From Oldcastle to Lady's Workshop

Amateur Thomas AU Person

[lbscr106]

The Prototype of a Mixed Traffic 0-4-0 Class on my fictional railway, the Oldcastle & Bluebell Valley Railway.

The prototype performed well, but there were some shortcomings that were resolved for the fist standard member of the class, namely lengthening the wheelbase so it would stop bucking like an industrial at speed.

(I have yet to think of a lore reason, but it is entirely accidental that it is in NWR Blue. None of these in my AU ever went to Sodor, as far as I know)

[lbscr106]

Inspired by this design both IRL and in my AU, the logic here was that “Surely my podunk rural freelance railway is smart enough to build a class of mixed traffic 0-4-0s” and they are. The class they end up building lasts to BR and is often used as a test bed for modifications and experiments.

[peteculver224416]

Embrace

[sweetsart2000]

The Afton family

[sweetsart2000]

The Afton family

[lillyloon]

PANTZ

[lbscr106]

Now this is some top tier wholesome gremlin energy

[peteculver224416]

Sister from another mister

[sleepyfurnace]

First || <<Prev || Next

Whiplash

I'm planning on finishing the first chapter before my school starts, hope I can pull through

[sleepyfurnace]

<<Prev || Next>>

new pages woo

and a silly bonus thing:

he's still not used to his body

[hazel-of-sodor]

The Cronk and Harwick: Life of the Valley-The Second World War

Other Stories

Founding to 1914

The Great War

The Quiet Years

The Coal Rush

The Second World War

The Second Word War

1939-1945

On September 3, 1939, War was officially declared between Britian and Germany. Germany's u-boats prowled the Atlantic ocean, sinking ship after ship. Sodor ports were quickly filled to capacity as ships from the Americas raced for safety. From the ports, Long North Western trains raced towards the mainland day and night. The London Midland and Scotland had given up its plan to starve the North Western of coal several years prior, but they struggled to ramp up delieveries of coal to the railway in the face of the wars never ending demands. The weight of the North Western once again fell on the Ooyre Valley's shoulders. Trains ran day and night, Leeks and Manifolds massive headlamps blazing a path through the dark, whistles sounding as they charged the hills.

British warships patrolled the coast line, daring any submarine to try and sever the flow of coal. On the shore anti-aircraft embankments were built en masse, to defend the skies.

Seemingly overnight the railway went from having a surplus of power, to struggling to meet demand. They needed every engine running, and that included Sapphire. They couldn't afford the time it would take to overhaul her themselves. The board of the Harwick Shipping Company were desperately searching for more ships to haul coal and slate, so on October 13th, 1939, the Cronk and Harwick Railway directly met with the North Western Railway for the first time. Sir Topham Derek Hatt immediately phoned the admiralty upon hearing their request. That night as the clock struck midnight, Sapphire was loaded onto the deck of the light cruiser D52 HMS Enterprise, bound for Tidmouth Harbor. Sapphire was raced across the Island in the dark on an express freight hauled by the NWR's No.4, the fastest engine on the Island. Crovan's Gate was already developing a reputation as one of the best, and they did not disappoint. On January 3rd, 1940 Sapphire was lowered back onto C&H metals, but she wasnt alone, she brought two new engines with her.

---Mid-Sodor No.4---

1906-1915-1939

In early 1906, the Mid-Sodor railway finally found an engine that could take the place of their fallen No.3. Originally named Beddgelert, the engine had been built by Hunslet Engine Co. in 1878 for the Bryngwyn Branch of North Wales Narrow Gauge Railways. A powerful 0-6-4 saddle tank, she had served the line for nearly thirty years, but by 1906 the poor engine was clapped out. The NWNGR was surprised to get an offer from the Mid-Sodor to buy the engine, and sold Beddgelert for less than scrap. The Mid-Sodor repaired her as best they could and put her into service as No.5 Hawk. The makeshift repairs had only ever been temporary, and she was once again on her last legs by 1915. It seemed she was once again destined for scrap, but she would once again be saved by a surprise offer. The North Western Railway needed a narrow gauge engine for their newly built Crovan's Gates Works. The Mid-Sodor happily sold her, believing the North Western were fools for buying the worn-out Hawk.

Two months later, the newly restored Beddgelert had the Mid-Sodor board seething with envy. For the first time in years, Beddgelert was at her full strength. She originally enjoyed her work at Crovan's Gate, but slowly as the years went by she began to struggle with being restricted to the works, missing the ability to make longer runs. By 1939 she was desperate for a change of pace, but the North Western had no other narrow gauge track for her to work.

---The Duke---

When Beddgelert shunted Sapphire into position at the works she found two other narrow gauge engines undergoing overhaul. One was a Baldwin 4-6-0, with a strange cab and funnel, the other was an England class 0-4-0. The England introduced himself as Mid-Sodor No.1, Duke. Sapphire recognized him as the No.1 from Jennings' stories, and told him of Jennings restoration and rebuild. Duke was delighted, but throughout it all the baldwinn remained silent. Quietly starring down at her buffers.

