Old Iron.

One evening James had to wait at the station for Edward to arrive with his train. This made James cross, “Late again!” Edward only laughed and James fumed away to the sheds. “Edward is impossible! He clanks about like a lot of ‘old iron’ and is so slow, he makes us wait!” Duck and Percy were indigent. “Old iron? Slow?” quacked Duck! “Edward could beat you in a race any day!” squealed Percy “Really,” huffed James, “I’d like to see him try!”
James’ driver was ill when she came to work the next morning. The fireman was worried, “Grace, you don’t look too well.” “I’m fine, Ann. I don’t have the off days anyways.” They went to the station to find their train, but the only thing there was Duck in a cloud of steam. The station master walked up, “Duck’s safety valve has burst. You’ll have to shunt your train yourself.” “Worse and worse,” mutter James as he departed.
Grace was not feeling too graceful when they arrived at the goods yard. Ann took Grace to the signal box and told the signalman to send for help. She was halfway down the stairs when James started to leave the yards. Ann flipped off the stairs and chased after the engine to no avail.
“All traffic halted! The line is clear until Marion” called the signalman as Ann walked in. “I’m going to kill him!” “Slow down, I saw two boys jump into his cab and they didn’t get down.” “Just let me catch them,” she said grimly. “I’ll teach them to mess with my engine.” Everyone jumped when the telephone rang. The signalman picked it up. They turned to face Ann, “you won’t have to. They're sending an engine.”
Edward was at the big station when a frightened James flew past. Moments later an inspector came up to him with a shunter's pole and rope. “Quickly now! We're going after number five!” Sidney was perplexed, “what happened?” “Hijacking.” Soon, the blue engine was racing down the line. James had gotten a long way ahead and Edward would have to use every ounce of steam to catch up.
As Edward began the incline of the viaduct, the inspector climbed out onto the footplate. The track switched into two and Edward began to grow level with the screaming red engine. “Don’t worry James! I’m going to slow you down! Try to use your breaks.” “I can’t Edward! I can’t! They won't let me!” Meanwhile, the inspector was trying to lasso James’ buffer, like a cowboy. To everyone's dismay, Edward had to slow as the lines turned into one. The red engine began to surpass and started the descent of The Jammy. The ground grew level as the two engines flew past the decaying banking shed.
Wellsworth came faster than Edward wanted. The blue engine swerved as he was switched to the other line. The inspector tried again. One he nearly fell but saved himself just in time. The engines swayed and lurched; Edward felt like he was going to burst. “Steadyboy!” yelled Charly. At last, “GOT HIM!” The inspector tied the other or the rope to Edward’s buffer. Gently braking Charly checked the engine’s speed and Sidney scrambled across and stopped the boys from messing with James’ controls.
The inspector held the boys in the cab as Edward ran around James and pushed him back to Elsbrige. They waited in the yard for a passing train. “Looks like the ‘old iron’ caught you after all.” “I’m sorry,” mumbled James. “Thank you for saving me, Edward.” “That’s alright.” The Fatt Controller was waiting when they returned to Sudrin city. “James, I’m so sorry this happened to you! Are you okay?” “I think so, sir.” “Good, you can have as much time as you need to rest in the sheds. As for you Edward. You’re going to the works for a full overhaul.” “Oh thank you, sir! It will be lovely not to clank.
James stayed in the shed for a few days with ridicule from the other big engines. As for the boys, The Fatt Controller had a stern talk with them, then handed them over to the police. They spent a few days locked up until their fathers found them and bailed them out. But they were given a good few lashings and weren't allowed near the railway. The engines missed Edward, but James missed him most of all. Edward came home to a chorus of whistles from old and new engines, but I mustn't say any more, or else I will ruin a future story.
Music made by S.A. Music, Instrumentalmaniac, and Toby Fox: • Trevor Evans' Theme - ... • Detective James - An S... • Thomas & Friends - Run... • Undertale OST: 090 - H...
Sound effects: • Thomas puffing fast in... • Victorian Train Statio...
• Thomas and Friends - B... • Video
• My Thomas & Friends SFX 4 • Slow and normal season... • Old Rotary Phone Ringi... • Relaxing Meadow with A... • Percy's Whistle • Edward's Whistle

[@billashley6161]

Wonderful. I don't know how you do all this. You are so talented.

[@hoodinthewoods]

Nice level up