Previously...
"You think it's all over... Oh, you are sorely mistaken, my dear engine." Goliath spoke darkly, a wicked smirk slowly forming upon his face. "There will come a time when the world will finally reject the concept of steam locomotion, and all of you will face the prospect of the Final Firing. Once it happens, you, your friends, and the entire North Western Railway, and eventually, the entire world will change for the betterment of the D.G.S.S.E forever. After all is said and done..." His expression now looked much darker. "You shall soon learn... I am... Inevitable."
The sound of breaking stones could be heard, getting the two locomotive's attention. Braedey looks around, and took notice of the viaduct beginning to break apart and collapse in places, falling into the deep valley down below. Goliath also took notice of this, his eyes now widening as he realised where he is now, and he cannot move. The viaduct groaned as it continues to break apart. Braedey wisely retreats away from the collapsing section.
"You might be right about what you say, but we'll face the end when it's our time. And there's also one thing you have gotten wrong about your plans, Goliath." Braedey stated as he stopped. "It won't be MY Final Firing... it shall be yours!"
Braedey blew his whistle long and loud, the viaduct now collapsing and falling apart, the sound of rumbling and falling debris echoing out, swallowing out Goliath's screams as he fell into the valley below with the falling viaduct, a wall of smoke and dust rising up from the collapse...
The dust soon began to settle around the valley, an air of silence floating all around the area. Braedey, the crimson GWR Hall Class locomotive, stood at the end of what was once the old viaduct, looking on over at where Goliath the prototype BR Standard 9F and leader of the D.G.S.S.E was beforehand. The dust down below obscured anything in the valley, swallowing up the viaduct and the villainous locomotive.
Braedey continues to stare on into the valley below, his eyes narrowed as he looks on at the cloud of dust. He wanted to make sure Goliath was gone. As the cloud of dust began to settle and clear up, he could see the rubble of what was once the viaduct lying in a huge pile of brickwork, concrete, and steel rails. But what did catch Braedey's eyes is the torn, twisted, wrecked remains of Goliath right in the middle - his boiler was wrecked and broken, boiler tubes protruding out of the boiler shell, his wheels and axles all snapped and damaged beyond repair, his cab wrecked as well from the debris, while his smokebox and face was obscured from view by a pile of brick and steel rails. But it was clear Goliath is no more.
Braedey finally breathed a sigh of relief, steam flowing from his cylinder cocks, his form settling down, his fire settling in his firebox. "Finally... it's over..." He sighed. He then spotted Goliath's nameplate, as well as the scorched insignia of the D.G.S.S.E. "Let's end this..."
After that, Braedey began to reverse away from the fallen viaduct, taking the long way around the valley, and began to trek back to the D.G.S.S.E Headquarters to finish what's been started. He did feel tired from speeding across the country to chase after Goliath, but he did so to make sure that everyone will survive on to a new day. Now, it was time to end all of this madness.
Eventually, Braedey arrived back at the D.G.S.S.E Headquarters, but he heard only silence. He carefully made his way onward, and as he did so, he saw many diesels and engines knocked over and fallen down off the rails, while all around them, the engines of both the Josephine Railway and North Western Railway were all still standing. Some of the engines have derailed, but they're still in steam, and standing tall.
"Is everyone okay?" Braedey asked to them all.
"We're all just fine." Thunderbolt announced, puffing up to the crimson locomotive. "The locomotives of the D.G.S.S.E have been dealt with and are subdued and immobilised, and they won't be going anywhere."
Thomas puffed up, his paint covered in coal dust as well as diesel fuel, but he was relatively fine. "We're all good." He added, a soft smile on his smudged-up face.
"Relatively speaking." Maverick chuckled, him rolling up alongside.
"Speak for yourself." James grumbled, his red paint now covered in dust and grime. "I'm gonna need a major wash down."
