Now with Raleigh, the Train from Bloemfontein, now on Sodor with the Mainline fleet, the workload seemed to lower in a matter of days, much to the surprise to that of everyone else. Peter, Henry, Boco, Bear, Murdoch, Belinda, even James and Edward, along with the other engines, they all were impressed by Raleigh's performance and his work ethic, especially with his friendly attitude and his actions.
Raleigh was just happy to be working under his own steam once again and working on a new home.
One early morning, Braedey was down over at the shunting yards at Barrow-In-Furness to get some trucks and coaches ready for not just his railway but also the NWR. It was a quiet morning so far; the only kind of activity that happened earlier was Henry arriving with the Flying Kipper train. After the green 'Black Five' had left the yards to Sodor, nothing else had happened.
'Seems everything is in order now.' Braedey thought to himself, finally sitting by a water tower to top up his water tank in his tender. 'Nice to enjoy these mornings, especially when it's quiet and calm.'
As he settled down, he thought he can hear the sound of loud chugging. It was definitely of a large engine, but it sounds like there's two engines, and they were at speed. Braedey listened carefully, but as he did so, all he saw was a flash of red and a cloud of steam that clouded his vision, making him cough and splutter. As the steam cleared up, there was no sign of anyone.
"What in the name of Gresley was that?" Braedey coughed out. He didn't even know what the engine was but it was definitely loud and powerful.
"I don't know, old boy. But whatever it was, it must've been something really big." Braedey's driver answered back.
"Yeah." Braedey comments as he looked down the line of where the engine had gone down to. "I wonder..." Once his water tank had been topped up, the crimson locomotive puffs off to Sodor with a mixed goods train.
Meanwhile, down over at Crovan's Gate, the engines on the Skarloey Railway were getting ready for their day of work. But as they do so, they could hear the sound of a large steam engine coming their way from down the line. As they sat there and listened, a wall of red and cloud of steam rockets past with a deep whistle, blinding the little engines.
"Good lord! What was that?" Sir Handel spoke out.
"I don't know, but whatever that was, it was big and fast." Skarloey commented once the smoke cleared up. "And it's gone..."
"Well, whatever that thing was, I don't want that thing to spook me again." Duncan grunted, the others lightly snickering with one another.
A little later further down at Elsbridge Station, Gordon was now currently waiting at the platform with the express, and Thomas had also arrived at the platform from the Ffarquhar Branch with Annie and Clarabel. The big blue LNER locomotive wasn't in the mood in having a conversation with the tank engine, especially when he's not even had a full night's sleep because of Murdoch and Peter's heavy snoring and sleeping. But as the two engines were sitting by the platform, the sound of loud engine chugging could be heard, getting their attention. They look out to see a wall of steam further up ahead, but before Gordon or Thomas could get a good-enough look, something red and fast shot past them with a blaring whistle accompanying it, and it charged onward down the line.
"Cinders and ashes! What was that??" Thomas echoed out in shock.
"I... I don't know, Thomas." Gordon muttered in shock and awe. "It definitely wasn't Thunderbolt nor Eli, and it wasn't even Spencer- I mean, Silver Link." He looks down at his buffers. "Even after knowing his history, I'm still getting used to call him by his other name."
Thomas smiled softly, but then focused back on what had passed them. "What do you think just passed us?" He asked.
"I don't know, but I've got a feeling that we will find out soon enough." Gordon answered before he leaves the station with the express.
After completing the express and returning back to Knapford, Gordon was making his way forth, just as he could hear a conversation coming from the shunting yard. Curious, the blue LNER locomotive decided to go and take a look. As he did so, he could see Edward with Boco and Raleigh, and they were talking to a huge red steam locomotive.
The engine happens to be an LMS Garratt, a class of engine with a 2-6-0 0-6-2 wheel arrangement that was built in 1927. The locomotive has two tenders up front and the rear, the boiler situated in the middle, with the valve gear and wheels on bogies for the front and rear tenders. The engine is painted in dark red, with the number 4997 on the front tender, the engine's face on the front as well.
