Terror Tales of Sodor

Smudgers story

Smudgers story had been told by Duke and the TV series, which made it very popular among kids and rail enthusiasts alike. The story they said that Smudger was cocky and rough riding. Duke tried talking sense into Smudger, but ot no avail. Eventually, the manager got sick of Smudgers behavior and turned him into a generator at the back of the sheds. But thats the story the Thomas and friends TV Series told. There are a lot more details of this story that are unfit for childrens books. Duke was one of the only engines around that knew these details, which are things he doesn't like talking about. Peter Sam and Sir Handel, who were called Stuart and Falcon in their Mid-Sodor days, tried asking Duke about the details, but Duke remained tight lipped about them. 

That was, until October of 2023.

That year, it was extremely cold. Sweatshirts were becoming more and more popular, and some people were wearing scarves. Costume shops were getting a surge of traffic, due to Halloween coming up. The current Earl of Sodor, Sir Robert Charles Norramby, was planning his annual Halloween party, which included plenty of food, dancing, and his estate engines giving everyone tours of the Norramby Estate as ghost trains. Duke didn't exactly approve of the idea of ghost trains pulling tours, mainly thanks to a prior encounter back in his Mid-Sodor days. Duke didn't like talking about that incident, even though his estate colleagues asked many times.

One day, Duke had to wake up at the crack of dawn, as Sir Robert had plenty of jobs for him. Duke had to collect the various decorations for the party from the Skarloey railway, which took him a huge chunk of the day. By the time Duke was finished, he was knackered. The sun was getting ready to set on the west. He chuffed into his shed and decided to take a nice long nap.

But Dukes dream was not pleasant. In fact, it would be one of the worst nightmares he had ever experience. 

In the dream, Duke was back in the Mid-Sodor railway. Peter Sam and Sir Handle were double heading a passenger train all the way to Arlesburge, and they whistled hello to Duke. Duke whistled back and was just about to attach himself to his goods train when he suddenly heard a loud crash in the distance. Duke puffed toward the source of the noise as fast as his pistons would pump, and what he saw was most horrifying. Peter Sam and Sir Handle were in a horrible wreck, with their coaches piled on top of them. There wer passengers screaming their lungs out, and right in front of th ewreck was an engine. An engine Duke knew all too well.

"S-S-Smudger!!!!" Duke cried out in horror. "What have you done?!?!?!" 

"What I should have done years ago!!!" Smudger snarled, and he charged towards Duke like a bull. Duck ran backwards, but he didn't go far before he crashed into a nearby siding. Smudger soon caught up with him, a look of rage across his face. Duke gave Smudger one last horrifying look, and cried out, "NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!"

Duke suddenly woke up back in his shed, panting heavily, sweat pouring down his face. He looked around in a panic, only to see himself at his shed at Ulfstead Castle. Glynn and Millie, Sir Roberts other private engines, were looking at him with shocked looks on their faces. Sir Robert Norramby was standing in front of Duke with a concerned look on his face. Duke looked at him with an embarrased look on his face. 

"Oh, good morning everyone." Duke muttered. "I'm sorry if I scared you all." 

"Are you alright, Duke?" Millie asked. "You were talking to yourself and then you were screaming your lungs out."

"Did you have a nightmare?" Glynn asked.

"It's nothing to worry about." Duke replied. "Duke, it is something to worry about. You were asleep for over twelve hours, and the fact we all heard you screaming? Something is going on, and we need to know right now!" Sir Robert said firmly.'