TheEmotionalPoet

NARRATOR: The Horse and Cart had been smashed in Bertram’s accident. It wasn’t a massive loss but it was another loss of rolling stock. Crovan’s Gate workers were trying to replace as quickly as possible. BERTRAM: We’ll have to make do. NARRATOR: Sighed Bertram guiltily. But nobody blamed him. Only himself. But Crovan’s Gate, and the workers, had a secret lined up. CROVAN’S GATE WORKER: Come along now, Bertram; you’re a busy worker, Bertram; you’re in out the mines anyway, Bertram. NARRATOR: This made Bertram feel a little better. DUKE: They mean it! NARRATOR: Duke Soothed. Bertram knew Duke’s presence was a blessing in disguise. CROVAN’S GATE WORKER: Come along now, Bertram; you’re a busy worker, Bertram; you’re in out the mines anyway, Bertram. NARRATOR: But he was soon sent back to his work. TOBY: Let’s get back to business. NARRATOR: Advised Toby. BERTRAM: I still feel guilty. NARRATOR: Admitted Bertram quietly. BERTRAM: It’s my fault about the Horse and Cart. NARRATOR: Mr.

NARRATOR: It’d been another busy day on Sodor. BERTRAM: I’m taking the Horse and Cart. We have no spares left. That’s until Mr. Percival arranges for us to have some more. But I know they’re not built for that. DUKE: True as it is. NARRATOR: Agreed Duke. DUKE: We need more rolling stock. NARRATOR: The Horse and Cart is mostly used for the workers on the Skarloey Railway. But it has been used for taking special guests, or light goods. Such was an occasion was today’s work. Mr. Percival had already agreed to the usage being necessary. The Horse and Cart was soon readied for Bertram. He’d worked the mines prior but he knew his limits. Duke had reminded him. This was a different kind of work to what he’d been used to. It was time to take the train. Bertram was ready to work. BERTRAM: On we go, on we go. Horse and Cart, Horse and Cart. NARRATOR: Enthused Bertram to the rolling stock. It was a difficult start for Bertram. BERTRAM: Come on now, come on now. Let’s go, let’s go. On we move, on

NARRATOR: Savannah was volunteering her time again. She loved spending her time with the engines. She’d become a recognisable human to them all. They often called her “Savvy” as a result. She enjoyed her little nickname. Today was her first time being in Flora’s cab. It was something she’d never done before. But she’d longed to do it since her starting date. Now she got her chance. Flora promised to be sturdy with her onboard. Cecil had made her a friend of his as he visited by often. He wanted to help her where he could. He knew he could tend for Flick in turn. CECIL: Aha, Sodor Tramways. NARRATOR: Smiled Cecil. As he reached the junction nearby. He was too heavy to go on the branchline, but he’d promised to whistle. Savannah wasn’t expecting to see him. It was a most pleasant surprise when she saw him alongside them. CECIL: Greetings to all! NARRATOR: Whistled Cecil. SAVANNAH: Greetings to Cecil! NARRATOR: Responded Savannah. CECIL: Thank you Savvy. NARRATOR: Enthused Cecil. He never

NARRATOR: James is proud of his red paint, which he shares with Eagle and Flannagan. He doesn’t have his own branchline, nor does he own his own coaches or trucks. But he does enjoy how splendid he looks with the Express. Eagle has offered to be repainted as green, so he’s similar to Henry in turn. But James’ ego ignores this. But he can’t ignore Bridget and Siobhan’s visit as they came for New Year’s Day. They’d been delayed by James previously as he was covering for Cecil. Cecil was perfect for Old Slow Coach and Old Steady Coach. James was quite the opposite in that regard. CECIL’S FIREMAN: We’re sorry about your delay. NARRATOR: Apologised Cecil’s fireman. BRIDGET: Not a worry! NARRATOR: Forgave Bridget. SIOBHAN: We just missed Pip and Emma. NARRATOR: Siobhan soothed in with a calming presence. CECIL: We’d just returned from Crovan’s Gate earlier that day. NARRATOR: Explained Cecil. Although he didn’t have to. Just as Sir Tremar Hatt arrived. SIR TREMAR HATT: Bridget and Siobhan

NARRATOR: Savannah is a Sodor Volunteer. She was well known by all the engines. She didn’t have a particular favourite amongst them all. SAVANNAH: Passengers are waiting for you! Don’t them down a moment longer. PERRY: Agreed. NARRATOR: Sighed Albert. PERRY: It wouldn’t be wise to. NARRATOR: Just as Cecil returned to the shed. He’d returned from Crovan’s Gate earlier, and was being gently eased back into service. Savannah supported Perry. SAVANNAH: Bridget and Siobhan won’t be happy if you delay. NARRATOR: Bridget and Siobhan often visited. CECIL: They’re coming today? SAVANNAH: They always visit! It’s New Year’s Day after all! NARRATOR: She reminded Cecil. CECIL: I forgot! I didn’t remember! Thank you for volunteering today, Savvy. SAVANNAH: Wisening up I see. NARRATOR: Giggled Savannah, as she left them to it. James frowned beside them. JAMES: My red paint needs redoing! SAVANNAH: That’s not my job. I don’t repaint engines. Plus, I’m helping Mrs Kindley bake today. She’s doing a

