//------------------------------// // Chapter 3-The Rules are only There for your Protection // Story: Thomas and Friends: Return to Sodor // by The Blue EM2 //------------------------------// After a short journey in a company lorry, the six friends were dropped off at a set of large sheds built around a turntable. The shed in question had six berths, of which all were currently occupied, and was built of yellow brick with the berths framed by doors painted green. The structure looked quite attractive and well built. As previously noted, there were six engines sat inside the shed. They came in different shapes and sizes, but all of them looked quite surprised. "Who are these people, sir?" asked a red one with a golden dome. "These," said Sir Topham Hatt, "are your relief drivers whilst we try to find the original ones." He turned to the assembled crowd. "Now then, time for your introductions." He began to pan from left to right, introducing each engine in turn. "This," he began, "is Thomas. I believe you already know him." "Hello!" Thomas replied. "I'd say welcome to the Island of Sodor, but you've already been here a bit, so it seems a bit pointless!" Sir Topham Hatt consulted his clipboard. "Sunny, as you already have experience operating him, you shall be his temporary driver." Sunny could barely suppress her glee at this news. "Thank you sir!" Sir Topham Hatt then walked to the next engine, who was also painted blue and red, but had a tender and considerably more wheels. "This is Edward. He's one of the oldest operating steam engines in the United Kingdom, but he's still very useful." "Good morning," the engine said kindly. "I hope you're all having a pleasant day." "Misty, you shall be driving him," Sir Topham Hatt continued. "I'm certain that Edward will teach you all you need to know." Misty nodded, but otherwise said nothing. This was a bit of a step up from Bellerophon for sure. Next, Sir Topham Hatt moved onto a large green locomotive with red stripes and a belpaire firebox, with a large curved tender sitting behind him. "You may know this engine already. His name is Henry, and he is a mixed traffic locomotive, meaning he can pull coaches and trucks equally well." "I do hope Fluttershy's OK," Henry said. "I do worry about her sometimes." "When don't you worry?" asked the red engine. "I never worry." "You worry about your paint!" Thomas said. "That's because an engine as splendid as me needs to keep up appearances, after all." "Anyway," said Sir Topham Hatt, "Hitch, you shall be driving Henry. Black 5s are fairly simple and rugged machines, but be sensible with the controls nontheless." Hitch nodded. "Shouldn't be too different to a spam can, then." Sir Topham Hatt stepped in front of the next engine, who was easily the largest of the lot. He was painted blue, and had a trailing wheelset on top of his rather large selection of wheels. Not to mention a rather unusual square tender. "This is Gordon, the pride of the express fleet. If he looks familiar, that's because he's the prototype to the A1 and A3 classes, of which Flying Scotsman is a member." Gordon looked over. "It's not a tough decision, though I have to confess, it's hard to find a better engine for the express as no other engine can handle fifteen coaches over Marron's Bank unnasisted." "Then why do you keep getting stuck on it?" Henry laughed. This produced raucous laughter from the other engines. Gordon fumed. "Oh, the indignity." Sir Topham Hatt then went back to speaking. "Zara Storm, you shall be driving him. There's a lot of power behind that regulator, so be cautious." "OK," Zipp replied. "Please, just call me Zipp." Sir Topham Hatt then walked over to the red engine who had spoken earlier. "This is James. He's a mixed traffic engine, capable of handling smaller passenger and freight tasks." "Though of course my splendidness makes me best suited to passengers," James replied. "Pipp, you shall drive him." James looked over. "I thought Pip worked for the Arlesdale Railway." "I'm Pipp!" Pipp said, "Short for Phillipa." She made her way over to the footplate. James sighed. "Phillip and Phillipa. This will be confusing." Finally, Sir Topham Hatt stopped in front of the last engine, a small green saddle tank engine that seemed ready to go. "And last, but most certainly not least, we have Percy. He may be a small machine, but he's incredibly useful on sidings and branchlines." "I'll keep those trucks in order!" Percy said cheerfully. "Izzy, you'll be at his controls." Sir Topham Hatt stepped back as he looked at the crew take the controls. "Your work orders are in the binders on the fireman's side. Study them carefully, as they contain timetables, destinations, and what stock to use." Zipp took a look at hers. "Semi fast passenger from Knapford to Vicarstown, departing in one hour." She nodded. "Sounds doable." "A stopping passenger?!" Gordon said, sounding horrified. "Whatever has the world come to?" "Engines your size frequently did stopping work in the 1960s," Edward pointed out. "Only because of those diesels!" Gordon replied. "True, some are nice, but mark my words Zipp, most diesels are bad eggs and are not to be trusted!" Zipp sighed. From her experience this was not the case. True, Charles was pompous and a bit arrogant, but he wasn't malicious. She moved