(The North Western Chronicles season 1)
In 1911 on the faraway island of Sodor the island experienced a sudden shock when its largest railway The Sodor and Mainland railway suddenly closed its operations leaving a massive sprawl of abandoned territory in its wake...and in the wake of the closure, two brand new railways took over this territory.
The Sodor, Furness and Carlisle railway (an expansion of the smaller and much more profitable Wellsworth and Suddery railway) and the Tidmouth, Crovan's Gate and Vicarstown railway both took control of the abandoned lines and for a time things were good, certainly not perfect, but good nonetheless.
However, this calm was not to last.
In 1914 Britain declared war on Germany and Sodor immediately went on the defensive with it's railways commissioned to help the war effort.
While the Sodor, Furness and Carlisle railway had no problems with the increased shipping, the Tidmouth, Crovan's Gate and Vicarstown railway was another story entirely. With not even half the power of the SFCR it began to struggle greatly to keep up with wartime demands and by early 1915 the situation had reached crisis levels.
It was agreed that the Tidmouth, Crovan's Gate,and Vicarstown railway and the Tidmouth, Knapford And Elsbridge railway were to be merged...as a result of this merger a brand new railway company was created.
A railway that when opened would run from Tidmouth to Lancaster via the Furness line.
The railway was named...the North Western railway
The man put in charge of the railway was Sir Bertram Toppham Hatt...a former apprentice at Swindon and a fireman and later stationmaster on the Great Western railway, one who had dreamed of running his own railway and was personally selected by Duke Jack 1st of Sodor to run the newly founded railway.
By late August the vast majority of the refurbishment works were well underway...and Toppham came to greet his engines with some important news.
Sir Toppham Hatt stood on the station platform observing the engines in front of him.
Gathered were Edward, Crovan, Tilly, Winston, Roger, Neil, Clive and Matthew of the Tidmouth, Crovan's Gate and Vicarstown railway and Jules, Jackson, Victor, Glynn, and Lady of the Tidmouth, Knapford And Elsbridge railway.
''Good morning engines.'' Toppham greeted looking out at the engines gathered in front of him.
''Good morning sir.'' The engines replied in unison, smiling at him.
Toppham clapped his hands together and immediately got straight to business.
''Now then with the upgrades to the line nearly complete we can begin running services from here to Lancaster in approximately three months, we have new rolling stock due to arrive soon from the works and I've been going over the roster diagrams to decide suitable workloads for everyone and I can confidently say that I've managed to figure it all out.'' He said.
He cleared his throat and began.
''Glynn, I'm happy to announce you'll be staying on the Ffarqhuar branch. However, Victor, Lady, Jules and Jackson's power is needed on the mainline so they'll no longer be able to run it with you, and while I know you're a sturdy and reliable engine there's absolutely no way you'll be able to run it by yourself. Therefore Roger, Neil, Clive and Matthew will be working with you. I have the highest confidence you four will make an excellent team.'' Toppham smiled.
Toppham then turned to the other engines.
''Now Lady, you'll be working as the shunter at Vicarstown, the yards there will be busy even though the vast majority of our trains will terminate at Lancaster now. Edward and Crovan will be pulling our express passenger service, Winston you will be our primary heavy goods engines and Victor, Jules, Jackson and Tilly, you'll be working on the mainline as our designated mixed traffic engines.'' Toppham said.
''Umm sir...what about Tidmouth? Surely we'll need a shunter at the yard there, it's not exactly a small yard after all and once the railway starts operations it's going to become busier than ever.'' Tilly said.
''Quite right Tilly. Tidmouth will indeed be very busy...busier than ever in fact. That's why I've arranged for a new engine to join our railway, he'll be arriving this thursday from Brighton, he's freshly built and lacks experience, he was supposed to be assigned to work on the Brighton mainline, but due to some persuasion on my part, I've managed to purchase him to work as Tidmouth's new shunter. Edward, I'm making it your responsibility to make sure he settles in and feels welcome here.'' Toppham said.
''You said he was freshly built sir, how young are we talking?'' Winston asked.
''Very young Winston...about three weeks old in total.'' Toppham said.
The reactions were instantaneous:
''Three weeks! That's barely broken in!'' Roger exclaimed
''That's not young, that's brand new!'' Crovan gasped.
''Cinders and ashes! He's a baby!'' Tilly gasped.
''Newborn more like.'' Jackson said.
