#ttte logan

[duskstargazer]

Rising Tempers

[1976]

“Ugh!” James barked, as he sent an empty truck hurtling across the yard. “So stupid!!”

“James…” Rebecca chuckled, looking over from her rake of wagons. “…They’re just empty trucks.”

“No - I hate this place!” The red engine complained. “This entire … complex!”

The yellow engine smiled. “What, the main yard where we get all our coal from?”

James huffed and rolled his eyes.

“Yes. The dirty, dusty coal yard.” He snarled. “Why’d I have to be the engine they chose!?”

Another truck was sent sailing down a siding. Rebecca opted not to remind him that she’d been rostered on the same job.

“I think driver said it was supposed to rain soon.” She cautioned, as James went about his reckless shunting.

The red engine looked up. Sure enough, the sky turned like a cauldron, and the distant thunder roared.

“Perfect.” He growled. “Just what I needed. A rainstorm in addition to working in these damn coal yards!”

“Well, perhaps the rain might rinse the dirt off while you're making the deliveries?”

James scoffed. “Not like anyone’ll be out to see my paintwork anyway.”

“There really is no winning with you, is there?” His driver chuckled.

“Whatever the case, you’ll be doing a lot of good for everyone, whether they know it or not.” Rebecca offered, encouragingly.

“Y’know,” James said, his voice dry, “I don’t think I’ll ever understand you.”

As James huffed away, Rebecca looked up at the sky and bit her lip. As the rumble of thunder closed in, even she began to worry about the damage it would bring.

[duskstargazer]

First Impressions

[1976]

Ed made his way into the Coaling Plant. The yard was swimming with activity. The new engine felt out of place already.

“You here to work, or are ya here to sight-see?” Norbert barked.

“Oh- uh- sorry!” Ed yelped. He took off to find some trucks to sort.

He soon began to shunt the first trucks into line. His engine growled, and smoke billowed from his vents.

Norbert eyed him with contempt.

“Don't mind him.” Logan said. “You just do what you can.”

“If that's the best he can do, then send him back.” Norbert growled.

Ed winced.

“At least give ‘im a chance, Norbert.” Logan called over his buffer. “Don't worry.” He said to the newcomer. “I'll help you get this train sorted.”

As the two went about sorting their train, Ed caught Norbert glaring him down out of the corner of his eye. In spite of his best efforts, Ed couldn’t help but feel that Logan - an engine a third his size - did most of the heavy lifting.

[duskstargazer]

Disaster Strikes

[1976]

“Keep going! You're good! You're good! You're good!” The worker shouted, waving James on. “And stop!”

The trucks lurched. James growled. The storm overhead was getting worse.

He had to shunt the trucks from the mines one by one onto a special platform. The truck was uncoupled from the rest, and hooked to the platform. Then, the worker signalled to the ramp's operator to send the truck up.

It was a long, boring, and tedious process, and it kept James stuck in the Coaling Plant that much longer.

“Just how many more of these do we have to do this for?” James asked his driver.

“Five less than when you last asked.” She sighed. She leaned out of the cab. “I'd say probably seven more.”

“Great.”

“Next!” The worker shouted.

James started, but the trucks refused to move.

“Nope!” They yelled.

“Go push someone else around!”

“We ain't movin’ for you!”

James seethed, his anger skyrocketing.

Just then, the foreman walked up. For a second, James thought he was going to tell him off.

“Tim, back inside.” He ordered, calling over to the man operating the ramp. “We're getting reports of worse weather in the area. I don't want anyone here getting struck by lightning.”

The man nodded, and headed off.

“What about us?” James asked. It wasn't as if he could uncouple each truck himself.

“Have your driver handle the ramp down here.” The foreman said, for all three to hear. “Neither of you have radios, do you?” James’s driver shook her head in the negative. “Mm. Eh, just whistle when you're ready for the operator to send the trucks up.”

“Got it.”

James grunted.

The foreman had just left, when the platform came back down. James’s driver jogged up, unhooked the truck, and waved them on. The sky lit up briefly as the heart of the storm descended upon them.

James pushed, but once again, the trucks refused.

“Come on…!” He growled. “Move, will you!”

