Previously...
"So... what do we do now?" Rose asked.
"The most immediate question is... Where are we?" Braedey now questioned first and foremost.
Little did they know that their adventure had just begun...
~*~*~
After they had eventually regained consciousness and have assessed their surroundings, Braedey Martin, mermaid princess Rose, and Scooby-Doo were at a crossroads of what to do right now. They were over on Muffle Mountain just a few minutes ago, and somehow, after they have gone for a tumble down the mountain, they somehow ended up in this unknown location, with no way of getting back home or even of where they could be.
"So, what should we do now?" Rose asked to Braedey.
"I think we should try and find some kind of town around here, maybe some kind of a settlement somewhere, just so we can get our bearings and find out where we are." Braedey suggested to Rose. "That way, we can plan our next move."
"Good idea. But I don't see a road anywhere for us to follow." Rose pointed out.
"We follow these." Scooby called, gesturing to the train tracks.
"Right. Good plan, Scooby." Braedey smiled, he and Rose walking alongside the train tracks. "We follow these tracks, they should lead us to somewhere further down the line."
As they walked along and follow the tracks, the three friends hum to themselves as they pass the time, the trio listening to the birds chirping in the trees, the faint rustling of the leaves overhead, as well as the peace and harmony around them. It was unlike anything that was back home. Eventually, after walking for what felt like a mile or more, they soon noticed that they were now coming up to what looks to be a mainline - three different sets of railroad tracks heading off in either direction of East to West, the railroad tracks snaking along.
"Now which way do we go?" Rose questioned.
"I'm not sure. I'm not sure which way is North, South, East or West." Braedey shrugged back. "There's just so many trees and bushes, as well as not having any landmarks to go with.
"Well, there's no sign of any trains coming or going." Rose said as she looks left and right, seeing the empty tracks. "What do we do now?"
Scooby looks about left and right, trying to see if there is anything to help them out. As he did so, he perked up his ears, now hearing something in the distance. It sounded like a faint chugging sound, like that of an engine that was heading their way. He got the two's attention as he points to the right.
"What you got, Scoob?" Braedey asked curiously and calmly.
"What do you think it is, Scooby?" Rose questioned.
"Ron't know." Scooby shrugged. "Rut it is coming towards us."
"Wait. I see something." Braedey gestured over to further down the track. He could see what looks like clouds of steam rising above the tree line, and some kind of shape down on the tracks, and it was getting closer. "It looks like a steam engine... but what kind?" He questioned.
Rose narrowed her eyes as she looks on, the sound of the chugging getting louder as it got closer. She looks closer, then her eyes widened as she saw what, or rather, who, it was. "Braedey, that can't be who it is... right?" She asked.
Braedey looks on with Rose, then he was stunned by what he's seeing. "No way... That's Toby! It's Toby the Tram Engine!" He spoke out in surprise.
He was right - chuffing up along the line is none other than Toby himself, with his faithful coach Henrietta coupled up behind him, the two trundling along.
Toby is a GER Class C53 0-6-0T Wisbech and Upwell Tramway steam tram (reclassified as J70 by the LNER) built at Stratford Works built in 1903, designed by James Holden for the Great Eastern Railway, for use on roadside tramways and harbour lines. Toby's wooden box body is painted in brown with grey side plates and grey cowcatchers. His number 7 is painted on his sides in yellow with red lining, and he has a brass bell.
Henrietta is a GER Wisbech and Upwell Tramway 4-wheel coach. She has balconies set at each end, and a drawbridge type gangway. Each balcony has an emergency hand-brake wheel. Henrietta is painted in brown-orange with red buffer beams and a grey roof.
"Then that could mean only one thing." Braedey realised as he looked at Scooby and Rose. "We've somehow ended up on the North Western Railway, on the Island of Sodor! We're really here, on Sodor!"
"But... how can that be?" Rose questioned in confusion as she saw the team tram trundling towards them. "Toby is a fictional character, along with the whole railway, so how can we even be here in the first place?" She asked to Braedey.
"Reah. How?" Scooby inquired.
"I'm not sure. But right now, he's the best shot we've got to get some help." Braedey immediately pulls out a large red cloth and runs to nearby the tracks, waving the cloth like a flag to get the tram engine's attention.
