|
Post by Biblically Accurate Angel on Sept 20, 2015 0:36:27 GMT -5
The New Railway Series No.43 Dockside Engines By Diesel 11 Forward DEAR FRIENDS,
The engines on Sodor enjoy working at the Docks, but not everything goes like clockwork. From a new crane to lorries, they’ve certainly had their share of adventure!
THE AUTHOR
|
|
|
Post by Biblically Accurate Angel on Sept 20, 2015 0:38:43 GMT -5
Cranky Bugs Based on the story by Britt Alcroft and David Mitton
ONE morning, the Fat Controller came to see Thomas and Percy. “Your work here is fine, but I need some help down at the Docks. Toby and Daisy can help out with your work while you are gone.” “Thank you, Sir,” said the engines. And off they went.
Thomas and Percy enjoy working at the Docks. The salty sea breeze had them in a cheerful mood. It didn’t last for long, though. A crane was grumbling and complaining. He was new, and had just been brought there the night before. Thomas and Percy disturbed him. He decided to have some fun. “Come a little closer,” he said to Percy, “I can’t reach you from there.” So Percy did, and Cranky dropped the load – on Percy! “You came a bit too close there,” laughed Cranky. A little while later, Cranky was unloading a ship. He was supposed to load some planks onto Thomas’s flatbed. “Move your cars to the outside line,” he said, “it’s easier for me to load up.” So Thomas did. Then Cranky dropped the planks on the track next to Thomas. “You should’ve known that I can’t reach that far!”
That evening, the Docks were in turmoil, and the Fat Controller was most displeased. “You were to help the crane, not bother it. You will go to your sheds and think of how you can better behave.” Thomas and Percy chuffed sadly away.
That evening, there was a bitter storm. At the Docks, Gordon and James were trying to work, but the wind seemed to come at them in all directions. They went to the old, wooden engine shed. “We should be safe in here.” But they were wrong. An old Tramp Steamer was out of control. “Get below deck!” the Captain shouted to the crew. Suddenly, with a crunch, the ship smashed into the dock and started running aground. It headed straight for the engine shed. “Ahhhhhhh!” cried the engines. The Tramp Steamer hit the unstable shed, and as it collapsed on Gordon and James, it hit Cranky, who fell with a “Arrrrrrrrrrrrrrggggggggggghhhhh!” Then, just as suddenly as it had started, the storm stopped.
The Fat Controller raced to the Docks. “Help!” called the engines. “I’ll send Thomas and Percy,” he said. “Oh thank goodness,” said Cranky, “and tell them I’m sorry for being so rude.” “So it was you! We owe those engines an apology.” Thomas and Percy soon had things in order, and when Cranky was upright, he got Gordon and James out from the collapsed shed. “Oh, thank you,” said Gordon. “Well, I had to be helped first…” started Cranky, and then said, “Would you two mites move out of the way?” Percy was cross, and started to move backwards. “Stop!” said Thomas, “You’re still attached to Cranky!” It was too late.
Now, Cranky still looks down on the engines, but knows never to bug them, for he knows they have ways of getting even.
|
|
|
Post by Biblically Accurate Angel on Sept 20, 2015 0:39:57 GMT -5
Horrid Lorry Based on the story by Britt Allcroft & David Mitton ONE evening, The Fat Controller came to see the engines. "You're work has been good," he told them, "and I'm very pleased with you. However, you need a little help. Therefore, I'm bringing some lorries to the Island. Please make them feel at home." The engines were surprised. "Lorries!" sniffed James. "They might steal our jobs!" grunted Gordon. Percy was also quite upset.
One morning, Percy was sent to collect some truck from the Docks. When he arrived, he saw the lorries. They had just been unloaded from a big ship. He decided to talk to them. “Hello,” he said. “Huh!” snorted one of the lorries. “A little green goblin on wheels!” “What?” “You’ll be scrapped; just you wait and see!”
Later that day, Thomas and James met one of the lorries. It was just as rude to them as with Percy. “A red devil and a blue puffball. Scrap for the scrapyard if you ask me!” “Pah!” said Thomas. “Stuff and nonsense!” said James. “We engines run this Island!” “We work harder than you ever will.” “Yeah right!” snorted the lorry, and it roared away.