''Newborn indeed.'' Neil agreed
After a few moments the initial shock faded, but it certainly didn't dissipate in the slightest.
''Jesus christ...I remember when I was three weeks old.'' Neil muttered. ''I couldn't even reverse properly.''
''And you still can't sometimes.'' Clive muttered, earning him a sharp glare from Neil and snickers from the others (Even Toppham chuckled).
''Sir... Tidmouth isn't a quiet yard it's loud and very busy. I've been the shunter here for four years and it still has me nervous, and with the war on it's busier than ever.'' Tilly said.
''I understand your concern Tilly and believe me if the circumstances were better I would have kept you here and assigned this engine to work on the mainline but with the amount of traffic we're expecting I believe he'd quickly become overwhelmed and struggle. I've seen it before with new engines and the results are never great.'' Toppham said.
The older engines all murmured in agreement.
''What class is the new engine sir?'' Lady asked curiously.
''He's an E2 tank engine, built for shunting in large yards.'' Toppham said.
''An E2. Those are rather...big for Shunters aren't they?'' Crovan asked.
''Originally built for suburban work I think I heard.'' Winston said.
''Guess that means he'll have plenty of strength.'' Neil said.
''Indeed..his confidence may be another matter entirely however.'' Roger said.
''Aye...he's starting very strong while still very young, younger than most...if not all of us ever were.'' Neil said.
''Precisely.'' Toppham said. ''That is why we must all be patient with him...he is not arriving here as an experienced railway engine like the rest of you. He is arriving as a child...a child far from home. We must make sure he feels welcome and supported.'' Toppham said.
He looked at his engines.
''Can I rely on you all to do that?'' He asked.
''Yes sir.'' The engines all said in unison.
''Thank you.'' Toppham smiled.
"What's his name sir?" Edward asked after a moment.
''Thomas. His name is Thomas.'' Toppham said.
''Thomas. That's a fine name for a fine engine.'' Crovan hummed
''A good name indeed...very easy to remember.'' Jules said.
''And easy to yell if we have to tell him off.'' Glynn said with a chuckle.
That earned another round of laughter.
After a moment Toppham addressed the engines again.
''Now then. I think that's enough yapping from me for one night..you all need a good night's sleep so you can continue your work tomorrow.'' Toppham said.
He smiled at all of them.
''Goodnight engines, sleep well.'' He said before departing.
''Goodnight sir.'' The engines called after him.
Little did those engines know that day would begin the history of a railway that would go down in history.
Edward had just arrived at Barrow when he saw an all too familiar green 4-4-0 peacefully dozing in the siding by the carriage shed, buffers resting against a rake of coaches as though protecting them, steam barely whispering from his funnel, his eyes were closed, expression relaxed in a wise and content way only an engine with decades of experience could manage.
''Dozing in the sidings again.'' He chuckled knowingly.
Now, Edward had never really considered himself a mischievous engine, he was friendly, trustworthy and maybe a little cheeky from time to time....but he wasn't mischievous.
But for this engine, Edward was more than happy to make an exception.
With a small grin on his face he rolled alongside the engine and was about to blow his whistle, when suddenly...
The green engine let out a long, loud blast of his whistle.
"Bust my buffers!" Edward exclaimed in surprise.
The green engine opened his eyes, which were shining with barely restrained glee and smirked triumphantly at Edward.
"Are ye ever not going to fall for that?" He said in a warm Scottish accent.
''Hosea! You were asleep!'' Edward exclaimed.
''Aye...and you were sneakin' about.'' Hosea grinned
"Got me again Hosea." He smiled. "Every single time."
"Aye, ye think you'd learn not to try it on me anymore." Hosea grinned.
"One of these days Hosea...one of these days I'll get you." Edward said grinning back.
"Sure you will Eddie, you've been saying that since 1888. Now what brings ye to Barrow anyways, last I checked your railway doesn't begin running this way for another three months?" Hosea asked.
Hosea shot Edward a cheeky smirk.
''Missin' me already were ye. I only saw ye this morning at Wellsworth?'' He grinned.
Edward rolled his eyes fondly
"Don't flatter yourself Hosea, we have a new engine arriving today actually...from Brighton." Edward said.
"A new engine?" Hosea asked surprised.
"Indeed, an E2 tank engine...his name is Thomas. I'm here to greet him and show him the ropes." Edward said, a small frown on his face.