Toby, who's humming to himself, now takes notice of the red cloth waving in the wind. He had learnt from Thomas that Mrs. Kyndley waved her red dressing gown to stop him from crashing into a landslide. So, he immediately began to slow down, coming to a gentle stop and he now saw two young individuals with a Great Dane dog alongside.
"Oh, hello there." Toby greeted casually.
"Wow... Toby..." Braedey gaped as he looks on.
"Amazing..." Rose commented as she looks at the steam tram that's sitting right before them. "After reading so much about you, even seeing you on the television, it's still a surprise to see you for real."
Toby can't help hut smile softly at the two children. "I take it you are fans of 'The Railway Series' books and the TV Show." He can't help but chuckle. "They have done very well to integrate our world for those to see and read."
"That's true." Braedey nodded back. He then realised that he hasn't introduced himself or the others to Toby. "Oh, sorry. My name is Braedey Martin, and these are mermaid princess Rose, and our talking dog Scooby-Doo." He introduced.
"Rello." Scooby greeted happily with a bow.
"You three are definitely not from around here, are you?" Toby questioned to the three of them curiously.
"Yes. In fact, we're from the United States." Rose spoke up. "We do not know how we ended up here, but the three of us have no way to get back home. We need some help. Can you take us to the nearest station?" She asked to the wise old tram engine.
Toby looked at the three with his wise eyes, then he smiled back to them. "Of course. Please, hop onboard Henrietta, and I will take you onward to Knapford." He offered to them.
Braedey and Rose smile at this, the former sprinting over as the latter hikes up her skirt and made her way up to the tramway coach. Scooby leaps up onto the rear balcony of the coach, Braedey and Rose getting on the front balcony of Henrietta, the former helping the latter up. Once they're onboard, Toby rang his brass bell, and he once again began to chuff down the mainline, he and his new passengers going on forth to Knapford.
Onboard the coach behind the steam tram, Braedey and Rose cannot help hit smile happily as they saw the scenery of the Sudrian countryside passing by. As they look about, they would occasionally hear the whistles of other engines, immediately getting Braedey to play a game of 'Guess The Engine', based on what whistle they can hear. Toby cannot help but smile and chuckle as he continued to chug along down the line to get to Knapford Station.
"I cannot wait to see what we'll get to see out on this island." Rose commented to Braedey.
"Same here. This is definitely the beginning of another adventure." Braedey agreed with his blonde mermaid girlfriend.
'This was indeed the beginning of our adventure. An adventure of mystery, trains, families and friends far apart, and even a magical railroad that unites it all together...'
~*~*~
Meanwhile, down by one double-track tunnel out on the mainline, a little blue tank engine could be seen racing out of the tunnel and charging on down the line in order to get to the big station in time. He whistles out twice with a high-pitch whistle as he puffs by a nearby farm, the farmer waving to the blue tank engine as it chuffs off on its way.
The engine happens to be an LBSCR E2 Class 0-6-0 Tank engine, these types of engines built by Brighton Works between 1913-1916, and were primarily used for heavy shunting and short-distance goods trains in the London area and the south coast. It has 6 small wheels, a short stumpy funnel, a short stumpy boiler, and a short stumpy dome. The engine also has blue paint with red lining around the boiler tanks, red buffer beams, and has a number one in yellow on the sides of the tanks. This engine is none other than Thomas, the number one engine of the North Western Railway.
'A story, much like that of a railway, has its greatest of heroes. Like this fella. Meet Thomas the Tank Engine. He's the Number One hero on this railway.'
The Island of Sodor, a small island Southwest off the coast of the United Kingdom, where Thomas and his friends live, as well as other a dozen other engines, and the home of the legendary North Western Railway. The railway's motto is "Nil unquam simile" which means "There is nothing quite like it". This island is 70 miles across, with the mainline stretching from Knapford to Vicarstown, then onward to the mainland, with many branchlines extending out across the island, linking up with several towns and businesses like coal and slate mines, as well as fishing villages and more.
Over at the big station of Knapford, a few engines were going along and passing by on their separate lines, each of them pulling either heavy trucks, or coaches full of passengers. They blow their whistles and ring their bells to one another as they pass by one another in greeting as they go along.
