Thomas the Tank Engine was feeling very happy. His blue coat shone in the sun, he was right on time, and all around his branch line the countryside seems prettier than ever before.
“Good morning, Percy,” Thomas greeted, “my branch is the pride of the line. Wouldn't you agree?”
“Uh, yes, Thomas, of course, but...” stuttered Percy.
“But what, Percy?” Thomas hurried, “out with it.”
“Well there is another engine with the famous branch line too,” Percy stammered.
“Who?” Thomas asked shocked, “Where?”
“Well, I heard that she’s Twilight Sparkle, but from this world. So they call her Sci-Twi,” replied Percy, “she's faraway, but the Fat Controller says she may visit us.”
“When?!” Thomas asked loudly.
“Oh someday,” And Percy hurried away. Meanwhile Sci-Twi puffed steadily along her line. It runs through fields and Forests. But isn't very long and that made her feel a little sad. Later she saw Celestia, the Princess had helped saved Sci-Twi from scrap.
“Everyone's been so kind, but my railway is so short, that I do miss a good long run,” she told her.
“I think you should tell your driver,” Celestia replied motherly, “I'm sure he'll understand.”
Sci-Twi soon discovered that indeed he did. “Do you know Twi, I feel just the same way,” he replied. That evening, Sci-Twi's Driver had exciting news. “Guess what Twi? The Fat Controller has invited us to visit the other engines on his own railway. The Manager agreed. It'll be really long run to get there.”
“Oh thank you!” sighed Sci-Twi. They set-off the next morning. By now, all the other engines were talking about Sci-Twi.
“She runs a famous branch line,” Percy said to Thomas, “did you know that?”
Thomas was feeling a little jealous. “Huh! It may be famous, but my branch is the first on the line,” he huffed, “everyone knows that too.” And he huffed away to fetch his coaches.
“Look!” whistled Percy, on the platform people were lined up look out on the track, “Why have they all come? There's no train yet.”
But Percy was wrong. The signal dropped and from faraway an engine whistled.
“Here she comes!” called Douglas.
Sci-Twi puffed proudly through the junction. All the engines were pleased to see her. They all whistled and greet her.
“I hope you'll meet Thomas too,” called Edward, “you both have branch lines to be proud of.”
Then Sci-Twi set-off to help Twilight shunt coaches in the yards, and they worked happily together all afternoon. The two of them were shocked be working with themselves, then they burst into laughed. At last at night, Thomas arrived.
“Sorry, I can't talk. It's time for my last branch line train. I mustn't be late,” and he puffed away. He was hardly out of sight when the engines heard shouting at the station. Moments later came the alarm.
“Stop all trains!” cried a man. The telephone when of in the signal box.
The signalman answered the telephone, “A special, is it? I see.”
Thomas was impatient. “Why are we waiting?” he huffed, “my passengers are being delayed.”
“Sorry, Thomas,” replied his driver, “We’re being shunted to allow another train to pass.”
Thomas was sulking on the siding, soon they heard an unfamiliar puffing sound. There was Sci-Twi with her headlamp swinging and whistle blowing. She gathered speed and disappeared.
“Well bust my boiler!” said Thomas the Tank engine. The next morning, Thomas was still fuming. “Shunted!” he fumed, “And on my own branch too! It's a disgrace!”
“I'm sorry,” apologised Sci-Twi, “I was a special.”
“Why?” Thomas asked.
“An important passenger arrived just as you left,” Sci-Twi replied, “he ordered a special train and Duck let me take it. We had a splendid run, but...”
“But....” finished Thomas, “it can make an engine nervous not to know the line.”
“Exactly,” agreed Sci-Twi, “You're such an expert.” Thomas felt much better. He couldn't be cross anymore and began telling Sci-Twi all about his branch line.
Sci-Twi was busy talking to the Dazzlings. It was her first visit to their railway, and she was having a splendid time.
“You are very lucky engines,” she said, “Your line has got everything. It's long enough to give you a good run, and you have plenty of passengers. Then you have a quarry and a mine, so you'll need plenty of trucks. Trucks are fun. I miss them on our line.”
Sonata was surprised. All the engines thought trucks were trouble. “You're welcome to take some of mine,” she said, “But you better ask driver first.”
Their drivers agreed and the two engines set off. Adagio and Aria were speechless. Sci-Twi took the trucks to the harbour. Then she picked up a load of empty ones and started back. Ahead, near Bulgy’s Bridge, was a cricket field. The game had just begun. Sci-Twi and her driver had to wait at a signal.
