#Traintober23

[hazel-of-sodor]

Day 1-A Day OFF

Traintober 2023

Other Stories

Day 1-Free Day

A Day Off

Gordon awoke early as he always did. Sixty years of waking early to take the morning express made it nearly impossible for Gordon to sleep in. However, he usually didn't mind, after all the express must be pulled, came rain, shine, sleet, or hail. Today was not usual. Today he had a day off. Although the concept of engines being given time off had come to Sodor several years before, Gordon couldn't say he truly understood the appeal. Oh he didn't begrudge those that enjoyed the days off, he could certainly understand the goods engines' need for time away from their troublesome charges, but he was an express engine. Express work was difficult, requiring speed, precision, and stamina. It was perhaps the most difficult task an engine could be given. It was also freeing. Nowhere else did Gordon feel alive in the same way he did while at speed with his coaches, racing the wind itself towards his destination.

While the Express had occasionally not ran at times over the years, or it had been given to another engine, he had never missed the express because he was taking the day off...until now.

To his left, he could see Gracie being prepared by her crew for the express. It wasn't jealousy that had him feeling oddly out of sorts this morning, no matter what James said...or at least not as it once would have been. The steam turbine was a friend and had been his running mate for nearly two decades before she was moved to the Vicarstown-Mantauo run. So while he would admit to being envious of her, it was a weak and fleeting emotion, easily brushed aside in favor of his true discontent with being forced to take a day off.

He had nothing to do.

When Henry had oh so helpfully asked what Gordon had enjoyed doing, his answer of "pulling expresses" had somehow only further convinced Sir Topham Hatt that he needed a day off. Gordon was an engine of action,  and while listening to opera recordings while he waited for his next train or as he settled in for the night was enjoyable, he could not see himself doing it for longer than those periods. 

He had briefly considered going to the works for maintenance and perhaps a repaint. Unfortunately, he had been recently given a tune-up, and any maintenance that could be achieved within a day was already done. Repainting wasn't an option either, while he had no doubt he could be repainted if he wished, his current coat of paint was still fresh enough James was using his reflection in it to check his own paint for blemishes.

He had known that approaching his shed mates with his problem would have only led to teasing, and likely would not have produced any usable results, so he had instead approached another engine. Their enthusiastic response had in no way encouraged him.

As if summoned by his thoughts, a quiet peep peep came from the yard as his guide for the day approached. Thomas rolled happily into view, oddly chipper for the early hour considering Thomas was famously not a morning engine. He was pushing a small flat track with an odd bucket on either end with pipes coming out of them towards the ends of the truck.

"Good morning Gordon."

 "Good morning Little Thomas, you seem to be in high spirits for such an early hour."

"It's a wonderful morning," Thomas hummed contentedly, as he buffered up to Gordon.

Gordon raised an eyebrow.

Thomas's driver snorted as she climbed down from his cab, "it's the coffee," She explained.

"Coffee," Gordon repeated dubiously. Whilst he was not as disdainful of human food or drink as certain red engines, he couldn't say he was an enthusiast by any means.

Thomas happily nodded, "A shop in Ffarquhar opened that served engines as well as people." The tank engine took a long sip from the pipe facing him, which Gordon now realized was straw for engines. "It's wonderful,"  he said with a happy sigh.

Samantha snorted as she coupled Gordon to the truck, "It certainly helps out with your mood in the mornings."

Thomas gave the engine equivalent of a shrug.

"I feel better with it. We also got one for you Gordon!"

Gordon eyed the container before him with suspicion.

"It's fine to drink." Samantha said, "Thomas has one every morning and the only side effect is an improved mood."

"Then Gordon needs three," Henry called as he rolled past on his way to the docks to collect the Flying Kipper.

Gordon wheeshed at him, but he only chuckled.

"It's okay if you don't like it." Thomas said seriously, "I know you're not the biggest fan of human food, but I tried to get something I thought you'd like."

Gordon sighed at his friend's nervous expression, knowing he'd at least have to try the drink.

Gordon took a slow hesitant pull from his straw. He expected it to taste like his firewoman's smelled, overpoweringly sweet and creamy. Instead, he got a rich, bitter, and dark flavor, nearly biting in its intensity, and pleasantly hot. When he had finished his sip, he eyed Thomas thoughtfully, "You say you get one of these every morning?"

Thomas nodded, "Yes. Sir Topham Hatt arranged for it to be ready when I arrive for my first train."

Nicole snorted from Thomas's cab, "but yours has enough sugar and creamer to drown someone.,

Gordon considered his coffee thoughtfully, "...I would not be averse to a similar arrangement."

"I knew it!" 

As Thomas happily chattered away as he pulled Gordon from the sheds towards his branchline, Gordon let a fond smile grow on his face. Perhaps a day off wouldn't be amiss after all.

#ttte fanfic #rws fanfic #TTTE Gordon #ttte thomas #Prompt-Free Day #Traintober #Traintober23 #Traintober 2023

[pxmun]

Happy 1st day of Traintober!

Day 1: Free Draw

I love the wackiness of the old Sci-Fi movies, so here is a train-a-fied version of "Attack of the 50ft woman"

During a meteor shower, a meteor with strange properties lands in a coal bunker. Gordon ends up with the comet after he refills on coal for that day. When the comet ends up in his firebox, chaos ensues!

Now 50ft tall and with his brakes off, Gordon is a runaway train! Can Thomas, his friends, and Sir Topham Hatt save Gordon before he flattens Sodor?

I'm also counting this as Day 2: bridge.

#traintober #traintober 2023 #traintober23 #attack of the 50 foot woman #scifi #ttte #thomas the tank engine #thomas and friends #ttte gordon #gordon the big engine #sfw g/t #g/t art #g/t

[thesudrianchronicles]

Day 23: Big World

1921

Thomas watched as the passenger train in front of him puffed away, slowly picking up speed as it begun it's long jounery towards Tidmouth.

Thomas had never seen Tidmouth in person. He had only seen it on posters & heard about it from the other engines, like Edward & the Midland 4.4.0's. He knew it was a large city. With a port, brewery & cathedral to name a few.

But now, as he sat at the junction. Waiting for the right of way back to the yard, Thomas had a thought.

How big was the world?

Before he came to Sodor, Thomas had only ever known Brighton, the place were he was built. The 'brother' he had worked with for about 93% of that time hadn't been out of the yard himself for about 15 years, so Thomas couldn't rely much on him to talk about the outside world. And the occasional goods trains the pair had taken during the war hadn't shown Thomas much of the world out of Brighton.

Then another thought came into Thomas' smokebox. Something, the more he thought about it, the more he wanted it.

"I want to see the world", he said to himself

But before Thomas could dwell on this any longer. The signal dropped & he slowly backed away to the yard. As he looked ahead, he stared up at the massive signal gantry that crossed the mainline.

It was a constant reminder to Thomas about the world outside the big station. The world he had not seen.

From that day, Thomas had a new goal.

