Railway Adventures on Sodor Episode 1: Day of the Diesels

Episode 1: Day of the Diesels

A new line of diesels are arriving on the Island of Sodor. The Steam Team has their doubts, but Edward insists otherwise. Diesel tricks Emily to going to the scrapyards, and Thomas, Percy and Toby are captured as well! Henry, Gordon, Boco and Mavis saves them, but Henry gets wrecked in the process and rebuilt in the end.

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 * Thomas
 * Edward
 * Henry
 * Gordon
 * James
 * Percy
 * Toby
 * Duck
 * Donald and Douglas
 * Emily
 * Daisy
 * Mavis
 * Boco
 * Diesel
 * Iron Arry and Bert
 * Scrapyard locomotives (one speaks)
 * Sir Topham Hatt
 * Oliver (non-speaking role)
 * Annie and Clarabel (cameo)
 * Henrietta, Elsie and Victoria (cameo)
 * Martha and Jennifer (cameo)
 * Rocky (non-speaking role)
 * Flying Scotsman (mentioned)

Part One
Narrator: The British Railways, 1961. The Modernization Plan is in full swing. Steam is dying to make room for diesels. But on one of the five regions, there is the North Western Railway, commonly called the Island of Sodor, where steam is still going strong. There are four main routes on Sodor.

''{Cut to Knapford Station. A blue A3, a green A1/C1 hybrid, a red 2-6-0 and two blue CR 812's are there.}''

Narrator: One of them is the main line run by a blue 4-6-2 tender engine named Gordon; Henry, a green 4-6-0 tender engine; and James, a red 2-6-0 tender engine. Two blue six-coupled tender engines Donald and Douglas often assist them when the workload is too much. Gordon is Sodor's main express engine. It is called the Wild Nor'Wester, and it is full of people from England, Wales, and Scotland.

{Cut to Edward at Wellsworth Station.}

Narrator: The second of the four routes is Wellsworth, run by a blue 4-4-0 tender engine called Edward, the oldest and wisest of the engines.

{Cut to Duck and Oliver at Arlesburgh Station.}

Narrator: The third of the four routes is the Little Western, run by two Great Western engines called Montague and Oliver. Montague was called Duck, by the way he waddles. Each have two auto coaches: Alice and Mirabel for Duck, and Isabel and Dulcie for Oliver.

{Cut to Ffarqhuar Sheds with Thomas, Percy, Toby and Emily.}

Narrator: But of these four routes, the last one is the most famous. The Ffarqhuar branchline has a brown tram engine called Toby, a green saddle tank engine named Percy, a Stirling Single Emily, but the most famous engine on Sodor? Yes, it was Thomas the tank engine. A blue Southern Railway E2 tank engine with the number one on his bunker sides. Thomas and Emily run the main passenger service. Thomas has two coaches called Annie and Clarabel, and Emily has Martha and Jennifer. Toby took workmen to the quarry with his coaches Henrietta and Victoria, and luggage van Elsie. Percy took the mail and other goods.

{Cut to the twelve engines at Tidmouth Sheds at night.}

Narrator: After the day's work, Gordon, Henry, Emily, Thomas, Percy, James, Edward, Duck, Oliver, Donald and Douglas go their home at Tidmouth Sheds. Tidmouth Sheds is the engines' home. It's where they rest their wheels, cool their boilers, and talk about the days' adventures.

{Cut to Gordon, Henry, Emily, Thomas, Percy, James, Edward, Duck, Oliver, Donald and Douglas at Tidmouth Sheds at morning.}

Narrator: One morning, the engines were waiting for today's jobs. Toby arrived with Sir Topham Hatt. He is the man in charge of the whole railway.

Sir Topham Hatt: Good morning, engines. Today, I have decided that you need extra help with your lines. Two of them will help at Ffarquhar, a third will help you, Edward, and a fourth is going to work on the mainline. You all know your usual jobs. That is all.

Narrator: And Sir Topham Hatt walked away. The engines were talking about the new engines.