"Oh, relax, James." Gordon grumbled. He and Henry were too also covered in dust, diesel oil and fuel. "You aren't the only one who needs a wash down."
William chuffs up alongside the big engines, chuckling in amusement. "Guess what my driver and fireman said was right. Your portrayal in those Railway Series books aren't far from the truth." He commented, much to their embarrassment.
Lady giggled as she and the lady engines appear. "He's got you there, fellas."
Fowler, who was lying on his side nearby, could only scoff and roll his eyes. "Oh, let this end..." Everyone just ignored him.
Hayden now looks to Braedey. "Is it all over?" He asked to him. "What happened to that huge engine Goliath?"
Braedey now stood strong and mighty. "Goliath is no more. He's at the bottom of a valley under a collapsed viaduct." He looks on at the engines of the D.G.S.S.E, a stern expression on his face. "Your leader is gone. He is no more. You have lost, and your so-called legacy of the D.G.S.S.E will be gone forever."
"Impossible." Fowler grunted out. "Goliath can't be-"
"He's gone, Fowler. Accept it." Braedey snapped back.
"But you haven't won. The D.G.S.S.E-" Fowler spoke.
"Why don't you just accept it, you useless locomotive?" Hayden snapped out. "Your so-called D.G.S.S.E has failed, just like the 1955 Modernisation Plan. Beeching won't save you this time, and you'll all face your worst punishment yet." He looked to the other engines. "Uh, was that too harsh?"
Thunderbolt simply chuckled. "Nope. A little bit, but not really." He admitted.
"Hayden. Thomas. Best you go find Joey and the Railway Inspectors Unit." Braedey told the two." Tell them we got the whole D.G.S.S.E caught and derailed. And also ask them to bring a lot of breakdown cranes. Thomas and Hayden whistle in acknowledgement, and they both puff out of the yards to go find the police.
"Have to say, you really put yourself out on the line for all of us." Thunderbolt commented, no pun intended. "And you also beat your demons."
Braedey then smiled. "Yeah. I guess I did. I didn't stop Goliath before, but I stopped him myself this time." He then blew his war whistle long and loud.
Thunderbolt laughs aloud. "With that, I agree with you." He blasts two short bursts with his whistle, and a long whistle at the end that echoed like thunder.
About half-an-hour later, Thomas and Hayden arrived back with the Railway Inspectors Unit and police force, with Joey, Lenny, and Eliza alongside them, along with a multitude of breakdown cranes, getting the derailed NWR and J.R engines back on the tracks, as they also load up the D.G.S.S.E locomotives onto well-wagons to take them away.
Joey is grey saddle tank engine, who once had an open cab. He is dark grey with red lining. He has a red and yellow number-plate with the number "13" he is named after painted on each side of his saddle tank. His running board is also painted red.
Eliza is a black saddle tank engine, who happens to be a GWR No.1340 Trojan/GWR 1361 Class hybrid, painted in a black livery with red lining and a bronze dome. She also has the number 65 painted yellow on her bunker sides.
Lenny is an LNER B12 4-6-0 tender engine, painted shiny black around his whole body with light red lining on him, with the number 87 on his tender.
"While I do not condone with the situation in having civilians even interfering with a police situation such as this, I must give my commemoration to you for your actions for facing against the D.G.S.S.E itself." Joey stated to them.
"After what happened all those years ago with Goliath, dealing with him once and for all, it felt like it needed to be done." Braedey replied back. "I'm glad he is now gone for good."
"Very well." Joey acknowledged back. "Still, the action of civilians going to war is not becoming of you."
"Even so, those engines have committed a terrorist attack on the Josephine Railway, and even attempted a kidnapping of one of the NWR engines." Hayden interjected.
"And they shall be dealt with, accordingly." Joey said.
"No, sir." Braedey spoke back firmly, the police engine looking in surprise. "Goliath got out of Railgate back in the 60's by Beeching, and he's been able to get away with his crimes for so many years. He and everyone else, including Croghan, Roderick, Diesel 10, as well as Fowler, they deserve the worst punishment for good."