To get out of the yard, and see the world.

---------------------------------------------------

Constructive criticism is welcomed, thanks for reading - TSC

#traintober 2023 #traintober23 #this prompt just came to me because of the title lol #ttte thomas #TSC Writes #TheSudrianChronicles

[philosopherbouquet]

Chapters: 31/31

And here it is! My completed Traintober 2023 contribution! This was my first year doing something like this and I had fun writing 31 different little one-shots for some of the characters from my childhood.

Many thanks to @theflyingkipper for creating the prompts list!

Below the read more are the tags attached: relationships, characters, and additional tags.

Relationships: Refreshment Lady & Peter Sam (Thomas the Tank Engine), Donald & Douglas (Thomas the Tank Engine), Donald & Dilly (Thomas the Tank Engine)

Characters: Diesel 10 (Thomas the Tank Engine), Toby (Thomas the Tank Engine), Mavis (Thomas the Tank Engine), "Devious" Diesel (Thomas the Tank Engine), Harvey (Thomas the Tank Engine), Percy (Thomas the Tank Engine), Peter Sam (Thomas the Tank Engine), Refreshment Lady (Thomas the Tank Engine), Duck (Thomas the Tank Engine), Dilly (Thomas the Tank Engine), Thomas (Thomas the Tank Engine), Gordon (Thomas the Tank Engine), Spencer (Thomas the Tank Engine), Skarloey (Thomas the Tank Engine), Rheneas (Thomas the Tank Engine), Nancy Rushen, Neil (Thomas the Tank Engine), Edward (Thomas the Tank Engine), Rusty (Thomas the Tank Engine), Lady (Thomas the Tank Engine), Cranky (Thomas the Tank Engine), Neville (Thomas the Tank Engine), BoCo (Thomas the Tank Engine), James (Thomas the Tank Engine), Henry (Thomas the Tank Engine), Sir Stephen Topham Hatt III, Flying Scotsman (Thomas the Tank Engine), Salty (Thomas the Tank Engine), Harold (Thomas the Tank Engine), Luke (Thomas the Tank Engine), Donald (Thomas the Tank Engine), Douglas (Thomas the Tank Engine), Bertie (Thomas the Tank Engine), Bulgy (Thomas the Tank Engine), George (Thomas the Tank Engine), Sir Charles Topham Hatt II, Lady Hatt (Thomas the Tank Engine)

Additional Tags: Fandom Month, traintober23, traintober2023, Traintober 2023 (Thomas the Tank Engine), Slice of Life, author has never read the books, Fluff and Humor, Canon Universe, Canon Compliant, Fluff, Friendship, Engine to engine friendship, Engine to human friendship, Some chapters refer to specific episodes, Minor Angst, Non-Canonical accidents and injuries, Some chapters refer to specific ttte movies (that I haven't watched in fullness), Complete, My wifi tried to stop me but I prevailed :)

#traintober 2023 #traintober2023 #a03 link #fanfiction #fluff #humor #ttte #thomas the tank engine #complete #traintober23

[hazel-of-sodor]

Day 16-Too Late

Traintober 2023

Other Stories

Day 16-Purpose

Too Late

James was the one to find him. Thomas was hidden among the disused wagons behind Tidmouth. It didn't surprise James that none of the others had found him. Most tended to forget this part of the yard existed. James only knew because this was one of the spots he went to when everything became too much. As it had become for Caomhnóir.

The tank engine's fire had long gone out, his soot covering slowly washing away under the rain. Tear tracks covered his cheeks, but he was utterly unmoving. He had never looked so small to James as he did right then. Thomas had an energy that swelled past his frames, always moving, never still for longer than a second at a time. When he was upset it was easy to forget he wasn't as big as the main line engines. As Caomhnóir...there was a reason the likes of Flying Scotsman listened when he spoke. But right now? James just saw a little engine, bending under the weight placed on his frames.

James silently rolled to a stop in front of the tank engine, his crew walking away, leaving the two engines alone. For a long time, they remained in silence, James just letting him cry.

"I was too late." Caomhnóir finally whispered, his voice rough from crying. "She was already gone when we arrived."

James had no idea who he was talking about, but he could certainly guess at their fate.

"You can't save everyone." He reminded gently.

Caomhnóir's laugh was bitter and broken, "Everyone? Right now I'm failing to save anyone."

Well, that was enough of that.

"So you did dump that goods train on me last week for no reason."

Thomas looked up, confused, "No, I was..."

"And you had Henry sabotage the kipper the week before that for nothing."

"Of course not! I..."

"And Gordon derailed at Barrow completely by accident last month."

Thomas fell silent.

James raised an eyebrow, "Well? Did you or did you not need cover for engines sneaking in three times in a month?"

Thomas sighed, "I did...but it was not enough."

"No its not..and it never will be." James sighed, allowing his own grief to slip through. "But we can either accept that and help you save who we can, or let them take our kin unopposed."

"There's just so many." Caomhnóir sounded lost. "When I realized she was gone I grabbed who I could but..."

He was quiet for a long moment, " I moved as fast as I could but...." He looked helplessly up at James, "How do I tell Gordon Pretty Polly''s gone."

Oh. Well, that explained it.

"You don't," James said. "I will."

Thomas looked up to protest but James pressed their buffers together. "You have enough on your frames without this."

Thomas shook, "she wasn't supposed to be withdrawn yet. We had a plan, but suddenly they withdrew her, and by the time I got there..."

James took a deep breathe to steady himself, "it's still not your fault." He pushed on before the little engine could protest. "By all accounts, you made a sudden mad dash across the entire country undetected to try to save her. If you failed, then it was because there was no way to succeed, not because you failed in any way."

"I ran out of coal on the way back." Thomas admitted, "The midnight goods had to sneak me in."

Well, that explained why his fire was out.

"That only proves you did everything you could."

***

11 years later.

Thomas was resting at Tidmouth when he heard Gordon's whistle, joined by his siblings. He opened his eyes, expecting to see Gordon, Northern, and Scotsman.

Instead, a fourth engine was in front of him, the three expected Gresley's smirking on either side of her.

She, somehow was an A3 Pacific in BR Express Passenger Blue with the number 60061 on her buffer beam.

"I never got to thank you for trying to save me."

"POLLY?!?!?"

#Traintober #Traintober23 #Traintober 2023 #ttte fanfic #rws fanfic #fanfic #Prompt-Purpose #ttte thomas #ttte james #TTTE Gordon #TTTE Pretty Polly

[hazel-of-sodor]

Day 27-Thomas and the Rocket Sled

Traintober 2023

Other Stories

Day 27-Record Breaker

Thomas and the Rocket Sled

1979

The Island of Sodor was even busier than usual. It was the 150th anniversary of the Rain Hill Trials and a gala was being held on Sodor to celebrate.

Engines of all types from the mainland and all over the world were coming to visit. 