Hosea immediately noticed.
"Eddie, what's wrong lad?" He asked, confused.
Edward tried to hide his frown...and failed miserably.
"It's nothing Hosea...really." He lied.
"C'mon Eddie, we've been together fer nearly thirty years now...I know exactly when ye not telling me somethin'. Now what's wrong?" Hosea asked.
"You're right...you're always right." Edward sighed.
Edward took a deep breath.
"It's Thomas. Toppham wants me to show him the ropes." Edward sighed.
Hosea arched an eyebrow in confusion.
"What's wrong with that? Ye've always been good with the young engines...better than most." Hosea said confused.
"Hosea, we're not talking about a shunter with years of experience...we're talking about an engine who's only three weeks old." Edward said.
Edward then looked Hosea dead in the eye.
"Three weeks Hosea...Three. Weeks." Edward repeated.
''We're talking about a child...a newborn.'' He sighed.
The silence clung to the yard like fog clinging to the atmosphere.
''Blimey...and ye said he was goin' to Tidmouth. That place is louder than Glasgow docks in winter.'' Hosea said.
Edward nodded...he'd never been to Scotland, but Hosea and Crovan had both told him plenty of stories about the place over the years, and from what he'd heard that wasn't an exaggeration in the slightest.
"Remember what happened to the last engine we looked after...who we raised." Edward said after a moment.
"It's just...what if something happens to him. What if I fail him? I can't go through that again Hosea...I can't." Edward said, voice shaking.
Hosea looked at his partner, the engine he'd known ever since he arrived on the Sodor and Mainland railway back in 1882.
The engine who had guided Hosea through his own dark times...when he had arrived on Sodor a shell of his former self after an accident no engine should have survived.
It had been Edward who had guided him, believed in him.
The engine who now looked utterly broken by a tragedy that had once more come back to haunt them so soon after it happened.
"Eddie, listen to me very closely." Hosea said firmly.
"What happened back then wasn't because you failed...it happened because the world was cruel...and because a brave little engine did a brave thing." Hosea said
Edward sighed, his eyes glistening.
"I...we loved him so much Hosea." Edward said, his voice trembling.
"Aye...and that's why Thomas is so lucky." Hosea said.
Edward looked at Hosea confused.
"When he shows up he'll have the kindest engine on the whole damned island lookin' after him. An engine who'll not rush him, who'll teach him right from wrong, who'll listen to him when he's upset, who'll protect him when he needs it." Hosea said.
Edward let out a long shaky breath.
"I'm scared Hosea." He said
"Aye...and we both were back then too, but that didn't stop us from looking after him...and it won't stop you with Thomas, and you'll have me supportin' ye every step of the way, just like back then." Hosea said.
Before Edward could say anything an unfamiliar voice called out.
"Hello? Is this Barrow?" The voice asked.
"Looks like he's here." Edward said.
"Aye, let's go meet him." Hosea said.
The two engines reversed out of the sidings and into the yard...and sure enough, he was there.
They saw a little black tank engine with six small wheels, a short stumpy boiler, a shorty stumpy funnel and a short stumpy dome, he had the letters LBSC in gold paint on his side tanks and the number 108 near his coal bunker.
He looked nervously at the two larger engines as they appeared from the sidings.
''H-Hello.'' The tank engine stuttered nervously.
''Hello there, you're Thomas correct?'' Edward asked.
''Yes umm, that's me umm...'' The tank engine replied nervously.
''Edward lad.'' Edward smiled.
''And I'm Hosea.'' Hosea said.
''Hello hello hello!'' a voice called from the station.
''And here comes the boss.'' Hosea smiled.
Toppham himself appeared, smiling at Thomas.
''You must be Thomas,my new tank engine, my name is Sir Bertram Toppham Hatt.'' Toppham said.
''Pleased to meet you.'' Thomas smiled.
Toppham was silent and cleared his throat awkwardly.
''Sir...you're supposed to call him sir.'' Edward whispered to Thomas.
''Pleased to meet you, sir.'' Thomas said.
''I'm pleased to meet you too Thomas, now...as you can see I'm a very busy man, and this is a very busy railway.'' Toppham said.
''So I expect you to make yourself useful right away, you and Edward will be stationed here for today for your trials and he'll will show you what to do.'' He added.
Edward smiled warmly at Thomas who smiled back.