"Who are you?" Gordon wondered in surprise.
"Oh, Gordon." Edward acknowledged. "How good of you to arrive. We'd like you to meet William."
"That's right. My name is William, in memory of the builder who designed and built me - William Stanier." The Garratt locomotive introduced himself with a smile.
"Huh." Gordon looks on. Secretly, he was impressed. He had heard about the LNER U1, a fellow Garratt engine designed for banking coal trains over the Worsborough Bank, a steeply graded line in South Yorkshire and part of the Woodhead Route. It was both the longest and most powerful steam locomotive to run in Britain.
"So, what will you be doing around Sodor, William?" Boco now asked to the Garratt engine.
"Oh, I've been assigned to handle any job out there, whether it be goods or passengers." William answered. "It's been a bit of time since I've done that after being in the sheds and being restored for a long while."
"When was the last time you actually pulled trucks or coaches?" Gordon questioned.
"The last time was back in June of 1955, before I was eventually withdrawn from service." William answered. "Besides, I'm not the only Garratt here on loan."
"Really? Who's the second one?" Boco questioned.
"His name is Rowan. You'll find him soon enough." William clarified to them. "He's a friendly fellow. He's a Beyer Peacock & Company Works 0-4-0 0-4-0T Garratt locomotive, with the number 381 on his front tender."
"I'm sure we'll get to know him soon enough." Gordon acknowledged, then he blew his whistle and puffs off to go and take his next train.
"Don't you worry about Gordon. He can be boastful at times." Edward said to William.
"It's quite alright, Edward. I've dealt with a number of engines like that, regardless if they're steam or diesel, or even electric." William reassured to him.
"Very well. But take care." Boco commented.
William smiled, then he blew his deep whistle before he departed from the shunting yards, Boco and Edward watching the LMS Garratt chuffing away. As he chuffs out of the yard, Thomas and Jane saw the huge red engine chuff past, much to their surprise.
"Edward, who was that huge engine?" Thomas asked to the blue No.2 engine.
"That engine is William, an LMS Garratt on loan here to assist us." Edward explained to the two tank engines. "He is not alone, for another Garratt engine is also here on loan to assist us."
"He's even bigger than Gordon and Henry, or even Peter and Murdoch put together." Jane added in next.
"Yes, he is quite large." Boco agreed with a chuckle.
"And he is quite a friendly fellow." Edward added before he chuffs out of the yard with Boco alongside him.
"I wonder who the second Garratt might be." Thomas wondered to Jane. "Wonder what he's like..."
"Well, no time to worry about that now. We need to get everything shunted and moved in place." Jane stated, she and Thomas going off to get shunting.
Down at Knapford, James was making his way to the station platform. He's hoping for a chance to take the express instead of either both Gordon or Henry, or even Raleigh or even Belinda. Luckily, his sister had gone off to work around the Little Western to assist Duck and Oliver with the Scottish Twins.
"Here we go..." James smiled to himself, but to his surprise, the express wasn't at the platform. Instead, there was William the Garratt engine, with a long line of wagons and trucks coupled up behind him. "Who in the name of Sodor are you?!" James spoke out in shock. He had never seen such an engine of such size before.
"I'm William, an LMS Garratt." William introduces himself to James. "I'm here to assist wherever I can. And you must be James. An honour to meet you."
James could only stare on. "But where's my express?"
"Oh, the stopping local? Another engine has already taken it." William answered back. "I was told to tell you that you're to take a slow goods." James now looked so angry, he felt like his safety valve is about to burst. "Sorry, Sir Topham Hatt's orders." William said, just as he heard the guard's whistle.
James could only watch on incredulously as he sees the Garratt chuffing away with the long heavy goods train behind him. How could one engine alone handle that much freight at once? It would take the combined power of both Murdoch and Peter to pull a train that big... Before he could think of what to say, the yard manager tells James to go get the slow goods. James, much to his annoyance and frustration, puffs off and collected his train, heading off down the mainline.
