FanFic:Sodor Academy Part Two: October

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The second part of Sodor Academy, a Thomas the Tank Engine fan fiction.

Story

The next few weeks went by quickly. The engines were given basic mechanics, as well as the general design of trains. Most of them already knew this.

They were also given lessons in locomotive driving. Victor, the workshop overseer, taught them one-on-one n his own little shunting locomotive. Thomas was a fast learner, and was driving Victor's engine like a professional in no time.

Gronk, or Diesel as everyone called him, had a harder time. He would often be reckless and didn't listen to Victor's advice. Lessons were put on hold for three days when Diesel accelerated too quickly and damaged the engine's cylinders.

Percy, the boy Thomas had met, also had trouble. He was easily confused and often made mistakes. Thomas began to wonder why he was accepted to the Academy.

"I came on scholarship," said Percy, when Thomas asked him about it. "I never thought of myself as much of a train person, but when I took the exam, my scores were so high they let me in almost immediately."

Thomas had already recieved his room in the dormitory, where he roomed with Percy, Duck, and Toby, the older boy. Duck was quite nice, but could be a bit of a smart aleck. Toby was also very friendly, and always helped Thomas out whenever he didn't understand something.

It was early October when the day that they had all been waiting for arrived. Sir Topham Hatt addressed them personally.

"In Sodor Academy, we pride ourselves on not teaching our students on rote memorization and theory. If they must drive a locomotive, then they must drive it. What use is knowing the diameter of a brake pipe if you can't stop a locomotive?"

James, who could be a bit of a suck-up, guffawed loudly. Everyone else was silent.

"That is why we allow our students to build their own locomotive. Each of you will select an engine class and design a locomotive based on it. However, you may make modifications. Come May, we wil test your locomotives. I expect that each and every one of you will design a good engine."

The students were excited by this announcement. Using the school's extensive archives, each selected their own class.

"What's your class, Thomas?"

"I don't know, Percy. How about you?"

"I'm selecting a generic industrial shunting saddle tank engine. I've got some great ideas."

"What about the other engines?"

"Gordon's doing an A1. James is experimenting on an L&YR class 28, and Emily's trying out a Stirling Single."

"I haven't found anything yet, but I'll keep looking."

As Percy hurried off to his next class, Thomas tried to keep looking. But he didn't know what he wanted. He was entering the section labeled SOUTHERN RAILWAY CONTRIBUTORS when Diesel ran by, bowling Thomas over. "Outta my way, Tommy!" Thomas was thrown against the shelf, and a shower of papers rained down on him. He started to pick them up, when he noticed one particularly interesting photograph.

It was a little tank engine, shunting in a harbor. It It had a short, stumpy dome, a short, stumpy, boiler, and six small wheels. There was a scribble reading "LB&SCR E2 CLASS".

Thomas pocketed the paper thoughtfully. "Maybe I do know what I want."

The rest of the month came and went. Thomas decided on the E2, and began construction of the undercarriage. The other students also started on their locomotives.

With the end of the month came the arrival of Halloween. Trick-or-treating was not common in the Sodor Junction (the village around the academy), but none of the students liked missing out on the chance to scare everyone else.

On the 30th, everyone gathered in the cafeteria for some midnight storytelling. Thomas, Percy, and several others were listening to Edward's story, which he laid out in extreme detail:

"The train ran into the tunnel wall, and the entire side of the mountain collapsed. The entire train was wrecked. Not a single soul, pasenger or crew, survived. When they dug out the train, they fund, oddly enough, that the bodies had been preserved by the salt in the rock. They looked like they were sleeping. Or they would have, had all of them not been wearing an expression of pure terror on their faces.

"Everyone knew that the conductor, who had just been fired the day before the accident, was behind it. But there was never enough evidence to convict him. "

Edward smiled. "Now here's the funny part. The next year, on the anniversary of the accident, the conductor was found dead at the mouth of the tunnel. He hadn't been murdered, or suffered a heart attack, or anything. In fact, it looked just like he'd been run over by a train." He paused. "But there were no trains on that line, for it had been closed. Yet many townspeople reported hearing the sound of a train on the line. And they say that every year, on Halloween at midnight, the ghost train rides again. It rolls from the junction station to the mouth of the tunnel. but it never comes out the other end. And anyone who gets on, is never seen again.

Diesel chuckled. "That's such a stupid story. Ghost trains on Halloween night . . . make believe."

