does two short bursts with his whistle, and a long one at the end before departing the station, the others watching her go.
"Wow. He's rather fast." Darla commented in awe.
"And I thought myself and Gordon were fast engines." Anna added in.
"He seems rather full of himself." James huffed as he rolled his eyes. "I mean, really."
"Nah, he's just being enthusiastic, James." Shadow spoke up. "I mean, I would be the same way if I was him."
"I concur." Braedey agreed.
"We should carry on with our work." Edward now spoke to the others. "I'm sure we'll get our chance to talk to Thunderbolt later."
The others agreed with Edward, and they soon began to head off back to work, Anna and Shadow taking the fast express, Darla taking local stopping trains, and Braedey now taking goods to give himself a rest from passenger work. Just doing their part to help out their fellow Sudrian engines and the North Western Railway.
Later on in the day, as the sun was setting, the engines were back down at Tidmouth sheds, all of them resting up after a long day's work. Braedey, Darla, Anna, and Shadow were at the adjacent sheds to the others. As they settled down, they heard two blasts of a whistle, then a long third whistle that echoed like thunder. They look ahead, and they saw Thunderbolt steaming in as he came to a stop on the turntable, a hiss coming from his brakes.
"Good evening, engines." Thunderbolt greeted to them.
"Evening." The others acknowledged.
"Have to say, your railway is rather beautiful, and the rails are very smooth." Thunderbolt commented to them. "They're so much better and smoother than the rails back on the mainland and on British Rails."
"That, I can agree." Gordon agreed with him.
"You must be Gordon, the prototype A0 before the A3s and other Doncaster-drawn Pacific locomotives." Thunderbolt comments. "Your brother Flying Scotsman mentioned you when I spoke to him years ago."
"Yes." Gordon replied begrudgingly.
"Still, it'll be great to be taking actual passenger trains rather than just charter and tourist trains." Thunderbolt said as he looked at the others. "I've heard much about your railway thanks to those Railway Series books."
"I need to say this before you say more; some events from those books did and didn't happen." Edward pointed out next.
"Of course." Thunderbolt acknowledged.
"Why don't you tell us about yourself, Thunderbolt?" Braedey offered to the LNER P2. "I'm curious of your backstory."
"Same here." Thomas added in.
"I concur." Edward agreed.
Thunderbolt was originally built in 1937, at the same time as A4 Pacific 'Union of South Africa' was being built, so the two of them sort-of share a brother-sister relationship. In fact; Thunderbolt got his name when he inadvertently gave chief designer Sir Nigel Gresley a surprise from his whistle so he'd be heard, and Nigel commented he was like a clap of thunder from out of nowhere. So, Gresley decided to name the P2 engine 'Thunderbolt'. The other engines also commented Thunderbolt is a very good name, and he got along with his fellow engines. Being an express locomotive, Thunderbolt worked out of Edinburgh and Aberdeen, reaching speeds of around 60-70mph, and he's able to handle 260-tonne express trains with little to no issue. He also served the express runs between Kings Cross and Grantham, working on alongside fellow A4 Pacific engines, as well as other tank engines, even getting along with engines from the LMS, GWR, and the Southern Railway. Thunderbolt also seems to get some popularity among enthusiasts, especially since he got lucky to not be rebuilt into a Thompson Class A2/2, which was the unfortunate fate of the other LNER P2 engines. During the years of 1943-1945, Edward Thompson, successor of the LNER after Sir Nigel Gresley, proposed Thunderbolt should also be rebuilt into a Class A2/2, but the idea derailed when workers took a stand, not wanting Thunderbolt to not be tainted by the horrors of the Thompson Class and their unreliability. Thunderbolt remained in his P2 guise, plus he kept his green and black LNER livery.
In 1963, Thunderbolt moved to Scotland, and was used on express services between Aberdeen and Glasgow, alongside with fellow A4 Pacific 'Sir Nigel Gresley'. The two worked hard with their trains over a number of months and years, the blue A4 being saved from scrap by the A4 Preservation Society. As for Thunderbolt, he ended up in the hands of a private buyer. Thunderbolt soon gained celebrity status when he travelled from the south to the north of the U.K in just over 40 hours, on top of being the last surviving LNER P2 locomotive. He even got a world record for being a steam locomotive reaching 100mph in modern times. After that, he got status of being such a unique engine because of his exclusivity, arriving in the National Railway Museum in York to show off among the other LNER engines and others during the 80's and 90's, even taking some excursion trains now and then. Thunderbolt became one of the iconic of steam engines alongside both Flying Scotsman and Mallard, as well as many others.