"That was our number eight until a few weeks ago," Duke explained quietly. "She was sold to pay for my rebuild. I'm afraid her story is no kinder than Jennings'."

---Mid-Sodor No.8---

1935-1939

No.8 had no name, she had been built in 1917 by Baldwin Locomotive Works in America for use in the war. After the war she had been sold to a small railway in Wales in 1921 to handle their freight service. She had been the odd one out, there, but the railways three engines had always treated her as one of their own. Unfortunately by the 1935 the line was in dire straits, and she had been sold to the Mid-Sodor to keep the lines head above water. In the years to come she would wonder if scrap would have been kinder.

The Mid-Sodor was in bad shape, over-expansion in the twenties had left the railway vulnerable during the depression, forcing the closure of many of the railway's branchlines. The line may have been able to weather the storm and reopen the lines, had it not been for the North Western Railway's Peel Godred branch. 

Since its opening in 1875, the Mid-Sodor had been the only rail connection Peel Godred had to the outside world. Freight and passengers rode the railway for years,  but that changed with the construction of the Peel Godred Hydro-electric Dam. The Mid-Sodor had initially been approached to carry the equipment needed for the Dam. While the loading gauge would have to be increased, it was a feasible project, and would be cheaper than bringing the equipment in any other way. The Mid-Sodor's management knew this, and asked a hefty sum for the service, believing the Project had no other choice. They were wrong. The high asking price had led to the Project's board to approach the North Western Railway. The North Western offered to build a new standard gauge branch North from Cronk at cost, powered by the very electricity the Dams would produce.

The Peel Godred city council voted unanimously to sponsor the branch's construction in order to break the Mid-Sodor's monopoly.

The new branch decimated the Mid-Sodor's traffic, as the standard gauge trains could carry more freight and passengers with greater speed and comfort. The Mid-Sodor's former customers fled to the North Western, and by 1935 all but three of the line's engines had been sold off to keep the line above water, leaving the line short on motive power. It was in this state that the line bought No.8 to cover the work of the former engines.

No.8 was disliked by the management even before her arrival, as one of her siblings had served as the lines No.2 following the war, and had rode poorly due to being improperly regauged. The No.2 had quickly become known for derailing, and management had eventually forced him to take Jennings's old place as generator at the sheds, stripping him to the frames. Despite the former No.2 being sold to the Cas-ny-Hawin Mines the year before her arrival, No.8 inherited the disdain for her sibling the moment she arrived. She was quickly put to work, carrying out the duties of three of the former engines. She was overworked and neglected. Washdowns were rare to say nothing of maintenance. The three other engines helped where they could, but had their own loads to carry. She tried to impress them, to prove herself. If anything these attempts deepened their disdain for her. Slowly her attempts to talk to the crews slowly then stopped. By 1938, even the other engines could not rouse a word from the no.8, much to the management's satisfaction. 

The arrival of the war changed everything, the railway was suddenly needed once more, as lead flowed from the mines. Pearl was worked harder than ever, and the neglect finally took its toll. Hauling a full load of slate down one of the lines grades, her motion gave out. She rolled down the track, gaining speed as her shattered motion tore itself apart. Her crew having jumped clear the moment she failed.

Down the line No.3 Falcon was in a passing siding with a load of empty trucks waiting for her to pass when he was warned of the runaway. Rather than stay in the siding as ordered, he left his trucks there and stormed up the line, as the runaway approached he reversed quickly and caught the train on his buffers. Braking hard he brought the train under control, but the damage had already been done. When she was gently pushed into the sheds that night by Falcon, the engines already knew she wouldn't be repaired. Her motion was completely obliterated, and much of her undercarriage had been damaged as the motion tore itself apart. The next morning the manager announced she was being sold to Crovan's Gate to pay for No.1's overhaul, remarking that the works probably needed all the scrap they could find.

No.8 was loaded onto a flatbed alongside No.1 and shipped to the NWR without a second thought from the management, leaving No.3 and No.4 to run the trains.

---Purchase---

Sapphire was appalled at No.8's story, and resolved at once take the poor engine with her when she returned to the Cronk and Harwick. Duke immediately backed her plan, determined to see the engine he had failed so badly finally have a home.

Together the two convinced the C&H board to attempt to buy the No.8 from the North Western.

When the board approached the NWR, they were surprised to learn the North Western had purchased No.8 with the intention of restoring her to help the Cronk and Harwick deal with the wartime traffic. It was more important for the North Western to have a steady supply of coal than to directly regain their investment in number 8. Her overhaul and repairs would be finished alongside Sapphire's.

 However, the North Western did have another engine they were willing to negotiate the sale of. Bedgellert's depression had not gone unnoticed by the Crovan's Gates crews, and it was hoped she would be happier working in the Cronk and Harwick. The North Western's asking price was more than fair, and on New Year's Day 1940 three locomotives left Crovan's gate on a westward freight, bound for the Cronk and Harwick.