Thomas: I'm curious... what will the new engines look like?

Emily: Maybe we'd get another steam engine for the branchline.

James: That's impossible - steam engines are being replaced by diesels!

{Emily, who is never too bright, is stunned.}

Emily: Steam engines being replaced? I forgot...

James: I know they're diesels. They're the reason steam is dying out!

Edward: There's no reason to be prejudiced, James. Sir Topham Hatt will never scrap us.

Gordon: I hope so. I don't want to see another engine other than Henry or James pulling the Wild Nor'Wester.

Percy: Yeah. I'm not strong enough.

Duck: Well, on the Great Western Railway...

James: {muttering} The tin-pot railway.

Duck: Tin-pot?! Let me-

Edward: There's no reason to make fun of one's heritage. More engines means more friends.

James: We got enough already: {to Henry} the sickly failed experiment, {to Thomas} the show-off tank engine, {to Percy} a green caterpillar with red stripes, {to Toby} the old wood box-

Toby: I'm not a box! I'm a tram engine!

James: Whatever. We've also {to Donald and Douglas} the drunken Canadian twins and-

Emily: {cheekily} Not to mention the red engine who once broke all the china in his train last month!

{The other engines laugh at Emily's remark about James.}

James: HEY!!! That wasn't my fault! And the dumb, cheeky-

Edward: Calm down, James. The new engines are arriving today and there's to be none of your rude remarks. You should be on your best behavior, too.

James: {under breath} I'll show you best behavior...

Narrator: The engines were soon hard at work. Thomas and Emily were at Ffarquhar Station waiting for one of the new engines to arrive. The engine showed up, in the shape of a long green diesel. Her ends were painted green, including her face.

Thomas: Are you the new passenger engine?

Daisy: Yes, I am. I'm Daisy. You must be Thomas, then.

Emily: Yes, he is! I'm Emily, Thomas' gir-

Thomas: {cutting off Emily} Anyway, what brings you here, Daisy.

Daisy: I'm to take passengers with you two... but I'll do it later. {scuttles to her shed}

Thomas: That Daisy's got an attitude problem.

Narrator: Meanwhile, Toby was trundling to the quarry, when he got an unexpected surprise. There was a black diesel shunter with black and yellow hazard stripes at both ends, and a gray face. She also had cowcatchers and sideplates like Toby.

Toby: You must be the new diesel for the quarry.

Mavis: Yep. I'm Mavis.

Toby: Toby's the name. These are my coaches Henrietta and Victoria, and luggage van Elsie.

Narrator: Soon, they were hard at work, but Toby was frustrated by the way Mavis rearranged the trucks. At Wellsworth, Edward met up with another diesel. He was long and green like Daisy, but had no seats inside, except for his driver, and had a yellow and green face.

Sir Topham Hatt: Edward, this is- {to the diesel} Uh, what's your name?

Boco: Call me Boco.

Sir Topham Hatt: Edward, this is Boco. Boco is a Metropolitan-Vickers, diesel-electric, Type 2.

Narrator: Edward was mildly impressed, and soon, he and Boco were chatting like old friends after their work. Meanwhile, Gordon was pulling the express to Brendam Docks, where the engines were especially busy. Gordon had to slow down because there was someone or something in his way. It was a black diesel shunter with red siderods. He wasn't friendly like Boco and Mavis.

Diesel: Oh, look! A steamie! I wouldn't have come if I had known.

Gordon: Out of my way! Express coming through!

Diesel: {scowls and moves to let Gordon pass} One day, steamie, all of you will be scrapped!

Gordon: Lousy black box on wheels... {continues journey}

Narrator: Gordon made it safely and on time, but he was worried about what the black diesel had said to him. He told to the engines later that night.

Gordon: ...and the last thing he said to me was "One day, all of you will be scrapped".

Narrator: The engines were worried. Then suddenly, the black diesel arrived at the sheds.

