The Steam Team (Part 1)

Edward and James are medium sized mixed traffic engines who on the Wellsworth-Suddery Branch Line. They can pull passengers and haul freight. One day, it was fall on Sodor and all the children had to go back to school. A brand new high school was being built in Great Waterton and they wanted to take some students. Edward has his doubts however.

EDWARD: They won’t want to travel on us. They have buses.

Edward got a surprise however when a dozen of Great Waterton High School students were on the platform. Stephen Hatt, Sir Topham Hatt’s grandson was one of them.

STEPHEN HATT: Hello, Edward! The school bus has broken down. We need a lift. Can you take us, please?

EDWARD: Certainly, Stephen! That’s what friends are for.

The students boarded Edward’s train. Edward puffed away to Great Waterton. At Great Waterton, he saw James there with more students.

JAMES: They wanted me to take them instead. So here I am.

They both looked at the school. It was massive. There was a large gymnasium and a cafeteria. The front entrance was fitted with fine copper and the bricks were clean and the glass was squeaky clean. Just then, the cheerleading squad turned around and waved to Edward and James. Alice was their captain. Edward and James whistled back. Just then, Diesel oiled in. he was cross when he saw Edward and James. He spoke rude words to James.

DIESEL: Oh, it‘s you that Sir Topham Hatt said was going to help me. I wouldn’t have come if I’d known!

EDWARD: Well, I’m glad you did! Or else you would have spoiled their fun. Look at them.

DIESEL: Pah! Fun is all you steamies care about! One day you will all be scrapped.

Edward was scared, but James was cross.

JAMES: We have a friend named Mavis as you already know. She is a diesel, but she loves the steamies. Sure, she may sometimes tease us about it, but she’d never want to see us scrapped.

DIESEL: Mavis is an idiot. She can’t be honest. I’m outta here. What’s the point in talking to trash on wheels.

James and Edward left too. It was kind of an insult to be reminded of the time when Diesel 10 first came and teased them about being steam engines. That night, James made it clear to Edward.

JAMES: Diesel was teasing us, Edward! He didn’t mean anything by it.

Edward was relieved, but the next morning, he wasn’t laughing.

EDWARD: D199 is stopping by. He’s taking Diesel’s students home, leaving him free to take yours.

JAMES: He can’t do that. My students want to go to the beach this afternoon.

EDWARD: Diesel says he can get there before us.

JAMES: Nonsense. I can puff there quicker than him. His type is not built for speed.

EDWARD: Yes, but Diesel says he knows a shortcut.

JAMES: We’ll see about that!

That afternoon, James and Edward prepared for afternoon dismissal. Edward’s coaches were full, but James’s coaches were empty and he was soon to know why.

JAMES: Look! He’s a mean black deceiver.

Diesel was leaving with James’s students. His last coach had the words “SCHOOL TRAIN” written on the back.

EDWARD: STOP!

But it was too late. The students waved unexpectingly.

DIESEL: SO LONG SUCKERS!!!

JAMES: Come on! After him!

Said James to his coaches. James had a plan to pay Diesel out, but his chance came sooner than expected. At Wellsworth Station, there is a fueling station. Diesels have to stop there to refuel as they guzzle a lot of oil. It’s a pretty long way from Wellsworth to the next station that has a fueling depot. Diesel refused to stop there.

DIESEL: I’ll be fine!

But he wasn’t. Diesel broke down in the middle of the mainline. He was stranded. James came after him. He saw Jem Cole waving a red flag. James knew what it meant so he stopped as close as he could to Diesel.

JAMES: So this was his shortcut.

A large crowd of students got off of Diesel’s train and ran towards James. Bridget Hatt, Sir Topham Hatt’s granddaughter, was one of them.

BRIDGET HATT: He bamboozled us! He said he was the school train, but wouldn’t accept our id badges. He wanted us to think that steam power was no good. Please help us.

JAMES: Jump on! I’ll take you to the next station……….where Sir Topham Hatt will be waiting.

DIESEL: Noooooooooooooooo! Don’t tell Sir Topham Hatt!!!

JAMES: That will serve you right for bamboozling.

James met Edward at the next station and told Sir Topham Hatt what had happened. James and Edward took the students to the beach. They had a great time. As for Diesel, well……you’ll see.

SIR TOPHAM HATT: Diesel! You have caused confusion and delay. From now on, you will push coal cars at the coaling plant until you learn how to behave.

Diesel was upset. He is rather miserable shunting trucks in the yard. So if he ever bamboozles anyone, it can do no harm. The troublesome trucks never listen to him anyway.