FanFic:Saving Sodor Part 5: Departure

Saving Sodor Part 5: Departure

Characters: (in order of appearance)

• Thomas
• Annie and Clarabel
• Gordon
• Sir Topham Hatt
• Lady Hatt
• Harold
• Rosie

Chapter Five

Early next morning, Thomas left Tidmouth Sheds, collected Annie and Clarabel from the coach yard, and made his way to Knapford station.

"We have a very important job today," he told the coaches, as he puffed along. "We have to take the Fat Controller to Dryaw."

"Ooh," the coaches twittered in unison. They loved taking the Fat Controller on journeys. It made them feel proud.

"What for, Thomas?" Annie asked.

"He's leaving Sodor for a while."

"Leaving for a while? Whatever for?" Clarabel asked in a worried tone. "And who will look after us while he is away?"

"He's going to help the head of the railway of England, who has a problem with his engines. A friend of his will look after us while he is away. So there's no need to worry." Thomas explained, feeling confident.

But both Annie and Clarabel were worried. They didn't like the sound of the head of the railway leaving them for a while. Whenever the Fat Controller was around, they always felt safe. Somehow, they didn't think they would be if he was away, even if it was only temporary.

Soon, Thomas puffed into a large station terminus. It had eight platforms; one of which was for goods trains, the rest for passenger trains. The station was covered by a huge glass roof, made into arches, on above every two lines by the platforms.

Thomas stopped by one of the platforms. Gordon was one parked by the next platform on Thomas' left. He was pulling the express, which consisted of three coaches, painted in dark green and white.

Several passengers were on the platforms, crowding around the two trains. Some of which boarded Gordon's express. The rest boarded Annie and Clarabel.

Thomas looked amongst the crowd of passengers. The Fat Controller was no where to be seen.

"Where's the Fat Controller?" he asked wonderingly. "I can't see him anywhere."

"Huh! He always complains when we're late, and yet, he isn't here for his train," grumbled Gordon.

Just then, they both heard a loud female voice.

"Hurry up, Topham! You're going to miss your train!"

They looked back, and there, they could see the Fat Controller making his way up the platform, being fussed around by a cross-looking lady, with long brown hair, dressed in a blue blouse and yellow hat.

"Alright, dear," the Fat Controller replied sheepishly. "But Thomas won't leave without me."

"It's a wonder he doesn't!" snapped the Lady. "I know I would if I were him!"

Thomas and Gordon snickered quietly.

"The Fat Controller may be the head of the railway," Gordon exclaimed between quiet laughs. "But while he orders us about, there's only one person who can order him about – and that's Lady Hatt."

"Yeah," Thomas giggled. "I'd hate it if she were head of the railway!" The two engines continued to laugh.

But they stopped at once when Sir Topham and Lady Hatt came up to them.

"Okay, Topham. See you in a few days," Lady Hatt said. "Make sure you look tidy before your friend! You're not at all tidy right now!"

"Yes, dear." The Fat Controller sighed. "Goodbye, dear." Then muttered under his breath, "Glad to see the back you too."

He then boarded Annie. The rest of the passengers boarded the two coaches, and the guard then blew his whistle.

"Peep! Peep!" Thomas whistled, and he puffed slowly out of the station. "Goodbye, Gordon," he called.

Gordon watched Thomas disappear from sight. "I still think I should have been chosen to take the Fat Controller. I'd get him to England much faster than Thomas and Harold."

After a lot of travelling on his branch line, Thomas arrived at Dryaw; a small station parked near an airfield. He slowed to a stop. The passengers got out of Annie and Clarabel and onto the platform. Including the Fat Controller, who then went up to Thomas.

"Thank you for taking me here, Thomas. Now, be good while I'm away, and prove to me that even when I'm not on Sodor, you can still be a really useful engine."

"I will, Sir!"

"That's a good engine. Well, I'll see you in a few days. Goodbye." With that, the Fat Controller left the platform, and went to the airfield, where a helicopter was standing, which he boarded. The helicopter was painted white with red lining. On its sides, painted in red, was the name "Harold."

"Hello, Thomas, old chap," the helicopter called cheerfully. "How are you going to manage working the railway without the Fat Controller?"

"We'll manage, Harold." Thomas answered confidently. "His friend is looking after us. So I must prove to be a really useful engine, even while he is away."

Harold's blades started to turn. "Ho! Ho! Without him, you're railway will be even slower!"

"Bah! You'll see!" Thomas replied, annoyed. Harold, pretending not to hear, took off into the sky. Behind his windows, the Fat Controller looked down at Thomas, and waved.

"Goodbye, Sir." Thomas watched as Harold disappeared into the sky.

"How rude of Harold to say we're slow!" Annie snapped, angrily.

"Ah, well. You know, Harold." Thomas exclaimed. "He often teases us about the railway, but he's a good friend to us all. Especially since he always rescues anyone who gets into danger. So Harold won't be a problem while the Fat Controller's away." Thomas sighed. "It'll be Diesel. He'll give us such bother I'm sure! More than usual, probably!"

Thomas was so wrapped up in his thoughts about Diesel, that he didn't notice a small tank engine puff up next to him, by the other station platform. The little tank engine was painted purple with red lining. The sides of her tanks were painted grey, her wheels were red, and she had pink cheeks with freckles. She also had three domes.

The little tank engine was delighted to see Thomas, but as he was thinking a lot about Diesel, he didn't seem to notice her.

"Ooh! Diesel is such a pain in the boiler! He makes me so mad!" He was so cross, that he blew an angry wheesh of steam.

The little tank engine did the same, and unfortunately, the steam she let off blew into Thomas' face. He coughed and choked as it did so, and he immediately snapped out off his thoughts. When the steam cleared, after a few seconds, Thomas noticed the little tank engine, and although her face lit up with delight when he finally noticed her, he did not look pleased to see her.

"ROSIE!" he bellowed angrily. "What are you playing at?!"

"Hello, Thomas," Rosie smiled sweetly. "What are you doing?"

"I've taken the Fat Controller to Harold. So he's now travelling to England, where he's helping his friend for a few days. What are you doing? Why are you blowing steam in my face?!"

"I'm just on my way to shunt trucks at the coaling plant. But then I saw you. I noticed the way you wheeshed steam just then. So I tried to wheesh the same way as you just did."

"Rosie, do you have to copy everything I do?" Thomas sighed. "It's really annoying."

"Sorry, Thomas," Rosie replied sadly. "But I just want to be like you, because you're a really useful engine. You're sweet and caring. You look out for all your friends. There's no other engine like you. I really like you. In fact, I lo-"

But Rosie was interrupted by the guard's whistle. Thomas quickly steamed away, as fast as his wheels could carry him. He grinned, feeling very pleased to be rid of Rosie.

But Clarabel watched Rosie disappear from sight, and saw how sad the little tank engine looked. She felt sorry for her. Clarabel whispered quietly to Annie, just loud enough for her to hear, but quiet enough for Thomas not to.

"Rosie really does love Thomas, doesn't she?" she whispered sadly.

"Yes," Annie whispered back. "If there's one thing Thomas needs to learn, it's how to love back."

"He loves us, doesn't he?"

"Yes, but that's different. He loves us as his coaches, and we're his responsibility. The way Rosie loves him is different. She loves Thomas for who he is. Thomas needs to return the feelings."

"I'm sure he will yet," smiled Clarabel. "Thomas always learns the ways of things eventually. Soon, there will be a bit of romance on the railway."

The two coaches giggled at this thought. It made them forget about worrying about not having the Fat Controller around. They whispered and giggled a lot about romance. Thomas, while puffing along and making good time, heard none of this.