The Sudrians: The Archive Collection

Gangsta At The Harbour

~1936~

Railways, were originally built to take goods trains. So to replace the canals of Britain. There goods would be taken to mines, towns or harbours.

Harbours were the main reason why. They could connect to other countries, who can trade goods such as fish, clothes and many other things. These come in by boats, massive machines that float on land. But they were too big, too big to dock, otherwise they'd destroy the docking area and damage themselves.

That's why tugboats exist. So they could give the large boats a safe docking. They could also send smaller shippings to other parts of the docks or to a different place near it.

That is why there are different types of tugboats. Switches, Harbour Tugs, Railway Tugs and Ocean Goers.

On Sodor, there were too fleets of tugs. All coming to work at the docks in the late 1920s. The Starr Fleet, was one of them.

There was OJ, a paddle steamer, the oldest out of them all. Big Mac and Warrior, two massive beasts who carried the bigs loads around the bay. Top Hat, the tug that worked around the railway. Ten Cents and Sunshine, two little switchers that loved to work hard. And finally, Hercules, the biggest of them all. Usually sending the biggest ocean lines and goods ships into bay.

One day, Percy was waiting at the docks. He loved the fresh, salty air and the Starr Fleet was always fun to talk to. Today, he was talking to OJ about the new canal stream, going through the harbour and into the middle.

"And there's that new railway drawbridge as well!" beamed Percy, "That way, we can get over your canal whilst not going up stupid slopes!"

"Well," laughed OJ, "It's a good thing too. After all, neither we can climb slopes or hills either."

"But you can't go on land," said Percy, puzzled at what OJ meant.

OJ chuckled. "You might never know until you've tried it."

With the blast of his whistle. He steamed away, paddles splashing into the water.

Percy watched as the paddle steamer floated away. Percy then went back to work. He soon arrived back at the sheds to see Gordon.

Percy then began to talk about how tugs can go on land. Gordon laughed at this.

"You silly engine!" he boomed, "Tugs cannot go on land, they'll over balance and won't be able to move until they've destroyed their own propellers!"

Percy wheeshed steam crossly and secretly embarrassed. "Well OJ told me that," he replied.

"OJ?" smiled Gordon, "And I thought Zorran would've."

"Zorran. Who's Zorran?" asked Percy curiously.

"Zorran, is apart of another tug fleet based here on Sodor." Both engines looked to see me puffing in.

"They're called the Z-Stacks, or Zero Fleet if you want to do either," I replied.

"I see," replied Percy, "But what's so bad about them? As from what Gordon has said about this, Zorren. It sounds like they're troublesome."

"Oh they are," said Gordon, "Try and take the Starr Fleets contracts no matter what. Back in 1927, Zorran purposely shoved Sunshine into a cruise liner which carried the Duchess of Boxford. Went out of control it did, so the Starr Fleet had no choice but to except help from the Z-Stacks."

"Oh my!" exclaimed Percy, "Please tell me they were seen!"

"Zorran was spotted by a foreign goods ship when he shoved Sunshine into the cruise liner," I replied, "So they had to pay a fine, and loose the contract they gained from that scheme."