---War Service---

Sapphire and the new engines were quickly put to work. Sapphire reclaimed the passenger services, freeing Glynn to assist Manifold and Peregrine with the coal work, allowing trains to run around the clock while still giving the engines time to rest.

Beddgelert became the lines No.13, and their dedicated banker. She relished the challenge and could often be found grinning as she charged the hills. Despite the crews best efforts, there was almost always a layer of dirt and grime covering her, much to her satisfaction.

 The former Mid-Sodor No.8 joined Jennings in handling the supply trains and farm work, becoming the lines No. 14 .When Jennings had arrived to collect Sapphire and the new engines from the dock, Jennings had taken one look at the silent Baldwin and all but adopted her fellow Mid-Sodor survivor on the spot, naming the quiet engine Pearl. When they had arrived at the sheds a commotion had erupted as the the Beyer-Peacock trams had swarmed the Baldwin, their happy whistles and shouts echoing down the valley. Once the three had been calmed down enough to explain, it was revealed that the newly named Pearl had been the fourth engine on their line, sold the year before they were in an attempt to keep the line going. 

Pearl remained mute throughout  this unexpected reunion, but a soft, hesitant smile spread on her face for the first time in months. She quickly proved herself a hard worker, and while unwilling to speak, she was always willing to listen. The longer she worked with Jennings, the more she opened up to the other engines, who quickly grew protective of their newest fleetmate.

The War raged on through 1940, then 1941, 1942, and on. The heavy workload wore on the engines, but the railway pressed on. There would never be an attack on the valley during the war, although whether this was due to the lack of intelligence on the valley or the heavy defenses is unknown. There was an attempt on the Harwick Shipping Company's R.M.S. Megantic, serving as

The troopship HMT Megantic in early 1942 off the Tidmouth coast. A torpedo from the u-boat U-112 missed, narrowly as the Megantic swerved to Starboard. Before U-112 could attempt to either dive deeper or launch another salvo, a shot rang out over the water and a 6 inch shell tore through the u-boats bow. The U-112's crew had dismissed the Sodor Star line's RMS Mauretania, serving as Troop Ship HMT Mauretania exiting Tidmouth Harbor, believing themselves to be far out of range of the 6 inch gun mounted on her bow. This would prove to be a fatal mistake for U-112, with her bow pierced she was forced to fully surface, and there was no way she could escape the 2 inch guns of the Megantic, which were swing around to face the stricken u-boat, much less the Mauretania or shore emplacements.  U-112 was left with no choice, but to surrender.

The war traffic seemed endless as the conflict dragged on, but finally on the 8th of May, 1945, Sapphire charged up the valley once again, shattering the quiet morning with her whistle. Germany has surrendered, and the war in Europe had ended.

A/N: Hello Loves! Yes the Cronk and Harwick is not abandoned, even if updates will be slow, Love Y'all!

[hazel-of-sodor]

Something that occurred to me a few days ago. You guys realize why Screech is named such right?

Shes a 47xx "night owl"....

As in Screech Owl

...

Eagle is for Eagle Owl

And Tyto is for Tyto Owl

[peteculver224416]

Based on true events

[hazel-of-sodor]

You ever thought about the fact that if your AU was real (like Sodor was real and everything in your AU happened), it would probably have its own OverSimplified video on yt?

I've never watched a OverSimplifed video, but I have general thought how Sodor is seen in the age of the internet.  Caomhnóir being the proven champion of a diety, how is that taken? Do alot of people not believe the stories, that theyre faked? Where did thomas come from? The Sodor engines and J72s know, but does anyone else? are there conspiracy videos on where he or henry came from?

[hazel-of-sodor]

Christmas 2025-Lightbringer

Warning: Screech doing Eldritch Horror things

Other Stories

Other U&DR Chapters

The yard at Uman was covered in a good foot of snow. The station shone merrily with lights and all the engines were settling down with the limited services of the day. Screech was humming quietly as Mali and Miss Lewis polished her nameplates, Abbey sipping at a barrel of cappuccino alongside her. Carys and Avon were reminiscing on the days of the old Uman and Din, with Hengi and Blaidd occasionally interjecting. Sarah and Enid were scheming in the corner, Screech over hearing something about snowmen. Beca was trying a roasted walnut Miss Morgan tossed her, and Gywn and Freda danced to the song from the radio on Ffion’s bufferbeam. It was a wonderful, peaceful evening…until the sky split.

Thunder cracked the heavens as golden light shone down like lightning, Caomhnóir bursting into view like a miniature sun, her golden light almost burning in its intensity. Screech instinctively shielded the others with her tendrils, noting the tank engine seemed to haven't noticed her own arrival. 