Thomas arrived at Tidmouth Harbor one morning to collect a unique piece of rolling stock. He had been enjoying the lead-up to the gala immensely. There were so many new and strange engines and cars to meet that at times his head spun. This might have been the strangest one yet. Sitting on a special flatbed was a heavy metal frame with a seat on it. Behind the seat sat something that reminded Thomas of the jet engines on the planes at Tidmouth airport.

"It's a Rocket sled," Nicole explained as the flatbed was coupled behind Thomas. "The Americans use it to test systems for their aircraft."

"It must be very fast then," Thomas said.

Samantha snorted, "Try faster than the speed of sound. "

Thomas gave a mischievous smirk, "No one tell the Gresley's."

The engineers in charge of the rocket sled were ensuring it was properly secured, so Nicole climbed back into the cab to drink her coffee while they waited.

***

The lead engineer looked dubiously at her coworker. "John prepared it? Are you sure it's okay?"

Her coworker rolled his eyes good-humoredly, "Relax Beth, John knows what he's doing."

Beth glared, "Is that why Jasmine is regrowing half her hair?"

"Everyone makes mistakes every once in a while?" He offered unconvincingly.

She snorted, "Paul, John makes weekly mistakes. If his dad wasn't an admiral..."

"He's not that bad," he protested with a laugh.

Beth rolled her eyes, "Yes he is, I honestly wouldn't be surprised if he forgot to drain the fuel."

"He didn't forget to drain the fuel, here watch."

Before Beth could stop him, "Hey Crane!" He yelled up at Cranky.

Cranky was not enjoying the preparation for the Gala. It seemed every day more ships arrived with heavy locomotives and carriages, and he was expected to unload them all. "What is it?" He snapped towards the annoying human beneath him.

"Can you flip that lever with your hook?"

Had Cranky been in a better mood, or had had more sleep, he would have questioned the wisdom of flipping a lever on an unknown machine.

As it was, he gave the equivalent of a shrug. "Sure."

The lever flipped and for a moment everything was quiet.

"See? He didn..."

Thrrrremmmmmm

***

Thomas was patiently waiting for the engineers to finish when he heard the rocket rumble to life

"Are they testing the rocket?" He asked curiously.

Nicole's head snapped around to see the glow of the rocket's exhaust as it powered on.

"Brakes!"  She shouted, but it was too late.

Thomas began rolling forward as the rocket pushed him, faster and faster.

Samantha slammed on the brakes, but they quickly proved no match for the rocket's power.

Thomas whistled in alarm to the signal mam as he was pushed out of the docks and onto the mainline.

The signal men quickly threw the points and set the signals at danger. He rang control, "Clear the Mainline, we have a runaway."

***

Beth, Paul, and Cranky stared as the tank engine and sled raced out of view. 

"Uh...oops?"

Paul winced as Beth slowly turned to glare at him.

***

Thomas shot through Tidmouth Station, whistling as loudly as he could, startling James and Henry who were waiting with their trains.

Samantha released his brakes, realizing they could do nothing against the rocket but wear out.

Nicole hung on desperately as Thomas rocketed around the bend through Lower Tidmouth.

"Ooooooohhhh Lady!" Thomas cried as his speedometer broke 100 miles per hour, suddenly very grateful that Crovan's Gate had fit him with roller bearings. He would have worn through his old ones!

***

Percy had having a nice quiet morning when he heard Thomas. He had been taking a drink from the water tower when he heard the frantic whistling, and behind it, a dull roar.

"What in the name of..."

Thomas blasted past, the flyers on the station board flying from the force of his passing.

Percy sat there a long moment.

"It's too early for this."

"It's nearly tea time," his driver said.

"It's too early for this."

***

Several miles down the track Bertie heard Thomas's whistle rapidly approaching in the distance. "Wanna race Thomas?" He called eagerly.

Thomas roared past, whistling furiously.

"Never mind," Bertie said quietly.

***

Gordon was racing towards Wellsworth with the express when the radio in his cab went off.

Rain answered it.

"There's a runaway on track 3," she called out to Gordon and Amanda, "They'll overtake us soon."

Amanda smirked, "oh will they?" She said as she opened Gordon's regulator.

Gordon chuckled and surged ahead, even since he had been rebuilt back into a 3-cylinder in 72, he had taken every chance he could to test his speed.

As Rain shoveled coal like a woman possessed, Amanda watched the Speedometer creep up, smirking when it broke 100 mph.

Gordon however, frowned as he heard the runaway's whistle in the distance.

"Is that...Thomas?"

Rain snorted, "Don't be silly."

But it was.

Thomas raced up alongside the express coaches, he was going so fast the express seemed to be standing still.

"Hi Gordon, Bye Gordon," he managed to whistle as he shot past.

Amanda and Rain stared in shock.

"There's no way we can catch him," Amanda said in disbelief.

"But we have to try," Gordon called. He forced himself even faster, charging after the runaway No.1.

***

Finally, mercifully, the rocket ran out of fuel. Every joint and rod on Thomas ached. Even though Crovans Gates were known for over-engineering their rebuilds, Thomas was never meant to break 100, and he had far exceeded that.

To make matters worse, it had run out on Gordon's hill. Thomas wasn't sure he could make it up the hill without further damaging his motion. He rolled to a stop, panting heavily.

"Owwww." He moaned quietly.

"Are you alright?" Samantha asked, carefully setting his brakes and climbing down.

"I can't tell," Thomas winced, "maybe once everything cools down it'll be alright."

A deep whistle was heard as Gordon pulled up behind, curious passengers leaning out the window to look.

"Are any of you hurt?" The Pacific asked with concern.

"Nicole and I are alright. We're not certain about Thomas though."

"Is he well enough for me to push him up the hill?"

Thomas shifted his motion, "Probably better than rolling down."

Gordon gently buffered up and pushed Thomas and the sled up the hill to Maron station at the top, going slowly to keep from aggravating Thomas's motion

Jinx was waiting for them with a flatbed for Thomas. Gordon set off with the express again, as Thomas was loaded onto the flatbed, eager to make up the lost time.

The rocket car was left in the Marom sidings as Jinx set off for the works with Thomas.

***

The next day Gordon visited Thomas at the works as he was inspected for damage.

"So how's the new record holder?" The pacific teased.

Thomas had been lifted off of his wheels while they were inspected for damage.

He sighed in exasperation, "Not you as well."

Gordon smirked, "I'm afraid it's official."

"The steam speed record is for speed achieved under your own power," Thomas said baffled.

"Which my cousin still officially holds," Gordon agreed, "but you now hold the new record for the fastest a steam engine has traveled by rail."

Thomas stared for a moment, then groaned, "I'll never get your family to stop trying to adopt me now."

Gordon chuckled," You could just accept."

Thomas just sighed despondently.

A/N: Did I just adapt Thomas and the Jet Engine for my AU? Yes, yes I did.