Diesel: Well, well, well! Twelve steamies! You're all going to be scrap by the turn of the century! Not even the East Coast legend Flying Scotsman will survive Modernization!

Gordon: {advancing forward} How dare you! How dare you insult Flying Scotsman in my presence!

Narrator: Boco the diesel rolled into the yard, and spoke to Diesel.

Boco: Diesel! Be off, and leave those steam engines alone!

Diesel: Grrr!! You'll be scrapped too, steamie lover!

Narrator: Boco paid no attention as Diesel scuttled away, sulking.

Edward: Thank you for that, Boco.

Thomas: Yeah, really! Why's he called Diesel?

Boco: It's because he is. He goes by no other name. I know Sir Topham Hatt would never replace you with us.

Narrator: Diesel overheard Boco's conversation with the diesels, and smirked.

Diesel: Four diesels come to a yard, four steamies are kicked out! {laughs evilly}

Narrator: The next morning, Emily was resting in a siding when Diesel oiled up.

Diesel: Hello, steamie.

Emily: My name is Emily, you black box.

Diesel: No one calls me that!

Emily: Gordon did.

Diesel: Forget that! I hear there's a place in Barry, where it's a haven to steam engines!

Emily: {proving herself stupid} Really?

Diesel: Oh, yes! There's many of them right now!

Emily: Thanks for the advice! I'd better tell Thomas, Percy and Toby. {leaves}

Diesel: {evil laughter} Sucker!

Narrator: Emily told Thomas, Percy and Toby at Elsbridge, while she was waiting for Gordon.

Thomas: Is this safe?

Percy: Steam engines alive?

Toby: I don't know. It might be a trick.

Narrator: Then Gordon puffed in.

Emily: Hey, Gordon. Diesel told me that to be preserved is to go to Barry.

Gordon: Emily! That's a really bad idea!

Emily: Why don't you think I should go?

Gordon: Because, it's a tra- {Guard's whistle blows}

Narrator: But Emily's guard's whistle blew, and Emily set off.

{Gordon tries to tell Thomas, Percy and Toby, but is cut off when they leave.}

Gordon: I tried to tell them, but I couldn't.

Narrator: Gordon later told the other seven steam engines about Emily.

Donald: Losh sakes!

Douglas: The poor lass is fallin' foor the diesel's triicks!

Edward: The bad diesels. Some diesels are good.

Narrator: Sir Topham Hatt arrived with Boco and Mavis.

Sir Topham Hatt: Where are Thomas, Percy, Toby and Emily? They're nowhere to be seen.

Gordon: Diesel sent to them to Barry scrapyard.

Sir Topham Hatt: {gasp} NEVER!!!

Gordon: He said you wanted to scrap us.

Sir Topham Hatt: Scrap one of my engines? I would never do that to any of my prize engines! We must help them at once!

Narrator: Meanwhile, Thomas, Percy, Toby and Emily had arrived at Barry scrapyards.

Emily: Where are we? This can't be the place.

Percy: These engines have been scrapped!

Thomas: Blame it on the dumb one.

Diesel: There you are! I've been waiting for you!

Thomas: I'm leaving!

Diesel: You're not going anywhere!

''{Suddenly, two diesels like diesel, only painted dark green with yellow cabs, and hazard stripes appear behind Thomas and Emily, Percy and Toby. The diesel with stubble is behind Percy and Toby, and the clean shaven diesel behind Thomas and Emily.}''

Diesel: Arry! Bert! Take our guests to the sidings!

Iron Arry and Bert: Yes, boss!

Emily: {yelling} SOMEONE HELP US!!!

{Later...}

Emily: {crying} Why did I ever listen to Diesel? I'm never gonna come home! {sobs louder}

Scrapyard Engine: Think you've got it bad? I've been here for twelve years! {His smokebox falls off his body to the ground} Oww-ohhh!

Narrator: Meanwhile, Henry, Gordon, Boco and Mavis were racing to rescue our steam engines in distress.