"You've definitely become an icon for the LNER." Henry commented finally in surprise. "I guess those among British Railways weren't too fond of you."
"Oh, you have no idea." Thunderbolt rolled his eyes. "Some of the higher-ups thought of myself being just a waste of money, and that the days of steam are done. But the enthusiasts and workers that have helped me stay in steam say otherwise."
"We have a multitude of enthusiasts who are like that too." James commented. "They want to see us in our prime state without any modifications."
"Last time we got modified, it was with defective parts to try and deter someone from buying us." Anna now said to the others, which was curious for them to hear.
"Definitely." Braedey sighed, remembering that event.
"That is interesting." Edward commented.
"Aye. I've heard that one before." Thunderbolt added in.
Eventually, after a night of talking and getting to know one another, all the engines soon fell asleep, all of them looking calm and comfortable. Thunderbolt, on the other hand, was wide awake. He looked around at the slumbering engines, and decided to do something for them. Without anyone hearing, he chuffs out of the sheds towards the shunting yards...
The next morning, Gordon and Thomas woke up and were getting ready to go, along with the other engines. But as they made their way down to Knapford Station, they saw the coaches for the first trains have already been set up to their allocated platforms.
"What in the..." Thomas muttered. He definitely knows he did not do this last night.
"How did this happen?" Gordon wondered in confusion. "Who set up our coaches?"
Edward steamed in with Anna and Darla alongside. "What is this?"
"This is rather surprising." Sir Topham added in, now walking up. "Does anyone know who got the first trains set up?"
"We don't know, sir." Thomas admitted. "We were all fast asleep last night, and we just got fired up."
Just then, Thunderbolt steamed into view and came to a stop nearby the platform. "I was the one who had set up the coaches." The other engines were surprised by this. Thunderbolt did all this for them? "I just thought I could help you all out with arranging your first trains of the day." He added.
Sir Topham was surprised, then he composed himself. "I see. Well, we thank you, Thunderbolt. Now, I would like you to take the Wild Nor' Wester. Can you take the train as far as Vicarstown? Another engine will-"
"Sir. With all due respect, I appreciate what you are doing, but I will take the Wild Nor' Wester as far as Barrow-in-Furness." Thunderbolt countered back to Sir Topham. "I can handle it with no issue."
"Very well, Thunderbolt. As you were." Sir Topham tipped his hat, then turned to the others. "Gordon, you will take your regular express to Vicarstown. Thomas, your branchline. Edward, off to Wellsworth. Anna, you and Darla will double-head a goods train to Brendam."
"Yes, sir." Anna and Darla acknowledged in unison, and the two female engines go off to collects the goods.
As Gordon got himself coupled up to the coaches to his express, Thunderbolt backed down onto his coaches for the Wild Nor' Wester. Gordon whistled as he soon left down the mainline with his express. As Thunderbolt waited for the off, photographers were now taking his picture and even setting up to prepare recording the departure. Thomas was by the platform, along with Braedey with a stopping local alongside. They were watching over to see the LNER P2 take off.
Sure enough, at 8 o' clock on the dot, it was time for the Wild Nor' Wester to go. The guard blew his whistle, just as the passenger doors on the coaches closed. Thunderbolt blows two short bursts from his whistle, and a long one at the end, and he steamed forward out of the station. The cavalcade rolled carefully over the rails, as he heads down onto the Mainline, everyone watching him go.
"Now time for a sprint." Thunderbolt said aloud, and he charged on ahead, blasting his whistle loudly as he does so. "Mighty Thunderbolt is here!"
"There he goes." Thomas commented, then he goes on with his train bound for Ffarquhar.
Braedey smiled at the departure of LNER P2 engine, then he gets on his way with his train. But as he does so, unbeknown to him or the others, a certain diesel was watching on with narrowed eyes and disgust...
Soon enough, Thunderbolt was whizzing down the mainline, soon reaching 70-90MPH on the Mainline, and showing no signs of stopping at all. Fortunately for the LNER P2, his valve gear was built in a fashion to let him go faster, and he loved the feeling of the wind racing around his funnel and wheels. Thunderbolt raced on through Crosby, and he carried on through Wellsworth station, passing both Edward and his stopping train, and Toby on the other side of the line with his coach Henrietta, to their surprise. Next, Thunderbolt charged up Gordon's Hill with all his might. He did feel the heavy drag of the express coaches here but he managed to handle it with little to no effort. Thunderbolt's wheels whirred as fast as they can, as his pistons pumped harder than before. But, as he now crests the hill, he glides down the other side of the hill, and heads off through Maron Station and goes on down towards Crovan's Gate Station.