#Traintober #Traintober23 #Traintober 2023 #ttte fanfic #rws fanfic #fanfic #Prompt-Record Breaker #ttte thomas #TTTE OC Samantha #TTTE OC Nicole #TTTE Gordon #ttte percy #ttte bertie

[hazel-of-sodor]

Day 29-Rise Above

Traintober 2023

Other Stories

Day 29-Out of Service

Rise Above

Henry had almost missed her. He was tired, and more than ready to begin the long trip back to Sodor. The news he was being diverted south and would have to make the climb up the infamous incline had only further exhausted him. She sat on the out-of-use siding, her black paint faded to a dull worn gray. It had been decades since he last saw her, long before his rebuild, but he recognized her nonetheless.

He stopped beside the LBSCR B4, wondering idly if she was the last of her class, and what to say to her.

"Hello Linda." He settled for.

The 4-4-0 looked up in confusion at the Black 5 before her, before her mouth twisted into a smirk, "I know they said I'd go crazy in the sidings but I didn't think it would happen this fast.

Henry scowled at her, "You weren't exactly sane to start with."

She barked out a genuine laugh, "Fair enough Jumbo. Nobody on the North Western was sane."

He went to snap back, but then he thought about it.

 "Fair enough," He grumbled

She smirked at him, "What's wrong Jumbo? Don't tell me you're not happy to see me after all this time?"

He glared at her continued use of the nickname. "You don't exactly bring up happy memories."

She paused, a hurt look on her face, "I never treated you any differently from anyone else."

Henry snorted, "Does that matter when you insult everyone?...well everyone but Thomas."

The 4-4-0 hesitated "How is..."

Henry sighed, 'of course.'

"You're favorite little gremlin has a branchline of his own. If you asked him it's the most important part of the railway."

"Of course it is, they gave it to him after all." She said fondly.

Henry tried not to feel bitter, Linda and Thomas had just clicked, and he knew the tank engine considered the 4-4-0 his big sister.

"And how have you been Jumbo?"

Henry blinked, as he was interrupted in his musings. 

"What?"

Linda rolled her eyes, "How are you?" We were hardly close back then, but we were shedmates?" She looked over his new form slowly, "you look far better than when I last saw you."

"My firebox was too small like you said," he admitted, "they tried me on Welsh coal, but then I had an accident in 34..."

"Hatt had you rebuilt," she said, unable to hide her envy.

"At Crewe... Gordon as well a few years later."

Linda laughed, "Oh I bet the great tosser hated that."

Henry chuffed a small laugh, "he was less than thrilled."

She smiled sharply, "He's gonna hate that you told me."

"That alone makes it worth it."

"He's still that bad?" She chuckled disbelievingly.

"No," Henry admitted. "He's much better now... but he's still Gordon."

"I can imagine," she said, amusement still coloring her tone.

She considered Henry seriously, "It was good seeing you big green." She said genuinely. "I'd thought I'd never see any of you again "

"I enjoyed seeing you again more than I expected."

"It probably helps you're finally whole and strong and I'm in an out-of-use siding." She said dryly.

Henry didn't reply.

She sighed, "Will you do me a favor, Henry?"

Henry raised an eyebrow at her use of his actual name, "go ahead."

"Will you tell Thomas I'm proud of him?"

"Of...of course." 

"Thanks, big green... It looks like your train is ready."

Sure enough, the final cars were being shunted into his goods train back to Sodor.

"See you, Big Green."

"Goodbye, Linda."

He rolled forward, his thoughts whirling. He finally stopped with a sigh, 'Blast it all, I can't leave her.'

The yard manager walked up, "Is everything alright No.3? Your train is ready."

Before his crew could respond Henry spoke, "I'm looking for my banker."

"Your banker?"

Henry raised an eyebrow, channeling as much of Gordon into the expression as he could, "Surely you weren't thinking of sending me up the incline with over 50 trucks without a banker."

"Oh well, you see..."

"You do realize if my train was to stall on the incline, it would delay the traffic for the entire region."

"Yes, but we don't have any engines to spare!" The yard manager blurted out.

Henry's driver thankfully understood and leaned out of the cab, "What about the B4 in the siding?"

The manager blinked, "the 4-4-0? Her fires not even lit!"

"But she could have steam by the time we hit the hill?"

The manager nodded, "Aye...she could. If you can find someone to crew her you can use her, you can send her back with the next train back this way."

Henry's relief crew soon had her fire lit as Henry backed down to couple up to her.

"Big Green?" She said in bewilderment.

"You're helping me up the incline."

"I see you've finally lost what little sense you had?"

Younger Henry would have grit his teeth, thirty years on Sodor meant he just rolled his eyes, "Just hush and come along, I'm not putting up with the little pest moping because you're gone again."

Linda smiled, "Oh big green, you do care." She teased.

"To my great regret," both knew he didn't mean it as he set off with his train and his former shedmate in tow.

A/N: Linda is @mean-scarlet-deceiver's OC, who I have been given permission to use in my AU. This is not their canon ending for her in their 'Quiet Little Island Railway' Au, merely what happens to her in my AU.

#ttte fanfic #rws fanfic #fanfic #Traintober #Traintober23 #Traintober 2023 #ttte henry #TTTE OC Linda #not my OC #Linda belongs to Mean Scarlet Deceiver #I have just been given permission to adopt her for my AU #Prompt-Out of Service

[hazel-of-sodor]

Day 4-Return and Regrets

Traintober 2023

Other Chapters

Day 4-Devious

Return and Regrets

Diesel had been aware the engines of Sodor would not welcome his return. He had turned them against one of their own and no matter how strongly he had felt it justice at the time, Sodor engines will always stick together in the end. So he had been less than pleased when management had informed him he would be returning. Nonetheless, for all his other faults, Diesel would always attempt the work given him, an honest attempt at that.

Perhaps that was why he hadn't been scrapped along with the first wave of his classmates...or perhaps it had nothing to do with him at all.

He knew from hushed conversations from the workers in the yard that British Rail had told the NWR he was the only engine they could spare, despite the fact they were efficiently scrapping so many of his contemporaries. The men believed he was the one sent to punish the rebellious North Western, to cause trouble with his mere presence...he couldn't disagree. It would not surprise Diesel in the slightest if he had only been kept around for such a purpose.

The past few weeks had been...trying. He had been wheeshed, bumped, and whistled awake at every opportunity...all accidentally at that.  Surprisingly the Great Western Pannier 'Montague' was the kindest, in that he ignored him, only speaking curtly to him when required by their jobs.

He...was tiring. The days without sleep were getting to him, and he knew it was only a matter of time before he snapped and was sent away. He knew that he would not be returning to a shed, but a scrapyard. He wasn't sure how he felt about his fate, to be honest. For all he had been told he would be revolutionary, his life had been...dull, insignificant,... And one of solitude. The closest he'd come to friends was his first visit to the island before he had unknowingly thrown it away. There was very little he would not have given to have postponed his trip to the island, to have arrived when he was old enough to have realized the difference between the cutthroat politics of the BR Diesels and the ultimately harmless pranks by steam engines. 

