The Secret Railway: Season 3 (Female Controller Reader)

Chapter 9: Curtain Lifted

It had been one week since Dudley took the express. Since then, he was stuck on goods work.

And the engines were at each other's smokeboxes and air intakes.

Lady meanwhile, was talking with Bear, Samson, Thomas, Oliver, Donald and Douglas.

"So, Dudley really did say that?" asked Thomas.

"Yes," said Lady, "And I have a plan to catch him. It's going to include you Bear. Now, here's what we're gonna do."

The plan was whispered, and everyone was filled in.

Next day, Dudley was resting in a sighting, with Douglas shunting in the yards.

Suddenly, Bear came in looking very excited.

"Douglas!" he said loudly, "I'm to take a special railtour to tour the island!!"

Dudley had heard this, and decided to listen to the conversation.

"Really?" asked Douglas, "You lucky duck! Ah hope that you will represent the island well!"

"I will," said Bear, "And I believe the special coaches will be in the sightings closest to the station. I must rest now. (Y/N) had asked me to take a rest before I go."

Bear then headed off, and Dudley said, "Railtour of the Island? Hmmmmm?"

Meanwhile, Lady came and saw (Y/N) on the platform, and said, "Ma'am, I need you to do something real quick, if you could."

"What is it?" asked (Y/N).

Bear was resting in the sightings, when he heard the rumbling of trucks. He opened one eye, to see the trucks right in front of him, and a voice say, "If you tell anyone I did this, I will smash you like I did to your other friends to frame that diesel with the claw, got it!?!"

"Y-Y-Y-Y-Y-Y-Y-Y-Yes Dudley," said the trucks.

Puffing was then heard, and Bear smirked, "Worked like a charm."

Dudley was looking around the the yard, and said to himself, "Special coaches, special coaches, where could they be?"

"Over here!" came a voice.

Dudley perked up, and hurried towards it. Into a siding he swerved, and waiting for him was...

"Hello!" grinned Toad, "you must be Mr. Dudley."

"According to railway rule number 329," said Bradford, "Goods engines aren't to be allowed to pull passenger trains unless they have-"

"I DON'T HAVE TIME FOR RUBBISH RULES LIKE THAT!!" snapped Dudley, "Where are the special coaches?"

"Special coaches?" asked Toad, "What are the coaches for sir?"

"A railtour of the island," said Dudley, "And I'll be the one to pull it!"

"A railtour?" asked a voice, "That does sound special."

Dudley looked back in amazement - there was Bear!

"Y-you?!" Dudley gritted, "how'd you get out of that siding?!"

"Ah helped 'im," said Donald, who drew alongside with Samson, Donald, Oliver, and Thomas. "Question is, how'd you know he was trapp't?"

Dudley turned pale, and stuttered, "I...well, that is to say, I-"

"An excellent question indeed, Donald - I'm most curious to hear the answer!"

From Toad stepped out, (Y/N) Awdry II, the Reverent Controller.

"From what I've heard, YOU not only ignored those speed restrictions, BUT, also destroyed railway rolling stock to frame one of MY engines! Explain this behavior!!!"

The engine's bewildered face twisted into a wicked snarl.

"Yes, it was all my doing. I'm still an engine in his prime - why should I face the prospect of scrap? Oh yes, we've all heard of the 'sanctuary' that is the Fat Controller's Railway - a haven where 'steam will always have a place'. But it has been destroyed by dirty diesels. But not all hope was lost, when YOU found me, and took me in. And yet..."

Dudley trailed off, glaring at Bear.

"...there still appear to be rats among us. I've proven my worth - surely, you wouldn't send an engine to his end, Ma'am?"

(Y/N) kept her face looking stern, and said, "No, I wouldn't Dudley...."

Dudley smirked.

"....therefore, I wish you luck on your journey to find a new home. However, it is NOT here."

"Y-you...you can't...!" Dudley gasped.

"Deceit and bullying has no place on my Railway. I welcome any engine - steam or diesel - who shows they are both useful and honest in their work. I hope you learn to change your ways - perhaps then, you will find what you seek. I politely ask that you leave - at once."

There was silence. The resident engines stood with bated breath. At last, Dudley gave a sinister smirk.

"Perhaps this Railway isn't any different after all! You call this 'deceit'? My dear Ma'am, it is survival !! I'll take my leave at your request - but you will remember me!"

The engines moved from the sighting, freeing Dudley, and they all hissed steam and Bear blew his fumes at him.

"Pleasant journeys, Mr. Dudley!" called Toad cheerfully.

Dudley gritted his teeth, as he was glared at.

Dudley was soon coupled to a long line of wagons. Bear and Donald watched from the platform as he stormed away with much hooshing and huffing. Into the setting sun he puffed, and disappeared on the horizon.

"I do feel some sympathy for him," sighed Bear, "scrap is a prospect no engine wants to face. Do you reckon he'll change?"

"Cannae say," replied Donald, "but wi' whit he said tae the Reverent Controller, it might be too little, too late."

Bear said no more, but couldn't help feeling Donald was right.

That night, the engines who sided with Dudley were given quite an earful from (Y/N).

"I do not expect engines to believe in one sided stories, and steam be arrogant to their prejudice against diesels, and vice-versa! Am I clear?"

"Yes ma'am," said the engines.

After that, life when back to normal for all the engines. What happened to Dudley? Well, he ended up being withdrawn, but preserved, to the Locomotion Museum in Shildon. There, he was put on Static Display. He feels he should have been on a heritage railway. But I think he deserves to be stuck for how he treated the diesels, don't you?