the cab controls about and prepared Gordon to move off. "Align the turntable!" she called. A workman hopped into the control booth for the turntable and rotated it to Gordon's line. Zipp opened the regulator- too much. Sparks flew from the rails and steam flew into the air as Gordon's wheels slipped. "NOT THAT MUCH REGULATOR!" Gordon shouted. "Why do new drivers always overdo it?" Zipp moved the regulator back and corrected the problem. "This engine is just like my aunt," she grumbled. "Just with none of the redeeming qualities." "I heard that!" An hour later, Gordon was ready to depart with the semi fast. This only had two intermediate stops at Wellsworth and Crovan's Gate, so should be a fairly simple run. As Gordon had predicted, he was hugely overpowered for the run, but it seemed that no other engine was available. Henry came to a stop on a nearby line. "Remember you're not going to London today!" he said. "I know," Gordon replied. "At least I have a return trip to properly stretch my wheels." Just then, the guard blew his whistle and waved his green flag. "Time to go!" Zipp said, and sounded the whistle in response, a familiar Gresley chime whistle cutting through the station. Gordon smiled. "SEMI FAST COMING THROUGH!" He snorted away from the station in a cloud of smoke and steam, and upon clearing the complex tangle of trackwork around Knapford could really get up to speed. The light load soon meant that he could run efficiently at line speed. "Hurry! Hurry! Hurry!" he called to the coaches. "It isn't a race! We're not going to Edinburgh!" the coaches replied. "Wait, the coaches talk now?" Zipp asked. "And I thought singing trucks was weird enough." A few minutes later, they rolled into Wellsworth several minutes early. "Perfectly done!" Gordon said. "These passengers now have plenty of time to change trains." Zipp, however, was worried. She was still concerned about the crystal pieces. So she hatched a cunning plan in her mind. "If we depart early from the stops, we'll be able to use more time to look for the crystals!" She reached up and sounded the whistle four times- the signal to prepare for departure. Passengers ran across the platform and jumped onboard, throwing heavy bags and suitcases into the luggage racks and generally making a mess. The doors slammed, and the guard jumped on as the train began to pull away. "What are you doing?" Gordon asked. "This isn't a race!" "Saving you some time," Zipp smiled. The same happened at Crovan's Gate, with much shouting from the platform as luggage got left behind. And something else too. Gordon pulled into Vicarstown about 15 minutes early, and simmered at the achievement. "That was a brisk run indeed," he said. Zipp sat back in the cab and smiled. "Easy, simple, effective time saving measure," she said. "Just leave before the timetable!" "ZIPP STORM! GORDON! WHAT IS THE MEANING OF THIS?!" Zipp looked over to see Sir Topham Hatt walking over to Gordon's cab. He looked very cross. "Departing early from stations, leaving goods marooned on platforms, and leaving behind the guard?" he asked. "The guard?" Gordon asked. "I've lost my nice guard, I've lost my nice guard!" the brake coach sobbed. "Trains are meant to run on time, not before them!" Sir Topham Hatt continued. "You have caused confusion and de- Confusion and del- A great deal of confusion! Now what do you have to say for yourselves?" "It was her idea, not mine!" Gordon said quickly. "Way to throw me under the bus," Zipp grumbled. "Fine. It was my idea. I guess I'm more used to freight than passenger." Gordon's eyes went as small as pinpricks when he heard this, whilst Sir Topham Hatt smiled. "Freight, you say? Well then, I think I know just the thing." A few hours later, Henry and Hitch were making a coal delivery to Marron. "That small area over there is a place that is wonderful for bird watching in the summertime," Henry explained. "But not as much in the wintertime like now, as the birds have left for warmer climates further south." "You're a birdwatcher too?" Hitch asked, as he uncoupled the trucks. "I sometimes have long waits for other trains to overtake, and I have always enjoyed being around nature," Henry replied. "Sodor has been my home for over 100 years now, and I'm still finding new things out about it." Hitch looked confused. "You're a Black 5. Those went into production in 1934, which is nearly 90 years ago. So how can you have been here for more than 100 years?" "I may be a Black 5 now, but I was originally built as a prototype locomotive by the Great Northern," Henry explained. "Think of Gordon but without the trailing wheels. However, I was not a huge success, so I was sold to the North Western and remained in that form until a few years ago, when I was sent to Crewe to be rebuilt after an accident. I can pull the express on good days now, though don't tell Gordon!" He listened closely. "Speaking of which, is that him coming now?" A three cylinder beat had started nearby, and before long rattling and rolling began. "Gordon has three cylinders, right?" Hitch asked. "I've driven Bulleid Light Pacifics before, so I'm familiar with the sound. But it's going quite slowly." "It is," Henry said, a grin gradually forming on his face. "It sounds like Gordon, and it ought to be Gordon, but Gordon never runs that