His musings were interrupted by the sound of approaching steam engines. He plastered on a smile, even as his teeth grit against each other. Was he to be given no rest?

No.3 Henry reversed back onto the siding to his right, blasting him with steam as he passed, while Montague pulled to his left. 

Before he could ask what the two needed a third engine arrived.

He had never met the engine that pulled in front of him before, but that did not prevent him from recognizing the blue engine. Even without the gold number ones lined in red on his tanks, Thomas the tank engine rivaled the likes of engines such as Flying Scotsman for fame and popularity.

The world's most famous tank engine surveyed Diesel for a long moment. "Hello Diesel, that is what you prefer to be called, correct?"

"Yes, my dear Thomas, it is a pleasu..."

"Stow it!" Henry barked, "We have no patience fo..."

"Henry," Thomas said firmly.

The black five glared at Thomas, "No. Thomas, I will not be quiet about this! I am not James, I realize not all diesels are like the stories from the mainland but this one is!"

That...was surprisingly hurtful. While he had certainly maligned Henry, he had never had anyone sent for scrap like some other engines had. 

"You weren't there." Henry continued, "You don't know what he's like. He's manipulative, deceitful, despicable! Hes..."

"...been perfectly well mannered the entire time." Montague interrupted quietly.

"That we've seen," Henry said.

Montague rolled his eyes, "He hasn't so much as moved an axle without one of us watching him. If he had any schemes, we would know about it."

"You know what he did last time." Henry fumed. 

The great western glared at the tender engine, "Perfectly well as I was the one it was done to."

Oh. Diesel had thought that long patched up, no wonder he was still so reviled if the subject was so painful.

The black 5 had the grace to look abashed. "Indeed."

Thomas spoke up, "I was not there the first time. My overhaul finished mere days before Duck's repairs, but I do know you all massively misjudged Diesel's character at the time."

"Which we cannot allow to happen again!" Henry interrupted.

The tank engine frowned at the massive green locomotive, "and what makes you think your view of him is any more accurate this time?"

Montague chuckled while Henry huffed.

Thomas sighed, "No matter, it has become clear even from my branchline this isn't working. While Diesel is doing an admirable job as a shunter, his presence is distracting all of you from your work."

Thomas looked towards Diesel again, "With the Fat Controller's permission, I'd like to offer you the chance to work on my branchline."

"You must be joking!" Henry swore.

Thomas looked irritably at him, "It is either that or send him back to the mainland where he'll be scrapped.."

"Then let him!"

Thomas's eyes flashed with anger, shining a burning gold. "You overstep by far." He said coldly.

Henry winced, "That I did. I'm sorry Caomhnóir, and more importantly, I'm sorry Diesel. That remark was out of line. No engine deserves the scrapyard."

Diesel hesitantly answered, "It is fine. I likely deserved worse than that."

Henry sighed and shook his head, "No, you didn't. No matter what, you're a fellow engine. Unless you've been getting other engines scrapped, I have no right to say such things."

Diesel shifted uncomfortably, "I can honestly say I have not. In any case, it is no worse than anything my siblings have said."

Somehow the large engine only looked more guilty upon hearing that.

 "As I was saying before, "The Toryreck quarry is sending their shunter to take over pilot duties here," Thomas said, "if you agree, you'll be taking over their duties on my line.  You will be shunting the quarry's trucks and running them down to the junction. Sometimes when we are busy you will take them to Knapford Harbor. Do you accept?"

A second chance on Sodor? On a line where no one knew him?

"Please."

#ttte fanfic #rws fanfic #fanfic #Ptompt-Devious #ttte thomas #ttte duck #ttte henry #ttte diesel #Traintober #Traintober23 #Traintober 2023

[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

[hazel-of-sodor]

Day 2-Closed

Traintober 2023

Other Stories

Day 2-Bridge

Closed

The Vicarstown Bridge was closed. It had been a month, but still, the information sounded wrong to Gordon. The bridge had been closed before of course, it opened multiple times a day to let ships through, and there had been times when it was closed for maintenance. But those instances were measured in hours, or very rarely, days. A week would have been unprecedented. It had been a month, and there was no sign of the bridge reopening that year.

Henry rolled up alongside him. The two engines sat quietly for a long moment.

"It's so quiet." Henry finally said, his voice tense.

Gordon nodded slowly, "it felt wrong on the platform this morning. There were so few people, and no one was talking..."

"How was the run." Henry finally asked.

Gordon shifted quietly before answering, "It felt good to pull an express again but..."

"It's too light," Henry said knowingly.

"I don't mean to sound ungrateful," Gordon said, "with so few passengers it was a waste to have me pull the train, they could have used a smaller engine easily... But it has me feeling very out of sorts now."

Henry considered his friend, "You haven't pulled the express proper since the lockdown started." He realized.

The blue pacific shook his head, "Longer. The last week I was running the extra trains for everyone coming home, then once all our people were back, I was collecting the supplies laid up here to deliver across the island. By the time that was finished...there were barely enough passengers to justify James, much less myself. I've been on freight service ever since."

Henry looked across the water towards Barrow, "I don't know how long we can keep this up. There's fewer and fewer trains every day. Sooner or later we'll have to start taking turns on who gets to run each day."

Gordon shook his head, relieved he had some good news, "it won't come to that. The shipping companies agreed last night. We'll start exporting goods again, the barges that were bought last month will be loaded at our docks and then towed out to the waiting ships to unload."

Henry sagged with relief, "Thank the Lady. I was dreading a repeat of 23." 

Gordon nodded grimly, "A lot of us will be going in for an overhaul. It will mean we're ready when the tourist traffic returns..."

"And less of us left in sheds." Henry finished.

"Indeed."

"How..." Henry hesitated.

"How long will it last?"

"Yes."

Gordon frowned. "I do not know. Many on the mainland still deny the mere existence of the pandemic."

"Which will only prolong it," Henry sighed. Gordon spotted his crew returning, "Fear not Henry, the North Western survived our youth and British Rail. It will outlast this as well." 

With that Gordon slowly reversed back towards the station and his waiting passengers.

#Traintober #Traintober23 #Traintober 2023 #ttte fanfic #rws fanfic #Prompt-Bridge #ttte henry #TTTE Gordon

[hazel-of-sodor]

Day 26-Loss

Traintober 2023

Other Stories

Day 26-Summit

Loss

Culdee quietly pulled up to the platform at top station as the sun neared the Atlantic.

His crew walked away, leaving him to his privacy.

The autumn wind was strong up here, but Culdee did not fear the wind.

"Hello Godred." He said.

The wind turned, curling around his boiler reassuringly.

Culdee stared at the ground, "they're building a new number one." He finally said. The wind stopped for a long moment then curled lightly around his cab in an embrace.

"It's to celebrate the line's 100th birthday...and ours I suppose."

Culdee gave a broken laugh, "I don't like it." He said bitterly, "You are our number one. We don't need another."

The wind swirled around his funnel, blowing away the steam he'd let off in frustration.