NARRATOR: Tankers such as Irty and Ilthy belong in the sidings instead of being used by the engines. But they are often found to be needed as opposed to being made useful. Everyone who knows them also knows this. They wouldn’t deny it either. Their reputations preceded them. Little Barford had threatened them before. They said nothing as they waited in a siding as Frisker was shunted nearby them. He acknowledged them as he came to a stop. FRISKER: Rolling stock problems. I’ve been there myself! NARRATOR: This prompted them to speak up. IRTY: You’re not a tanker though. NARRATOR: Irty proclaimed. ILTHY: Nor are you even a truck either. You’re more akin to a coach. You wouldn’t understand. FRISKER: I’d understand too well. I’m not much good on my own. NARRATOR: Just as some workers approached them. WORKER’S BOSS: Wallace needs you now, Frisker, with a train. You’re taking Perry home. FRISKER: You best behave, you two! Don’t do spoil your chances! IRTY/ILTHY: Just go, go away. We don’t

NARRATOR: Little Barford’s gibes were going too far. Engines had started feeling upset. Perdita confided in Duke and Bertram. Both of them were old engines. BERTRAM: Try not to let it upset you, Perdita. NARRATOR: Advised Bertram smoothly. DUKE: You’re better than that Little Bully. NARRATOR: Supported Duke. BERTRAM: We’ll prove it to you soon enough. We promise. NARRATOR: Little Barford was idling around. She tried to joke with Emmalena but she wasn’t playing along. She didn’t want to stay in the shed! MR. PERCIVAL: These repairs are taking too long. NARRATOR: Mr. Percival admitted. MR PERCIVAL: But you’re lucky to have company. EMMALENA: I value it. Earnestly, Sir. Just hurry up, Sir! MR. PERCIVAL: You can’t rush these things. NARRATOR: Emmalena’s company was Little Barford. EMMALENA: Oh you! NARRATOR: Scowled Emmalena woefully. EMMALENA: I’d rather be left alone! NARRATOR: But she didn’t mean a word of it. LITTLE BARFORD: I needed the rest anyway. NARRATOR: She jested. LITTLE

NARRATOR: The engine known as Thirteen had a goods train. She’d gotten used to it now. She had been deemed unlucky since she was often derailing. But it never seemed to be her fault. THIRTEEN: I won’t derail today. NARRATOR: She vowed. THIRTEEN: I will soon prove everyone wrong. I’m better than these little accidents. LITTLE BARFORD: You will always need helping. NARRATOR: Mocked Little Barford. It was the first gibe she’d made of Thirteen. This didn’t deter their mood. Although Mr. Percival had already warned Little Barford about her attitude once before. Thirteen had asked to stay but it was undecided. She’d been brought in to cover Duncan whilst he was visiting Scotland. The other engines had accepted her. BERTRAM: You’ve been very useful. We’ll find out soon enough. Mr. Percival will tell us when he’s ready. NARRATOR: But each job took longer than the last. Thirteen was feeling uneasy about her future on Sodor. Everyone was expecting Duncan’s return too. But it wasn’t clear when.

NARRATOR: The Diesels were sent packing upon losing their race with Lily. Lily never boasted her success once. OLD STEADY/SLOW: Modest and humble! NARRATOR: Decreed the Coaches. OLD STEADY/SLOW: Not sunk and lost on a branchline! WORKERS: Let’s not lose ourselves now. NARRATOR: Reminded the workers. WORKERS: You have a job to do. OLD STEADY/SLOW: Onwards we go! NARRATOR: Prepped the Coaches. OLD STEADY/SLOW: Here comes Lily now! She’ll drop us off! LILY: Come along, ladies! NARRATOR: Supported Lily. LILY: Toby’s waiting. NARRATOR: Stated Lily. LILY: Patiently. NARRATOR: Asserted Lily. OLD STEADY COACH: Patience is key. OLD SLOW COACH: Patience is in Toby’s nature. NARRATOR: Persisted the Coaches. LILY: Maybe so! NARRATOR: As she took the Coaches. She knew Toby would worry if delayed. He was already missing his own coaches. They’d been awaiting repairs for some time now. Sir Tremar Hatt had apologised. He knew it was overdue. SIR TREMAR HATT: Not long to wait now, Toby. NARRATOR: He

NARRATOR: The workers were busy extending the South Eastern branchline for Lily. OLD SLOW COACH: Steady and I appreciate your patience. NARRATOR: Thanked Old Slow Coach. OLD STEADY COACH: We’re not useful for very much. NARRATOR: Confessed Old Steady. OLD STEADY COACH: We can’t run like we used to do once. We are so glad to be saved from scrap. LILY: The workers appreciate you most, ladies. NARRATOR: Soothed Lily. LILY: But I’m hardly the rigour of Kit Dent. OLD STEADY/SLOW COACH: Maybe! NARRATOR: Mustered the Coaches. OLD STEADY/SLOW COACH: That’s her inexperience showing through. Don’t pay it no mind. NARRATOR: Lily remembered her own inexperience of running a branchline. A rogue engine known as Deceitful Diesel soon approached her near a junction. She’d tried to take the old coaches away many times, only to fail each time. She’d never given up. LILY: You’re just rotten! DECEITFUL DIESEL: All diesels know they’re revolutionary, one way or another. Even those “friends” of