Old Friends Come

Part 1
In 1970, one year after Duke was found, the Thin Controller had to tell Duke news.

"Duke, I have news", said the Thin Controller.

"What is it?", asked Duke.

"The people are going to closed stations of the Mid Sodor Railway", said the Thin Controller.

"Why?", asked Duke.

"Because the bumpy tracks are going to be replaced in the next century", said the Thin Controller, "and they are going to see if there are engines left there or not".

"Actually", said Duke, "there are four engines left there right now".

"What are the names of the engines left there?", asked the Thin Controller.

"Three of these engines left there are named Stanley, Jim and Tim", said Duke, "and the other engine left there has no name".

"And why were they left there?", asked the Thin Controller.

"Stanley and the Mine Engine were left there because nobody wanted to go to the flooded mines", said Duke, "and Jim and Tim were left there because they fell off the Mountain Road and nobody wanted to go to the closed mountain at the time".

Later, when people were searching at closed stations of the Mid Sodor Railway, they found Stanley and the Mine Engine.

"Excuse me", said the Mine Engine, "Why is something broken?".

"Because we were finding the mines", said the Small Controller.

"And you will be put on display at Crovan's Gate", said the Thin Controller.

"Why will I be put on display?", asked the Mine Engine.

"Because the Skarloey Railway needs another engine to be put on display at Crovan's Gate", said the Thin Controller.

"What is the Skarloey Railway?", asked the Mine Engine.

"The Skarloey Railway is the railway I'm the controller of", said the Thin Controller, "and your old friends, Duke, Falcon and Stuart work here now. Falcon and Stuart are now named Sir Handel and Peter Sam".

"Interesting", said the Mine Engine, "I can't wait to be reunited with these three".

When the Mine Engine was taken to Crovan's Gate by lorry, Duke, Sir Handel and Peter Sam were surprised to see him.

"Hello, Mine Engine", said Duke, "We have never seen you for years".

"I knew you when me and Peter Sam were named Falcon and Stuart", said Sir Handel.

"Nice to see you again", said Peter Sam.

"Hello, Duke, Falcon and Stuart", said the Mine Engine, "I'm happy that I'm reunited with you three".

"Glad you are", said Duke.

"I hope that more Mid Sodor engines come to this railway in the future", said Sir Handel.

"I agree, Duke and Sir Handel", said Peter Sam.

When people were searching for more closed stations of the Mid Sodor Railway, they found the Mountain Road, one of the people fell off.

"The grass is broken", said Jim.

"Why are you four there?", asked Tim.

"Because we're searching for closed stations of the Mid Sodor Railway", said the Thin Controller.

"We found you two after we found the Mine Engine", said the Small Controller.

"And four years later", said the Thin Clergyman, "I will make models of you two, Jim and Tim, for my layout of the Mid Sodor Railway".

"That's great", said Jim.

"And where is the Mine Engine now?", asked Tim.

"The Mine Engine is now on display at Crovan's Gate", said the Thin Controller.

"What is Crovan's Gate?", asked Jim.

"Crovan's Gate is a station on the Skarloey Railway", said the Thin Controller.

"And what is the Skarloey Railway?", asked Tim.

"The Skarloey Railway is the railway I'm the controller of", said the Thin Controller, "and four of your old friends, Duke, Falcon, Stuart and the Mine Engine are now here. Falcon and Stuart are now named Sir Handel and Peter Sam".

"Will we work on the Skarloey Railway this year?", asked Jim.

"No", said the Thin Controller, "Sir Handel said he hopes there will be more Mid Sodor engines on the Skarloey Railway in the future".

"And the future is not this year", said the Small Controller.

"Okay", said Jim and Tim.

Jim and Tim came to the Skarloey Railway Museum by lorry, and they were happy to be here.

"We are safe here", said Jim,

"Indeed", said Tim.

Part 2
In 1974, four years after the Mine Engine was put on display at Crovan's Gate, the Thin Controller had to tell Duke something.

"Duke", said the Thin Controller, "I have to tell you something".

"What is it?", asked Duke.

"People are visiting here", said the Thin Controller.

"Why?", asked Duke.

"They like to know more about the Mid Sodor Railway", said the Thin Controller.

"Why again?", asked Duke.

"They like to know more about the numbers 5 and 7 of the Mid Sodor Railway", said the Thin Controller.

"Which ones?", asked Duke", "the Mid Sodor Railway had many number fives, and two number sevens".

"The number 5 is an Andrew Barclay 0-6-0T, and the number 7 is a Fletcher and Jennings 0-4-0WT", said the Thin Controller.

"Gerry and Jennings", said Duke, "Why them?".

"Because people found them at the aluminium works", said the Thin Controller, "I got calls from volunteers that Gerry is becoming a 0-4-0, and Jennings got repainted red recently".

