| Writings of the Wall | |
|---|---|
| Season 4, Episode 19 | |
| |
| Written by | Davey Moore (original) Stephen Patton |
| Directed by | Stephen Patton |
| Episode guide | |
| Previous The Spiteful Brake Van |
Next A True Diesel |
- “Hello, D5702.”
“You don't need to say anymore. I have a new nickname: BoCo.” - ―BoCo and D5701
Writings on the Wall is the nineteenth episode of the fourth series. It is based on the story of the same name from Thomas1Edward2Henry3's YouTube, NWR Origins Series 2 and the Railway Series book, BoCo the Diesel Engine only better.
Plot[]
At Wellsworth Yards that night, Sir Topham Hatt sends Bill and Ben to spend the night with BoCo at the shed. Bill decides that what the engines need is to listen to a mysterious story, albeit with a happy ending. The twins pleads BoCo to tell the story. BoCo then tells the others a story his driver had told him recently:
In 1958, the age of the diesel had officially begun, now drivers can turn a key and the engine starts up rather than waiting for the steam to build, making them the future of British Rail. In Bowesfield Works in northeast England, the newest member of the diesel class is introduced, the British Rail Class 28 Metrovick Type 2.
After being built, one of the members, D5702, is put on trial, meeting another new diesel on his first day, who introduces himself as Vulcan. D5702 reveals he just has a number. Vulcan suggests him be named as BoCo. The two diesels then notice a Steam Engine going by and Vulcan calls it a filthy object and BoCo agrees before proudly stating that diesels had arrived as the replacement. D7101 Sees What happens and says hi.
Later BoCo meets one of his siblings, D5701, and tells him his new name which D5701 feels is stupid. A small Jinty, whose name is Jerry, then pulls up alongside and reveals that the name came from BoCo's wheel arrangement. D5703 cruelly states, that they might replace Jerry. He's confused and questions the Diesel's comment. BoCo coldly reminds Jerry that there is a reason why Diesels are the talk of the moment as they don't require time to build up steam but simply fuel up and set off. Jerry, angrily departs and warns that though the Metrovicks appear modern, the manufactures will soon discover a flaw, overlooked during production. D5703 scoffs at this and a nearby Milton, the Class 52 diesel agrees claiming his class had been around for over half a decade, yet suffered no major problems.
Several days later, Jerry's warning turned out to be true. BoCo arrived at a station with a passenger train, the passenger boarded and the guard blew his whistle. Suddenly, BoCo found it difficult to move the train and his engine became louder. Then he erupted in a cloud of smoke (it reminds Derek when he got overheated). It turns out that the Metrovick overheated and shocked BoCo as he'd been only working for six days. The passengers unsympathetically demanded the smoke be removed and another engine pull the train. David the BR Class 31 Diesel then arrives, stating the situation was embarrassing and warns BoCo that it was embarrassing and that he shouldn't do it again. D7101 takes BoCo’s passenger train. BoCo protests that it wasn't his fault and was probably due to the fuel but to no avail. Later, BoCo is shunted into a workshop where he meets another one of his siblings D5703 who guesses that BoCo overheated. It happened to this sibling as well as to another sibling. BoCo, concerned, questions if there was a problem with Metrovicks the manufacturers failed to catch. BoCo's sibling thinks that it will likely but is probably a quick fix.
When BoCo returns, he is greeted by D5703. BoCo had been fixed, but similar issues were occurring to other Metrovick's. Jerry passes, smugly reminding them of his warning but BoCo believes that the manufacturers will probably bring all the Classes back to the workshop and the fix the problem which D5701 agrees with.
Three years later, in 1961, when pulling a passenger train, BoCo notices D5701 on a siding, who tells BoCo that his cab windows had somehow fallen out, but was not the first Metrovick to have that issue. BoCo then tells D5701 that all Metrovicks were to be handed back to the manufacturers to get revamped, so that their problems are fixed. Once recalled, BoCo, D5701 and the other Metrovicks await as the Chief Manufacturer explains that all Metrovick revamps were complete. However, the Chief Manufacturer then announces that on orders of British Rail, all Metrovicks were to be based at Barrow-in-Furness for local passenger and freight trains, because the Metrovicks aren't wanted in their homes and have been replaced. This causes an uproar from the Metrovicks but the decision cannot be overridden.
