Sodor's Unusual Tales

The Fourth Sibling

Every engine on Sodor is keenly aware of three particular saddle tank engines on Sodor. Three siblings named Liz, Percy, and Xander.

Liz was, of course, the oldest sibling, and like most older siblings, she's always watching over them, and keeping them safe from harm.

Then, there's Percy. Everyone knows who he is, ever since he first joined the NWR. At first, he was proud to have Liz for an older sibling, but later on, a newcomer would come to Sodor, and show him what it's like to be in her role.

That newcomer was the one saddle tank that stood out from the others: Xander. Due to his autism, Xander has trouble communicating with others, but he has revealed that he feel relaxed whenever he's near nature.

Although Liz is happy with her two brothers, she does wish to have another sister into the mix.

One day, an opportunity finally presented itself. The three siblings were approached by Sir Topham Hatt.

"The Arlesdale Transfer Yard has requested assistance from us," he said to them. "A large order of ballast is needed for a new mining site in the Arlesdale Railway. For the next few weeks, the three of you are to pick up each load and deliver them to the Arlesdale Transfer Yard, where the Arlesdale engines will pick them up and take them to the mining site."

"Count us in, sir," said Liz enthusiastically.

"Good," replied Sir Topham Hatt. "I shall see you then." And he walked away.

Liz then turned to her brothers.

"You two better pay close attention to the job," she said to them. "We mustn't have any slip-ups."

"Okay," the boys replied. They were still reeling from the previous incident, where Xander had wandered off after failing to keep up with Percy.

At Arlesdale, the three siblings, with the first load of ballast for today, came to the Arlesdale Transfer Yard to meet up with the Arlesdale engines. Over the next few days, they would often chat with each other when they had spare time, but one such conversation caught the siblings by surprise.

"That new ballast-laying engine at the mining site can sure work," huffed Jock.

"Pretty soon, we might be done with the ballast work early," giggled Rex.

"If we did, the controllers will be very pleased," added Mike.

"I think the same should be said about Corina," added Bert.

"Corina?" Liz asked, as she puffed in with her brothers. "Who's she?"

"She's a young tank engine that often hangs out with us," replied Mike. "She's from a railway on the mainland, but she's always wished to be on the Sodor Railway."

"W-What is she like?" stuttered Xander.

"Funny you should ask," said Jock. "She's kind of like you."

Xander was taken back.

"Like... me?" he asked.

"Well, not exactly like you," Rex added. "She's not autistic, but she's still very shy."

"However, she's very good at speaking her mind," Bert added. "You'll get used to her soon."

The next day, the three siblings went about their next delivery. Up ahead, they could see another engine at the Arlesdale Transfer Yard. It was a bright pink tank engine, but what really caught their attention was that it was shaped like a saddle tank, just like themselves.

"Could that be Corina?" Percy pondered.

"Maybe," replied Liz. "Let's go check it out."

As soon as they arrived, the pink tank engine noticed the three siblings. She tried to back away, but Bert chimed in.