The workers at Crovan's Gate had been working on the new engine for quite a while now, and there was much speculation about the identity of the new engine indeed. So much so, the engines were staying up all night to talk about it.
"What's his name?" asked Peter Sam.
"I don't know," Sir Handel replied. "Whenever I've asked Mr Percival, the only reply he's given is 'Number Seven'."
"Wouldn't I be number seven, logically speaking?" asked Luke. "I mean, I was the seventh engine to work here?"
"I was, not you," Duke corrected.
"I still haven't been repainted, and neither have you," Luke suddenly said.
"What does that have to do with anything?" Terramar asked.
"Nothing, I just thought I'd point it out."
"Well, shall we ask?" asked Rusty.
"I suppose we should," replied Skarloey.
The next morning, Mr Percival came around to check on them. "Hello!" he said. "I hope you all intend to be really useful today, as we need all hands on deck!"
"Sir, what's the new engine called?" Duncan asked suddenly.
Mr Percival smiled. "Wouldn't you like to know?" he asked.
"Yes," Duncan replied. "It's why I'm asking the question."
"You'll have to wait patiently," smiled Mr Percival. "You will find out more at the naming ceremony, which is soon."
"Eeeeeeh! I can't wait until then! THE SUSPENSE IS TOO MUCH!" Silverstream said.
"You'll have to wait, Miss Sugarhigh," Gallus said. "We all can."
Silverstream pouted. "You're no fun."
A former employee of the railway, a Mr Ivo Hugh (the man who had kept it going during the Dark Ages), was to name the engine. He arrived one morning, a much older fellow, to familiarise himself with the yard once more.
"Yona have question for special guest!" Yona said.
"I also have one as well," Rheneas asked.
Ivo Hugh smiled. "Hello Yona. Hello Rheneas. I remember you two. The Gallant Old Engine who saved the Skarloey Railway is still going strong. They really should call it the Rheneas Railway you know!"
"I'm right here," said Skarloey.
"I know," Mr Hugh said. "But what was your question, Rheneas."
"Seeing as your naming the engine, do you know what the engine is to be called? It would make sense that you would."
"Indeed it would," Mr Hugh replied. "But I don't. Sorry about that, chaps."
"Chaps?" Smoulder asked, incredulously. "Four of us are girls. I know I look like a boy, but really?"
"Besides, the nameplate won't be fitted until the last minute," Mr Hugh told them. And then he went to get some lunch.
"So, what's the bet it'll be a place or a person?" Smoulder asked.
"Well," Duncan noted, "Two of the engines here are names after places (Skarloey and Rheneas), and five are named after people (Sir Handel, Peter Sam, Duncan, and Duke)."
"I'm named after a person!" Luke protested. "Admittedly, the foreman's son at the CEGB Brendam project, but that's still a person!"
"Sorry," Duncan said. "Anyways, the bulk of engines are named after places, with Rusty being named after his builder. I think it'll be a place, to even out the numbers of names."
"That does make sense," Rheneas replied.
"It makes perfect sense," Ocellus added. "Which doesn't explain why people often do things that are nonsensical."
The day of the ceremony arrived. A special train was organised to convey the passengers, Mr Percival, and Mr Hugh to Crovan's Gate station, where the ceremony was due to happen. Skarloey, as the oldest engine on the railway, was given the honour of pulling the special train. Ocellus polished him until you could see your face in the paintwork, and then took him out of the yard, the wondrous smell of anthracite as engines were readied for work filling the air and rolling around the countryside. The other drivers worked to get their engines cleaned too, and they all looked magnificent.
Skarloey worked as far as Glennock, which is halfway up the line, and then ran round the train. The passengers were waiting for them (including a reenactor appearing as Mr Rockhoof, Skarloey's driver back in the 1860s), and they soon boarded the train. Skarloey was coupled up facing the other way, as he had run through the lakeside loop to get back to the station, and soon started his journey down the line. There was one more stop to make on the run down, and that was to stop at the cottage where Mr Hugh lived. Once he was onboard, they started off again.
But just then, it happened. As the train approached the crossing, something suddenly ran across the line. "Brakes, Ocellus!" Skarloey shouted.
Ocellus slammed the brakes on, and the train came to a screeching halt just inches from where the thing had run across. She secured the train and stepped out of the cab, looking over to where the object had gone. She laughed when she saw it.
"What is it?" asked Skarloey, and then he saw it. "What on Earth?"
"It's OK," Ocellus replied. "It's just a big pig! And her piglets too! We need to heard them back across the line to where they belong."
Problem was, the pigs didn't want to be caught, and led Ocellus, Mr Percival, Mr Hugh, and the guests on a merry chase around the level crossing. Skarloey was worried. "Oh dear," he said. "We're going to be late. Why do animals, when trying to cross the line, always dash over at the worst possible moment and run at the thing that's about to hit them?"
Eventually, the pigs were caught, and they could go on their way. The rest of the engines, along with the new one, simmered at the bottom station waiting for the guests to arrive. The new engine was a big side tank, with no leading wheels, four driving wheels, and two trailing wheels. He had a big cab, and looked very strong.
"I hope something bad hasn't happened!" exclaimed Peter Sam. "If so, it could cause confusion and delay!"
Everybody who could looked at him. "That's my line," said Sir Toppham Hatt.
Seconds later, Skarloey blasted in, puffing and panting as he rolled to a stop. "Better... late... than... never!" he panted loudly.
Mr Hugh got off the train and addressed the crowd. "My assembled friends, Mr Percival, Sir Toppham Hatt, and Sir Robert Norramby," he said. "I apologise for being late. I was chasing pigs! But, I am here to name an engine. I don't know what the engine is to be called, but I shall read the new name to you."
"And so, I name this engine..." He reached for the curtain, and pulled it back to reveal the engine's name. He was so stunned he stepped backwards for a moment. "Well, bless my soul! The engine is called Ivo Hugh!" He turned to Mr Percival. "Thank you very much sir," he said.
"Three cheers for Ivo Hugh- both of them!" called Rheneas.
And the engines and attending humans whistled and cheered as long and loud as they could, and all were happy on the Island of Sodor.