“It is ENOUGH!” The guardian thundered, “let them burn beneath her light if this is their true colours! My patience only stretches so far, and it is gone!” Whereas Screech’s voice normally echoed from a thousand angles, the guardian's voices seemed to come from everywhere at once, the loose objects around the shed vibrating as she swore.

Abbey and Screech shared a glance, wondering just what had managed to anger the guardian to such an extent.

The tank engines crew hopped down, and looked no less thunderous than their engine, seemingly uncaring the edges of their hair glowed from her power, threatening to catch alight.

The whisper mused that Cassandra's rage was the most beautiful thing they had seen besides Abbey. Screech absently reminded it that it had felt the same about the sandwich from the new shop in Draethell earlier in the week, before turning her attention to the raging guardian before her.

“Just who shall we be burning?” She rumbled curiously, stretching her valve gear and tendrils in preparation.

The guardian’s eyes swung to her in surprise, 

“Screech?”

So Screech had been right and she had not realized where she was.

“Indeed. I had wondered if you had meant to come here.”

“No.” Cassandra breathed frustratedly, “I just needed to get away before I hurt one of the others, so I asked the Lady to take me away.”

Now that it was mentioned, there was a heaviness in the air, and the scent of steam, as if something greater was watching them.

Cassandra focused on the tracks in front of her, trying to dim her light, but it only grew brighter with her frustration.

“Douse me,” she finally hissed, “before I lose control.”

Screech obligingly reached out her tendrils and wrapped the smaller engine in an embrace, channeling as much as cold through them as she could. Mali walked up, wreathed in her own tendrils and sat on Cassandra's bufferbeam, gently stoking her cheek as the engine began to slowly calm.

“Now,” Screech rumbled, “who are we burning?”

Cassandra looked up, angry golden tears tracking down her face, “all of them. Every last one. I have shown too much mercy to the other railway, it is time to end it.”

Screech hummed, shaking the ground beneath them. “In the morning.”

“I figured you of all engines would be thrilled by this,” Cassandra snapped.

Screech snorted, “I am. however…” She laid a gentle tendril over the tank engine's mouth to keep her from interrupting, “I value your sanity more than the idea of a slaughter that I am perfectly capable of carrying out on my own.”  She gently tapped Cassandra's nose with one of her tendrils. “And make no mistake, this would break you.’

Cassandra shivered with pent up emotion, “not doing it might.”

Abbey gently rolled forward and buffered up to Cassandra, Mali coupling the two engines together. “Then tell us what has happened, and it will either ease your pain, or we will help you plan the fall of heavenfire upon your enemies.”

Abbey gently pulled Cass into her berth as the tank engine wrestled with her thoughts.

“We heard a Class 40 was on the run.” She finally said.

Ffion frowned, “they're not to be withdrawn for a few years yet, right? Why would they outright run, surely they could have disappeared before anyone realized?”

“I thought it was strange too,” Cassandra admitted, “but we managed to intercept them a few hours out…they…they…” 

“They had found children,” Samantha took over for her engine, her voice sharp. “Their controller had lost his wife a few years ago, and had since racked up debt gambling and drinking” The driver's teeth gritted hard enough to be heard, she shook her head. “he planned to use his children to pay off his debt. He hadn't counted on the class 40 overhearing, she took them and ran.”

The engines of the Uman and Din were deathly silent for a moment, the crews holding their breath, knowing just how protective engines tended to be over children.

Screech’s form flickered as her rage joined Cassandra's, a shape just out of their vision towering over the sheds. “And just where is that abomination now?” She rumbled, malice dripping off her tone.

Nicole’s answering grin was all teeth, “burned to ash beneath the Lady’s light. He caught up to us near Carlisle. He didn't see Caomhnóir until she hit him with the light.” Her smile sharpened, “it wasn't quick.”

“Good.” Screech rumbled, the other Uman engines chorusing agreement.

“The children don't know,” Cassandra mused, “I sent the Class 40 ahead when they drew close. I just told them he had been dealt with.”

She shook her head trying to clear it, “I handed them all over to Gordon at Barrow. I held it long enough to see Gordon across the bridge onto Sodor proper…”

“Then the Lady brought you here,” Abbey soothed, “where you were safe to lose control.”

“And with an engine that can find his associates,” Freda agreed.

Cassandra met her eyes, “they will be destroyed,” she warned, “I can do no less.”

“I expect they won't survive Screech finding them,” Miss Morgan said firmly, “and if in the morning you still feel it's time to tear down the other railway, then we'll stand by you.”

“If?” Cassandra said incredulously.

Miss Morgan strode up to the Lady's champion and looked her in the eye as she gently cupped her cheek. “You are a protector, not a destroyer my dear. While I have no doubt you would destroy his associates if Screech was unable, you are not one to burn it all down, or you would have long ago. You were chosen as a shield, not a sword. Now, it's almost Christmas and let's put these thoughts aside till morning. I'll go let Topham know the situation and that you'll be here for a bit.”