He looked over the island for a long moment, letting the view and the wind calm him.

"They're gonna use the parts you gave us in the new engine." Culdee mused quietly, "But it isn't gonna work is it? You're long gone."

The wind stopped for a moment, then resumed, blowing away Culdee's tears.

"Happy Birthday brother," Culdee whispered.

***

CLANG

Culdee groaned as he pulled to a stop. He had been looking forward to reaching the sheds, now they had and inspect him. The ravens in the mountain loved attention and had figured out at some point that if they dropped something on the engines they would stop.

The culprit swooped down, landing on Culdee's buffer beam and looking quite pleased with herself.

"You just couldn't let me get home, could you?" He asked dryly.

The raven just preened under his attention.

"Uh...Culdee..."

"Yes, Driver?" Culdee asked, hoping nothing had been damaged.

His driver stepped around, and in his hands was an old weather-worn whistle.

#Traintober #Traintober23 #Traintober 2023 #ttte fanfic #rws fanfic #fanfic #ttte culdee #ttte Godred #Prompt-Summit

[hazel-of-sodor]

Day 3-More than One

Traintober 2023

Other Stories

Day 3 Twins

More than One

Percy had been having a good day when he pulled into Knapford. The autumn air was cool, the sunlight shone beautifully on the colorful leaves in the trees, and his trucks were behaving themselves. Perhaps he should have realized the day was going a little too well.

Thomas was waiting at the platform, all six coaches behind him, the platform was oddly full for this time of year, but Percy shrugged it off as an effect of people wanting to enjoy the pleasant day.

"Good morning Thomas!"

"Good morning Percy," Thomas replied...from both sides of him.

Percy did a double take. On the other side of the platform sat another tank engine. She had six small wheels, a short stumpy dome, and a short stumpy funnel. It was painted blue with red stripes and had a gold number one on its side tanks. She had differently shaped side tanks and outside cylinders but...she had a nameplate that read Thomas!

"Thomas..." Percy said slowly, "Why do you have a twin."

"I don't!" The answer came from three angles as a third blue tank engine rolled up on the platform across from the real Thomas. This one was closer in shape to his friend but was closer to Wilbert in size.

Percy narrowed his eyes at the trio, "just how many of you are there?"

"We're not sure!" The reply came in four as a massive tank engine with cowcatchers pulled in front of him.

Percy eyed the assembled engines before him, all doing their best to look wide-eyed and innocent.

"No," and before his driver could check him, he was reversing back down the line to the docks. Toby could deal with that mess, not him.

#ttte fanfic #rws fanfic #fanfic #Prompt-Twins #ttte percy #ttte thomas #Traintober #Traintober23 #Traintober 2023

[hazel-of-sodor]

Day 12-Of Reds and Ones

Traintober 2023

Other Stories

Day 12-Something Borrowed

Of Reds and Ones

James was simmering contently at Crovan's Gate station, his fresh paint gleaming in the sunlight. One of the little engines of the Skarloey Railway was going about their day on the other side of the platform. He wasn't sure which one it was, as he only caught glimpses through the trucks and carriages.

 Claire was topping off his oil reservoirs when she suddenly laughed.

 James, who had just been dozing off, looked back. "What? Do I have mud on my wheels or something?" he grumbled.

Claire smirked at him, "You got your paint from the Skarloey engines didn't you?"

Before he could answer, someone else did. "That he did lass. Took one look while at the works and came out looking like he belonged to our little railway."

James looked over to see the engine he'd been catching glimpses of was Skarloey himself. James rolled his eyes, "They're hardly identical, but yes it is meant to resemble their livery."

"I always thought they had just flipped the normal livery. Red with blue stripes rather than Blue with red stripes.

James shook his head with a sigh. "no it was originally a tribute livery, much like Henry's was, but I've been wearing it for over seventy years now..."

"So everyone just thinks of it as your livery," Claire said.

"Even though we were wearing it seventy years before you did." Skarloey chuckled.

"Well, I can't help that I wear it better." James rolled his eyes, but Claire knew him well enough to know he actually didn't mind.

"You said Henry's livery was a tribute livery?" She asked.

James nodded, "That was before my time, but it was meant to represent the Sodor and Mainland Railway, one of the railways that were merged to become the North Western."

"Even though it's a completely different shade of green," Skarloey interjected.

James shrugged, "I wasn't there when they chose the shade, I actually wouldn't arrive for several more years. I only know what the others told me, although I doubt they explained it to them either."

"I believe the blue and red were also borrowed," Skarloey mused. "The original blue was that of the Wellsworth and Suddery, while the red stripes were the same color as the Tidmouth, Elsbridge, and Knapford engines."

James frowned, "I thought Thomas just painted those colors and the railway liked them."

"That too." Skarloey laughed, "The North Western lacked a number one and Thomas lacked a number. The way crews saw the opportunity to have the number one. They kept painting ones on him, which management would remove." Finally one night they painted him, blue from the Wellsworth and Suddery, the TEKR's Red for stripes, and a large golden number one line in red on his tanks.

Lord Harwick stepped onto the platform, looked at Thomas while taking a long draw of coffee, which had all the workmen worried they'd pushed too far. He finished his sip and told them they could keep the one if they painted the other engines as well."

James snorted, "I see very little has changed about Sodor crews then."

"Nothing important." Skarloey smiled.

Claire snorted, "Come on big red, you've got a train to pull." 

She climbed into the cab, "James whistling a farewell to Skarloey as he pulled off.

Skarloey whistled his reply and returned to his shunting with a snort. Big red indeed.

#Traintober #Traintober23 #Traintober 2023 #ttte fanfic #rws fanfic #Prompt-Something Borrowed #ttte james #ttte skarloey

[hazel-of-sodor]

Day 24-Stuck

Traintober 2023

Other Stories

Day 24-Odd Jobs

Stuck

A/N:This takes place the morning after Day 23-Greater than Yourself

Stephen stepped out of his car, who was snickering at the scene before him. Bertie was taking full advantage of Thomas's predicament to tease the tank engine. The tank engine was taking it with good grace, but Stephen suspected that had more to do with his driver laughing on his bufferbeam than anything else.

"I knew things had been too quiet lately." The car snickering grew louder at his father's dry observation.

"Look at the bright side, nothing was damaged and no one was hurt."

The Fat Controller gave his son a flat look, "One of our crew was hunted by a phantom car and she only survived because her engine managed to convince the Lady herself to somehow transport him to where rails used to lay. He then battled said car in front of dozens of witnesses before it was dragged away by an unknown force, leaving our engine stranded in the middle of a street with no way to get around him and no idea how to get him out."

Stephen winced, "She's safe?"

Charles sighed, "which is why he's getting a well done instead of a reprimand, but I have to deal with the fallout."

With that the Fat Controller strode forward, the crowd around the engine and bus parting as they noticed him.

Thomas noticed him and called out over the bus's latest pun, "Good Morning Sirs!"