At Crovan's Gate Station, Gordon was waiting to depart from the station with the express. James chuffs away with his regular stopping train, as Percy left with some goods for Thomas's Branch Line. Also, Bertie the bus drove by with his passengers to head off to work. As they left, the sound of a fast-approaching engine could be heard, Thunderbolt and the Wild Nor' Wester suddenly rocketing through the station on the middle line, Gordon watching in shock.
"Steaming pistons..." Was all Gordon could comment at the sight of the LNER P2 racing by. "That was fast..."
Thunderbolt couldn't help but marvel at the sights around him, as he chuffed his way along, passing by the lush and green trees and fields, all the while seeing farmers tending to their field and livestock. He and the Wild Nor' Wester carried on over the stone viaduct, going through Cronk Station, and he raced along, passing on by Kildane Station. He kept the speed up at 60-70mph, and he goes through the stations of Balladrine, Kellaby, and Kellsthrope Road, and he charged on through Ballahoo. Eventually, Thunderbolt and the Wild Nor' Wester arrived at Vicarstown Station about five minutes ahead of schedule. As he pulled into the platform, he blew two short bursts from his whistle, and a long one at the end, announcing his arrival. The photographers and others alike were soon taking his pictures again. A little later, the passengers board the train once again, and Thunderbolt heads off on his way forth to Barrow-in-Furness.
Later, Thunderbolt had made his way back to Knapford Station with the returning Wild Nor' Wester from the mainland. Once he arrives at the station platform, he was uncoupled from the coaches, and he made his way to get his tender and boiler reloaded and refilled. After that, Thunderbolt made his way back towards the station, pulling into a siding to take a break and cool.
'Ahh... A bit of piece and quiet, away from work and away from the cameras.' Thunderbolt thought. But as he does so, he can hear the rumble of an engine, now making him open his eyes, and he saw Diesel rolling up towards him. 'Never mind. Here comes a bad element.'
"So, you are the famous engine everyone's talking about." Thunderbolt looked over to Diesel roll up with a smirk on his face. "I cannot see what the appeal of you is at all. Why would people look at an old and useless steam kettle rather than a modern diesel like me?"
"You? Modern?" Thunderbolt scoffed. "Don't make me laugh. You're over 60 years old. On top of that, your class of engine ended production in '62. In fact, you're not even top-notch at all, and not modern at all."
Diesel frowned. "You just won't accept that your time will come to an end, you old steamie. You and all the others will soon be on the scrap-"
"Enough." The two engines look over to see Braedey steam up with a stern expression on his face. "Diesel. You are to leave the yard and work at the scrapyards. Orders from Sir Topham Hatt, and you must leave now."
Diesel grunted in frustration, then he rolled away out of the yards in frustration, a grumble under his breath and a cloud of smoke from his engine as he rolled away. Braedey and Thunderbolt watched them on, their eyes narrowed as the BR Class 08 shunter left.
"Sorry about him. He's nothing but a bad apple here on Sodor." Braedey apologised to Thunderbolt. "He's all nothing but trouble, thinking he's more superior than all steam engine. Hard to try and understand why Sir Topham still keeps him around."
"I understand that. I've met my fair share of unfriendly diesels that see us steam locomotives as slow and useless." Thunderbolt reassured him. "By the way, why did you turn up here?" He asked.
"I've been asked to tell you if you can take another passenger train from Brendam to Knapford." Braedey now asked to Thunderbolt. "I cannot make the journey myself since I've got to double-head a freight train with Darla in a few minutes."
"Right. I'll get on it." Thunderbolt acknowledged back, and with two blasts of his whistle, he left Knapford for Brendam.
Thunderbolt arrived at Brendam Docks right on time, and he saw the amount of goods and freight now being moved about the dockyards, whether being loaded off the ships into the trains or vice versa. It did remind him of the docks of Brighton, Liverpool, Harwich-Parkeston Quay, Immingham, as well as Middlesbrough.
"This is quite the operation." Thunderbolt commented as he looked around, puffing along at pace. He soon found some coaches in a siding, and deduced they are the ones to use. "Time to get the job done." He said.
Thunderbolt collected the coaches, making his way to the station for the passengers to board. As he waited for the passengers to board, Thunderbolt took notice of some box vans sitting in a siding. He asked to one workman where the vans are going, and the workman stated they're going to Knapford to be part of Peter's heavy goods to Barrow-in-Furness. Thunderbolt then had the idea of putting the box vans up ahead of his coaches, making a mixed passenger/goods train, so two trips can be done. Once the passengers were now all onboard, Thunderbolt made his way out of Brendam and onto Edward's branchline. As he goes along, Thunderbolt had to curtail his speed because of the box vans not being built to go very fast. Thunderbolt eventually arrived at Knapford, pulling the coaches to the platform, then he got the trucks into the sidings, and after that, he goes to take his next train.