Lenny puffed up alongside. "Joey, I am not one to be in agreement to capital punishment, but he is correct. We have found the rap sheet of all the atrocities they have all committed against all locomotives around the whole of British Railways. There's enough evidence to put all of these locomotives on trail for war crimes." He added, much to the surprise of everyone else.
"You serious?" Braedey and Hayden muttered.
"Yes." Lenny answered. "You were right to tell us about them, as well as confronting them. Even if we do not condone these actions, you all have done something to protect everyone else and stop these criminals."
"Criminals?" Malice spoke out.
"As if!" Wicked snarled.
"We're not even close!" Levi added. "We were doing our thing."
"Which is what, exactly?!" William countered back with a dark expression. "Scrapping innocent non-faceless locomotives because they don't believe in your crazy ideas? You all are insane."
"You cannot stop us from doing what we must in order to achieve our ultimate goal. The Revolution will finally succeed-" Croghan was then cut off when officers weld on a mouth clamp over Croghan's face, leaving him to only muffle out absolutely nothing.
"Finally. His voice was so annoying." James sighed in relief.
"I agree." Carol agreed.
"Same." Evelyn smiled.
"He's more annoying than Duck on a good day." Gordon remarked, the other engines looking at him. "What? He can be."
"What shall happen to the engines of the D.G.S.S.E?" Percy asked softly.
"They'll be getting what for." Maverick stated.
"Yes." Alexander AKA 'Black Prince' agreed.
"Given all of the information that we have collected, it is clear these engines won't be able to be reformed nor are they liable to be placed in prison, especially with all the information provided." Lenny stated, just as Eliza now puffed up. "Officer Eliza?"
"The criminal engines have all been loaded up onto the wagons and they will be taken away to Headquarters and adjacent scrapping yards for interrogation." Eliza stated. "There is enough to give them life imprisonment, or even the Final Firing."
"Is it that bad?" Percy muttered in worry.
"Percy, the engines of the D.G.S.S.E cannot be trusted nor be reformed." Braedey stated bluntly. "There's no chance of them getting the chance to see the light of day again." That made Percy look down at his buffers.
"And what about Diesel, Arry, and Bert?" Thomas asks, looking at the three said diesels. "What will happen to them?"
"They'll be taken back to Sodor, and Sir Topham Hatt will deal with them later." Joey explained to them all. "Maverick shall take them away."
Maverick reversed to the well-wagons and hitches up to them. "Understood, sir." With a toot of his horn, he leaves the refinery with the three diesels in tow.
Joey looks over to Braedey. "And you'd best get these Sodor engines back home." He advised.
"Of course." Braedey acknowledged back. "It's time to go home, everyone." With that, he began to puff away from the D.G.S.S.E refinery, the other engines following on after him.
Over on Sodor, it was very silent and quiet. There has not been any word from the 'Loco-Vengers' ever since they have left for the mainland, and it has gotten both Mr. Franklin and Sir Topham Hatt concerned for their engines. So, they opted to go over to Vicarstown to see if they're there. And they weren't the only ones. Every engine on the North Western Railway and Josephine Railway were all waiting in worry and anticipation for everyone to return back home.
It felt like hours for all of them as they stood by at the platforms of Vicarstown. They had set up everything for a welcome home party for them all. The silence was rather deafening for most, especially when they aren't sure of where their fellow engines are.
