Sodor: Dieselization

1967 was a tough time for the mainland, and Sodor was no exception due to Sir Charles Topham Hatt no longer wanting to preserve steam and the beeching axe brought on by Dr. Richard Beeching, who's plan was to improve the efficiency of railways all over Britain by replacing outdated steam engines with more up to date diesel engines. And this in turn brings dark times for the steam engines of Sodor as they fight desperately for preservation.

(Basically, the fat controller who we know and love who cherishes steam engines is the polar opposite in this AU. In it he expresses his desires to modernize Sodor once he got the chance and in doing so he decides it's no longer worth it in keeping his loyal steam engines in service and thus he either let's them choose their own fates or he decides for them. He is no longer the man the engines once respected and loved, no. He was a man who now no longer liked steam thanks to the despicable acts of the people who hated steam engines, and the fat controller was unfortunately influenced by it all.)