Edward smiled. "There's something to be said for make believe, Gronk."

"Hmmph." Diesel pursed his lips.

"If you're so sure," put in Emily, "why don't you go and see?"

"Well, I-"

"Scared?"

"No, but sneaking off school grounds? Kind of risky, no?"

"Sure, but it's not that bad. I'd do it. I'm sure someone else would too."

Everyone stood back, except for Thomas, who had dozed off.

"No way," said Toby.

"Find someone else," added Henry.

"What are you looking at me for?" finished James.

"Well, if none of you will go, then how about Thomas?"

"Yeah, sure, whatever, I'll go to the museum about the Chunnel." said Thomas drowsily.

"See you tomorrow night, then."

The moon was full on Halloween night. The mist hung low. It was the perfect setting for a ghost story.

"Thomas, why do I have to go?" Percy groaned.

"You could've woken me up when they asked me to go. Besides, I need backup."

"From what?"

"One never knows," said Thomas mysteriously. "Here they are."

All four students crept through town, over to the station.

"See? Nothing there. Let's go home." Diesel appeared anxious.

"It's not midnight yet," cut in Emily. "Still a minute 'til."

The four sat down on the dock, counting down the seconds.

"It's exactly midnight. There's nothing there." Emily sounded disappointed.

"Come on, let's get back. I know a shortcut," said Percy.

Just then, there was a loud clanging at rattling, and lanterns flashed around the corner. "Who's there?" called a voice. "I'll have you arrested for trespassing!'

The students jumped into the nearest coach. A figure passed by on the platform.

"That was close," said Emily. "Let's get out of here."

"Um . . guys?" said Percy. "We're moving."

The students rushed to the window. Sure enough, the train was moving, and fast. Emily threw open the door.

"We're moving too fast to jump!" cried Emily urgently.

"Look at the outside of the coach," said Thomas in a worried voice. It was an unearthly white. All four screamed.

"WE'RE DOOMED!" cired Diesel, crouched in a seat. He started sucking on his thumb.

Thomas grabbed Emily. "You heard the full story. When did the train have the accident?"

"Why is this important?"

"Just trust me!"

"Some time around 1960. Why?"

"Well," said Thomas, racing across the coach, "if it was an express train, then it would probably have electro-pneumatic air brakes, which were introduced in 1950, ten years earlier!"

"Why would air brakes on a ghost train make any difference?"

"It's worth a shot!"

Thomas yanked on the emergency brake. The train clattered to a halt. The four students went flying.

From the front of the train, they heard a loud voice shouting, "WHAT THE BLOODY HECK IS GOING ON?"

A lantern went on, and the side of the train was illuminated. The voices were getting louder with each second.

"Oh no, ghosts!" screamed Diesel.

Emily jumped up,and moved to the door. Diesel shrank back. Thomas and Percy stood up, bewildered. Footsteps echoed along the tracks, closer and closer . . .

The door opened, and Emily punched the "ghost" in the face.

"@#$%*!" screamed the figure.

"I've never known a ghost to speak so colorfully," commented Percy.

"Remind me never to fight Emily," added Thomas.

"Stay back, ghosts!"

"We ain't ghosts, we're people!" The figure turned out to be a very grimy man in overalls. His eye was welling up quickly. Another man was coming up right behind him.

"Then why are you operating a a white train at midnight on Halloween?"

"These coaches were in a collision with some cars full of lime. We were moving them to a siding out of the way until they could be cleaned. If you were stupid enough to think it was a ghost, then that's your problem."

"Like that story from Terry the Train Car!" said Thomas.

"You watched that garbage?" said Diesel skeptically.

"It was great! There was a story where Perry the little engine got covered in lime and scared the other engines!"

"Well, toddler's shows aside, what are we gonna do with you? You're from the Academy, ain't ya?"

The workers gave them a ride back to the station.

"You're lucky we don't turn you in," said one, "but you put up such a good fight I think the world'd be losin' a great fighter if we put 'er away. Right, Sid?"

Sid said nothing, and continued to massage his face.

They walked back to the Academy. Sir Topham Hatt was stern, but you could tell he could hardly keep from smiling. He gave them two weeks' detention. Diesel was extremely angry, but he kept quiet.

"It isn't that bad." laughed Percy.

"Yes it is," moaned Emily. "My mom will kill me when she hears."

"Well, at least we get to say we rode on the ghost train!"

And they all smiled.