"I didn't know that Jennings was sold to the aluminium works before", said Duke.

"And here are photos of them", said a volunteer.

(Photo of Gerry says: Andrew Barclay 0-6-0T No. 5 Gerry arrived from England in February 2, 1919 along with No. 2 Stanley as replacements for two engines who were scrapped and retired respectively. No. 5 Gerry pulls passenger trains and goods trains, and works better than No. 2 Stanley.)

(Photo of Jennings says: Fletcher and Jennings 0-4-0WT No. 7 Jennings arrived from Wales in July 21, 1901, as one of the first two engines who arrived in the 20th century. No. 7 Jennings is a mainline engine who pulls boat trains, but also pulls goods trains and mineral trains.)

Sir Handel came to the sheds and saw the pictures.

"Wow, I didn't know Gerry was a Mid Sodor engine", said Sir Handel.

"Yes, Gerry worked on the Mid Sodor Railway, Falcon", said Duke, "but you didn't know him on the MSR because he was sold before you and Stuart came".

"What happened to Gerry before me and Falcon arrived?", asked Peter Sam.

"He was sold to the aluminium works and that's where you and Falcon know him", said Duke.

"Well", said a volunteer, "now that I know what happened to Gerry before Falcon, Stuart and Albert arrived, can you explain what happened to Jennings before Tim arrived?".

"Yes", said Duke, "Before Tim arrived, Jennings was sold to a company".

"And that company later sold Jennings to the aluminium works", said Sir Handel.

"And recently, the aluminium works sold both him and Gerry to a volunteer", said Peter Sam.

When Duke, Sir Handel and Peter Sam were at Crovan's Gate, they were talking to the Mine Engine.

"Hello, Mine Engine", said Duke, "we have to tell you something".

"What is it, Duke, Falcon and Stuart?", asked the Mine Engine.

"Me, Granpuff and Peter Sam were talking about two Mid Sodor engines named Gerry and Jennings", said Sir Handel.

"Interesting", said the Mine Engine, "I know Jennings but I don't remember him, but who was Gerry?".

"Gerry", said Peter Sam, "was a Mid Sodor engine who was sent to the aluminium works before me and Falcon arrived".

"Who was his replacement?", asked the Mine Engine.

"Gerry's replacement was my brother Albert", said Sir Handel, "but my brother Albert was withdrawn for spare parts for me, and another engine who is also named Albert, was my brother's replacement".

"The Mid Sodor Railway had many engines who were number 5", said Duke.

"Oh, I remember the Albert who was your brother's replacement, Falcon", said the Mine Engine.

"Yes, and that Albert was Jim and Tim's brother", said Sir Handel.

Part 3
In 1979, five years later, the Thin Controller had to tell Duke something, again.

"Duke", said the Thin Controller, "I have to tell you something".

"What is it?", asked Duke.

"People are visiting here", said the Thin Controller.

"Why?", asked Duke.

"They like to know more about another engine of the Mid Sodor Railway", said the Thin Controller.

"Which one?", asked Duke.

"They like to know more about another number 5 of the Mid Sodor Railway", said the Thin Controller.

"Which one?", asked Duke", "there were many".

"The number 5 is a Hughes Falcon 0-4-0ST", said the Thin Controller.

"Which one?", said Duke, "Is it Proteus or Albert?, and why him?".

"It is Albert", said the Thin Controller, "I got a call from an enthuasiast that recently, he was found, refurbished and got repainted blue, and he is getting rebuilt next decade".

"And here is a photo of him", said an enthuasiast.

(Photo of Albert says: Hughes Falcon 0-4-0ST No. 5 Albert arrived from England in June 10, 1927 along with his brother No. 3 Falcon as replacements for two engines who were retired and sold respectively. Like No. 3 Falcon, No. 5 Albert had the same shape as Proteus, the first number 5 of the Mid Sodor Railway. No. 5 Albert tended to be bad unlike his brother No. 3 Falcon.)

"Falcon, look at this photo of your brother!", shouted Duke.

Sir Handel came to the sheds and he looked at the photo of his brother Albert.

"Wow, yet another photo of a Mid Sodor engine", said Sir Handel, "and was Proteus the number 5 before Gerry?".

"No", said Duke, "Actually, the Mid Sodor's number 5 before Gerry was the first mine engine, and the first mine engine was number 5 after your oldest brother Proteus".

"And what happened to Proteus?", asked Sir Handel.

"He was sent to a railway in Loughbrough back in 1893", said Duke.

Three years later in 1982, Albert visited the Skarloey Railway.

"I guess", said Albert, "Duke, and is that Stuart and Jennings?".

"Yes", said Peter Sam, "I was named Stuart, but I'm now named Peter Sam".