After a moment of silence, the sound of faint puffing and chugging could be heard approaching the station. The signals all raise up in response, their lights going red, the tracks all aligned. The chugging seems to get louder and louder, everyone looking on in anticipation for what was coming up. Everyone looks on, and their eyes and faces light up once they could see who was now coming around the bend towards Vicarstown. Braedey, Diana, Darla, Thomas, Percy, Henry, Gordon, James, Raleigh, Peter, Hayden, Maverick, Bear, Boco, Anna, Shadow, Mack, and William could be seen now making their way to the station, along with Carol the GWR 'Lady of Legend', Thunderbolt the LNER P2, Eli the LNER A4 Pacific, Mack the BR Class 40, Damien the BR GT3 Turbine locomotive, the LNER A3 Flying Scotsman himself, plus LNER A4 Pacific Mallard, as well as BR Standard 9Fs Evelyn AKA 'Evening Star' and Alexander AKA 'Black Prince'. As the engines approach the station, they were met by a chorus of whistles and cheers, everyone cheering and welcoming them home.
"We did it." Braedey announced to Sir Topham Hatt and Mr. Franklin with pride. "The D.G.S.S.E has been defeated, and Goliath is no more."
"Excellent work, all of you." Mr. Franklin smiled. "You have done us and every other railway in the world proud."
"Well done." Sir Topham Hatt announced. "All of you."
"Well, we did our best." Thomas smiled back. "And with some help too." Evelyn smiled softly at this, Mallard and Thunderbolt blowing their whistles in response.
"You all will get new coats of paint and a much-needed time to rest after what you've all been through today." Sir Topham Hatt now stated to the engines. "You deserve it."
"All of you do." Caitlyn added as she walked up. "Well done." The engines all whistle and blew their horns in cheer as they smile happily, knowing the whole ordeal with the D.G.S.S.E is finally over.
At the end of the day, the engines of the 'Loco-Vengers' team have made their way to the sheds, all of them feeling tired and exhausted after their ordeal with the D.G.S.S.E and they wanted to rest.
"Talk about an ordeal." James sighs in relief.
"Definitely." Henry agreed. "Feels good to be home."
"And we can relax, finally." Gordon included. "No more having to deal with the D.G.S.S.E anymore." He then looks over to Braedey, who was being silent. "Is there something on your mind, Braedey?" He asked.
"Just thinking about everything regarding Goliath and everyone else." Braedey replied. "With him gone, as well as Beeching dead, there's nobody else to take up the mantle of leadership, nor will they continue to be a continuing presence."
"What will happen to those of the D.G.S.S.E?" James inquired.
"Yeah. What'll happen to them?" Hayden questioned.
"Given their history and the atrocities they have committed against us and everyone else on British Railways, those locomotives won't be serving time in Railgate Prison." Braedey stated to the other engines. "There's only two options left for them - either be taken away to a remote region in Iceland where they will not be able to move about and will be left to rust away, or the other option being the Final Firing." That seemed to make everyone look on in uncertainty and trepidation.
"There's no other options?" Rowan asked softly.
"No, especially for those who were in Goliath's inner circle." Braedey replied sternly.
"Those like Fowler, Roderick, Diesel 10?" Percy asked.
"Given their track record, they definitely don't deserve a chance to redeem themselves." Hayden grunted.
"Yes. After I have explained everything to Joey, the Railway Inspectors Unit, and the police, they've told me that those three, and others in the inner circle, they are going to be given the Final Firing." Braedey stated to them. "Those like Spamcan, Croghan, and others, they will be taken away and be sent to either Railgate, or another prison of similar size and shape, and Croghan will be sent back to the farm he's made as."
"I see." Edward spoke up. "Given their situation, that's what they deserve."
"I'm sure glad I'm not those guys." James smiled.
"Don't be so cocky, James." Braedey spoke up sternly, shutting up the red engine.
"Hey, we can relax now. Goliath and the D.G.S.S.E are gone for good." Thomas spoke up, everyone all in agreement with the blue tank engine. "Plus, we can all smile and relax, especially with the threat being over."
"That, I can agree with you, Thomas." Evelyn agreed with him. "After everything, we deserve to relax and settle down."
"Yeah. Finally, we can breathe a sigh of relief." Diana sighed, settling down on her frames.