''Now then, I'll leave you two to it, I'll see you tonight at the sheds.'' Toppham smiled.
''Yes sir.'' Edward and Thomas said in unison.
Toppham smiled at the pair of them and began walking back towards the station.
''He seems nice.'' Thomas smiled.
''Trust me Thomas, he is...firm but fair, that's why he was the one appointed to the role of controller in the first place. He's a good person who treats everyone fair and trust me Thomas, there are a lot of unpleasant people and engines in this world. We know a couple of those.'' Edward said.
Just then a loud and grand sounding whistle echoed in the distance.
''Speaking of.'' Edward muttered under his breath.
Just then a large 4-4-0 rumbled into the station hauling a troop train bound for Carlisle.
The engine's green and gold paint shone brightly in the sunlight and his side rods were polished so brightly they actually hurt Thomas' eyes.
''And who are you?'' He demanded looking at Thomas, raising an eyebrow as he tried to size him up.
''I'm Thomas.'' Thomas replied nervously, unsure how to feel in this engine's presence.
''The new shunter at Tidmouth.'' Edward supplied.
The engine snorted in amusement, a smirk appearing on his face.
''Oh really? He looks a little small for a big yard like Tidmouth.'' The engine smirked.
''Hey! Little engines can do big things!'' Thomas huffed, scowling at the much larger engine.
The engine wasn't even phased by what Thomas said, if anything his smirk only widened.
''Well little one, if you stick around long enough you may just see me...pulling the express.'' He smirked.
Hosea rolled his eyes...if he had a lump of coal for every time he'd heard Miles say that.
The grand engine then blew his whistle long and loud and he began to pull out of the station.
''That...''' He added smugly. ''...will be a fine sight for you.''
Thomas scowled as he watched him disappear...he already didn't like this engine in the slightest.
Hosea and Edward shot each other exasperated looks...typical Miles.
Edward sighed and looked at Thomas.
''I'm sorry about Miles Thomas .I'm afraid he's often like that.'' He said apologetically.
''What's his problem? I didn't even do anything?'' Thomas huffed.
''How much time ye got.'' He muttered sarcastically.
They both noticed the frown on Thomas' face.
''Don't let Miles get to you Thomas...that's just what he wants.'' Edward said.
''Aye laddie...engines like him just care about their records and their polish.'' Hosea said.
Hosea narrowed his eyes at the spot where Miles had vanished from sight.
''And don't ye fret lad. I'll be givin' that engine a good talking too later.'' Hosea said firmly.
''I don't want him to get in trouble because of me.'' He said.
Hosea's glare softened into a smile as he looked at Thomas.
''He's not in trouble cause of ye' lad...he's needed to be taken down a peg or two for a while. Trust me, I would know.'' He said.
''He's right Thomas, Hosea is the only one who can put Miles in his place, his scoldings are something else...I've learned from experience.'' Edward joked.
''Ye earned it back in 1891.'' Hosea said firmly.
''I did not!'' He exclaimed.
''Ye reversed into the coaches and broke half of 'em.'' Hosea said.
''It was foggy!'' Edward exclaimed defensively.
Thomas suddenly giggled, a small shy sound...but it was there.
Hosea and Edward both laughed too and that just made Thomas laugh even more.
Not long later Thomas' shunting trials were officially underway.
At first things were....difficult.
Thomas had a habit of bumping the trucks too hard when he tried to couple into them, it wasn't a major issue however and was quickly corrected by Edward and also a couple of shunters from the Furness railway who saw and decided to offer their own advice.
There were a lot of laughs from everyone involved and soon Thomas began to noticeably improve.
By the time dusk began falling Edward and the Furness engines were satisfied with Thomas' work and the Furness engines headed to their sheds to rest for the night.
''Nice work today little one.'' A G5 called as he reversed out of the yard.
''You picked it up quicker than I did on my first day.'' A J11 added with a smile.
Edward rolled alongside Thomas who was already partly asleep in one of the sidings, completely knackered from the long day he'd had.
A part of Edward didn't want to wake him, he looked so peaceful...but needed to take Thomas back to Tidmouth and introduce him to the others and get him settled into Tidmouth Sheds for the night.
''Thomas...Thomas.'' Edward whispered gently.
''Huh. I wasn't sleepin'.'' Thomas mumbled, eyes half lidded and voice slightly slurred.
''Of course little one, you were just resting your eyes.'' He teased.