"Morning Thomas, Bertie, Samantha." Charles said, "Linda has Annie and Clarabel this morning." 

Thomas sighed with relief, "Thank you, sir."

Charles reached into the paper sack he was carrying and tossed Thomas a warm roll. 

"Oi! The one blocking the road gets a treat but I don't?" The bus cried in mock affront.

"The one blocking the road broke the laws of reality to save one of his crew," Charles grumbled but tossed the bus a roll as well.

He turned to Samantha as the two machines enjoyed their treats.

"How are you holding up?"

"Shaken but I'll get through it." She said, "I thought I was ready for everything being his driver entailed after the night Scarlet was steamed but..."

Stephen laid a hand on her shoulder, "I know. I'm free if you ever need to talk. It took me a while to get over my encounter, so I certainly know what you're going through."

Samantha glanced back to Thomas, "If he hadn't appeared...I wouldn't have made it." She admitted quietly.

"That's not quite true," Thomas said, "Bertie was on his way."

Ah, that explained why Thomas wasn't bothered by the bus's teasing this morning.

"I still say you cheated." Bertie said, "You just couldn't let me win just this once."

Thomas glanced at his driver, "No I couldn't." His tone was teasing, but everyone could see the steel in his eyes.

"And now you're stuck in my way you great ponce."

Thomas snorted, "It's your day off you..."

"Enough," Charles said, pinching his nose in exasperation. "What's important is how we get you out."

Stephen rubbed his chin, "I think our only option would be to pull him out. Whether it's better to try to put him on a Lorry or put temporary rails in place is another matter."

"Joy," Thomas said.

Nicole walked up carrying coffee for Samantha. "He won't fit back towards the sheds. There's no way he could make the turn. We'll have to take him up the old tramway path."

"The path that was closed because it could no longer safely hold an engine's weight," Charles said with concern.

"Maybe you could fly him out of here." Bertie teased.

Stephen tilted his head in thought. "Well...it looks like he could fit through the gap between those buildings," he said, pointing to a set of apartments down the street. "That would allow Rocky to lift him out."

Bertie looked gleeful at the prospect. 

Thomas did not.

#Traintober #Traintober23 #Traintober 2023 #ttte fanfic #rws fanfic #fanfic #ttte thomas #ttte bertie #TTTE OC Samantha #TTTE OC Nicole #ttte charles hatt #ttte stephen hatt #Prompt-Odd Jobs

[hazel-of-sodor]

Day 23-Greater than Yourself

Traintober 2023

Other Stories

Day 23-Big World

Greater than Yourself

Samantha sprinted down the street, running desperately for Nicole's place. Behind her, she heard the jaguar-like growl of the thing behind her.

She risked looking and saw it leap out from behind the corner, its frames bending and arching like a jungle cat. It was a sports car...or had once been in the 30s. Now it was a twisted creature of hate and metal.

She swore and pushed herself faster, cursing that Nicole's apartment was so far from any rail lines.

She heard the animalistic growl of the car's engine grow louder as it approached, the streetlights flickering out as it raced down the street after her.

She saw Nicole glance out her window, drawn by the noise before racing to the door.

Samantha finally reached the stairs to the apartment, scrambling up them as she heard Nicole unlocking the door. 

She slammed into the door, Nicole pulling from the other side...but it didn't move.

The car slowed, stalking forward, its engine revving in a harsh mockery of a laugh.

Nicole beat on the door, attempting to batter it down, but her attacks bounced off. The car reached the bottom of the stairs, waiting. Samantha could see Nicole's neighbors had been drawn by the noises, and all were struggling to open their doors, but like Nicole's their doors refused to move.

The car laughed again. Samantha closed her eyes, they were too far from any rail lines, she would never make it to the Ffarquhar sheds, but she had to try

"Nicole, I'm sorry"

Her firewoman stopped beating at her door to glare at her, "Samantha don't you dar..."

Samantha dove over the car, hitting the ground with a roll and coming up running.

She heard the car growl almost approvingly as it spun its tires, whirling around to pursue her. As she heard it approach she dove to the side, its bumper barely missing her as it swerved trying to hit her, frost spreading across her skin from the proximity. She rolled as the car turned towards her. She made the mistake of glancing towards Nicole, who was screaming as she beat at her door. The car took advantage of her distraction and lunged. Samantha rolled desperately...

SLAM! Crunch.

The street was suddenly bathed in golden light and the car yowled in pain.

Samantha looked up to see the impossible sight of her engine shaking the car like a dog with a rat, its rear fender caught in his jaws. She scrambled for the safety of Thomas's cab as the fender ripped free of the car with a screech, turning to golden dust between his teeth.

"Don't you dare touch my driver." 

Caomhnóir's voice shook with rage. Gold light shone from his lamps with burning intensity.

The car flinched back from the light, its metal melting in its heat, before roaring in defiance, shaking the stones of the street loose.

Caomhnóir let out a screaming whistle in return. But it wasn't his whistle. This whistle was much higher and shriller. The car's roar had shaken the street, the whistle shook the sky.

The car was sent flying back from the force, tumbling fender over hood.

Across the island and beyond engines awoke, shaken from their sleep by Caomhnóir's battlecry.

Samantha couldn't prevent the shudder that ripped through her when she realized Thomas had called upon the Lady's whistle, and she had answered.

The creature was struggling back to its wheels when the tank engine spoke.

"I would run if I were you."  He said, menace dripping from every word. "If I catch you, there won't be enough left of you to die."

The car locked its gaze with the golden eyes of the tank engine before giving a sharp nod, preparing to pounce.

Samantha felt Thomas tense beneath her, ready to meet the foe head-on. Golden light spilled from his cab, melting the frost from her shoulders.

The creature leaped...only to be caught.

The creature shrieked in surprise, twisting to see what had caught it.

From the ground, shadows stretched in long sinuous tendrils, cutting through Caomhnóir's golden light to wrap crushingly around the sports car's frame.

Slowly, but surely, the tendrils dragged the car towards where they reached, a puddle of shadow darker than the darkest night. The car twisted, shrieked, and bit at the tendrils, but to no avail.

Finally, as its rear wheels began to dip into the shadow as if it was liquid, it looked towards its foe.

Thomas glared, "Be grateful."  He said, "They will be more merciful than I would have been."

The car was dragged under with one last screech of defiance.

***

Far away on the Uman and Din Railway

The car broke through the ground, spitting out shadows as the tendrils withdrew. It rose to its wheels growling, only to freeze at the sight before it.

A Great Western 47xx towered above it, shadow tendrils drifting in the air around it like a mane of shadowfire. While they would have been enough to make such a beast pause, the car could see the truth.

For once something could see the truth of the beast towering before them, towering with the mountains behind it, a thousand thousand tendrils whipping around it, some thin and sharp enough to cut paint from metal without scratching it, others larger around than the engines alongside it. More teeth than those of every creature to ever live grinned at the car in predatory hunger. Eyes, countless eyes watched their prey from every angle.