“Good,” said her driver, “we can watch the game.” Then there was trouble. The batsman hit the ball. It flew high into the sky towards Sci-Twi's train. Clunk! Went the signal. Thump! Went the ball into a truck, but neither driver nor fireman heard it.
“STOP!” Yelled the players but Sci-Twi didn't hear them.
“Come along, come along,” she puffed to trucks.
“Our one and only ball!” cried the players. “Wake up, Caroline,” they said to their old car, “The chase was on.”
Caroline coughed crossly and rolled down the road. Sci-Twi wasn't hurrying. Caroline soon came up behind.
“Toot! Toot!” She wailed. The players shouted but Sci-Twi was still too far for his driver and fireman to see or hear properly. They completely misunderstood.
“If those jokers wanna race,” said the driver, “They can have one. Faster, Twi, faster!”
Poor Caroline wasn't happy at all. She rattled along at twice her usual speed. “I shouldn't be treated like this,” she grumbled, “This pace is too hot for my system. It'll fuse all my circuits.” Suddenly, Sci-Twi was nowhere to be seen. “Yahoo! That silly train has run into a hole so we can't catch it. I can go home now.” But she couldn't. Her driver pounded Caroline on up the steep hill and then down the other side toward the station. Sci-Twi was already here when Caroline cluttered in.
“We need our ball back!” Cried the players and explained everything. The ball was nestled under some straw in the third truck from the brakevan.
“We found it!” cried a player.
“we’re sorry,” sighed the driver.
“Ah, you couldn't help it,” replied the player, “Now we must get back quickly.”
“You'll be lucky,” said the driver, “Caroline looks worn out.”
And she was. The driver spoke to the stationmaster and the signalman, and they all agreed on a plan. Soon they had rolled Caroline on to a flat truck and a brakevan coupled behind. The players crowded inside, and Sci-Twi pulled the train back to the play field. Everyone enjoyed watching the game. Even Caroline was pleased.
“She doesn't think trains silly now,” said Sci-Twi.
“They have their uses,” Caroline replied, “they can save wear and tale on a poor car's wheels.”
Sci-Twi was enjoying working on the Fat Controller’s railway. She loved puffing along the line, greeted engines left and right with a smile. One day, the Fat Controller came to see him.
“I am very pleased with your work,” he said,” I have a new job for you, I want you to help Toby and Mavis at the quarry.”
“Oh thank you sir,” said Sci-Twi.
“But please be careful,” said the Fat Controller, “It is easy to get lost up there so be back before dark.”
“We will,” Said the driver. Sci-Twi soon arrived at the quarry that morning.
“We're glad you're here to help us,” said Toby.
“Are these my trucks?” asked Sci-Twi.
“Only some of them. There's masses more in the sidings,” replied Mavis.
“The more the merrier,” Sci-Twi was really enjoying herself. The dustier she became, the harder she worked. Mavis and Toby were impressed. Then the foreman spoke to her driver.
“We have a night special to take to building site at the new branch line,” he said, “do you want to pull the train?”
“Yes please,”said the driver. But he should have asked the Fat Controller first. Night came.
“Be careful, Sci-Twi,” advised Toby.
“I will and thank you for a lovely day,” Sci-Twi thanked them, “I do hope I can come back up here again.”
“The line can be spooky,” said Mavis.
“Thank you for the warning,” And with that, Sci-Twi puffed away. Sci-Twi arrived on time and made the delivery of rocks and stones for the workmen. Then she set off for her shed on the Equestrian branch. That's when the trouble began. The fog came down.
“Mavis was right,” remarked Sci-Twi, “Suddenly, everything does look spooky.”
“There's a signal box,” called the driver, “And the signal light is green. Someone must have been expecting us.”
But they weren't. The points had been set in the wrong direction, but Sci-Twi didn't realize this.
“Sheds, here we come,” Sci-Twi called out as she puffed down the wrong track. Then they approached an unknown area. The driver made a decision.
“It's best if we rest here until the fog clears,” he said.
“What are those strange sounds?” wondered Sci-Twi. Then the fog slowly lifted. “Oh no. We're in the scrapyards.”
Her driver and fireman went for help. Sci-Twi was all alone, but not for long. 2 diesels approached.
“Got you this time, Sparkle, you'll make very fine scrap indeed,” the diesel chuckled, “Buffer him, 5463.” The diesels took her to the large smelter shed. “Bye-bye Sparkle,” the diesel laughed.