James was still mumbling to himself about taking the slow goods instead of passengers, all the while with the sun shining up above. As he does along, he's still fuming in annoyance about the whole situation, just as he pulls up to Wellsworth. James made his way to the water tower to top up his water level, just as he heard the sound of an approaching engine. James looks over, and he saw another Garratt engine chuffing in with a line of heavy trucks behind it.
The engine is a small Garratt locomotive, the wheel arrangement being 0-4-0 0-4-0T, and the Garratt being a tank locomotive of sorts. He is painted in a brownish tan colour scheme, the number 381 on the front tender, along with a square face on the front.
"Hello, you must be James. I'm Rowan." The smaller Garratt engine greeted to James.
"You must be that second Garratt everyone's been talking about." James realised.
"Oh, so you've met William." Rowan commented back. "He's quite a friendly chap. Oh, I'd better go." With that, Rowan puffs off with his goods train, James just watching on as he leaves.
"Oh, man..." James could only mutter out to himself before he chuffs off with his slow goods. "Not only we have a huge red Garratt, but a smaller one? They look so... so odd..."
Meanwhile, Rowan had gotten along with the engines around the railway. He got along with the tank engines and even the big engines, despite his size. Thanks to his versatility and strength, he handled the heavy loads and coaches in the yards, and everything seemed to be on time and ready on the dot. Rowan was happy to just be going about and helping out anyone he can.
The same can be said for William, the LMS Garratt now handling the heavy goods and even banking duties on Gordon's Hill. He performed rather well and even made Edward look on in surprise and admiration of William's actions. The red Garratt got along with Peter, Henry, Murdoch, Raleigh, and the other heavy goods engines, even diesels like Boco, Salty, Daisy, and many others. William was curious and wanted to know much more...
Late one evening, William and Rowan had met at the sheds with the other engines to talk about the day's events and about their past lives. Rowan was lucky enough to have a shed berth to rest in, but given how big William was, he simply sat on the turntable.
"We are all very lucky to have you two here to help." Edward said firstly to William and Rowan. "After working at a quarry for most of my life, it felt boring."
"Of course, Edward. It feels nice to get out and about, especially when I've been stuck on my heritage railway on the English coast." Rowan replied back.
"You think you've had it rough? I was withdrawn in 1958 when British Railways thought of me as nothing but scrap." William spoke up. "I was stuck in a siding in a warehouse lot until I was found by some railway enthusiasts, and they began a restoration project on me. They took around 35 years or so to restore me. I was only steam-tested and certified roughly a few months ago."
"Really? And you've been around since 1927?" Henry commented in surprise. "And you are the only surviving Garratt from the LMS. That's not something to take lightly."
"I know that. Still, the fact B.R thought of me as just scrap metal felt insulting, especially when classes of engine like me helped build the rails." William spoke up.
"We all have felt the same way." Edward reassured to the two Garratt locomotives. "Some of us are the last of our own class of engine."
"Yeah. I agree." William acknowledged back.
"At least we're lucky to be here." Henry comments, just as Braedey steams in, him looking tired. "Oh, Braedey. We didn't know you were arriving here tonight." He spoke out.
"You too, Henry." Braedey sighed in relief as he came to a stop. "Had to take a slow goods from Barrow to Elsbridge. By the time I reached there, it was too late for me to go home, so I'm to stay here for tonight."
"Well, that's good to hear." Edward spoke next to the crimson engine. "Don't wish for you to tire yourself out."
"True." Braedey then saw both Rowan and William. "Oh, two Garratt locomotives. I didn't know you fellas were still around."
"Haven't we met before?" William questioned. He thought he may have seen this Great Western engine before.
"Maybe, but I've seen and met so many engines, it's kind of hard to tell so many faces these days." Braedey comments back. "But I've seen a number of Garratts in my time, but to see your class out and about, it's good to see you still in steam."
"Well, thank you." William thanked.
"Same here." Rowan answers back.
"By the way, didn't you take some of the long-distance express services?" Rowan now asked to Braedey.
"Well, there was some trains like the Flying Dutchman, the Cornish Riviera Express, plus the Cheltenham Spa Express." Braedey answered.