A few months later, at Barrow in Furness, BoCo finds it outrageous that Steam engines are still allowed to work on different parts of nation but Metrovicks have to remain in Barrow. D5701 explains to BoCo that this won't be the case for long as rumors stated that the last steam engine in Britain was built a year ago. In a few years, there will be no more steam around. D5701 arrives at the station with his passenger train. Suddenly as he departs, D5701 struggles to move, noticing his engine is getting louder and overheating before screaming out in pain as flames erupt from his undercarriage. Once the flames had been put out, the train was uncoupled and the situation sorted D5701 is set to be taken back to the manufacturers by a GNR named Becky. D5701 sadly tells BoCo that his situation is bad and that he will probably not make it, but BoCo thinks they would fix his sibling but Becky mentions that it was the last thing he said to his own friend before departing with the stricken D5701. D7101 had to take the passanger train.
A week later, BoCo's driver upsettingly explains that D5701's engine was so badly burnt the manufacturers had to scrap him. BoCo was absolute shocked and asked his driver why would they do that. BoCo’s driver explained that it was too expensive to repair D5701, but BoCo thinks the manufacturers didn't care thinking the Metrovicks were useless. BoCo's Driver attempts to calm the Metrovick down, but to no avail.
One rainy day, a few days later, BoCo is visited by another Metrovick who said that D5703 was a charming and hardworking engine and did not die in vain but BoCo states that all D5703 wanted to be was really useful and the manufacturers threw him away and he did die in vain. BoCo then states that all Metrovicks wanted to be was really useful, but were cursed with bad engines, which the Other Metrovick agrees with. The Other Metrovick then explains that there are things in life the Metrovicks couldn't control but the things they could with what was given to them, stating that in a perfect world, people would help them, rather than cast them aside, but one day, someone may arrive and overlook their engine problems and focus on what's really important: their determination. BoCo, doubtfully agrees, before asking the Metrovick about his number. The other Metrovick is numbered D5705 but is nicknamed Vicker. BoCo sadly says to Vicker "Writing is on the Wall for us" as Gordon arrives at the station with the Wild Nor'Wester. D7101 and D199 ask them to sleep with them . He gladly accepts.
Back in the present, BoCo stops there and Bill and Ben are disappointed that there is no happy ending. BoCo tells the twins that there is one, but it will have to wait for another night.
Characters[]
- Bill and Ben
- Jerry
- Becky
- BoCo
- D5701
- D5703
- Vicker
- David
- Milton
- Vulcan
- BoCo's Siblings
- The Barrow Controller
- Barry (not named; does not speak)
- Gordon (cameo)
- Sir Topham Hatt (mentioned)
Locations:[]
- Mainland
- Bowesfield Works in Manchester
- Island of Sodor
Trivia[]
- This episode is quite emotional compared to the upbeat previous episodes of the season.
- This is the first episode featuring Milton, who replaces The Red Class 08's role from NWR Origins. David who replaces the blue Vulcan's role who takes BoCo's express from NWR Origins and Becky who replaces The Black Freighter Engine. It also marks the first episode to introduce an original character despite their only appearances to date.
- This marks the first and only mention of the other Bowesfield Works in Manchester engines in the series.
- This also appears before enterprisng engines chapter 2 Super Rescue.
| << Series 3 | Series 4 | Series 5 >> |
| #01 Granpuff | #11 Little Old Twins | #21 A True Diesel! | #31 Patience is a Virtue | #41 Mind that Bike |
| #02 Sleeping Beauty | #12 Special Funnel | #22 Old Stuck Up | #32 Pop Special | #42 Triple Header |
| #03 Bulldog | #13 Steam Roller | #23 Duck Comes Around | #33 Peter Sam and the Prickly Problem | #43 Down the Hill |
| #04 You Can't Win | #14 Passengers and Polish | #24 Rusty to the Rescue | #34 Sir Handel Comes Home | #44 Through The Fog, It Creeps |
| #05 Four Little Engines | #15 Gallant Old Engine | #25 Thomas and Stepney | #35 Mavis and the Lorry | #45 The Secret Benefactor |
| #06 A Bad Day for Sir Handel | #16 Drip Tank | #26 Up and Adams | #36 Toby's Seaside Holiday | #46 Emily's Army |
| #07 Peter Sam and the Refreshment Lady | #17 Emily's New Coaches | #27 Train Stops Play | #37 Bulstrode | #47 Carol of the Bus |
| #08 Trucks | #18 Emily's New Route | #28 Bowled Out | #38 Toby Takes the Road | |
| #09 Home at Last | #19 The Spiteful Brake Van | #29 Toad Stands By | #39 Stop Thief! | |
| #10 Rock 'n' Roll | #20 Writings on the Wall | #30 Bulls Eyes | #40 Fish |