#TTTE OC Jinx

[hazel-of-sodor]

Day 5-Down a Well

Traintober 2023

Other Stories

Day 5-Its only me

Down a Well

Henry had had plenty of bad days. His early years had been marked by plenty of days remembered for all the wrong reasons. But even by his standards...this day was almost impressive in how poorly it had gone before the sun appeared.

He looked up at Gordon, who looked distinctly unimpressed with his existence. James looked whether he didn't know whether to laugh to be nervous about his own part in all this. Jinx was eyeing the turntable with concern. He couldn't see the others from his position, but he could hear them whispering nonetheless.

He felt more awkward than he had since the last time he had failed before his rebuild, it was not a feeling he enjoyed feeling again. Fortunately, Gordon took a measure of pity on him and finally spoke up.

"Are you quite alright Henry?"

Henry looked down. "...my front aches badly. I'm afraid it's only gonna get worse."

Gordon looked down in concern, "I'm afraid I must agree with your assessment."

James stopped snickering long enough to look down to where Henry's front jammed into the side of the turntable in a mass of bent and twisted metal. "At least you can't fall further in," The red engine offered.

Henry glared up at the scarlet menace.

In the distance, the sound of an engine approaching through the yard could be heard.

"Finally." Henry sighed, "Someone who can do something to help."

"Fraid not Henry, it's only me." Thomas peeped happily, causing Henry to sag in defeat. 

"Thomas," Gordon said in warning.

Thomas just chuckled, "Don't worry Henry, I'm only teasing. Edward is on his way, so even if I can't pull you out, we'll be able to."

Henry was wondering what exactly he had done to deserve Thomas of all engines being the one to come to his rescue. He sighed, at least the morning couldn't get any worse...except it did.

"I would certainly hope so Thomas. As he is currently blocking the sheds," the Fat Controller said severely.

"Good morning sir!" Thomas peeped far too happily as his crew attached him to Henry's detached tender, "we'll have him quickly."

"As long as he's not wedged in the table," Jinx said concernedly.

Sir Topham Hatt climbed down the ladder into the turntable well to inspect the damage. As he pulled back a piece of metal he addressed the stricken engine. "Well Henry, would you care to explain?"

"Well, Sir I..." James snickered at Henry's predicament 

"Yes, Henry?"

"Sir if I may? Gordon offered.

"Go ahead."

"A new driver was moving Henry towards the table when James started a fuss about being repainted," James' expression quickly changed from amusement to betrayal. "He caused such a commotion the shunter failed to heed Henry's warnings and braked too late."

"Is that true Henry?"

"Yes sir," Henry said despondently.

"James?" It looked like James wanted to proclaim his innocence for a moment, but thought better of it. "Yes, sir." He sighed.

"Hmmmm. And where is the driver?"

"He was fleeing before Henry had even come to rest," Jynx answered. "My driver had to climb up and shut off Henry's steam."

"I see."

Mr. Smith, the British Rail representative arrived, walking up to the edge of the turntable. "Morning, Sir Hatt. Seems the day's trouble started early.,

"Morning Mr Smith, it had indeed."

Thomas returned and pulled behind Henry, The waiting yard crew began attaching chains between the two engines.

"Can you pull him out Thomas?

"I can try Sir. If he's fully wedged I'll need Edward's help."

"Very well. Everyone clear out. The sooner he's back on the rails the sooner we can repair the damage."

The workmen cleared away as Sir Topham Hatt climbed out of the well."

"Everyone ready? One. Two. Three. Pull!"

With much wheel slipping and clouds of steam, Thomas heaved his hardest. At first, nothing seemed to happen, but then with a groan and screech of metal, Henry felt himself slowly start to move.

"Go it, Thomas!" Jinx called, and the others quickly joined in, cheering the straining tank engine on. In what felt like hours, but what was probably less than a minute, Henry felt the last of his wheels return to the rails. Thomas came to a stop, audibly gasping for air from the effort.

"Well done Little Thomas," Gordon said.

"Thank you." Thomas panted out, smiling from the rare praise from the pacific.

Sir Topham Hatt had climbed back down into the turntable well to inspect the damage.

"The main mechanism is jammed." He said grimly, "It cannot be moved until it is repaired. We will need to find an engine to pull the morning express quickly, as we can't get any of the engines in the shed out in time."

Henry stared down at his bent front, it was clear he wouldn't be pulling any trains till he was repaired.

"Edward is coming," Thomas said hopefully.

Gordon shook his head, "he's not strong enough to pull it alone."

Mr. Smith looked to Sir Topham Hatt, "None of the Barrow or Vicarstown engines could arrive in time, could they?"

The Fat Controller shook his head, "No they could not."

Gordon suddenly smiled as an idea occurred to him. "If only we had an engine here with express experience. One who had not only served as my back engine on the Wild'nor Western before but had pulled the trains with Edward when we were indisposed."

Thomas understood first, "Oh no."

The other engines and crews turned to look at the tank engine, who looked one second away from bolting.

James smirked, "Of course! He did such a good job covering for us in the 30s," he purred.

Thomas glared, "I am a tank engine, not a bloody express engine."

"But you are capable," Hatt said thoughtfully. Thomas looked betrayed.

"He is?" Smith asked dubiously.

"Of course!" Henry interjected, "he runs a non-stop service from Tidmouth to Ffarquhar in the evenings."

"He would have to stop at Marion for coal and water." Gordon said smoothly, "but he is capable of making the run, and he would never let the passengers down."

Sir Topham Hatt nodded, "Can your branchline spare you, Thomas?"

Thomas looked desperately around as if hoping an express engine would magically appear, but in the end, he sighed, "Yes. Callan and Toryreck are covering my trains."

"It's settled then." The fat controller nodded, "Thomas and Edward will pull the express while the workmen find a way to get the rest of you out."

He walked off towards the station platform, "Thomas, place Henry on the siding with his tender then fetch the coaches." 

"Yes sir." 

"Cheer up little Thomas." Gordon mock soothed.

"I hope they have to use a crane to get you out," Thomas puffed away to the sound of the big engines chuckling.

#ttte fanfic #rws fanfic #fanfic #Prompt-Its Only Me #Traintober23 #Traintober #Traintober 2023 #ttte henry #TTTE Gordon #ttte thomas #ttte james #TTTE OC Jinx #ttte sir topham hatt

[ladychandraofthemoone]

Finished drawing some driver & fireman for some of the narrow guage in my au

#ttte #ttte crews #my art #my artwork #my art <3 #my art stuff #yeah I gave nias driver and fireman names and yeah her former manager I gave Nias singing actress surname and Juliana is technically an oc #Of a one off character from sts alongside kit but yes I’m all for crews who defend their engines and willing to go through such lengths #To keep them safe like Nias former crew and manager were replaced by awful folks they willingly went along with a plan to get Nia away from #An Awful environment that mistreated her and would’ve gotten rid of her while kit is the one who gave Stanley a chance despite his jinx #And flaws Cause so many folks gave up on him and also kit realized he’s was grieving a loved one he’s been there before with his dad #Gosh I’m so normal about them all yeah their background is based off if their engines livery imma probably change stan and Nias number caus #Wow the skr numbering system in my au is a mess haha I’ll probably redesign them away this is old along with the scientists