Percy, a small green saddle tank engine, was pulling cattle trucks to take to the Ffarquhar Branch, while Toby was making his way into the station. Gordon, a big blue tender engine, was leaving the station while pulling four red and cream coaches for the express. Finally, a big green tender engine by the name of Henry was waiting at the signals for Gordon to pass by so he could go on and pick up his freight train.
Toby eventually came to a stop by the station platform, coming to a gentle stop with a hiss of his brakes. "Last stop. Everybody off, please." He rang his bell.
Braedey, Rose, and Scooby-Doo disembark at once, the former two giddy and excited over what they've just seen as they arrived here. They couldn't believe they were really here on this island railway, like it was still a dream. But it was all too real.
"Knapford Station, the big station." Braedey muttered in amazement and awe. "The starting point of rail travel across the island. Everything train of importance leaves here, and heads down the mainline and branchlines across the island."
"We even got to see Percy, Gordon, even Henry!" Rose was almost squealing at this point. "My gosh, this is just so exciting! I've never been this excited over anything else!"
"Easy now, you two." Toby said calmly, bringing the two back down to calm them down. "Don't want you two to hurt yourselves." Both Braedey and Rose eventually calm themselves and settle down. "Now, as much as I would like to stay around and chat, I'm afraid I have work to do. All three of you, try and not get yourselves into trouble, okay?" He asked the three.
"We'll stay out of trouble, Toby." Braedey reassured with a salute.
"That's good. I will talk to you all soon. I'm sure the other engines would like to meet you all." Toby rang his bell, and with that, he departed Knapford for the Ffarquhar branchline with Henrietta.
"He's such a nice engine." Rose commented.
"He is one of the oldest but wisest engines on the whole of the island." Braedey stated. "He and Edward, they are the wisest of all engines here. Sometimes, they have to try and keep the others under control with some kind words." Rose can't help but giggle as she recalls that from one or two episodes she watched with Braedey during the road trips they go on with the gang to solve another mystery.
Scooby looks about the station to see if there's anyone that can help, then he could see an office room nearby. "Rook. Raybe there's someone that can help." He said to the two.
"Good idea, Scooby. Maybe the man in charge can help." Braedey agreed.
Braedey, Rose, and Scooby, the three of them being as careful as can be, made their way over to the office of the main building. But as they knock on the door, there was no answer.
"Strange." Braedey muttered.
"There's a note in the door." Rose pointed out. She was right - there was a note inside the window on the door. It reads 'Gone On Holiday - If you have any inquires, please contact my staff or engines. Signed, STH'. "The controller of this railway has gone on holiday?" Rose questioned with a raised eyebrow.
"Judging by the note being stuck in the window and all that, I guess he must've leave just yesterday or maybe earlier today." Braedey took a guess.
"So... now what?" Scooby asked.
"I think we should go to the engine's shed. It's not far away from Knapford, and we can ask around." Braedey suggested.
"Sounds like a bit of a walk." Rose pointed out.
"We're not walking. We'll take the bus." Braedey chucked, Scooby and Rose looking to one another in confusion.
A moment later, the three friends have made their way out of the station building to where the bus parking and staff carpark are located. As they stood by and waited, they saw a red bus driving up to the station and soon coming to a stop nearby.
"Wow... Bertie the Bus himself." Rose looks on.
Bertie is an AEC Regal "T Class" London Country Area bus. Specifically, the single-decker half-cab front entrance buses were built between the 1930s and 1940s. He is painted in the common red livery of buses in the United Kingdom, mostly famously used by London Transport. His number plate reads CRD 54. His interior is cream-coloured with red seats. He has black lining on his cab-door and sides.
"Hello there, new faces. Need any help? Bertie is here to get you anywhere, vroom-vroom!" Bertie smiled.
"Thank you, Bertie. Can you please take us to Tidmouth Sheds?" Braedey asked to Bertie.
"Why, of course." Bertie acknowledged.
Braedey, Rose, and Scooby call climb in and got in their seats. Once onboard, Bertie toots his horn, and he began to drive through the town of Knapford, being careful of any traffic or other obstacles, making his way along towards Tidmouth, his passengers looking on in curiosity and awe of the whole town.
"Rool." Scooby commented.
"Yeah, it is cool, Scooby." Braedey nodded.