"This is something we really need." Anna agreed. "After everything we've been through, peace at last."
"But I do have one question." Ella spoke up. "Given what you told us about Goliath and what he said to you, Braedey, do you think there was anything that could've been done?" She asked.
Braedey was silent, then sighed. "No, Ella. Given what he told me before the viaduct collapsed into the ravine, especially what he said to me decades ago, it was already too late for him."
The engines began to settle down and relax, some of them even falling asleep, all of them relaxed and at peace that everything involving that of the D.G.S.S.E is finally over and have been dealt with. As they did so, Braedey looks on at the slumbering locomotives in their berths, then looks up at the shining moon up in the sky above, a soft smile forming on his face, as if the moon is giving him sympathy or approval of his actions. The crimson GWR Hall Class locomotive relaxed as he then eventually fell asleep.
Over the next two days, news came out all across the United Kingdom and eventually the world about what's happened, and sure enough, newspapers and news reports have come out about the North Western Railway and Josephine Railway defeating and taking down the D.G.S.S.E, with the information present for all to read and take notice of. Letters of appreciation and much-appreciated thanks from many have swamped the mail services, much to the surprise of the NWR and JR engines, but they've given their appreciation back.
One morning about a day or two later, Braedey was making his way over to Tidmouth Station, feeling good with himself. As he stopped to top up his boiler, he then heard the sound of two approaching engines, getting his attention, as he saw Diana and Jane chugging up with smiles on their faces.
"Girls. What's going on?" Braedey asked in surprise.
"Braedey, you're not gonna believe this, but you have to come over to Knapford at once. Josephine and Mr. Franklin have some big news." Diana announced.
"Really?" Braedey asked in surprise. "What is it?"
"Come on. Let's go." Jane said, she and Diana both now reversing away, Braedey following on after them.
Once the three engines arrived at Knapford Station, they could see the other J.R engines at the platforms and they could see Mr. Franklin, Caitlyn, Jane, and Josephine standing at the platform, the four of them all looking on with happiness on their faces.
"Sir? What's going on?" Braedey asked firstly.
"It's about the latest news." Austin clarified.
"The news about us and the D.G.S.S.E?" Braedey pointed out.
"Yes. As it turns out, you guys have become infamous and famous in no time." Caitlyn holds up a newspaper with the front page article of the engines outside of the oil refinery, the title reading 'RAILWAY WAR', with the writing underneath saying 'NWR AND JR ENGINES TAKE DOWN D.G.S.S.E'. "This is some big news that's gotten major attention from others around the world, and it's gotten our railway the attention it needs." She added.
"And thanks to the charity and go fund me pages that I've been setting up ever since the incident, the money has been pouring in." Josephine added in next. "And thanks to all the money and charities..."
"We have the finances necessary to begin rebuild of the sheds and main station of the Josephine Railway!" Mr. Franklin announced.
The engines of the Josephine Railway were stunned and amazed by the news, and they immediately blew their whistles and horns in response, all of them happy and excited for the next few days. They were eager to get to work to rebuild their lives and their home.
"We get our home back!" Diana smiled.
"When can we start the rebuild?" Shadow asked.
"By this afternoon. The shipments of supplies will be arriving at Barrow-in-Furness." Mr. Franklin explained to the engines. "Once that arrives, we've got a lot of work to be done to make things back to 100%, but I know that we will get it done." He declared.
"Yes, sir!" Everyone else agreed in unison.
"This is definitely worth it." Max laughed, he and Benjamin laughing with Austin.
"After everything we've been through, this is the reward we definitely deserve." Shadow agreed with them.
"We get our home back!" Liliana smiled happily.
"Easy, girl." Josephine giggled. "We have to rebuild our home first."
"Right. Everyone, let's get ready for departure to go home." Braedey announced to them all. "We leave Vicarstown in an hour."
"I can imagine Sir Topham Hatt prepping a goodbye party for us." Jane giggled.