"What about any Boat Trains?" William asked.
A boat train is a passenger train and express services operating to a port for the specific purpose of making connection with a passenger ship like a ferry, ocean liner, or cruise ship. They were guaranteed connections with steamers and transatlantic liners during their time. Most of them were worked on the Southern Railway.
"We do have a Boat Train service." Henry spoke up. "Bear usually takes it."
"But the Boat Train has lost its express status and privilege. It's been demoted to a stopping service." Gordon huffed, tired from the day's work. "If it was of great significance, they'd allocate me to pull it."
James huffed. "Pah! As if you need to be bigger in your smokebox enough." Belinda giggled in response.
"Just because you don't pull the train doesn't mean it isn't important." Thomas spoke up with a frown on his face.
"Well, why don't you try and take the Boat Train, William?" Braedey offered to the LMS Garratt engine. "Given your size and how strong you are, you'd be able to run circles with that train."
"I'd doubt it." Gordon scoffs in response to Braedey's words. "If he has it, he'd be put to work on the express. But since he isn't, he doesn't have it." The other engines just rolled their eyes incredulously in response to his words.
"I'm sure you've got it." Rowan reassured to William, then he winks. "Besides, you'd give Gordon a run for his money." William couldn't help but chuckle back at this.
"I am sure that William has what it takes to pull a special train like the Boat Train, maybe even better." Braedey even suggested, William smiling back before he puffs off the turntable to find a place to sleep, the other engines also heading off to sleep.
As everyone went to sleep, Braedey, who still had a head of steam, chuffed off quietly to Knapford. When he found Sir Topham Hatt just about to leave from his office, the GWR Hall class engine explained to him about the idea of the Boat Train and having William take it instead of Bear for the time being. Sir Topham Hatt was surprised by this, but he considered the idea after Braedey told him what Gordon has said. After that, Sir Topham Hatt smiled in agreement and goes to his office to make the arrangements, Braedey smiling as he heads off to go get some sleep.
Early the next morning, William was being oiled and steamed up, ready to move out for the Boat Train. The news about William's debut had spread around the yard, the others smiling on as the Garratt was prepped and ready.
"Reliving in the past?" Gordon sniffed indignantly at William. "Huh. How adorable."
"It'll be my first time doing so." William spoke up. "It's been a long time since I've taken passengers, but it'll be nice to do it again."
"You never know, Gordon. You might be surprised at what could happen." Belinda commented. Gordon just huffed and he puffs away to take the express.
A ferry leaves the harbour at the end of the line twice a day. It carries passengers, their cars and trucks, and other freight. It sails on to location around Scotland, Ireland, even the Isle of Man. The Boat Train used to be a nonstop express service from the Mainland, and would would serve much larger ships from across the world. But now, it is much slower, and would stop at stations occasionally to pick up passengers along the way. Even though the train had lost its prestigous status, it has to run to time. The ferry wouldn't wait for anyone. Bear, the BR Class 35 Hymek diesel, had performed his duty of pulling the Boat Train for years, but as of recent, he had grown tired of the service.
At Vicarstown Station, William made his way down to the platform, the Boat Train carriages and luggage car all ready to go for departure, their green paint glistening in the sun. Many people were at the platform, surprised to see the Garratt locomotive at the front of the train, but were curious as to how things will go.
"We'll have a good run, and be at the boat." William smiled. With a toot of his whistle, the red Garratt now pulls out of the station with the Boat Train in tow.
Out on the mainline, William was as good as his word. He kept to time and to speed, not missing a beat as he goes along, pulling the Boat Train as if the coaches were empty and lightweight. It took some effort from his crew to hold him back.
At each of the stations he stopped at, he collected his passengers and waited for the off. "Do be quick now. Don't want you to miss your boat." William would say. The passengers did so, and William would rapidly steam out of the station with the Boat Train.
"We'll be ahead of time at this rate." His crew would add in as they watch their engine rocket down the line.
Meanwhile, Gordon was making his way down the mainline from Vicarstown with a return express to Knapford. He was going at a good speed, heading on towards Cronk and Killdane. As he did so, Gordon could see William up ahead at the platform of Killdane, picking up passengers for the Boat Train.
