The Sudrians: The Archive Collection

New Arrivals

It had been a few years after The Great War ended. Not much had changed on Sodor. There had been mineable attacks from Germany and when they did, there came at the very minimum. Even so, we did help with fixing up the damage property the Germans left behind and the S.R.F had to get more men and machines to rebuild itself and other areas on Sodor. Trains came in and out of the fort where the army was based at. But that wasn't the only problem. The Fat Director was in desperate need of engines on the mainline since Emily, Whiff, Eagle and I couldn't handle the trains on our own anymore. The director had to order some engines, so he asked some of the inspectors to go and find engines who were on offer.

He looked at the sheets with one inspector looking at every detail. "Well inspector," he said, "which engines do you think we should loan or buy?"

The inspector didn't respond for a moment. Still checking the papers. "Well there is a Great Eastern Railway class S69."

"An S69?" repeated The Fat Director, thinking thoughtfully about it, "that sounds promising. Reliable engines they are."

"There's also a Caledonian Railway Class 60," continued the inspector, "that can be brought or loaned, both at very good costs."

"I see," ponded The Fat Director.

"I suggest," said the inspector, "that you loan the engines, as a trial of some sort."

The Fat Director thought of the idea carefully. He then nodded approvingly. "Very well," he said, "anymore engines at a good price?"

"Well... I-um," stammered the inspector.

The director looked up from his papers and raised a brow. "Yes inspector?"

"There is one other engine from an unknown workshop," the inspector informed.

"What class?"

"Well... it doesn't say... sir," replied the inspector hesitantly, "you can read it if you want to though."

The Fat Director snatched the paper from the inspector's hand and read through the paper thoroughly, he nodded in improvement. "It looks promising," he said,

"It does," replied the inspector, "but this engine won't be loaned out, it will be brought, no other way around it."

"Really?" The Fat Director pondered. "How much?"

"£15,000, sir," replied the inspector.

The Fat Controller nodded thoughtfully. "I see... let's order the engine then!"

The inspector looked at the Fat Director, rather concerned. "Are you sure sir?" he asked, "we know little information about it."

"From what I can tell from the information given," replied the Fat Director, "the engine is most likely an Atlantic, it's very cheap too, I'm sure it'll be fine."

"Very well sir, and what about those other two from earlier that can be loaned?"

"Still go with the same plans with them," told The Fat Director, "come on then. We need to make arrangements with them."

And they did, but unfortunately, they would later find out, it would be a waste of money....

The two, loaned engines arrived the next week. Coming into Vicarstown with smug-looking faces on them. I looked over at Emily who had a raised brow at them. The engines both came to a gentle stop next to the director who was waiting for them.

"Greetings sir," said the S69, "my name is Alfred. An Great Eastern Railway Class S69."

"And my name is Simon," added the Class 60, with surprisingly a posh, British accent than what people would expect a Caledonian Railway engine to have a more Scottish accent, "you must already know what class I am of cause if you asked for me."