The engines of the Skarloey Railway have worked there for generations, but are old and starting to wear out. They need new parts, and indeed one of them has already been sent away for repairs at Cromford, near Matlock in Derbyshire, so that he can be made as good as new. The other is currently awaiting similar repairs, but that may take a while. As a result, the Thin Controller, or Mr Percival to give him his real name, has ordered two other engines from another railway that existed on the Island a long time ago. "I understand," he said to Skarloey one day, "that there is more work than you can handle. As a result, I have brought two new members of crew, as well as two engines. I want you to welcome them. Ocellus?"
"Yes sir?" the girl asked, snapping to attention almost immediately.
"I want you to give our new drivers a warm welcome. Do not let me down."
"Yes sir! Right away sir!" Ocellus got to work furiously polishing Skarloey, to ensure he looked as good as possible.
A few hours later, two saddle tanks with short frames and narrow axles arrived under their own power from somewhere else on the island. The first of them was painted blue with red lining, and had four driving wheels as well as two trailing wheels. He had the number 3, as well as the name 'Sir Handel' painted on his tanks. Driving him was a boy with light blue skin and dark blue hair with yellow highlights. He currently wore black slacks, a pair of grey sneakers, and a blue hoodie.
The other engine was painted green with red lining, and also had four driving wheels and two trailing wheels. He had the number four, with the name 'Peter Sam' written on his tanks. Standing in his cab was a girl, with pink skin and ice blue hair. She wore blue sneakers, blue shorts, and a purple T-shirt. In complete contrast to the other driver, who had a scowl on his face, she was grinning from ear to ear.
Sir Handel surveyed the shed with disdain. "What a small shed!" he grumbled loudly. "This won't do at all. We're much too smart for this small shack."
"Tell me about it," his driver added, sounding bored and positively sarcastic.
"Well I think it's wonderful!" the girl exclaimed. Peter Sam was keen to agree with her.
"I think it's quite nice, and very quaint," he smiled, looking around the yard. He was clearly enjoying being here, and was being respectful as he could.
"Whatever," Sir Handel grunted. "You like everything, if anything you're not discerning enough." Just then, he spotted Skarloey and Ocellus. "What's that rubbish over there, eh?"
"Hey!" shouted the boy. "You should be in school, you know?"
"Shhh!" Peter Sam wheeshed. "That there is Skarloey, and he is famous. I don't know who the girl is, but she could be his driver."
"Wow," the boy drawled sarcastically. "Hiring standards really are going downhill if they're hiring kids now."
Peter Sam then spoke to Skarloey and Ocellus. "Sorry about those two," he said. "They're upset at the moment, but they'll be fine soon. They're quite nice when you get to know them."
Just then, Mr Percival appeared. "Sir Handel, Gallus, you must go to work immediately. There's a passenger train waiting."
"Can't it wait?" Sir Handel asked. "I'm tired, and so is Gallus." Ocellus quickly worked out from deduction that Gallus was the boy driving the engine.
"Yeah, let Peter Sam and Silverstream do it," Gallus added. "They'd love it. Silverstream would find paint drying interesting. Or that time she went photographing stairs."
"I know, right?" the girl replied. It seemed this was Silverstream.
"No, the timetable says it is you two, so off you go," Mr Percival said sternly. "Engines and workers on my railway do as they are told."
Off they went, grumbling all the way. Silverstream hopped out of the cab and went over to Ocellus. "Hi!" she said, extending her hand and shaking Ocellus' so hard it nearly fell off. "My name's Sarah Streeter, but everyone calls me Silverstream!"
Once her arm had recovered, Ocellus replied. "Olivia. But you can call me Ocellus."
Sir Handel rolled into the yard, where the coaches were stored, and didn't like what he saw one bit. "Whatever next?" he asked. "These aren't coaches; they're cattle trucks! The four wheels prove it! Coaches must have bogies to be coaches, you know."
"Ooooh!" the coaches screeched. "What a horrid engine!"
"I don't recall asking for your opinion!" Gallus snapped, as he coupled them up with the chopper couplings.
"It's not what I'm used to, that's for certain," Sir Handel said, as he pulled them to the station at the main line. Trains flew past, and passengers bustled up and down the platform. Just then, Gordon and Rainbow Dash arrived with a semi-fast to Vicarstown.
"Hello!" Sir Handel called. "Who are you?"
"I'm Gordon," the big engine replied. "Who are you?"
"I'm Sir Handel, who are you?"
"I'm Gordon, who are you?"
"We seem to have got stuck in a loop," Gallus said. "My name's Gerard, but feel free to call me Gallus."
"Rayne," Rainbow Dash replied. "But feel free to call me Rainbow Dash. All my friends do."
"You're an express engine, as am I," Sir Handel continued. "But I'm used to nice smart coaches, not these four wheel cattle trucks."
"I have smart coaches!" Gordon said pompously. "To be precise, Maunsell bogie coaches, painted in a blood and custard livery. Mind you, I don't mind the MK1s at all."
"We must talk more," Sir Handel said. Just then, the guard's whistle went. "Sorry, can't chat, goodbye!" And with that, Gallus opened the regulator and sounded the whistle, and away they went up the Skarloey railway.
Sir Handel blasted along the line, as clouds of smoke and steam filled the air. He arrived at the top station, rather annoyed at the time, and was run around his train to take the passengers back. However, this run would prove to be most eventful. As he climbed out of the station toward the edge of the station approaches, he came to a hill. This hill was very steep, but shouldn't have been a problem to him.
Unfortunately, the coaches had decided to play tricks on him. "Hold back!" they hissed. "Hold back!"
The weight, combined with the steep hill, caused Sir Handel's wheels to slip and slide. He simply got even crosser as a result.
"Come on you!" he shouted. But the coaches only pulled back even harder, and as a result Sir Handel came to a complete stop on the hill.
"This is ridiculous!" Gallus said. "Is all the rolling stock on this railway against us?"
"Beats me if I know," Sir Handel replied. They had to send Peter Sam to rescue the train, and Mr Percival was not pleased with the two of them.
"Behave!" he snapped, and walked off.
"How rude," Gallus commented. "Doesn't even bother to ask the source of the problem." Nontheless, Sir Handel was good for several days!
Then it all went wrong. After having arrived at the station at the lake, creatively called 'Lakeside', Gallus uncoupled Sir Handel and stepped back aboard. "We've got some trucks to collect from the quarry," he said, "so let's go."
"TRUCKS?!" Sir Handel boomed. "I won't!"
"We have no choice in this, manager's orders," Gallus deadpanned, and opened the regulator. A few seconds later, the rails gave way, and Sir Handel derailed just outside the station.
"Told you," the narrow gauge engine replied.
Eventually, they rerailed Sir Handel and dragged him back to the shed. Mr Percival was furious, and boomed at the two of them.
"Your behaviour is quite unnaceptable for an engine of my railway!" he snapped. "You shall stay in that shed until you learn to behave!" and with that, he walked away.
"Well, it wasn't my fault those coaches held me back, or that track was poorly maintained now, was it?" the engine asked. He then saw Gallus looking at him. "What?"
"Sir Handel, do us a favour and please be quiet."