The Sudrians: The Archive Collection

Twins

A/N: This was meant to come out last week, but life got in the way. This might be the case for the time being and I'm hoping it won't be for long. Anyways, enjoy!

~1959~

"The new engine has arrived sir!" called an inspector as he walked into the office.

The Fat Controller looked up from his papers. He smiled brightly, relieved from all the stress he was getting lately. "That is good news," he said, "where did you take them?"

"I ordered him to go to the depot sir," replied the inspector, "so to fuel on water and coal. Is that alright sir?"

"Ah yes, that's splendid!" he beamed. The Fat Controller got up from his chair and walked to the hangers where he picked up his hat, and placed it on his almost-bold head. "I'll go and meet him immediately."

"But I must warn you sir," said the inspector, "you might need to prepare for what you'll see."

"Oh and what's that?"

The inspector gave a thin smile and tapped his finger on the side of his nose. "Wait and see."

The Fat Controller shook his head and left his office, chuckling quietly to himself.

***

It had been three years since the death of Sir Topham Hatt I. Many things had changed then, less steam engines from the mainland were coming and these things called diesels were coming into the stations and yards.

But in 1957, a diesel had came for a trial. But he said terrible things about the three big engines to the trucks and said that I did it. After much investigation and sorting things out, the diesel was sent packing, but left a huge impact on our views on diesels.

I'm afraid to say, that most diesels were rude and threatening to us, and they made our views on them more stronger, we despised them. Seeing them as cowards, oily and devious. Not meant for this world and only brought badness to them.

The entire fleet that worked on the Norramby branch had to be reallocated by order of control, a month after we went to the mainland. So the Fat Controller had to get some new engines to work on the line. He managed to get that Walter folk on, since the Southern region had no interest in bringing him back to his original shed. He also got another engine to do the passenger work and the occasional shunting work at the yards.

Gordon, Henry and James were over-the-moon when they heard the original Vicarstown's pilot left with the original Norramby engines. They pretty much made the other engine a god of some sort.

Lina and Pug were also still around. Shunting carriages and trucks in the yards of Barrow-In-Furness. Sometimes taking trains from there to Sodor.

But most of Sodor hadn't changed, and now here we are, in 1959. The year that would end a decade, and start another. Only this one, we wouldn't be prepared for as we expected...

It was lucky that the Fat Controller was in a good mood that day. Because when he saw the new engine, he was surprised to see he was in perfect condition, but had no number on the side of his cab.

"Hello," said the Fat Controller, "you must be the engine I ordered to arrive."

"Aye sirr," replied the engine, he was from the Caledonian Railway, a Class 812. He spoke in a strong Scottish accent with his face mixed with nervousness and excitement.

"I must ask," said the Fat Controller, "but where is your number No.57646? You should have it on the sides of your cab."

"Och, I didne have 57646!" replied the Scottish engine, "I'm 57647."