He looked at Thomas, seeing just how exhausted the little engine looked.
''Come on Thomas. I need to take you to Tidmouth now, the others will be waiting to meet you.'' He coaxed gently.
''Others?'' Thomas asked, not opening his eyes.
''Yes Thomas, the other engines you'll be working with.'' Thomas smiled.
After finally managing to coax Thomas into a somewhat awake state the two engines began heading to Tidmouth sheds.
''Edward...are the other engines nice?'' Thomas asked nervously.
''Very nice Thomas...some I've worked with since the day I was built, some I've known for only a few months...but they're all very friendly and hard working engines and I'm sure you'll like all of them.'' Edward smiled.
''Okay Edward.'' Thomas yawned.
When they got to the sheds most of the others were already waiting for them, they looked up as Edward arrived with Thomas in tow.
''Well then, you must be the new one.'' Winston smiled as Thomas approached the turntable.
Thomas yawned as he rolled onto it and its frame creaked slightly as his wheels settled on it.
''Edward. i'm tired.'' Thomas mumbled, barely managing to suppress a mighty yawn.
''I know you are little one...just a few introductions, then you can sleep.'' Edward smiled.
Thomas looked at the other engines.
''Yes...I'm Thomas.'' Thomas said looking shyly at the engines in the shed.
''I'm Winston...these engines here are your new family'' Winston said.
''Hello lad.'' Crovan smiled.
''Hey there.'' Jack smiled.
''Hello Thomas.'' Jules said.
Thomas looked at Neil, Clive and Matthew.
''Umm...no offence, but you three look really old.'' Thomas said, he'd never seen engines like them before.
''Thomas, that was very rude.'' Edward said firmly but gently.
''Sorry.'' Thomas wincing apologetically.
The three boxcabs roared with laughter.
''No offence taken laddie....the three of us, well we're near past sixty.'' Clive said.
''Sixty-Three.'' Winston corrected smugly.
''Oi! Watch it!'' Clive barked at him, but he was still laughing.
''So he's finally here then.'' A voice suddenly said.
Thomas looked behind him and saw a little blue tank engine coming in from the yard.
''Hello there little one, you must be Thomas.'' Tilly smiled.
Thomas blinked in surprise.
''ummm-Yes, that's..me.'' He said shyly looking at his buffers.
Tilly peered at him closely...then smiled at him sympathetically.
''You poor thing...you look absolutely knackered.'' She said sympathetically.
Thomas was going to protest...but it died in his throat as he let out another yawn.
''Yeah...I'm pretty tired.'' He agreed.
Tilly's gaze immediately snapped to Edward with a speed that made even Edward flinch.
''Edward, you better not have been running him into the ground on his first day.'' She snapped firmly.
''I did not! We worked at a reasonable pace...he was just very spirited.'' Edward said.
''I bumped the trucks a lot at first...but Edward and some engines from the Furness railway taught me how not to do that.'' Thomas said.
''They're a good bunch those Furness lads...anything else happen Thomas?" Matthew asked.
''I met this engine called Miles...he wasn't very nice.'' Thomas added.
The engines all groaned in perfect unison.
''You met the peacock on wheels then.'' Clive said dryly.
''That's one name for him.'' Tilly muttered.
''Now come on, he's not completely terrible.'' Edward said.
''Thomas here didn't let Miles get to him however...he told him and I quote 'Little engines can do big things'.'' Edward said.
''Good on you Thomas, it takes a lot to stand up to a bully, especially ones with more polish than sense.'' Tilly said.
Thomas giggled...then let out an even larger yawn than he had before.
That immediately caught Tilly's attention.
''Alright you...bedtime, now.'' Tilly said firmly...she had hands she'd be pointing towards the berths.
With that the turntable began to turn and once it was turned around Thomas reversed into the berth between Winston and Crovan.
Edward eased onto the turntable and smiled at Thomas.
''Comfortable Thomas?'' He asked
''Mm-hm...really comfortable.'' Thomas mumbled, already half asleep.
''Good...you did well today little one...you should be really proud of yourself.'' Edward smiled.
Thomas didn't answer...he was already fast asleep.
''That's alright little one, you get some rest.'' Edward smiled.
He looked at the other engines.
''This one's going to go far one day...I can feel it.'' He said softly.
The other engines could only nod in agreement, smiling at the sleeping tank engine in the shed.
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