FanFic:Saving Sodor Part 15: Class 08 Shunters Attack

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Previous Part: Part 14

Saving Sodor Part 15: Class 08 Shunters Attack

Characters: (in order of appearance)

  • Thomas
  • Lady
  • James
  • Percy
  • 'Arry and Bert
  • 'Mavis
  • Boco

Chapter Fifteen

By the time darkness fell, Thomas, Percy, James and Lady had arrived at a coaling plant. Lady was taking on water from a water tower, and a worker in the yard had lit her fire, filled her bunker with coal, and was now steaming her up.

Thomas, James and Percy had used a turntable in the yard so they were facing the right way, for they had had enough of travelling backwards. James and Percy were on separate lines, next to each other, while Thomas was on the same line as Lady, in front of her.

Once the worker had Lady steamed up, he left, leaving the engines alone in the yard.

"Now," announced Thomas, "we need to plan to stop the diesels. While Diesel 10 is behind all of this, I'm sure Diesel, 'Arry and Bert are causing trouble for him too."

"So what do we do?" asked Percy.

"Percy, James, you go along your lines and keep an eye out for them," ordered Thomas. "Lady and I will look out for Diesel 10."

"Oh, good," sighed James. "We're looking for the diesels without claws. We'll have a chance of not getting destroyed."

"Take care, Thomas," warned Percy, feeling worried.

"Don't worry, Percy. We'll be fine," smiled Thomas bravely. "Off you go now, and be careful,"

With that, Percy and James followed their lines out of the coal yard, while Thomas and Lady followed their own and were separated from their friends.

For a while, James and Percy saw nothing for a while, and were just following their tracks through the dark countryside, their lamps lighting the way.

"Well," sighed James, "it looks like we're being sent down here for nothing, because there's no sign of the diesels. But at least we won't get destroyed."

"True," replied Percy unhappy, "but if we don't find them, then that means they might all be with Thomas and Lady."

They approached a turn in the tracks, and as they did, they screeched to a halt.

Their lines came to junctions, which led to either further don the line, or into sidings beside the lines. The two steam engines could see 'Arry and Bert in a siding each. But they weren't alone. 'Arry had Mavis trapped between himself and the buffers, and Bert was doing the same to Boco.

"'Ow's this for a good catch, 'Arry?" sniggered Bert. "We've got the good diesels,"

"Won't Diesel 10 be 'appy?" 'Arry snickered.

"Let us go!" Mavis cried. "I mean it, you-"

"Shut up!" snapped 'Arry. "You'll make good scrap for us! You're no better than those steam engines!"

James and Percy looked on in shock. Then, without realising what they were doing, they charged forward, whistling loudly. 'Arry and Bert were surprised to see them. The two steam engines raced over the points on the lines they were on and into the sidings.

James raced towards Bert and Percy whooshed towards 'Arry. Then the two steam engines banged the Class 08 shunters (but not too hard, because they knew they would send Boco and Mavis through the buffers) then they reversed quickly out of the sidings.

'Arry and Bert were very angry and immediately set chase. "We'll be back for you!" They called to Mavis and Boco as they left the sidings.

James and Percy reversed back up the line in fright, watching in terror, as the two diesels chased them with angry expressions in their faces.

"I can't believe we jumped in to save two diesels!" James cried.

"Me neither," Percy cried back. "But at least they were good diesels! So we had to help them!"

"Yeah! And now, we're gonna destroy you!" 'Arry called, as he and Bert revved up their engines and went faster. James and Percy reversed faster too, keeping a moving gap between them and the diesels.

Just then, they raced towards a signal box and a junction that was on Percy and 'Arry's line. The points were set to go straight on up the line. The other line led to a siding where some box vans were parked.

The signalman looked out of the window, and was a bit puzzled at the four engines travelling together, two on each line. Thinking it was all a mistake, he waited until Percy passed the points, then he switched them so that they led into the siding.

'Arry was sent speeding into the siding. He cried out as he headed towards the box vans. He slammed on his breaks, but it was no good, as he crashed into the box vans, which broke to smithereens. The impact sent 'Arry off the rails and onto his side.

But James and Percy couldn't rest. Bert, not caring about 'Arry continued to chase James along his line. Percy kept reversing too. Though he was safe from 'Arry, he was worried Bert would destroy him to if he stopped.

Presently, they approached yet another junction, this time on James' line. This junction was set to go down the other line instead of straight. James reversed across the points and down the other line and Bert gave chase, both of them leaving Percy behind, so he stopped and gasped for breath.

James kept reversing down the line, looking at Bert in fright as the diesel kept following him.

Then, the track went along the side of a hill. James reversed around a corner as Bert disappeared from sight. But then, James started to feel tired, and started to so down. He went slower and slower…

CLUNK!

Suddenly, James stopped as he felt something against his rear buffers. Then, to his horror, he realised he had reached a dead end. Then, looking around, he realised where he was.

He was high above the tip, where trucks of ore were taken, and their loads were dumped down the hillside.

Then all of a sudden, Bert appeared from around the corner, and grinned sinisterly. James was trapped.

"I'm gonna enjoy destroying you," Bert smirked, moving slowly towards James. "By the time I'm finished with you, you'll be nothing but a pile of rusty red scrap iron."

With eyes full of fear, James watched Bert moving towards him. He didn't feel splendid now. He felt alone and helpless. There was nothing he could do. Bert moved closer and closer…

Then all of a sudden, the part of the track Bert was on tilted on the slope, and Bert, crying out in terror, fell off the track, onto his side and all the way down the slope, landing in the tip with a crash.

James looked down where the diesel had landed, and for a while was speechless. Then from around the hillside, he heard another diesel coming towards him, and was scared again, fearing it was another diesel to finish him off. But when the diesel came into view, James saw it was Boco.

"Are you alright, James?" Boco could see James was in shock. "You were very brave, James. Thanks for saving me."

James came out of his shock, and grinned. "Well, you may be a buzz-box diesel sometimes, but at least you like us steam engines."

James then buffered up to Boco, and together they went back up the line. They came back to the points where Percy was.

"Are you alright, James?" Percy was concerned for his friend.

"I'm fine! We just out-smarted those diesels!" Then James went with Boco up the line, and Percy followed them. But then, they came to the points on Percy's line and the siding where 'Arry had crashed. The diesel was lying on his side, groaning in pain. He didn't seem to notice them.

James and Boco went on up the line, but the points were still leading into the siding, and so were against Percy. Just then, Mavis appeared on the other side of the points.

"Percy! Are you okay?"

"I'm fine! As you can see, 'Arry isn't though." Then Percy whistled to the signalman. "Can you please change the points for me?"

The very confused signalman nodded. He changed the points, and Percy puffed over then and buffered up to Mavis. Then they went up the line together.

"Percy, thank you so much for saving me! I appreciate it."

"Hey, don't worry about it! You're nothing like those other diesels. I know you're a little cheeky – but then again – so am I!"