Random TTTE Fan Episodes and Rewrites

Sir Handel Splits [Season 5] [New]

Duncan was grumpy. Skarloey could see this very clearly. He was talking at Peter Sam with a very annoyed expression on his face.

Once Duncan had left, Skarloey approached Peter Sam.

"What is it this time?" he asked with a smile.

"It's Sir Handel," replied Peter Sam, "apparently, he's telling Duncan all about how bravely he would have faced off against Boulder_"

"Ooh," wheeshed Skarloey, "just hearing that name makes me quiver."

"Me too," said Peter Sam.

The name didn't seem to bother Sir Handel, though. He talked about the Boulder incident relentlessly. Soon, everyone on the railway had heard what he had to say about it.

"We need a plan," said Rusty to the others one night.

Peter Sam didn't expect Sir Handel to keep talking about Boulder for much longer. He thought everyone was overreacting a little.

"Maybe I can talk to him?" he suggested.

"And say what?" retorted Duncan.

Peter Sam thought for a moment before saying, "Well, I could tell him that we all know what a brave engine he is." Everyone groaned. "And that he doesn't need to talk about his bravery because we just like it when he shows how brave he is."

Rusty gasped, "That's it! Let him show us how brave he is!"

The next day, the engines were ready.

Peter Sam chuffed up to Sir Handel.

"Sir Handel," he puffed, "The Fat Controller has an urgent message for you!"

"Hm," grunted Sir Handel, "what is it?"

"He thinks he's figured out what went wrong at that place Boulder came from. He wants to have another go at opening the quarry." Peter Sam's voice lowered to a whisper. "He knows how scared everyone is of Boulder so he wants you, the bravest engine, to go up there with this first lot of wagons."

"Well why didn't you say so?" said Sir Handel, brightening up, "I'll get to it right away! Get me the wagons!"

Soon, Sir Handel was coupled to his wagons and ready to leave. He was so full of pride, he didn't even realise that the wagons were empty.

He made his way along the track while his driver tried his best to remember the directions they'd been given. Little did he know that the directions were wrong.

As he made his way further up a mountain, his eyes darted left and right looking for any signs of a boulder. All he could see were jagged rock faces and trees that loomed over him. All he could hear were rustling leaves and the occasional footsteps of wild animals.

"It's very quiet," he whispered to himself.

When he reached a junction, he turned onto the older of the two tracks. The track was rusty and covered in stones. He juddered along.

As he rounded the next bend, there was trouble. Some of the rock under the rails had crumbled away. The two rails had split apart on a very steep part of the mountain.

Sir Handel's driver applied the brakes but it was too late. Sir Handel thudded along the rocky ground between the diverging rails. With one last crunch, a lucky plateau a little way down brought him to a complete stop.

"Oh bother," he groaned.

By the time Sir Handel had been rescued, it was almost dark.

The Fat Controller spoke sternly to him.

"Your wheels were badly damaged by those rocks. I'm not at all happy with the other engines for sending you on a wild goose chase. However, none of this would've happened if you hadn't gone on about the boulder. I fear your repairs will take quite some time."

Sir Handel looked glum.

"Cheer up, Sir Handel," puffed Peter Sam.

"At least you didn't have to meet Boulder," said Rusty.

Everyone laughed except Sir Handel.