Henry: I still can't believe you're coming tonight. Scrap metal trains aren't exactly your cup of tea, are they?

Gordon: I feel guilty about that stupid Emily. If I hadn't put my wheel down and told her straight away, she wouldn't be in this mess.

Henry: You should take it easy. It's your entire fault, but I'm not blaming ya.

Gordon: WHAT?! It's hardly my fault at all!

Henry: These things happen, just let it go.

Gordon: But I didn't-!

Henry: It's not your fault!

Gordon: Okay, okay, okay. It's not my fault

Henry: Ohhh, and now he's in denial, face the facts! You caused her to commit suicide!

Gordon: {angry yelling}

Narrator: Thomas, Percy, Toby and Emily knew it would be the day they'd be scrapped! Emily was feeling very sorry for herself and wouldn't stop bawling her eyes out. The engine next to them also snored like a monster engine with gas.

Scrapyard Engine: {snoring}

''{Two whistles and two horns sound. The scrapyard engine wakes up.}''

Thomas: It's Henry and Gordon! Over here!

Henry: We found you!

Gordon: I told you it was a trick, Emily.

Percy: We're saved!

Boco: We better get you out of here before you end up as scrap.

Narrator: So, Henry, Gordon, Mavis and Boco took Thomas, Percy, Toby and Emily out of the scrapyards.

Scrapyard Engine: What about me? {bleeping noise}

{Unknown to the eight engines, Diesel had seen everything}

Diesel: Oh, no you're not! Arry, Bert! After them!

Iron Arry and Bert: Yes, boss!

Narrator: The three diesels chased them down the track. Arry and Bert were drawing level with Henry.

Iron Arry: Time to say goodbye, Henry!

Henry: No!

Narrator: Arry and Bert smashed into Henry, and he fell off the rails, and landed with a mighty crash! {CRASH!} He lay on his side, looking surprised, and leaking steam in all directions.

Henry: {weakly} Help...

Narrator: The three diesel shunters laughed wickedly. Emily, realizing the strength she didn't have before, angrily bumped them off the rails, and all three landed on their sides. Soon, Donald and Douglas brought Rocky the crane, and Sir Topham Hatt.

Sir Topham Hatt: Boco and Mavis, you are really responsible diesels. As a reward, you're staying here with my steam engines.

Boco and Mavis: Thank you, sir.

Sir Topham Hatt: Emily, you should know better than to listen to Diesel. You could've been scrap!

Emily: {sadly} Yes, sir. I am sorry, sir...

Sir Topham Hatt: Diesel, I am sending you away for your trouble.

Narrator: Diesel gritted his teeth in rage. Henry was soon brought to Crewe, a fine place for sick engines. Sir Topham Hatt spoke to Daisy.

Sir Topham Hatt: My engines work hard, I send lazy engines away... but since you've worked hard in Thomas, Percy, Toby and Emily's absence, you shall have another chance.

Daisy: Thank you, sir. I promise to work hard.

Narrator: Boco, Mavis and Daisy are now Sodor's first diesel engines. They made friends with the other steamies, even James. One evening, Sir Topham Hatt called his engines at Tidmouth Sheds.

Sir Topham Hatt: I thought you would all like to see this.

Narrator: Backing down towards the engines was a green engine with a number three and new shape... was Henry the green engine! Everyone whistled and blew their horns loudly.

Henry: It's great to be working as a new engine. Thanks for having me rebuilt, sir.

Sir Topham Hatt: That's all right, Henry. It's what you deserve for saving four of my engines.

Narrator: Henry smiled at his friends. Everything was back to normal on Sodor. Daisy managed to do her work on time, and liked talking to James... and no, don't even think about it. Mavis got along well with Emily, and often stopped by from the quarry. Donald and Douglas were last to accept Boco, and often helps with their goods trains.

Donald and Douglas: For a diesel, yon Boco's nae sich a bad sort of engine.

Narrator: That, from the Caledonian Twins, is high praise indeed!

THE END