Sci-Twi looked up. Above her was a huge grabber. “This engine's not for scrapping!” The grabber wasn't listening. But just as it was about to grab hold of her, it stopped. There stood the Fat Controller.
“It's a good thing I'm visiting this yard tonight,” he said, “saving you from scrap is becoming a habit Sci-Twi, please stop it.”
“Yes sir,” Sci-Twi breathed a sigh of relief, “but I have learned something.”
“What's that?” he asked.
“There's no place like home,” Sci-Twi called out.
“And that's exactly where you're going now,” declared the Fat Controller.
“Sunflowers forever!” Sci-Twi cried as she puffed back to her shed.
Sci-Twi's visit to The Fat Controller's railway was coming to an end. “We shall miss you,” said The Fat Controller. Then he turned his attention to all the other engines, “My railway is very busy, and I'm pleased with you, but you need help. A Diesel is all that's available. But as I can’t afford a brand-new diesel, I’m giving one that has visited here before another chance. Please do your best to avoid any *clears throat* disturbances.”
“What does that mean?” Pinkie whispered.
“That means this Diesel is difficult,” snapped James, “And can only guess who this diesel is going to be.”
James was right. The diesel was Diesel 199, he had given himself the nickname, Old Reliable, but had been given the nickname, Spamcan by the other engines. He was Bear’s old friend but after he broke down, moaned for a fitter and was helped by Henry with a failure regulator, he was send back to the mainline. Spamcan surveyed the shed.
“Greetings engines, I have returned to improve you railway, and these sheds aren’t bad, I’ve seen worse. At least you're all clean.” He slided. The engines glared. “It's not your fault, but Your controller should scrap you and get engines like me. A fill of oil, a touch on the starter and I'm off. No bother, no waiting. They’ll have to fuss round you for hours before you're ready.”
The engines were furious! Next morning, they held an indignation meeting around the turntable.
“Disgraceful!” muttered Gordon.
“Appalling!” mumbled Rainbow.
“Disgusting!” said James.
“Atrocious!” exclaimed Rarity.
“Despicable!” spluttered Henry.
“Abysmal!” shouted Applejack.
“He was so rude,” retorted Rebecca.
“To say such things to us,” cried Donald and Douglas, “It's too teach him a lesson we be wanting. But how do we do it?”
Their chance came sooner than expected. Spamcan was purring comfortably. An inspector watched a fitter making final adjustments. The wind tugged the Inspector's hat, suddenly it blow off. Spamcan was ready.
“Look at me, Sunset and Sci-Twi. Now I'll show you something,” He rolled proudly toward his coaches. Then, it happened. Spamcan starts to make bad sounds and breaks down. Shaking and spluttering, Spamcan stopped. Meanwhile, the Inspector was looking for his hat. Spamcan seethed with fury as Sunset and Sci-Twi pushed him back to the Shed.
“My hat!” explained the Inspector, “You've sucked it through your air intake!”
“Bother your hat,” said the Fat Controller, “the heavy trains' due out. You'll have to take it Sunset. Sci-Twi, will you help please?”
“Thank you, sir,” cried Sci-Twi, “I like a good long run on my last day.”
The engines were soon ready. “Gordon will take over from halfway so get the train to there,” the Fat Controller told them, “good luck.”
“Don't worry,” smiled Sci-Twi, “We'll get there and be early too.”
The cavalcade moved carefully over the rails and out to the open line. “Now for a sprint,” puffed Sci-Twi as the turned onto the mainline.
“I'm ready when you are,” replied Sunset. Soon they were whizzing through Edward's Station. And next, they charged at Gordon's Hill beyond. They felt the drag of the heavy coaches here. It was hard work. At last, they were running smoothly along the line toward the big station.
“Hello,” said Gordon, “You're early, that's another in the headlamp for old Spamcan.”
“Nia says he's sick as boiler sludge and sulking in the Shed,” Sci-Twi remarked.
“Serves him right we're saying we're out of date again!” And Gordon chortled away. Next day, everyone came to say goodbye to Sci-Twi.
“Come back and see us soon!” whistled the engines.
“And you're always welcome at my Sunflower Railway too,” replied Sci-Twi. Then she puffed away. And what about Old Reliable? He'd slipped out when no-one was looking. He said goodbye to no one, but he left two things behind: a rather nasty smell and a battered bowler hat.