“Make us!” Jeered the trucks.

So James did. He backed up, and charged the truck still on the ramp. Of course, they all chose then to let their brakes slip off.

James whistled in alarm, momentarily forgetting about what the foreman had just said.

The driver froze. With a groan, the ramp started - with the truck now on it still coupled to the others!

What followed was pandemonium. James panicked, and tried to drag the trucks back, the driver hollered to the ramp operator, the workers in the area scrambled frantically, and the trucks all screamed.

The trucks lurched off the still rising platform, and hurtled backwards. James's half of the loading ramp disappeared in a cloud of coal dust.

The ramp seized up, and eventually was shut off. Everyone stood staring at the disaster before them.

“…What did you just do…?”

[duskstargazer]

[2014]

Stepney's visit to The Fat Controller's railway had come to an end.

“We'll all miss you very much, Stepney.” Duck said.

“Come back and see us soon!” Added Thomas.

“I will as soon as I can!” Smiled Stepney. “And you all are welcome on the Bluebell Railway as well!”

“Maybe you could book a vacation?” Dennis offered.

“What? Who would look after the yard?” Norman laughed. “And why does it sound like you're trying to get rid of me?”

“I'd take the trip if it spared me your vexatious bickering.” Murdoch groaned.

“Oh, lighten up, will ya?” James smirked. “Honestly, a break always sounds nice, but I think I’d miss the workload here.”

“You’d miss doing work?” Henry teased. “Who are you and what’ve you done with James?”

He and James both laughed.

“Oh- Stepney!” Rosie called out. “Tell Cromford I’m sorry about the sugar!”

“What?” Duck asked, looking over at Rosie.

Thomas laughed, and Cedric rolled his eyes. Neither were going to be the one to explain that one.

“I’ll be sure to,” Stepney promised, “though they’ve probably forgiven you. It has been quite a while.”

Rosie smiled.

“Thank you all again for such a wonderful time!” Stepney whistled. “I do hope I can come back again sometime soon!”

The yard was filled with whistles and well-wishes until the Bluebell engine was out of sight.

[duskstargazer]

Content Warning // Mild body horror, body mutilation

“Mmmph!”

“Nmmngh!”

“Mmmnnnmphh!!”

Murdoch looked around, unable to take his eyes off of what surrounded him.

His colleagues - his friends - stood around him, many with tears in their eyes as they tried to scream.

He hadn't wanted this. He's wanted the others to stop talking so much, true, but not like this.

He never would have wanted this.

[duskstargazer]

[2014]

Stepney set off with James’s empty trucks, and soon enough made his way to the Coaling Plant. He was amazed with what he saw. More trucks than he could count lined the sidings, and engines rushed past in seemingly every direction.

Leaving his trucks in an open siding, Stepney went further into the yard. He soon found the engine who he presumed was in charge.

“Hello, do you run this place?” He asked.

“Mm? Nah, the foreman does. I just work here. Although you could say I help keep the others here together. I'm Logan, by the way. And you are?”

Stepney blinked. Logan talked fast. Stepney had always been seen as an energetic sort, but he was fairly certain Logan had even him in his early years beat.

“I'm Stepney.” He smiled, only slightly awkwardly.

“Stepney?” Logan repeated, surprised. “The Bluebell engine? It is an honor to welcome you to our Coaling Plant. Is there anything I can get for you?”

“Actually, I was wondering if I could help you all out.” Stepney offered.

“Oh of course!” Logan beamed. “We can always use another pair of buffers! C'mon, let me show you where the trucks from the mines are kept!”

Stepney followed behind Logan, and for once, felt a struggle in trying to keep up.

All the same, he was excited to get some hard work in before he returned home.

[duskstargazer]

[1973]

Murdoch always hated having to refill his tender at the Coaling Plant. Trucks and engines clattered to and fro across the yard, and the coal towers themselves were no quieter.

The one solace Murdoch did have, however, was in one of the Plant's residents.

“Morning, Norbert.” Murdoch had to raise his voice to be heard over their surroundings.

“Nhh.” Norbert grunted in response as he passed by.

“Yeah,” Murdoch chuckled, dryly. “You get me.”