After that day of productivity, Thunderbolt arrived at the sheds with the other engines, just as the engines of the Josephine Railway also arrived there. They all start to settle in for the evening, just as Sir Topham Hatt now drove up.
Sir Topham walked over to Thunderbolt. "I have to say, you have exceeded my expectations, Thunderbolt. So, after some negotiations with your owners, I've decided you and Gordon can take a charter train tomorrow to Vicarstown and back. No doubt people will want to see two Doncaster-drawn LNER steam locomotives taking a charter train across Sodor."
"Of course, sir." Thunderbolt answered back. "I'd be honoured to take such a train alongside Gordon."
"Yes, indeed." Gordon couldn't agree more.
"Braedey, I'd like you to take a photographer's train to follow Thunderbolt and Gordon." Sir Topham added next.
"Yes, sir." Braedey acknowledged.
"Darla, Anna, and Shadow. I've received word from Mr. Franklin that he wants you three back on the Josephine Railway by tomorrow." Sir Topham stated to the three J.R locomotives.
"We understand, sir. But we all thank you and your engines very much for your hospitality." Shadow thanks to Sir Topham.
"Yes. Thank you." Darla added in gratitude.
"Hope to see you off as well, Thunderbolt." Anna added in to the LNER P2.
"As always, my dear." Thunderbolt smiled back.
As the engines talked amongst themselves while Sir Topham left for home, Diesel was slinking around in the yards, and had overheard the conversation between the engines and Sir Topham. He narrowed his eyes at Thunderbolt as he chatted with the others, all the while with his charming smile. Diesel scowled at this, as well as hearing Thunderbolt and Gordon were to take a special charter train.
'Why did Sir Topham have those two useless engines take that chatter train?' Diesel scoffed mentally. 'They aren't anything special. Why can't a diesel take that special train?' Then, an idea struck the BR Class 08 shunter. He smirked deviously at his idea, as he slinks away into the darkness.
However, unbeknown to him, Shadow had heard the rumbling of Diesel's engine, his eyes tracking his very movements, watching the shunter diesel roll away from the sheds through the yards.
"He's up to something. No doubt he overheard what's going on tomorrow." Shadow muttered to himself before he too fell asleep...
The next morning, Thunderbolt made his way over to Knapford Station to collect the coaches for the charter train. Thomas got the coaches ready, and Thunderbolt soon sat on the opposite platform, waiting for Gordon to arrive so they could take the train.
A few minutes go by, but there was no sign of Gordon. This did give some concern for Thunderbolt regarding where the blue locomotive might be. A stationmaster soon ran up to both Sir Topham and Thunderbolt with bad news: Gordon had taken on some contaminated water from the water tower outside the sheds. Gordon won't be able to take the charter train for today.
"That's some bad luck to start the day." Thunderbolt muttered once he heard the news. "Now what do we do? My train may be too heavy for just me to take on my own." He asked to Sir Topham.
Diesel rolled up to the station on the other side with a sly smirk on his face. "Why don't you let a modern-day diesel take the train instead?" He offered with an oily tone of voice. "I'm sure the passengers would really appreciate having a smart and modern-"
Diesel was cut off when two whistles echo out nearby. Everyone now looked to see Braedey roll in with a single coach coupled behind him for the photographers as Silver Link now arrived on scene, backing down onto the charter train.
"Sir Topham. I've talked to Silver Link, and he'd like to take the charter train with Thunderbolt." Braedey now explained. "I think it be great: two iconic streamlined steam locomotives speeding across Sodor's railway."
"An excellent idea, Braedey." Sir Topham acknowledges back, then looked to Silver Link. "Thank you so much, Silver Link, for coming to our aid in such short notice."
"Of course, sir." Silver Link smiled, as Thunderbolt now reversed up and coupled to his front. "Ready for the off now!" He called.
"Shall we?" Thunderbolt declared. "Let's make it count!"
"And sir, there's more to tell you..." Braedey muttered, Sir Topham looking to the crimson GWR locomotive.
Silver Link blows his whistle for a second to announce departure, then Thunderbolt does two short bursts with his whistle, and a long one at the end. With that, the two streamlined locomotives steamed out of Knapford at speed, Braedey following on with the camera coach behind him.