“...yes Miss Morgan.”

***

In an abandoned warehouse south of London, a group of beasts argued. Their associate was supposed to have arrived hours ago. The news was grim. His car had been found, smirking at a spot where ash had been stained into melted concrete, saying with a dark chuckle, “I never believed the tin cans, but the Lady does indeed protect.”

“Bast it! We'll have to leave soon,” the leader swore. “He’s gonna get us…”

He was cut off as something grabbed his leg and snatched hard enough the others heard the bone snap. 

Even as he struggled onto his knees, blood pouring from his broken nose, shadows rose around them, long, dark, and sinuous.

The temperature dropped low enough it began to burn on their exposed skin, their breath freezing in the air and falling as broken shards. The air fractured into a thousand thousand pieces as if they stood within a broken mirror.

“It is FAR too late for that.” a voice rumbled, echoing around them, twisting their insides as it passed through them from a thousand angles. More than one of their noses and mouths bled from the force of the voice.

Behind them a form rose, somehow both within the warehouse, and towering far, far above it.

Eyes, countless eyes, and teeth beyond number glistened even as the warehouse was cast into darkest midnight.

The men shook, their minds shearing at the glances of the form before them.

“Goodbye.”

***

Miss Morgan strode into the yard, her eyes quickly finding Cassandra being scrubbed by the cleaners as she chewed on one of Screech's spare strips of metal, the berth next to her occupied by a clearly self satisfied Screech, who was licking teeth that appeared impossibly sharp, even for her. Good, the filth has been dealt with then.

She approached the two, tossing Screech a warm roll and setting Cassandra’s on her running board. “From Sir Charles Hatt,” she explained, “for a job well done.”

She locked a firm glare on Cassandra before could reply, “and he said not to apologize for disappearing. He had to excuse himself after learning what had happened, and he didn't have to, in his words, ‘deal with the filth himself’. He said to take as long as you need, your work is covered.”

“How is Gordon?” Cassandra asked quietly, “he would not have taken the news well.”

“He set a new eastbound record for goods… and westbound. He wishes Screech happy hunting.”

Screech rumbled proudly.

“How are you feeling?” Miss Morgan asked Cass gently.

“Wrung out,” Cassandra admitted, “I haven't lost it like that since…maybe the end of steam.” She winced, "a lot of that time is a blurr.”

“We told you that you were pushing yourself too hard,” Abbey reminded lightly.

Cassandra shrugged carelessly ,”either I lost sleep to saving engines or couldn't sleep because of those I failed to save.”

“You need therapy,” Mali called from where she was checking the tank engines oil levels.

“I'll accept therapy when Screech does,” Cassandra replied dryly.

“Is that so?” Abbey said, raising an eyebrow.

Screech sighed, “now you've done it.”

Miss Morgan snorted, “you can bully Screech into therapy later Guinevere, for now we need to get Cass repainted so that the other railway isn't asking how Thomas got here overnight without being noticed.”

“New paint for Christmas,” Cassandra laughed, “James is gonna pop his safety valve when he hears.”

The sheds turned back to happier conversations of joy and the season, and for the moment, all was peaceful once more on the Uman and Din Railway.

A/N: Hello loves, despite work and sickness, I managed to slam together a Christmas special for this year. Love Y'all, and Merry Christmas!

[hazel-of-sodor]

Tonight's engine, my updated LNER A4 pacific! I updated the motion, and took the opportunity to finish out the liveries. (severalof these are inspired/pulled from @joezworld's Au with permission)

Spencer (Silver Link- is preserved by Sir Robert Noramby in 1962. When not pulling Railtours or serving as the Duke's private engine, he serves on the North Western Railway.

4491 Commonwealth of Australia- was gifted to her namesake country upon withdrawal in 1964.

C1 Dr. Evan Pierce (William Whitelaw)- was purchased by the Denbigh and Wrexham Railway in 1966 to run their express services to London.

17 Silver Fox- is under private ownership, but is managed by the London New Eastern Railway on behalf of her owners.

60015 Quicksilver-was purchased by the Chester and Holyhead Railway in 1963, and ran her last British Railways train from London onto C&HR Metals under her own power.

4902 Seagull-purchased as scrap for the Seagull Line, where she is their flagship engine.

4468 Mallard-The Official World Speed Record holder for Steam locomotives, Mallard is owned by the National Railway Museum.

2511 Silver Queen (Silver King)- purchased by the North Western Railway upon her withdrawal in 1965, she chose to amend her name to Silver Queen, but keep her original Silver King markings.

4487 Sea Eagle and 4494 Osprey- purchased in 1962 by the London New Eastern Railway to run their express services.

4493 Woodcock- escaped to America aboard an unknown liner in 1963.

4903 Peregrine- preserved by the Krestaen Railway Museum upon withdrawal in 1966.

4498 Sir Nigel Gresley- preserved in 1967 by the A4 Locomotive Society,known in the present day as the Sir Nigel Gresley Locomotive Preservation Trust.

