//------------------------------//
// Chapter 11-Fit Right In 
// Story: Thomas and Friends: a New Generation 
// by The Blue EM2 
//------------------------------//

It was a rainy afternoon when the cavalcade pulled to a stop in the platform. On the train was our familiar group of heroes, who looked pretty tired and battered from the incredibly long journey.

"I could do with a shower," Sunny said. "I'm not usually one to fuss over personal appearance, but I suspect I do smell a bit."

"You don't smell at all!" Salty said.

"Thanks Salty."

"Forget a shower!" Pipp said. "I could do with a manicure."

"Is that really your first priority?" Zipp asked, looking a bit surprised. "We've gone a long way from home and that's what you want?"

"Long distance running is no reason to not look fabulous," Pipp retorted over the radio, and then blew raspberries.

Zipp rolled her eyes. "Gee, how childish."

Izzy, however, seemed pretty cheerful. "Hey!" she said. "We're in Heywood! We're not far from home now!"

"Where is your home?" Argyle asked.

"In that housing estate over there," Izzy smiled. "It's great being back in this place!"

"Where precisely are we?" Charles asked. "This is all very northern."

"Heywood," Izzy explained, "is a town in Greater Manchester. It's not far from Bury either, so we're good to go for major settlement visits."

"Weren't Blur from here?" Sophie asked.

"They're from London," Pipp said. "You're thinking of Oasis." They were now stood on the platform, and the others looked at her. "What? Britpop is the best! Don't Look Back in Anger is basically the anthem of Manchester!"

Sophie then spoke up. "I hate to interrupt, but I appear to have a leaky tank. Somebody wouldn't mind patching it up?"

"I imagine we can do so," Sunny said.

"Still," Charles said, "could be worse."





If Hitch had any clue how unreliable Rebecca was going to be he would hired a taxi and left the engine to be towed through Manchester. The engine was sat on the top of a set of points that controlled access between several different important lines in the region. And this was a bit of a problem, as several trains sat there in position on both sides of the junction. The drivers were blasting the horns and generally looking rather cross.

"Oh," Rebecca said. "This is a bit awkward." She tried to address Hitch. "I am sorry about this. I did say I was in need of an overhaul, but I had thought I could make it through this section of town."

"Maybe we should have had one of the diesels tow you," Hitch sighed, before picking up his phone. He punched some numbers into it and then waited for the line to connect.

"Network Rail signalling centre, Victoria Box, how can we help you over?"

"I'd like to report a stalled engine on the..." Hitch looked for, and found, a sign proclaiming where he was. "The Ordsall Chord, namely my own. I'd like a tow."

"Sure thing. Thunderbird being dispatched from Longsight Depot now. Please hold tight."

"Not much else I can do," Hitch thought to himself as the noise amplified around him, some of it with language too profane to repeat here.





It was early evening by the time the diesel dropped Rebecca off at Heywood station, and the team were ready to pick Hitch up. The others were waiting in a siding, and the humans had gone to Izzy's house. Luckily, they all walked there together and went inside the building, a fairly unnasuming surburban home incredibly similar to any found in most houses within the United Kingdom.

"Welcome to La Casa Izzy," Izzy said, as they went into the front room. It was surprisingly comfortable inside, with armchairs and several pillows, as well as a table.

"Nice place," Argyle said, nodding in approval. "What do your parents do?"

"Regional business," Izzy replied. "They're up in Scotland, helping to finance an oil rig." She looked around. "Tea?"

The others nodded, and so Izzy vanished into the kitchen for a bit. This left the others to engage in discussion amongst themselves before she returned, a tray in her hands. Upon this tray was a teapot, six tea cups, and a saucer of milk.

Once the tea was served, the conversation turned to their next move. "Right," Argyle said. "We need to figure out how to acquire the next fragment, legally this time." He pointedly looked at Sunny and Zipp, who nodded in response, having gotten the message.

"I think I know what you are looking for," Izzy said, taking a sip. "There's something similar to your drawings in the collections of the East Lancashire Railway's engine department. Part of a trophy."

"YIKES!" Pipp yelled. Everybody glanced over.

"Are you alright?" Hitch asked.

"I chipped my nail," Pipp said.

Izzy's face dropped. "Oh no!" she said. Then her face returned to normal. "Anyway..." she took another sip of tea. "The guy who runs the place is a chap called Alphabittle Blossomforth, who's about the most Lancastrian Lancastrian who ever Lancastered. He's got some older views about some things, but he's a pretty decent guy."

"Traditional views," Pipp said. "How about we disguise ourselves as boys to avoid detection!"

"I'm already a boy," Hitch pointed out.

"That plan's a bit problematic," Zipp said. "I've got another idea. How about one of us go."

"Nope!" Sunny said. "We're a team."

"Then," Hitch suggested, "why don't we appear as engineers? That way we more easily create the impression that we know what we're doing. And if we really want to blend in, we can get the help of a local."

"Who?" Pipp asked.

"Izzy!" Hitch smiled. "She's from here, so she can teach us to speak like the locals. Isn't the local accent really nasally, and full of dropped consonants?"

"You mean you want t' learn how t' talk like you're oop north?" Izzy said. "Least you din't get stuck in t' bath!"

"That was really good!" Sunny said. "Please teach us some more!"

"I've had practice," Izzy smiled. "Now pay close attention. This is how a Northerner walks..."