slowly... right?" It was Gordon. He looked very annoyed. Behind him was a very long train of mixed goods wagons. Coal trucks, tankers, some vans, and other vehicles rattled past, making a frightful racket. "A goods train, a goods train, a goods train," Gordon grumbled. "The shame of it, the shame of it, the shame of it." "Hey, look on the bright side Gordon!" Zipp said. "At least you don't have any complaining passengers to worry about!" A few minutes later, the station master arrived at the siding with urgent news. "Gordon and his train are stuck and can't get over the hill. Can you help, please?" Henry sighed. "Oh not again. Right away, sir- when we find a turntable." After being turned and making his way to the scene, Henry was buffered up to the back of the stalled train. Zipp walked back. "I don't understand it," she said. "Gordon should have ample power to get this lot over the hill, but for some reason he couldn't." "These trucks hold an engine back so!" Gordon shouted. "Then how come no other engine has gotten stuck on Gordon's Hill?" Henry asked. "I'll provide power on the front, and you push from the back," Zipp said. "Good luck." Henry was ready to go. "Ready!" he called, after the whistle was blasted. "Best of luck!" Gordon said, though his tone of voice indicated intense doubt. Hitch opened the regulator, and Zipp did the same at the front. With twin jets of steam, the two engines began to shift their heavy load over the hill. "GET MOVING YOU!" Henry shouted to the trucks. "Keep going!" Gordon shouted. "The summit is nearly in sight!" The track twisted and turned round to the top, before they passed over Marron's Bank and began the slow descent to Wellsworth. Unlike many previous journeys, the pair made it with no accidents at all. Hitch went to uncouple Henry in the siding whilst Zipp prepared her train for onward travel when she suddenly spotted something at the lineside. "Wait, did you see that?" she said to Hitch over the radio. "See what?" Hitch asked. "A figure just moved off into the village!" Zipp said. "I'm gonna take a look!" Before Hitch could stop her she dashed away into Wellsworth. "Zipp! You can't just leave an engine unattended!" Hitch called as he chased after her. He dashed through the local streets before finding her in the town square, facing the war memorial. "I was certain he was here!" Zipp puffed. "Who?" "The figure who ran off earlier!" Zipp said, and took out a notepad. "Note to self: people keep strangely appearing and vanishing. Must investigate further." James the Red Engine bounced along the line with a short passenger train. "Now this is how you do it!" he said. "The passengers must be having a splendid time!" Pipp looked out of the cab and saw a rapidly approaching station. "Time to stop, guaranteed connection!" she said. "With the branch line," James said. "Hopefully Thomas isn't dawdling again." Pipp shut off steam and applied the brakes as the train approached the platform before bringing the formation to a smooth stop. "HEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEERE'S JAMES!" James said as he stopped. Pipp smiled as she hopped out of the cab. "This is a perfect place to try out some new material!" she said, producing a microphone from nowhere. "Look!" a girl shouted. "It's Pipp Petals!" Before long, hordes of children were pouring across the platform, clearly excited to see their pop idol. Pipp was more than happy to return the love. "Hello, Pippsqueaks!" she called. "I'll admit I wasn't entirely expecting to be on Sodor today, but none of that matters! I've got a new song, specially for you! Wanna hear it?" The children cheered as Pipp snapped her fingers. "Hit it!" Generic sounding synth pop began to flow from the station speakers as Pipp confidently stepped forward. "I’m feelin’/ Fresh! Like my hair is on fleek/ Happiness is all I need! Spreadin love from you to me! (Uh, Uh) "Somethin' about about the way I’m feelin'/ (feelin') Like everybody got a glow! (Glow) Shining brightly with a power/ (Power) Just spread the colors of the Rainbow! (Rainbow) "I Got my make up on/ Got that glitter and glam! Oh, this my favorite song/ Yeah, they playing my jam! I feel beautiful, I feel powerful/ I feel me! "I’m feelin’/ Fresh! Like my hair is on fleek/ Happiness is all I need/ Spreading love from you to me! "I’m feelin’/ Fresh! Magic all around my friends/ Celebration never ends/ Oh cuz we always a ten! "Wo, ho, ho, ho, ho! I’m my best self everybody can tell! Wo, ho, ho, ho, ho! I’m my best self everybody can tell! "When did this mirror get so gorgeous? (Gorgeous) Who's that, is that me? (Me) "I got my make up on/ Got that glitter and glam! Oh, this my favorite song/ Yeah, they playing my jam! I feel beautiful, I feel powerful! I feel me! "I’m feelin’/ Fresh! Like my hair is on fleek/ Happiness is all I need/ Spreading love from you to me! "I’m feelin’/ Fresh! Magic all around my friends/ Celebration never ends/ Oh cuz we always a ten! "Wo, ho, ho, ho, ho! I’m my best self everybody can tell! Wo, ho, ho, ho, ho! I’m my best self everybody can tell!" Just then, Thomas and Sunny arrived on another line from Ffarquhar. "How is she doing that?" Thomas asked. "Routing her music through the station speakers?" Sunny shook her head. "Some mysteries are perhaps best left unanswered, Thomas."