Sodor Engines: North Western Engines

The Story of Dante

(February 1919)

One evening, the engines were beginning to wind down for the night at Vicarstown. It had been a busy day like always. The engines were thankful for a good night's rest. However, the engines felt that something was missing.

"Do any of you have any stories to tell?" Emily asked, "I'd like to hear a good story."

"I can't really think of anything. Or at least, any interesting ones," Edward said.

"Well, someone ought to have something. It could liven things up a bit in this shed," Eagle stated.

"I have one," said Adam, who was staying in the shed for the night. He had taken a goods train from Wellsworth and was going to take another goods train back the next morning. "I don't know if you will like it though."

"Well, as long as one of us has got a story, you might as well tell us," Emily said.

"Alright." And this was the story.

~1899~

The Wellsworth & Suddery Railway. It was one of the three railways that was around before the North Western Railway was formed. The engines that were Billy, Charlie, Jane, Oscar, Colin, Lily, and Adam. All seven worked extremely hard to make sure the railway ran smoothly. Jane was the main express engine. She did this job well and almost always got her passengers to their destinations on time.

However, more passengers were riding in the express which meant more coaches had to be added. Jane would often struggle in getting her train started and would especially struggle when she would climb the gradients. Mr. Malcolm, the controller of the Wellsworth & Suddery Railway, noticed this and arranged the purchase of a bigger engine that could handle the heavy express trains more. He announced this to the engines one evening.

"Recently," Mr. Malcolm began, "there had been more passengers riding in our trains. This makes the express more heavier than usual for you, Jane. I don't want you to strain yourself too much."

"I'm sorry, sir," Jane said, with a guilty look on her face.

"Don't worry," smiled Mr. Malcolm, "I'm not blaming you. I just think that you all need help. So, I have arranged for an engine to be brought here to handle the heavy express trains."

"That's good news, sir," Lily commented.

"Anything for my engines. I'm proud of all of you for how you have pulled through despite the tough times. And I want to repay you all this way."

"We appreciate it, sir," Adam said.

"I know you do," Mr. Malcolm replied, "that will be all, engines. Good night."

"Night, sir," said all of the engines.

"I can't wait to meet the new engine!" Colin beamed, "I hope he'll be nice."

"Hopefully, he won't cause a ruckus," Billy said.

"You would know a lot about that, wouldn't you?" Oscar teased.

Billy gave a cold looking stare at Oscar. Oscar loved to tease Billy every chance he got. Billy, of course, didn't like this but they still both cared for each other. The engines chatted until at last, they all went to sleep.