Railways of Sodor: Thomas & The Missing Engine

Difficulties Ahead

That night at Tidmouth Sheds, many of the engines rested peacefully. No one noticed Diesel 10 moving slowly in front of the sheds, smirking maliciously.

"Alright, Pinchy, my little buckett of badness. Time to feast yourself." He spoke, the claw on his roof moved over to some nearby scaffolding that stood there.

A crash of metal falling down woke the engines, many of them asking what the hell was going on, that was until Thomas noticed something.

"Cinders & Ashes! It's Diesel 10!"

Jinty then realised something, the scaffolding fell down into the turntable well! "The line's blocked! We're trapped!"

Mr C, who'd been sleeping in the workmans hut following a long and stressful day ran out and into the sheds. Diesel 10 looked over at him.

"Hello Mr America!" Diesel 10 sneered, "My boss has a plan and none of you are in it."

"You won't touch any of them!"

He just cackled, "You can't do anything now where's that lost engine?"

"YOU WON'T FIND HER HERE!" Yelled Thomas.

"Your not brave enough to stop me." The warclaw sneered, Mr C ran back into the hut and grabbed something.

"Oh yes we are." Taunted Murdoch, as Mr C ran into D10's vision with a jug.

"Oh what is that?" Diesel 10 asked, then looked at the jug, "Is that?"

"That's right, it's milk. Now if you don't leave now, this is going in your fuel tank!"

The diesel sighed and slunk away in defeat, siglently.

"Thanks for that sir." Percy smiled.

"I hate to be rude but how are we going to leave without any lines clear?" Asked Bear.

"Some workmen will have to clear it tomorrow. It's best that we all get some sleep."

"Night sir." Called Henry.

At the crack of dawn, next day, the engines stood there, having a meeting around the sheds, as the workmen cleared the lines.

"Cheer us guys, it's a sunny day. No need to be in the dumps." Called Rosie, the Tidmouth Harbour shunter as she steamed passed to collect some trucks, oblivious to what was going.

"It's not sunny, there's something shady going on. I know it." Said James in concern.

"What gave you that idea?" Asked BoCo sarcastically. "The fact that a diesel with a claw on his roof is lurking around the smelters yard."

"Or the fact there's been several minor derailments, delays and incidents lately. More so than usual and that's really saying somin." Growled Winston.

"Huh, my smokebox ain't sunny it's just stuffed up." Grumbled Henry.

"Blasted coal, horrible stuff this batch is. When can we get better, or better yet the mine at Crosby opens back up." Replied an annoyed Gordon.

"I have to admit this coal is just filthy." Muttered Neville.

Donald was just about to reply when he spotted Thomas deep in though.

"Are ye alright Thomas, if ya didn'e mind me sayin' so?"

"Oh, ah, yes, I'm just trying to think of all the places where the lost engine could be." Said Thomas, having been caught off guard. Henry just sighed, before winking at Thomas.

"Well back on to the topic at hand, we need to find that lost engine before Diesel 10 does, if we don't then I fear that's the end for us all." Commented Heney.

"What even a grand engine like me?" Retorted Gordon.

"Aye, even ye too ladi." Barked back Douglas.

"Ah-Choo!!!" Thomas suddenly wheeshed out.

"Thomas, are you alright?" Asked Percy.

"Yeah, I'm ok, just had a bit of soot still in my smokebox."

"Can we please come up with ideas on how to stop Diesel 10?" Asked James. They all tried their best but none could come up with any good ideas.

"How about this, me, James and Henry all just push that diesel around after disabling his claw he calls 'Pinchy'? Huh." Said Gordon.

"For that to work we need proper coal, not this rubbish." Muttered Murdoch in a low voice. BoCo perked up.

"Well I've got some good news for all of you, tomorrow morning I'm collecting a train of special coal for all of you." He said.

"That's wonderful." Replied Alice.

"Aye and about too, after all if Diesel 10 destroys yon lost engine we all are done for." Said Donald.

"Alright, the line's clear!" Called a workman. "Jinty, Thomas and Percy. Mr Conductor wants you three out first."

"Ok, now if you'd excuse me, I have a train to take." Said Thomas, leaving.

Thomas puffed down the line towards Kellsthorpe Road, when Bertie called over from the road.

"How about a race Thomas?"

"Sorry Bertie, I can't have any for a while." The blue engine called back.

"Oh, I see, until next time we can."

Thomas soon arrived at Kirk Ronan, where an old friend was waiting.

"Morning Burnett. Wait, BURNETT?" Thomas called out in surprise.

"Morning Thomas, my old friend, I'm sorry I haven't seen you in a while." Burnett Stone smiled at the blue steam engine, an old friend of the railway, many of the older engines including Thomas knew the man well.

"I'm sorry for your loss, Tasha was a lovely person, both to you and us engines. She will be missed." Thomas said, solemnly. "If you don't mind me asking, why are you here?"

"I came to see you in fact, she's almost ready to be revealed, just really needs a few small parts and coal." Thomas smiled at this remark.

"That's excellent news, but I have to warn you. There's a warclaw and a pair of 08's that are hunting her down, and P.T. Bommer's returned too." Thomas said, in a hushed and cautious tone.

"Thanks for the warning."

Thomas' guard whistle blew and the little blue engine left.

After watching Thomas depart, Burnett walked over to his ford ute, only to find a nasty surprise waiting for him.

"I finally found you, Burnett." Boomer smiled.

"And so you did return, Boomer." Burnett replied, nonchalantly walking past him.

"I understand she's passed on, I wish I got to say goodbye." Boomer said, "So, where's that engine, I want to apologise to her."

"I'm sorry what happened when we were younger but you took it too far. I'm not going to tell her location." Burnett entered his car and drove off, sensing that Bommer was up to something.