4464 Bittern- bought by Geoff Drury in September 1966 from British Railways, the locomotive is currently owned by Jeremy Hosking.

60009 Union of South Africa- was purchased from British Railway by John Cameron in July 1966. She is usually found on his Lochty Preservation Railway.

60035 Thunder-the 36th member of the Class, was slated for Preservation by the Sudrian Railway Museum in the 50s, and ran to the museum under her own power upon withdrawal in 1966. She remains one of their flagship excursion engines through the present day. Notably this engine spent her later LNER and British Railway service sharing the number of LNER A3 Windsor Lad due to an accounting oversight.

60013 Dominion of New Zealand- was gifted to her namesake country upon withdrawal in 1963, but wasn’t delivered until 1964 so she could be shipped with 4491 Commonwealth of Australia.

60 018 Sparrow Hawk- was donated to the London New Eastern Railway when withdrawn in 1963, with the provision she would be available for use if BR wanted to run steam excursions in the future. Due to this, Sparrow hawk would spend much of the 70s and 80s pulling excursions on the BR mainline.

4489 Dominion of Canada- was gifted to her namesake country upon withdrawal in 1965.

4486 Merlin-was yanked off the docks by cargo ship in 1965, and taken to South Korea, where he would take up high speed express trains as he was designed to pull. In the modern day he is an honored elder among their locomotives, and trained almost every high speed locomotive and trainset in the Republic of Korea.

11 Empire of India- was purchased directly from British Railways in 1964 by Silver Fox’s owner. She can normally be found hauling expresses on the London New Eastern Railway, as prefers to stay on home rails rather than touring.

4484 Falcon, 4900 Gannet, and 4483 Kingfisher- were purchased by an American Railroad. 4493 Woodcock had wandered onto the line after her escape to America, which had led to increased tourism to the line. In response the line contacted British Railways and acquired 4484 and 4900 later the same year. The three A4s soon settled into their new home, although whether they understood the difference between their new employment and the former ownership by British Railways was somewhat of a question at the time. In 1966 the railway contacted BR again and 4483 joined the trio.

4495 Golden Fleece-rolled himself on a ferry to France at the end of 1962, and eventually ended up in America, Running the CSX Miami Terminal.

60008 Dwight D. Eisenhower- Donated to the United States in 1964 due to being named after a US President. He soon found employment on the Southern Pacific, and would eventually marry one of their Daylight GS-4 northerns, 4437 Irene.

[hazel-of-sodor]

Daisy the Drifting Railcar

Other Stories

Autumn had come to the Ffarquhar Branchline, and with it, rallying. Cars raced up and down the valley's roads and paths, each pushing themselves and their drivers to the limit.

The locomotives of the branchline watched with a mixture of interest and concern.

“Don't you wish you could join them?” Bertie asked while visiting the sheds one afternoon. “Racing down the mountain lanes, nothing but you and your crew's skill keeping you from disaster.” The bus sighed longingly.

“No.” Toby said dryly, “that seems a good way to meet a tree.”

“While it looks fun,” Cassandra admitted, “I have to agree with Toby. I had to help get one out of a tree a few years back.”

“Oh you're all just a bunch of fussy slowpokes,” Bertie groaned.

“Remind me which won all of your races with Caomhnóir, road or rail?” Diesel asked silkily.

Bertie scowled as Cass chuckled smugly, “it's not my bloody fault she has the favor of the Lady!”

Percy smirked, “or she's just that much faster than you.”

“Oi!”

“In any case,” Daisy interjected smoothly before the bus could get a proper reply in, “we have better things to do than risk our frames slinging mud all over the place.”

One of the rally cars had slung mud on her several years prior while racing past, and while she had graciously forgiven the car when it had apologized, she remained unimpressed with rallying on the whole.

“Oh please,” Bertie teased, “you're just jealous you're too slow to race me.”

All the other engines suddenly sat straighter on their frames, while Daisy was normally content to leave the racing to Cassandra, she had a competitive streak like all passenger engines.

“Is that a challenge, little bus?” She asked slowly.

The bus raised an eyebrow, “wait, you actually think you can beat me? I know I’ve yet to beat the blue puffball, but you're not her by any means.”

Daisy stared impassively at the bus for a long moment before turning to Cassadra.

“Cass dear, would you allow me to take your passenger run in the morning?”

“Of course,” Cassandra purred, “we would want to give Bertie every chance to put his wheels where his mouth is, wouldn't we?”

Bertie was suddenly wondering if he had bitten off more than he could chew.

***

Officially, racing on the FFarquhar Branch was frowned upon by North Western Management. Unofficially? Tidmouth looked the other way when the Lady's favorite adrenaline addict needed to blow off steam. As such, the race was quickly organized, with the road and railway taking sides. The local road vehicles, long tired of Cassandra's unbroken streak of wins, spent every waking moment preparing Bertie for his run, for their chance to “finally beat the blasted railway.” The visiting rally cars, always happy for a good race, followed suit, teaching Beerie as much as they could in what time they had.