As they follow the road, they saw something big and fast rocket by, kicking up dust and dirt at the engines, and it raced down the line. Braedey and Rose looked, and they saw a large diesel, painted in tan with small olive stripes on the sides, race away in a cloud of dust.
"What... was that?" Rose asked in bewilderment. "I don't think I've seen that engine before."
"Nor have I. But I know what model that is - a BR Class 42 'Warship' diesel locomotive. Notoriously strong for their size." Braedey narrowed his eyes.
"I think we'll have to ask the engines if they've seen that diesel before." Rose suggested.
Eventually, Bertie arrived came to a stop not far away from where the sheds should be located in Tidmouth, not far from Knapford. His passengers disembark, thank him for such a smooth ride, and Bertie drove off to continue on his way. Braedey, Rose, and Scooby now take a look at the engine sheds. The sheds looked to be that of a German-style roundhouse with seven berths and a turntable out front.
"Wow... that's amazing..." Rose commented as she saw the sheds. "Looks so beautiful."
"Rey, who's that?" Scooby questioned. Braedey and Rose take a look at what Scooby is looking at.
There, sitting in one of the sheds berths, was none other than James the Red Engine himself. James is a Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway Class 28 'Hughes' 2-6-0 mixed-traffic tender locomotive designed by George Hughes for the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway and built by Horwich Works between 1909 and 1912. James is painted in NWR scarlet red with black lining and yellow cab window frames. He has gold boiler bands and a brass dome. His number 5 is painted on his tender in yellow with a black outline. He has a white running board with red bufferbeams and valences.
"James the red tender engine, one of the three big engines." Rose realised. "But... why is he here instead of out on the tracks?" She questioned.
"I guess we'll go and ask." Braedey shrugged back.
James didn't seem to be in a good mood, and what's worse? A fly was buzzing about him, causing him bother, and he was getting annoyed. "Sandal, fly. No... flu, fly. No. Shoo, fly! That's it!" James told the fly, which flew away. "Better still, buzz off!" James snapped at the fly.
"Bugs getting you steamed up, James?" A voice asked.
"Thomas, I'm not in the mood for-" James looks about, but he can't see any sign of the blue tank engine. "Huh?" He then saw three unknown individuals walking up. "Wait. Who are you three? What are you doing out here?" He asked. "You don't look like railway workers. You two are much too young."
"My name is Braedey. And this is Rose and Scooby-Doo." Braedey introduced. "Uh, sorry if we're staring. It's just - it's a real honour to see you in person, James." He said. "Especially seeing an engine like you since you're so unique."
"Oh, I see." James can't help but smile with some pride present in his voice. "Well, thank you, I guess."
"Uh, James? Why are you in the sheds?" Rose asked. "Why aren't you going about on the mainline enjoying the warm sun?"
James sighed as he looks down at his buffer beams, then told them. Earlier today, James was just getting some trucks for his goods train ready at the goods yard at Knapford when the trucks started to taunt and tease him, much to his annoyance, him bumping the trucks to try and make them stop, but to no avail as they still laughed and mock him. One coal truck then said something it shouldn't at James, the red engine getting fired up and angry in response, now reversing so fast to ram it, he was inadvertently switched onto another track and he rammed into one of Gordon's express coaches, causing some damage and putting that coach out of action until repairs were made. In response to this, Sir Topham ordered James to stay in the sheds to think on how he can be useful, and only then, can he be let out of the sheds again.
"Ooh... and that happened right before Sir Topham Hatt left?" Braedey asked after James had finished.
"Yes. He left just about two hours ago with Mrs. Hatt for their holiday." James added in as he sighed.
"Well, that's left us in quite the conundrum." Rose now said. "We need help to find a way home, and the man who runs this railway isn't even here."
"But who's going to be watching over the railway without Sir Topham Hatt?" Braedey questioned.
"He did say an old friend of his will be here by tomorrow." James answered in clarification to them.
"Well, we've got till tomorrow or so. But I guess we can spend some time here." Braedey shrugged. "It'll give us a chance to learn about you engines, as well as you to learn about us."
