The Secret Railway: Season 3 (Female Controller Reader)

Chapter 13: The LNER Trio

The Paradise Island Railway is lovely during the summer months.

Thomas, Percy, Toby and Tillie work on the County Branchline, delivering goods from small factories, coal to the mainline, and people to and from the country.

Gordon, Richard, Oltan Hall, Boco, Bear and Alfred work on the Paradise Rush Express.

And Murdoch, Henry, and Pete all work with heavy goods.

And many engines work with both passengers and goods, like Edward, James, Spencer, and Diesel.

However, recently, many engines were struggling to keep up with demand.

Thus, some engines were brought in to help. However, this visit would be one where the engines didn't get along.

There were engines that were thought to have been scrapped, but survived into modern day. They were all of the LNER Thompson's designs.

One was an LNER A2, and the second K1, and the third one was an O1.

The O1 was in between the other two engines, like they were escorting him.

They arrived at Homestead, and the O1 looked around.

"So, this is Paradise Island?" he said, "Not bad. Could use some.... improvement."

Just then, Gordon came in with the express, and said, "Hello there. Welcome-"

"How DARE you speak to me without permission!" said the O1.

Gordon scoffed, "I was just welcoming you to the Paradise Railway!"

"Oh, my goodness!" said the O1, "My apologies! You're a fellow LNER engine!! I am so sorry for my rudeness."

Gordon then said, "Oh please don't tell me you respect only LNER engines."

"Why should I not?"

"Because there are more than LNER engines on this railway," said Gordon.

The O1 was about to retort, when (Y/N) came out, and said, "Ah, you must be the engines who are helping in the Summer. I am (Y/N) Awdry, Controller of the Railway. I assume your names are Fredrick, Jones and Elliot?"

"Yes," said O1, "We are. And I must say, this railway is very lovely. Are there sheds where we may rest our wheels?"

"Yes, there is a round house to the left. Right next to the carriage shed."

"Thank you ma'am. Come along Fredrick and Elliot."

The three engines headed off, and Gordon didn't trust them very much.

In the sheds, the three Thompson Engines were shocked at the size of the turntable.

"My goodness!" said Jones, "Why is the turntable this large!?"

They didn't have long to find out.

When the engines were coming back, they were booted out, and only Spencer and Flying Scotsman were allowed in, but they refused to stay.

"Hmph," said Jones, "How dare they try to disgrace us with their lineage!"

The next morning, the trio woke up, and saw (Y/N) coming in, surprised to see only them.

"Where are the other engines?" she asked, "This is the main shed for all engines."

"They decided to sleep elsewhere," said Jones.

"I see," said (Y/N), "Well, that complicates things a bit. For now, Fredrick, you are on local passengers."

Fredrick whistled, and smiled, heading out.

"Do your friends talk?" asked (Y/N).

"Not without permission," said Jones.

"Well, they don't need my permission to speak."

Jones then rolled his eyes when (Y/N) turned her back.

"Now, Elliot, I want you on a special train that connects to all the branchlines. The shunter will tell you the station names you should stop at."

Jones smiled, and whistled.

(Y/N) then turned towards Jones, and said, "Now, Jones, you are to help with the increasing goods."

"Goods?" asked Jones, "Ma'am, I was the leader of the LNER. I am to pull only passenger trains. Now, I ask you rectify this, and a-sign me the express."

"Really useful engines don't complain, or argue!"

"But-"

(Y/N) held firm.

"Yes ma'am," said Jones, heading out, rather cross.

In the yards, Jones bumped the trucks, grumbling.

"I would take care," said Edward, "Trucks don't like to be bumped around like that."

Jones just ignored him, and took off with a jolt, without the break van.

The trucks knew this, and didn't say anything.

However, Jones was very strong, and the trucks couldn't push him at all.

Just then, with a roar of his engine, Bear rushed by with the express, giving Jones a fright!

He then decided to give the diesel a piece of his mind.

At the station, Bear was stopped, and Jones pulled up right next to him, and ranted and raved at him.

However, he failed to realize he was blocking the mainline.

This caused delays, and passengers and goods were all late, due to Jones not even listening.

The station master yelled at Jones, who was only ignored, and Jones soon headed off, with Bear very heated.

However, that night, when Jones was arriving back into the sheds, the turntable was jammed, by James and Arthur.

"What is the meaning of this!?" demanded Jones, "I demand that you let me in!!"

"NO!!" snapped Mallard, "YOU are a disgrace to our lineage!!"

"You are, not following the fifth rule!!" yelled Jones.

"Don't tell me you're following that dead lead!!" said Scotsman.

"THAT, 'dead lead', is what kept us alive, and we intend to follow it!!"

Soon, the sheds were filled with angry whistled, and horns, and Jones hurling insults to the other engines.

"STAY OUTSIDE!!" snapped Gordon, "YOU'RE NOT WELCOME HERE!!"

"May you pay for this!!" snapped Jones, as he backed up.

Jones was then found by (Y/N), and she looked very, very cross.

"I am VERY disappointed in you three!! Being Rude to my engines, multiple delays, and leaving without a break van?!!?"

"Ma'am, it's the LNER rule Number 5: Engines should only interact with other engines of the same status!!"

"THAT, is not how things work here!!" snapped (Y/N), surprising Jones, "Here, no one is above others!! You are a common goods engine, with a massive ego problem!! You, and your colleges will leave this railway, at once!!"

The outspoken trio then headed out, and left the railway at once.

However, the traffic was still in need of help.

However, there was another engine found.

"Hm, an 8F? He's perfect! Let's see his name......... Peter."

However, that is a story, for another day.