The railway locked ranks behind their railcar. The FFarquhar had never lost to the roads, and by the Lady, that would not change.

The rest of the day on the road was spent seeing Bertie run laps of his route with his brothers covering his duties, his engine roaring louder than it had in many a year.

On the rails, Cassandra and Daisy thundered up and down the line, with Daisy even joining the tank engine on her non-stop run from Tidmouth that night.

***

The morning dawned cold and the air crisp. Both Daisy and Bertie had been polished within an inch of their frames, gleaming in the station lights.

Both had run down to Knapford on a regular schedule, but now stood at the ready.

Toby stood light engine at the end of the station yard, watching for the clock to strike fifteen till the hour.

Not a sound could be heard besides the thrum of their engines and the wisps of steam on the morning air.

“Peeeeeepp!”

Bertie was off like an arrow, his tires leaving long black streaks on the pavement as he raced off. Daisy started slower, but her engine roared as she pulled away.

The two raced along, through level crossings, bridges, stopping at each station only long enough for their passengers to board or disembark, then they were off again.

Bertie drove like a bus possessed, swinging around every curve and throwing himself down the straights, each station he screeched to a stop, and roared away with the squeal of tires.

Daisy was more controlled, every start and stop was smooth, as she carefully controlled her throttle to keep from slipping. The well built rail lines meant she rarely had to slow at all for the curves and she seemed to fly between stations.

Slowly but surely, Daisy pulled ahead, and she smirked as she realized she just had to avoid any careless mistakes, and she had it .

It happened at Maithewaite.

The morning up passenger train didn’t stop at Maithewaite station, so Daisy didn’t slow as she approached the station, blowing her horn.

The signal man, used to Daisy’s slower normal pace, flipped the switch to send her on the outer track, thinking he had time for the points to flip. He did not.

The people and vehicles watched in astonishment as Daisy’s lead bogie entered the inner side track, the points flipped, and her rear bogie entered the outer track.

Most locomotives or railcars in this situation would stop, and see if they damaged something.

Daisy was a North Western railcar, a Ffarquhar railcar, with her line’s pride on the line. She gunned her throttle and hoped for the best. Sparks flew and her engine roared, the watching rally cars shouting “She’s drifting! She’s bloody drifting!” in excitement and awe as she shot through with a blair of her horn.

Her driver held on for dear life as she thundered over to the points back onto single track, but the track held and she crossed with barely a shudder.

She honked her horn triumphantly as she raced into the distance, the signalman nervously wiping anxious sweat off his brow.

***

Daisy rolled triumphantly into the station as Bertie crested the hill, to a chorus of whistles and horns from her fellow engines and rolling stock. Bertie arrived panting and swearing, but accepted his loss with as much grace as the bus accepted any loss, and mused that he would have to race diesel if he wanted a win.

The road vehicles didn’t rib the bus too much, reasoning no one had known the railcar could drift. The rally cars, thrilled with the whole thing, tried to convince Daisy to race again. The fitters, unimpressed with her drifting, shut down the idea before they could do more than ask. Daisy, satisfied with having beaten the bus, shrugged carelessly, but pointed them towards Cassandra if they wanted a race.

It was hoped the incident would be kept quiet, but multiple angles of the incident emerged on the internet within the hour. Thankfully the ORR dismissed the videos and incident report as a prank and never investigated. The outside world largely dismissed it as an urban legend until Percy slipped up and admitted it to being a true story in 2023.

As Daisy was found to have suffered no major damage from the incident, the NWR management allowed it to pass as a “lesson learned” moment, upgrading the detention equipment in the yards so the switches couldn’t be thrown while an engine was crossing again.

Daisy, much to her surprise, became a celebrity within the Sodor racing community, and is often asked to preside over road sport events on the island. She was bemused by the requests, but accepted, and found she enjoyed it. Over time she would become associated with Sodor Racing, and many teams have since applied the number D1 in NWR green to their vehicles and uniforms, claiming it brings them good luck.

A/N: Hello Loves! This story is the result of a meme from the discord. I hope you enjoyed! Next week, The Nowhere Model Railway AU begins, Love Y'all!

[hazel-of-sodor]

Presenting the Great Western Railways 4073 Castle Class!

4073 “Caerphilly Castle”-first of the class, preserved by the National Collection upon withdrawal in 1960.

4079 “Pendennis Castle”-Locomotive that was trialed on the LNER in the 1925 exchange trials. Operated by the Great Western Society at Didcot following an eventful life in preservation, including 23 years in Australia. Notably, (within the AU) the engine is still part owned by Australian Preservation Groups, whose interests are managed by the North Western Railway.

5043 “Earl of Mount Edgcumbe” (“Barbury Castle”)- rescued from Barry in 1973 by what is now the Tyseley Locomotive Works.