"I agree." Caitlyn nodded to the red tank engine. "But that just shows that he really cares for us as much as he cares for his own engines." She added.
"Alright, everyone. Let's get going." Mr. Franklin stated, climbing into Braedey's cab with his family. Braedey whistled as he and his J.R engines leave Knapford Station, heading off to Vicarstown and beyond.
Sure enough, as they approached Vicarstown Station, all the engines of the North Western Railway were already there, all of them whistling and cheering them on. There was even a banner above the platforms that reads 'Good Luck & Prosper On, Josephine Railway'. The J.R engines all smile and whistle out to their fellow Sudrian engines, before they depart Vicarstown Station to the chorus of cheers and applause, leaving Sodor for home.
Once they got to Barrow-in-Furness, the engines could see wagons of bricks, steel beams, glass panels, rails, and more building supplies and materials, along with an army of engineers and builders. The engines collect their trains, and took them down to their railway, ready to start work and get everything done. They arrive at the site of the attack, and they start to get the trains of supplies to where they're needed, the engineers and builders also getting to work, the engines moving about to where they're needed.
It was going to take quite a while before they do so...
After roughly two months of demolition, reconstruction and hard work, the work is finally finished. The engine shed, turntable, rails, plus the main station Marion, have finally been completed, all looking brand-new and up-to-date. New systems have been installed and added, with new signals and controls.
On the day of the grand reopening, Mr. Franklin stood by the platform with his wife and two daughters, with Braedey on the middle track of the three-track station, a red ribbon stretched across the tracks. Jane, Diana, Liliana, Austin, Max, Benjamin, Anna, Shadow, Kieron, Jonson and Ella were all there, with Penny and Benson parked nearby in the carpark. Grayson the tractor was also there in a nearby field, Hawk also having touched down in the same field nearby.
"Makes me think back to when we got the railway up and running back in 1972." Mr. Franklin chuckled as he looked to Braedey.
"Yeah. But we didn't have a crowd like this." Braedey laughed as he saw the multitude of people who have come to see this event happen.
"Yes. And not a moment to waste now." Mr. Franklin now stepped up and cleared his throat. "Ladies and gentlemen, I now declare the Josephine Railway... REOPENED!" He announced.
Braedey blew his whistle before chuffing forward, cutting the ribbon as he does so. The other engines toot their horns and blow their whistles in response, the crowds cheering them on. Jane and Diana both pull up to the platforms either side, some coaches behind them, so they can take enthusiasts and the travelling crowds around the railway. The two whistle as they depart with their trains, just as the other engines do the same, either taking passengers about, or showing off their shunting in the yard, even having some time to talk to the crowds about what happened to their home.
Eventually, the day had come to a close and the crowds eventually left, allowing the engines to relax and return to their newly-rebuilt engine sheds. They couldn't help but smile at how roomy and comfortable their new sheds were, especially with the new insulation to keep and warmth in and the cold out. One by one, the engines fell asleep, all with smiles on their faces as they do so.
Braedey, meanwhile, was the last one still awake. He looks over at his friends as they were asleep, just as he saw Mr. Franklin walk over. "Sir. What brings you over here?" He asks in a hushed voice.
"I came over to congratulate you for your actions today and weeks ago. You definitely have gone above and beyond." Mr. Franklin congratulated to Braedey. "I'd say it for everyone else, but I'm sure they know it already."
Braedey winked back. "I think they know the feeling deep in their fireboxes." He replied softly. "Plus, I had to deal with something of my past, and I did just that."
"And for that, I'm proud of you." Mr. Franklin patted Braedey's front buffer. "Now, best you get some sleep. You've got a long day ahead of you." With that, he turned on his heel and heads off back to his car
Braedey smiled as he watched Mr. Franklin leave. He then looked up to the shining moon overhead, and he eventually fell asleep, a content and relaxed smile on his face.