Toby was next. “We don’t need him here today,” said the Quarry foreman. Toby saw the lorry. The lorry smirked. “You’re useless and old!” it said. Toby was surprised. “I may look old, but I’m not useless.” “Why don’t you just toodle off?” “Toodle!”
Toby went to the flour mill, but it was the same there. “Times are a-changing, I’m afraid,” said the manager. “Let’s go, Toby,” said his driver. Toby chuffed sadly away.
The line ran past a rocky gorge. Engines, being in the valley, were quite safe, but vehicles had to tackle a steep, rocky road. The lorry from the quarry was roaring up at a tremendous rate. “He’ll be in trouble soon,” thought Toby. He was right. The lorry suddenly came off, and with a crash, it fell right off the cliff! It was all it’s driver could do to jump clear. “Rotten roads!” he muttered.
The two other lorries shared a terrible fate as well. The one from the flower mill had broken down due to being overloaded, and the other one had accidentally reversed at the Docks and rolled straight into the sea! All three weren't nearly as cocky now. When Thomas saw all three later on flatbeds, he laughed. “Well, well, well! The Brothers Grimm: Smashed, Broken, and Sunk!” The lorries never returned, and the engines still work hard, to make sure they never will.
|
|
|
Post by Biblically Accurate Angel on Sept 20, 2015 0:43:34 GMT -5
Goliath
ONE afternoon, Thomas brought some trucks to the Docks. He busily sorting them out, when he heard a “Toot toot!” He looked and saw a huge ship next to him. The ship did not look in a good mood. Rather, his face was sullen and forbidding. “Engines,” he growled, “We have no use for them.” Thomas was shocked. “Rails,” the boat continued, “are completely out of date. Only the sea can give you peace.” “You’re not giving me any peace,” quipped Thomas. “Bah!” growled the ship. “Come on, Goliath, let’s go.” And the ship moved away.
Thomas told the others about Goliath that night. “Pah!” said James, “Stuff and nonsense!” Gordon agreed.
The engines forgot all about Goliath until a few weeks later. That day, Gordon saw the ship. It had important cargo. “This here’s dynamite!” he said proudly, “you landlubbers aren’t careful enough to take care of it.” “Pah!” said Gordon. Gordon forgot to watch where he was going. Suddenly, he found his front off the rails, and hovering over Goliath. Goliath laughed. “You stupid blue thing,” he said, “Engines aren’t worth it.” Gordon snorted. Suddenly, a some sparks from his fire caught the wood on Goliath’s deck on fire. “What?!” cried the ship. “How dare you!” “Clear the deck,” said the foreman, “she’s gonna blow!” “Help!” screamed Goliath as Gordon was being lifted back on track. The fire came closer to the dynamite, and with a sudden “BOOM!!”, Goliath was blown sky-high. The ship, being a big one, was not completely broken, but he was in half, and slowly sank beneath the waves. He was totally unsalvageable, so nothing could be done to save him.
From then on, Gordon held a sort of respect for Goliath, for he knew it wasn’t his fault, but still knew that the ship had gotten what it deserved.
|
|
|
Post by Biblically Accurate Angel on Sept 20, 2015 0:44:50 GMT -5
On Land And Sea ONE afternoon, Percy was busy with some cars. They had been playing tricks, and he felt quite out of it by the time they reached the Docks. “Phew!” he muttered as he shunted them into place. Just then, he saw the Fat Controller and a new yellow and blue boat. He chuffed up to them. “Percy,” said the Fat Controller, “Meet Captain.” “A pleasure to meet you!” said Captain in an all-American accent. “You too,” said Percy. “Captain,” continued the Fat Controller, “will be helping with search and rescue missions. He’ll be an asset to sea and rails alike.”
The next day, Thomas met Captain. “Hello,” said Captain, “you must be Thomas.” Thomas was slightly apaled to see a Yankee. “Huh!” he snorted. Just then a call came in. “Missing boat,” called the harbor master. “Send out the Search and Rescue!” Captain sped away.
A short time later, he and the boat came back. Thomas now felt sorry for what he had said earlier, and apologized. “You’re a Very Useful Boat, Captain.” “Yes indeed,” said the Fat Controller as he walked up, “you are an important asset to us.”
On summer evenings, you may see Thomas, Percy and Captain staring out at the Horizon together. They don’t say much, but it doesn’t matter. You’ll see that they are happy.
|
|