"Well little beast," the being uttered, "did you truly think Caomhnóir so powerless?"

Its voice rang from a thousand angles, threatening to rip the car from the ground on which it stood from the meer force of its voice alone. 

"Did you think there were none greater than yourself that would answer his call?"

The car trembled under the presence of the being before it.

The titan leaned forward, grinning eagerly, "Know this little beast. I was not the only one to answer his call, merely the swiftest. Be grateful I was the one to reach you instead of the Lady."

The car whimpered under the onslaught of her attention.

The former 47xx's grin sharped, and she lunged.

***

Samantha was slow to leave the safety of Thomas's cab. Even when she heard Nicole nearly rip her door from its hinges in opening it when the creature's grip disappeared, she could only sit and try to control her panicked breathing. Nicole scrambled up into the cab, wrapping her arms around Samantha even before she stopped moving. 

"Don't you dare do that again."

Samantha clung to her firewoman, "I told you that your apartment was too far from the tracks," she tried to joke weakly, but Nicole just nodded, "First thing this weekend I'm finding a place by the line. I can't go through that again."

"Agreed," Thomas chimed in.

Samatha's eyes widened as she realized no one had checked on him, she scrambled down from the cab and began examining him.

Thomas huffed fondly, "I'm fine driver, physically. It'll be a while before I can sleep though."

"You're telling me," Nicole grumbled, but her hand was rubbing Thomas's side as she said it.

As other people began coming out of their houses, Samantha remembered the elephant in the room, or rather, the tank engine on the street.

Thomas stood in the middle of the street, when she looked down she saw the stone pavers had been pushed aside, revealing worn rails underneath.

"How are you here?" Nicole asked from beside her.

"The tramway used to run through here to reach the quarries," Thomas said, glancing down at the street. "The line was closed in favor of the new route in the fifties."

Nicole gave him an unimpressed look, "I know that. I also know those rails were pulled up, and multiple buildings stand where the line used to go. How did you get here."

"The land remembers the line," Thomas said defensively, "I asked the Lady for her aid in reaching you."

Samatha was the first to realize what her engine wasn't saying.

"You have no idea how to get back do you?"

The tank engine sagged embarrassedly, "No...I didn't think about it till after I had reached you."

Taking pity on her engine, she kissed his cheek, "Thank you. I have no idea how we’ll get you out, but thanks for saving me."

"I'd happily do it again." He said softly.

***

The next morning on the Uman and Din...

Freda and Gwyn were having a pleasant morning until they came within earshot of the sheds. A horrendous screeching and crunching could be heard. Freda sighed and increased her pace, wondering what her engine had gotten into this time.

She walked around the corner to find Screech happily chewing on a mangled Mercedes. Causing it to squeal horribly. The car was pinned with her tendrils, leaving the eldritch engine free to peel off pieces of metal at her leisure.

Freda glanced over to Abbey, the star class watching with vindictive enjoyment.

"Just what did the car do?"

"It tried to attack Caomhnóir's driver." The express engine said grimly.

Freda turned to glare at the car. Screech politely pausing so the car could focus on the glare.

"You've missed the trunk," Freda said flatly.

Riiiipppppp

#Traintober #Traintober23 #Traintober 2023 #ttte fanfic #rws fanfic #Prompt-Big World #ttte thomas #caomhnóir #TTTE OC Samantha #TTTE OC Nicole #TTTE OC Screech #TTTE OC Freda #TTTE OC Abbey #Uman and Din #Uman and Din Railway #U&D #U&DR #eldritch engine #eldritch train #eldritch #Ghost car #Engines that go bump in the night

[hazel-of-sodor]

Day 13-Corris

Traintober 2023

Other Stories

Day 13-Something New

Corris

Peter Sam was resting peacefully in the yard, all the other Skarloey engines were away with trains leaving the Ker Stuart to bask in the summer morning's peace with the other engine left behind. Edward Thomas was like looking into a strange mirror. His sibling's green paint and normal funnel reminded him of happy days on the Mid-Sodor, but Edward Thomas had been given a rebuild by the Talyllyn much like his own on the Skarloey.

Peter Sam wasn't sure why they had both been given the morning off. Normally when either one of them visited the other railway, they pulled trains for photo charters together. Instead, they had been left to simmer in the yard. Sir Handel had complained about having to take Peter Sam's train, but everyone could tell his heart wasn't in it.

Peter Sam had almost fallen back asleep when E.T. stretched, his valve gear creaking as he shifted his wheels slightly.

"You know if I didn't know better," he began, "I'd almost believe they just were giving us a day off."

Peter Sam snorted, "and Sir Handel honestly loves pulling trucks."

E.T.'s laugh ruined his stretch, "you would think he would eventually figure out he's not getting out of it."

Peter Sam rolled his eyes fondly, "He knows, he just enjoys complaining."

Edward Thomas looked skeptical, "Even though it makes your Duke lecture him?"

"That's probably why he enjoys it."

E.T. nodded thoughtfully, "I can see that, Sir Hayden happily let Peregrine berate him for days when she visited.

Peter Sam winced, the former Corris No.2's ire for her old line was well justified. She had been stripped for parts to repair Sir Hayden, then left to gather dust, only her purchase by the Cronk and Harwick had saved her from scrap.

"At least she eventually forgave him," he sighed.

Edward Thomas glanced over knowingly, "Sir Handel managed to make it worse?"

"She only visits when he's away now."

It was E.T.'s turn to wince, "what did he do?"

"Point out that at least got to know her siblings."

Edward Thomas's sigh of exasperation thoroughly matched how Peter Sam had felt at the matter.

Before they could discuss the matter any further, the thin controller walked out.

Mrs.Nancy smiled at the pair, "I glad you two are getting along, had it been Sir Hayden and Sir Handel left alone..."

Peter Sam groaned at the reminder.

E.T. blinked, "Is that why..."

"Yes," Peter Sam said.

Mrs. Nancy snorted, "Our falcon's inability to get along aside. I have a surprise for you. The Corris Railway has just got their newest steam engine, and they want you two to show her the ropes."

"Of course!" The Ker Staurts chorused together.

"That's what I hoped to hear."

"Where did they find her?" Peter Sam enquired curiously. Edward Thomas nodded, "it's difficult to find a steam engine these days."

The Thin Controller's smile suddenly reminded him of days back when she was just the Guard's daughter and was about to prank Duncan or Sir Handel.

"They didn't find her, they built her."

A whistle sounded from the shops behind them. A red engine rolled out of the shops up alongside them. She was Corris red, with yellow and black lining and a No.7 plate on her sides. She was a 0-4-2 saddle tank, with complex valve gear. Both Ker Staurts starred, and while they weren't identical, they once would have been.

"Hello!" She peeped cheerfully, "I'm Corris No.7. Are you my brothers I was told about?"

#Traintober #Traintober23 #Traintober 2023 #ttte fanart #rws fanfic #Prompt-Something New #ttte peter sam #ttte Edward Thomas #ttte Corris No.7