~*~*~
Sure enough, by the late evening, most of the engines had returned to the sheds after a long day's work. They got settled into each of the berths, steam wafting around their wheels and funnels, their fireboxes now emptied and set to cool down on their own. While this is going on, Braedey, Rose, and Scooby-Doo took the chance to learn about the engines, the former two all feeling excited about seeing Thomas himself (before Scooby helps to calm them down), and they took turns with telling the fleet of engines about their adventures and all the supernatural shenanigans they dealt with.
"Talk about impressive." Thomas commented.
"Gotta admit, that's kinda fun. A different adventure every day." James commented.
"Sounds like it." Percy the Small Engine added in. Percy is an Avonside Engine Company 0-4-0 saddle tank engine. Percy is painted in NWR apple green with red and yellow lining. His number 6 is painted on the sides of his cab in yellow with red lining and the lining around his cab windows is yellow, while he carries two builder's plates on the sides of his cab.
"So, your family, Mystery Incorporated, they all just travel the world and deal with supernatural events that turn out to be felons in masks?" Gordon inquired. Gordon happens to be an LNER A1 Pacific 4-6-2 steam locomotive, specifically the prototype engine to the Flying Scotsman, one of the most famous steam engines in the world. The engine is painted in NWR sky blue with red and yellow lining. A number 4 is painted on both sides of the tender in yellow with red lining, and the lining around the cab windows is in yellow.
"Yeah, that's just about the normality for us all." Rose answered to the big blue engine. She then stopped as she realised something. "Wait. Where is Edward?" She asked, realising the Furness Railway "Larger Seagull" K2 Class 4-4-0 steam locomotive isn't here in the shed. "Is he over on the Brendam Branch?" She questioned.
"Edward is staying over at The Works, undergoing some repairs. He's told us that he's been feeling some pain around his driving wheels and axles." Toby explained to the blonde girl.
"I see. That's why I haven't seen Edward anywhere." Braedey mused. "Well, I hope he gets back on his wheels in no time at all."
"Reah." Scooby nodded in agreement with Braedey.
"Too bad we didn't get the chance to see Sir Topham Hatt before he departed with his wife." Rose sighed.
"I am sure all will be alright." Toby reassured to them.
"Actually, I wish to ask you all about something." Braedey now asked to the engines. "Have you all dealt with a big diesel locomotive before? One that happens to be a BR Class 42 diesel?" He asked.
"We did, years ago." James replied bluntly.
"I think it was back in the 1980's when this diesel was put on trial." Toby recalled. "This diesel visited Sodor a long time ago, and he caused trouble for us steam engines while he was there."
"What had happened?" Rose questioned in concern.
"This diesel was manipulative, mischievous and ravenous, who acted like a tyrannical boss-like figure, and he absolutely despised steam engines. He was also responsible for causing a derailment years ago and that left an engine incapacitated." Gordon stated next.
"When Sir Topham Hatt was informed of this, he immediately sent that diesel away back to the mainland." Thomas adds in next.
"We were told that another engine would be here on the island to help us before Sir Topham Hatt departed for his holiday." Toby explained to them. "But I don't think he got the chance to see which engine arrived."
'And yet, we saw a huge diesel running about earlier.' Braedey thought to himself in uncertainty. 'I've got a bad feeling about this particular locomotive...' He was cut off when he saw Rose yawning. "I guess we should get some sleep." Braedey said softly.
"There's some beds nearby. You all can sleep there." Thomas said to them.
So, the three of them got the shed doors closed, the engines all in their berths and one by one, the engines soon fell asleep, all with soft smiles on their faces as they go to sleep. As they fell asleep, Braedey and Rose made their way over to where they found some bed cots nearby, but they did take notice of the hole in the wall, as well as the scaffolding around the brickwork.
"Huh. They must've been on maintenance work with the shed." Braedey took a guess.
"At least we won't have to worry about any mosquitoes." Rose sighed in relief.
"Reah." Scooby nodded back.
"Come on, now. Let's get some rest." Braedey yawned softly.
Sure enough, the two lovers and Scooby go ahead and they settle down into bed, the three of them settling down and eventually falling asleep, Rose and Braedey cuddling together with Scooby in an adjacent bed. As they fell asleep along with the slumbering locomotives, they were in wonder over what they would do for tomorrow, all the while thinking about the rest of the gang and hoping they were all alright...