Diesel, meanwhile, was utterly enraged. His plan to sabotage the charter train backfired. He didn't realise that Thunderbolt didn't need to top up on water this morning since he topped up last night in preparation. He was really hoping either himself or another diesel could take the train, but that's all gone up in smoke. He then noticed Sir Topham standing nearby, so he tried to slink away but got caught by the gaze of the controller, as well as Braedey's sharpened and darkened glare.
"Oh, crumbs..." Diesel muttered.
Thunderbolt and Silver Link charged along at speed, their pistons pumping like mad as their wheels pound the rails along the way. Photographers that were by the rails managed to capture some good pictures, while others onboard Braedey's photography train got some good snapshots along, while the crimson GWR engine tried to keep up with Thunderbolt and Silver Link. But even he had to stop at a station while the charter train kept on going. Braedey just whistled out for them to keep going, Thunderbolt and Silver Link doing just that.
"Not bad for an old A4 Pacific, eh?" Thunderbolt called in compliment to Silver Link.
"You're not doing so bad yourself, big guy." Silver Link added on next. "Let's make this journey count."
Eventually, Thunderbolt and Silver Link both arrive at Vicarstown Station, and to the surprise of the foreign diesel that's at the other platform, they arrived about ten minutes ahead of schedule, and not out of breath. The diesel looked at the two steam engines in surprise, even complimenting them on their performance.
The silver LNER A4 and green P2 engines smiled broadly as photographers now took their pictures, even as the two left the station to get ready for a return trip.
Later that afternoon, Gordon was repaired and felt better after having the dirty water in his boiler cleaned out. He got word from Silver Link about the charter train he and Thunderbolt took, and the blue LNER A0 was taken aback from the sheer speed they took and the time they took from Knapford to Vicarstown.
"I have to say, Silver Link, you have done rather well." Gordon commented to him, then looked to Thunderbolt, the streamlined LNER P2 now having his mechanics look him over. "Thunderbolt, congratulations on your journey today, and great work on the train."
"Thank you, Gordon." Thunderbolt thanked.
"Truly a performance worthy of a Doncaster-drawn engine." Gordon added. "Sir Nigel Gresley would be proud of you, as well as your siblings and relatives."
"I agree with Gordon." Edward piped up. "You will have made your siblings very proud, as well as your own controller."
"But sir. What about Diesel?" Braedey now asked.
"Oh, don't worry, Braedey." Shadow spoke up, since he was the one who saw Diesel contaminate the water tower last night, and without the shunter diesel even knowing. "Sir Topham's dealt with Diesel, and he's put him in charge of taking scrap and garbage, far away from any of us. It's what that he deserves."
"Braedey, aren't you and Shadow meant to return back to your railway today?" Percy now asked innocently.
"Oh, I stayed behind to report Diesel. I'll head back tonight." Shadow clarified to the little green engine.
"I'll go back tomorrow morning." Braedey added in.
"Unfortunately, tomorrow is also my last day here on Sodor." Thunderbolt now announced to everyone, all of the engines looking to him with crestfallen expressions. "Yes, I know it's saddening that I have to leave, but my owner can only do so much, and he told Sir Topham, who told me after I got back, that I have to go home."
"Well, if I can speak up for everyone, we were happy to have you here, Thunderbolt." Thomas spoke up on behalf of everyone. "Hope we get to see you again in the future."
Thunderbolt smiled broadly. "Thank you, Thomas. And thank you, everyone of the North Western Railway." He then steams out onto the turntable for everyone to see. "Now remember this: diesels of the modern era, cringe in fear. Mighty Thunderbolt is here!" He declared.
The engines at Tidmouth Sheds plus Thunderbolt all blew two short bursts with all their whistles, and a long blast at the end that echoed like thunder. Their chorus of whistles echoed all across Sodor, everyone on the island, whether they are human, steam engine, diesel locomotive, or even road vehicle, all heard this sound, and they looked to the skies above, all looking on.
The next day, Shadow and Braedey left Sodor ahead of Thunderbolt, the two saying they might come back to the island one day, if Mr. Franklin allowed them to. But, their railway home needed them, and they need to help their friends and family. One day, they'll come back.
After them, Thunderbolt soon left the island with his special train, and with his signature whistle, he raced off the island as the engines whistled and cheered him on, the LNER P2 racing off back to the mainland. He is off at speed down the line, and I'd anyone blinked, all they would see was just a blur of green and a whoosh of steam as the streamlined locomotive charged away.
Nobody's gonna stop this Mighty Thunderbolt now.