Stories of sodor

James the branch line engine

"Absolutely not!"
Snapped James the red engine with a scrunched nose.
"Now, James."
Said Sir Topham Hatt, clearing his throat.
"I understand that you don't like branch lines, but you're the only engine available."

James gritted his teeth but kept his thoughts to himself, instead he just snorted and puffed away.
As James passed through Kanpford, Gordon laughed at his misfortune.

"Oh dear, little James. Playing tank engines are we today?"
James' face went as red as his boiler.
"It's not fair!"
He huffed.
"Why couldn't have Topham just snatched another shunter to work on the branch? Like Rosie?"

"I imagine she's busy with her own work."
Said Gordon.
"Stanley?"
Suggested James.
"Probably at Great Waterton."
Sighed Gordon.
"Listen, little James."
He carried on.

"Rather than looking for excuses and stand ins, why don't you actually do your job?"
And with that, Gordon puffed away, leaving James feeling no different.
James dawdled dreadfully along the Ffarquhar branch.

"This is no job for a splendid engine like me."
He whinged to his crew.
"It'll be done sooner than you know it, James."
Replied the driver who was less than enthusiastic on James' rambling.

Before long, James arrived at Ffarquhar sheds. There, he found Toby the steam tram. He was getting ready for his first train.
"Ah, James. I hope you enjoy your time as a branch line engine."
Of course Toby meant this sincerely, but James didn't take it that way.

"Oh shut it. Where's my first passenger train?"
Toby's express changed from annoyed to confused.
"Passengers?"
James' face fell.
"Yeah..? Since Thomas is out of action I thought I'd be pulling Annie and Clarabel."

Toby chuckled.
"Oh, no. Daisy is taking care of the passenger services. What we really need help with are goods trains."
"Goods?!"
Scoffed James crossly.
"Of course."
Replied the tram in a calm manner.

"With Percy gone for a while, someone needs to take his trains."
"What's even in them?"
Asked James.
"Oh, you know."
Answered Toby.
"Flour, eggs, milk, veg, meat, fruits, sugar. Things like that."
"Huh."
Said James.

"So that's what this branch does. I thought it was just for tourists."
Toby rolled his eyes.
"Now why would you think that?"
"Because there's an antique right here."
He quipped, referring to Toby.
"Whatever you say. Off to work, now."
Ordered Toby, who was quite used to jokes about his age.

James grumbled and left for work. He would fill up on water before continuing his travels down the line until reaching Toryreck. There he picked up a small train of wagons loaded with food for the markets. These trucks weren't troublesome, as the quarry was the only place to hold trucks with faces, but James sort of wished they were.

"Ugh, I can't believe I'd rather be back with the trucks. I just wanna be on the mainline again."
James collected the trucks and sulkily started his day. He wasn't allowed to go as fast as he wanted to. Not only were the speed limits more constricting, but James would risk bruising the fruits rattling around the milk until it churned itself.

"Ohh this is ridiculous! I can go thrice this speed!"
He grumbled.
"Doesn't mean you should."
Bluntly remarked his driver.
Now while James was the type to grumble and complain about jobs, he wasn't lazy. The trains ran like clockwork and were never a minute late.

The townsfolk sang his praises, and even Daisy said he did well. One morning, James was going about his day, pulling a small goods headed for brendam, when he saw a consist up ahead. He couldn't see well, but he asked his driver to check his speed, just in case.
Luckily, James grew closer and would come to find that the trucks, and the engine in front, were on the other line.

"Maybe, the reason I'm needed on the branch.."
Scoffed James.
"Is because you're not pulling your weight."
He pulled up alongside the engine, to see it was Mavis. She looked quite embarrassed.

"I forgot to fill up on fuel. I was in such a rush and didn't want to be late."
She sulked.
"Now I'll be waiting until the days over for a rescue."
James thought for a moment and felt sorry for Mavis.
"Or maybe you won't."
He chortled.
"I've got an idea."

Meters down the line laid a set of points. James driver clambered down and diverted James onto Mavis' line, where he would then reverse until Mavis could be coupled up to the back of James' train.
"Are you sure you're strong enough to pull two trains and another engine?"
Quizzed the diesel.

"It's either that, or wait out here for Toby to come along with a crane and a lecture."
Mavis chuckled, and let her brakes off.
Pulling hard, James managed to get the heavy consist moving and he struggled down the line.
It was hard work for James. He felt hot and bothered by the time he reached Brendam.

But he also felt triumphant.
The dock manager came running up to James, looking quite frustrated.
"James! This was supposed to arrive 15 minutes ago!"
He flashed his watch, his confirmed his statement.
"You're lucky the ship hasn't left yet!"

Mavis spoke up.
"Please, sir, calm yourself. James is only late because he had to carry me with him."
The manager heard Mavis' voice and peered to the back of James' train.
"Is this true?"
He asked, turning back to the red engine.

"Yes sir. Honest!"
The man sighed.
"Well, I guess you're excused then. Good work, James."
James smiled brightly and felt quite relieved.
James then uncoupled from the trucks and towed Mavis back to Ffarquhar quarry, where she was refuelled.

"Thanks, James."
She smiled.
James didn't say anything, but he did feel a sense of fulfilment.
The next morning, James awoke to two familiar whistles.
A couple of tank engines, blue and green, were heading for the triple sheds, where James rested in the middle.

The red tender engine sighed in relief and puffed away. As he passed the two tank engines, he blew a friendly whistle.
James was happy to be back on the mainline, but he was also happy to have been of service. He had just learnt a little bit more about the importance of the branch lines.

End-