"No", said Rheneas, "I was never named Jennings before. My name was always Rheneas. Anyways who was Jennings?".

"Jennings", said Albert, "was an engine who worked on the Mid Sodor Railway".

"And what happened to him after the Mid Sodor Railway closed?", asked Rheneas.

"I don't know", said Albert, "I wasn't around when the Mid Sodor Railway closed".

"When the Mid Sodor Railway closed", said Duke, "Jennings wasn't around either. He was sold to a company in 1929, almost 18 years before the Mid Sodor Railway closed. He was later sold to the aluminium works, according to Falcon and Stuart. And several decades later, he was sold to a volunteer and repainted red".

"And Duke", said Albert, "do you know where is is my brother Falcon?".

"He is visiting the Talyllyn Railway", said Duke, "and when he returns, you will get sent somewhere else".

When Albert went to Crovan's Gate, he saw the Mine Engine.

"Albert, is that you?", asked the Mine Engine.

"Yes, I am Albert", said Albert, "and how did you get there?".

"Well", said the Mine Engine, "I got there after people found me and sent me to Crovan's Gate. And how did you get to the Skarloey Railway, Albert?".

"My owner sent me to the Skarloey Railway", said Albert.

Two years later, Sir Handel returned to the Skarloey Railway.

"I'm going to send Albert to the Vicarstown Railway Museum", said the Thin Controller.

"Okay", said Albert.

Part 4
In 1987, three years later, the Thin Controller had to tell Duke news.

"Duke, I have news", said the Thin Controller.

"What is it?", asked Duke.

"An engine from the Mid Sodor Railway is returning here", said the Thin Controller.

"Which one?", asked Duke, "There were many".

"The engine is a Hunslet 2-6-2T", said the Thin Controller.

"Freddie", said Duke, "and why him?".

"Because his company agreed to sell him back to the Skarloey Railway", said the Thin Controller.

"I didn't know he worked on the Skarloey Railway before", said Duke.

"Actually", said the Thin Controller, "he never worked on the railway before, true he was there before, but he was put on display at Crovan's Gate until 1956".

Later, Duke told the other engines about the news.

"Skarloey, Rheneas, Falcon, Stuart, Rusty and Duncan, I have good news to tell all of you", said Duke.

"What is it, Duke?", asked Skarloey, Rheneas, Rusty and Duncan.

"What is it, Granpuff?", asked Sir Handel and Peter Sam.

"An engine from my old railway is returning to this railway", said Duke.

"Which one?", asked Skarloey, Rheneas, Sir Handel, Peter Sam, Rusty and Duncan.

"This engine is Freddie", said Duke.

"Who is Freddie?", asked Skarloey, Rheneas, Rusty and Duncan.

"Freddie", said Duke, Sir Handel and Peter Sam, "is an engine who worked on the Mid Sodor Railway, and he was aware of the Skarloey Railway before".

"How does he know about the Skarloey Railway without knowing us?", asked Skarloey and Rheneas.

"He was on display at Crovan's Gate from 1955 to 1956", said Sir Handel, "when you two were at Crovan's Gate works".

"And who was on display next?", asked Rheneas.

"Mighty Mac was on display next", said Sir Handel, "Mighty Mac was aware of this railway before, but Mighty Mac knew Skarloey but not you, because he was sold in 1961".

"And the Mine Engine was on display after Mighty Mac", said Peter Sam.

"I knew Mighty Mac from the Mid Sodor Railway", said Duke, "and I didn't know he was also aware of the Skarloey Railway before".

"What happened to Mighty Mac before me and Falcon arrived?", asked Peter Sam.

"He was sent to a railway in Wales in 1893", said Duke, "but I know he's not in Wales anymore".

When Edward collected Freddie, Sir Handel, Peter Sam and Duke were reunited with him.

"Good to see you again, Freddie", said Duke.

"Thanks", said Freddie, "You three are Duke, Sir Handel and Peter Sam".

"That's right, Freddie", said Sir Handel.

"During your absence from the Skarloey Railway", said Peter Sam, "many new faces arrived there, such as Mighty Mac, Rusty, Duncan, Granpuff and the Mine Engine but Mighty Mac was sold in 1961, and two old faces returned there, such as Skarloey and Rheneas.

"I knew Mighty Mac when I was privately owned", said Freddie, "and I knew the Mine Engine on the Mid Sodor Railway".

"The mine engine put on display at Crovan's Gate is not the same mine engine you knew", said Duke.

"Then how many mine engines worked on the Mid Sodor Railway?", asked Freddie.

"There were two", said Duke, "one was number 5 and was the mine engine you knew, and the other was number 9, was your replacement and is the one put on display at Crovan's Gate".

WILL BE CONTINUED