An Island's end | A TTTE AU.

What now? | June 23rd 1983.

June 23rd 1983

So a bit's happened since my last update. Shortly after volunteering for it Emily was sent to work on the Brendam branch for the construction project. Yet she wasn't alone as Arthur had also volunteered when sir topham visited the little western and it was only those two due to no one else wanting to go, it does seem to have caused a bit of unrest as a lot of engines seem to be concerned by it's presence, especially those on the brendam branchline, Derek was telling us at one point when we stopped at Wellsworth how the whole of Suddery is no where near as pleasant due to the constant work being done.

Molly seemed to move on from the happenings at Tidmouth pretty quickly with the help of Neville and Murdoch, she still hasn't spoken to Emily but she seems to have mostly reconciled with Gordon and James which is good, however unfortunately the peace didn't end up lasting as for some ungodly reason Topham asked us of all engine to take a goods train down there, don't know why he didn't just ask Edward or Boco since it is kinda their branchline and we only ever really work on the mainline or occasionally the Kirk Ronan branch. Molly likewise wasn't happy when I told her the news but we didn't really have much of a choice. We soon arrived at Knapford where we were instructed to where our train was. We quickly refilled Molly up on water, coupled up to the train and set of.

We soon arrived at Suddery where we were told to put most of our train into a siding but just when we thought we'd be able to head of we were told to take a couple of vans down to the site which was perfect, now it was damn near impossible that we wouldn't encounter Emily but then again orders were orders so we set of down the line.

We shortly arrived at the sight to see vehicles bustling around, buildings were being knocked over to make way for new ones, the tracks were being replaced from the older and more rusty ones but it couldn't escape my mind in the far side of the yard there were several sidings holding strangely coloured and shaped tankers, I couldn't remember seeing them anywhere before but Molly seemed to notice as well. As we came to a stop the foreman strolled up and asked us to leave the vans in a siding, we complied and then ambled over to the water tower for a top up where we saw Arthur, Molly seemed happy to see him and the two caught up, Arthur told us that Emily had been fairly quiet since they'd started work but he had no idea why so Molly told him about the huge argument at Tidmouth. Arthur was hushed for a bit after that.

Arthur: "It wasn't your fault you know."

Molly: "I'm not so sure."

Arthur: "Well I am, you work hard enough for three on this railway and you definitely don't need any more, you just need to be a bit more defiant and not let yourself get used by others."

Molly: "Uh, I guess so."

We had soon finished topping Molly up on coal and water and had coupled up to some trucks full of scrap to drop of at the scrapyard on our way back, we said goodbye to Arthur and set of, feeling quite pleased that we hadn't encountered Emily. But we had celebrated far to soon. We managed to get of the site easy enough and were on our way back to Edward's branchline when we heard oncoming puffing, which was strange because no trains were meant to be coming through, just us. And there was only enough room for one engine as it was a single track line. Just to be safe I slowed Molly down to a stop and blew her whistle, hoping that the oncoming engine would hear us. However it wasn't enough as there flying around the bend was Emily! 

She yelled at us to move but it was too late! Me and George leapt out of Molly's cab and ran for safety, as for Emily, there was no way she was going to be able to stop, and there was no way to prevent a collision.

Molly: Uh, Ouch, oh um. Hi Emily.

Emily: Hey

I quickly got up and went to check over Molly who unlike Emily was still upright and aside from her front being bent out of shape she seemed alright. I was just about to get George to call for a crane as some workmen approached us when I heard a hissing noise.

Emily's driver: Crap! Everyone get back, now!

Unsure of what was going on we were herded away by the workmen as fire engines came racing onto the scene accompanied by Arthur with a crane. We were rushed back to the site without being told what the hell was going on and where placed in a workmen's hut and we're then shut inside with strict orders to not leave.We were stuck in that shed for what must have been half a day as it seemed to be getting dark outside when the door was opened. There stood Topham and his message to us was brief as hell.

Sir Topham Hatt: Feel free to head home.

That was it, no explanation. Nothing, we promptly left and got a taxi back to Tidmouth where our cars were, without saying much me and my colleague got into our cars and parted ways.I then came in this morning to find Molly at the sheds, completely fine and talking with Neville, I greeted her and she told me that she was immediately whisked of to the works and repaired them Edward had brought her back this morning. Along with that Neville said to us one night that he heard Topham in his office on the telephone saying something along the lines of:

"Do you know what would happen if this surfaced to the general public? I would be sacked! The board would have me stand down from my position of director! No one can hear of what happens here, this stays between you and your team, me and my 2 engines."

That was all Neville said, however there seemed to be something he wasn't letting on about. I just hope nothing bad happens and whatever's going on at that site, can't be good.