Thornbury Castle-Preserved by the Great Western Society at Didcot following her purchase from Barry in 1972 (no she's not a parts donor for a new build in my AU, screw that.)

5080 “Defiant” (“Ogmore Castle”)- rescued from Barry in 1974 by what is now the Tyseley Locomotive Works.

7029 “Clun Castle”-The Locomotive to haul the last steam hauled train from Paddington, and the last Castle to be withdrawn, she was preserved shortly after being sold for scrap in 1966, and is now owned by Tyseley Locomotive Works.

5051 “Drysllwyn Castle” (“Earl Bathurst”)-pulled from Woodham by a Great Western Society member in 1970.

5029 “Nunney Castle”-saved from Woodham by a mix of private individuals and Didcot in 1976, now owned and operated by Locomotive Services Limited.

AU Preserved 

7007 “Great Western” (“Ogmore Castle”)-pulled from Cashmore’s Great Bridge Scrapyard in December 1963 by the Kingsbridge Preservation Group.

7037 “Swindon”- Transferred to the North Western Railway upon withdrawal in 1963.

C32 (7032) Denbigh Castle (“Ogmore Castle")-Gifted to the DWR upon withdrawal in an attempt to improve relations.

4000 “North Star”-Originally the prototype of the Star Class, later rebuilt into a castle. Queen of the Great Western Railway. Her withdrawal in 1957 nearly caused the Western Region to revolt until it was announced she was being donated to the Sudrian Railway Museum, although whether that was always planned or a last minute change is heavily debated. She would become a common sight on Railtours through the Western Region through the fall of steam, being the last steam engine to run on the BR mainline before the steam ban went into effect. She returned to her railtours once the ban was lifted, and remains a favorite among railfans in the present day.

4090 “Dorchester Castle”-Purchased by the Chester and Holyhead in 1963 after she was withdrawn for the third time. 

5005 “Manorbier Castle”-Saved by Caomhnóir, operated by Locomotive Services Limited.

5002 “Ludlow Castle”-saved by a private collector.

7013 Bristol Castle and 4082 “Windsor Castle-Preserved upon withdrawal by the Seagull Line, and given their original names back.

4032 “Queen Alexandra”-Disappeared from Swindon in 1951, eventually appearing in a private collection in 1974. In recent years, she is often found hauling heritage trains for Arriva Wales.

4078 “Pembroke Castle” and 4085 “Berkeley Castle”- purchased by an Australian Tourist Line in 1962.

5032 “Usk Castle”-hidden away by Caomhnóir, donated to the lloches Heritage Railway in 1972.

7035 “Ogmore Castle”-Saved by an American Shortline in 1964, can still be found hauling local freights.

7010 “Avondale Castle”-Preserved on the London New Eastern Railway after being saved as a part of a joint deal with another of their engines.

5004 “Norwich Castle” (“Llanstephan Castle”)-purchased by her crew, often hired out for railtours or heritage operations. Currently operating heritage tours for the modern Great Western Railway.

5068 “Beverston Castle”-appeared at the Dartmouth Steam Railway in early 1973, her whereabouts from her withdrawal in 1962 until her sudden reappearance remain a mystery.

7020 “Gloucester Castle”-Saved by the Pennsylvania Railroad.

5019 “Treago Castle”-Escaped to the United States in early 1962 and found employment with the Southern Pacific, being nicknamed “Daylight Castle” by railfans.

6099 (5076) “Gladiator” (“Drysllwyn Castle”)-Saved from a scrapyard in 1964 by the Rose Line alongside several LMS engines, the Castle was in rather appalling shape when pulled from the scrap line. She was set to the side in the line’s works awaiting her eventual turn for repairs. The original plan was to restore the intact components before selling the engine onto a Great Western focused preservation line. However, it took several years before the original parts were ready for reassembly, and by this time Gladiator had become part of the railway, and the idea of selling the engine was a non-starter for engines, crews, board, and Gladiator alike. 5076 would remain a Rose Line Locomotive. Gladiator was given the choice of restoration. She could be restored to standard condition but in LMS Livery, or given a rebuild to represent what may have existed if the LMS had actually been allowed to purchase a set of Castle Class as they had wanted to in 1926. Gladiator chose to be rebuilt in LMS fashion in order to fit in with her new LMS family,  and emerged in 1976 in her new shape.

7016 “Chester Castle”-Preserved at the Krestaen Railway Museum.

5025 “Chirk Castle”-Preserved at the Denbigh Railway Museum

7008 "Swansea Castle”-Saved by the New York Central

4095 “Harlech Castle”-preserved by the Harlech Museum

4075 “Cardiff Castle”-Donated to a Canadian Heritage Railway

7028 “Cadbury Castle”-Purchased by the Cadbury Company, and is used to run promotional railtours.

[peteculver224416]

Coppelia arc part 3.5