The Secret Railway (Female Controller Reader)

Chapter 6: Celebrity Engines

It was a beautiful day on Paradise Island. The engines were working hard. Edward and Toby were working in the Quarry. Percy was taking the mail train. Thomas was helping shunt trucks at the docks, when he saw a large ship pull up. He wondered what was on board. He soon found out, when he saw some engines being unloaded.

"Hello, Flying Scotsman" said Thomas, "It's great to see you again. Who are your friends?" "I'm Oltan Hall," said the red engine. "I'm Mallard," said the blue engine. "I'm Penny," said the black engine. "It's nice to meet you all. My name is Thomas," said Thomas kindly. The engines were confused. "Do you not recognize us?" they asked. "Should I," asked Thomas. "Well," said Oltan Hall, "I am famous for being in a film. I was part of a movie, about a boy who learns to be a wizard, and he and the other boys and girls go to their wizard school by train. I was chosen to pull that train." "I was also in a film," said Penny, "Except, I was the title character. I was chosen to pull a train to the North Pole in the film, so the boys and girls could meet Santa Claus before he left to deliver his presents." "As for me," said Mallard, "I am most famous for a special record. I hold the world record for fastest steam engine in the world!" "I thought Spencer was the fastest engine," said Thomas. "Is Spencer still telling that fib?" asked Mallard, "Of course my brother would say that. He was a bit jealous when I made the record. Honestly, I'm jealous of him." "Why?" asked Thomas. "He's been in a museum for more than 3 decades," said Oltan Hall. Thomas was amazed. "How did you get out?" "It took some real persuasion," said Mallard, "but (Y/N) soon got the right amount. She's been saving for something like that." "Come to the station," said Thomas, "I'll get your coaches and trucks a ranged for you all." "But I can't pull your types," said Penny, "I have Buck-Eye couplings." Percy then pulled in, and he heard Penny talking. "What's a Buck-Eye coupling?" he asked. "It's a type of coupling that is standard on the American Railway." "Really?" asked Thomas, "I was never fitted with a Buck-Eye coupler when I went to see the world." "Well," said Penny, "Must have been an acception then." The four big engine then puffed away, following Thomas.

At Homestead Station, (Y/N) was waiting for the four new engines. When they arrived, she greeted them. "Welcome to the Paradise Railway," said (Y/N), "I want you all to pull the locals today, and then work your way up to the express. Penny, I went ahead and ordered your coaches a few days earlier, but there are no shunters with Buck-Eye couplers, so you'll have to get them yourself." "Yes ma'am," said Penny, and she puffed away. Mallard and Scotsman were cross, "A Tender Engine, shunting her own coaches!?! It's disgraceful!" "Completely undignified!" said Scotsman. "Engines on my railway will do as they are told, just like on the Fat Controllers," said (Y/N) sternly. Oltan Hall said, "It's okay, we'll soon be on the main line."

James was waiting with the Non-Stop Express, when he saw Penny pull in with her coaches. "Who are you?" asked James. "Penny," replied the engine. "Did you just fetch your own coaches?" "Yes I did, my couplings are different, so I'll have to wait for a shunter with Buck-Eye couplers." James snorted, "BAH, that's no excuse, you're a Tender Engine, and Tender Engines don't shunt!" And he puffed off. Penny felt hurt. Oltan Hall pulled up next to her and said, "Pay no attention to them. They have their opinions, and you have yours." Penny smiled, and her guard blew the whistle, and she puffed off.

Later, James told Gordon about Penny, and he said, "Shunting your own trucks is one thing, but your own coaches?!?!" "Indeed," said James, "We have to do something about it. There is a Mallard who agrees with us as well." "We should talk with Mallard." 

Penny pulled into the Sir Topham Hat's Station, and she saw Henry waiting for his trucks. "Hello," she said, "I'm Penny." "I'm Henry," said the big engine. "It's nice to meet you, can I ask a question?" "Yes." "There was this red engine who said that I shouldn't be shunting my own coaches. He was very rude about it too." Henry then blew off steam. "That's James," he said, "Pay no attention to him, he just follows Gordon, our main express engine." Penny then asked, "Is this Gordon the one who told you about this no shunting nonsense?" "Indeed," said Henry, "I stopped listening to him long ago." Henry then puffed away with his goods. 

That night, Penny and Henry were heading back to the sheds, where they saw Gordon, James, Scotsman and Mallard blocking the turn table. "What's going on here?" asked Penny. "YOU are a Tender Engine," said Gordon. "And we won't stand for you shunting!" said James. "It is not dignified!" said Mallard, "And completely silly for Tender Engines to shunt!" "I told Gordon this," said Scotsman, "That Tender Engines aren't supposed to shunt their own trains!!" "Alright Henry," said Gordon, "Come on the turntable. We know you'll agree." Henry then puffed onto the turntable, and bumped Gordon hard. Gordon rolled backwards. "I WILL NOT STAND FOR THIS!!" he said crossly, "Engines on the Paradise Railway will do the jobs they are told!!" Scotsman was livid. "Fine, then we will just kick you both out of the sheds, until you all learn your respectable parts as Tender Engines!" "Yes," said Mallard, "(Y/N) would fully agree with us!!" "NO I WOULD NOT!!!" yelled a familiar voice. The engines turned to see (Y/N) standing next to Henry, and she was FURIOUS! "Must we go through this AGAIN!!! I thought that you all would have learned your lessons!! But no, you are all the same era-gent engines you were before!! And what's worse, is that you ALL tried to force your ideals on Penny, and threatened to kick her out when she wouldn't comply!! I DO NOT AGREE WITH YOUR OPINIONS!!! I told you already Gordon, shunting is important to the railway, even with your coaches!! For your punishments, James, you will be shunting in Jefferson's Station! Mallard, you will be shunting in Homestead station, and fit with a Buck-Eye coupler, to help Penny with her coaches and trucks! Gordon, you will be shunting Henry's goods and coaches! And you Scotsman..." Flying Scotsman gulped, "As for being the source of this nonsense, you will be arranging your own GOODS trains!" "GOODS TRAINS!?!?" exclaimed Scotsman, "but what about my passengers?" "Emily, Henry and Penny will take care of them. Now, Gordon, get into your birth, and let Henry and Penny into the sheds!!" "Yes ma'am," said Gordon shamefully. (Y/N) then stormed off home. Gordon rolled back, and Henry and Penny got into their sheds. When they looked around, they saw all the other engines looking at them. "Do you think they'll ever change their ways?" asked Thomas. "They still hate shunting!" said Percy, "So no!"

The next morning, Penny and Henry were waiting at the platform, when Mallard came, with her coaches, and a Buck-Eye Coupler on his front. "Henry," said Penny, "Is that Mallard?" "It can't be," teased Henry, "Mallard doesn't shunt. It must be a new tank engine!" The two engines laughed, as Mallard rolled away. Just then, Scotsman's whistle was heard, and they saw him pulling a line of dirty coal trucks, quarry dust trucks, vans of fish, and flatbeds of pipes. (start video) Penny laughed even harder, as she puffed away with the Non-Stop Express.