"Watch this." Gordon boasted and chuckled to himself. "Hurry, hurry, hurry!" He announced as he rocketed by.
But just as Gordon was about to overtake the Garratt engine, William had started quickly out of the station and began picking up speed, Gordon passing by. Gordon chuckled and gloats as he passed by. But the last coach of the express had barely passed William, when suddenly, with a sound like thunder and clouds of steam rocketing out of his funnel, the red Garratt engine was matching Gordon's speed, and speeding up. Within no time at all, much to the surprise of the passengers of the express and to Gordon, William began to undertake the express!
"What on earth?" Gordon exclaims. He couldn't believe what he was seeing.
"Boat Train coming through!" William laughs, then blew his whistle loudly as he flew right past Gordon and the express.
"He can't do that! That's the Slow Line!" Gordon yelled.
"After him, Gordon!" His driver called. "We can't have him show you up like this!"
Gordon opens his regulator and gave chase after William, but to his shock, he couldn't keep up. William had unwittingly outpaced the express, and he was running away with it.
"Look!" Gordon's fireman pointed out of the cab. "He's slowing down for a station!" He was right. Further up ahead, Maron Station now came into view, William shutting off steam and beginning to slow down.
"We've got him now, old boy!" Gordon's driver called.
William slows himself down and he came to a gentle stop at the station, smiling warmly to the passengers on the platform who were waiting for their train. Gordon blew his whistle and he shot past on the other line, heading forth down the line in a cloud of steam, heading off to Gordon's Hill.
"Anyone would think that he was pulling the express!" Gordon snorted angrily.
Unfortunately for him, someone did think William was pulling the express. The signalman slowed the express, and had switched Gordon onto the Slow Line. A distant signal warned of a red signal further up ahead, Gordon passing the signal as he began to slow down.
"What is going on?!" Gordon demanded, as he made his way up and over his hill, heading to Wellsworth.
Down at Wellsworth, Rowan and Edward were doing some shunting, with James stuck at the platform on the outbound line, simmering in frustration. He had been sitting at the station for the last 10 minutes, and was eager to depart, but the signal was red. As he waits, he saw Gordon slowing down and approaching the station. The blue LNER locomotive soon came to an incredulous stop at the station.
"What happened to you?" James wondered casually.
Before Gordon could respond, a deep whistle could be heard in the distance, the signals turning green. At the same time, Rowan and Edward both smile. The sound of a speeding engine fast approaching can be heard coming in. With his headlamp swaying, pistons pounding, and steam rocketing in the air, William blew his whistle loudly as he flew through the station and he vanished from view, leaving both James and Gordon looking on in stunned shock and surprise.
"Haha! Good on ya, William!" Rowan called out happily.
Edward chuckled and smiled to James and Gordon. "Guess he's still got it, then?" He smirked.
James and Gordon were speechless, looking on in stunned silence.
Eventually, William arrived at the harbour at the end of the line with the Boat Train, ten minutes ahead of schedule. William felt good about his run, a smile on his face as he arrived, then heads off for the sheds. The news about what happened today arrived back at the sheds before Gordon came home that evening.
"I don't know..." A voice spoke out. "Whatever you think he's got, he hasn't. If he had, he'd be used on the express. And since he isn't, then what he's got isn't there."
Gordon wasn't sure whose voice was that or who it belonged to, so he decided to remain respectfully silent and went off to sleep in the shed.
Now, William shares the Boat Train service with Bear, and Richard at times. Due to William's impressive time and performance with the service, the Boat Train had been upgraded to express status once again, to the delight and excitement for the three engines.
However, Sir Topham Hatt had warned William not to undertake the express on the Slow Line, the Garrat engine understanding completely. "It causes an operational nightmare for the signalmen." Sir Topham added in next.
Because of the incident that happened, there is no chance of Gordon being undertaken on the mainline. But if any one of the tank engines happens to bring up that particular subject in conversation again, Gordon seemingly manages to disappear without a trace.