Author's notes: Oh my gosh! We are now at my favourite book of the Railway Series of all time. Seriously, this book is full of world building, character development, continuity references, good jokes and of course, the emotional take on it. I think what puts this book at the top of the list for me, is the emotional connections in here. Boy did I get emotional editing this one. With that said, get your tissues if you haven't already and let's go.

Dear Rachel/Mike/James/Mitch/Dustin.

WE'VE DONE IT! After so many years of being lost in the hills of Arlesdale, Mid Sodor Railway's No. 1 engine, Duke, has finally been found! Boy, me and Rachel missed him so much, and so have 2 engines in particular that me and Rachel know of. Mike, James, Mitch and Dustin, Rachel and I cannot stress enough how thankful we are for all yours and the ponies support in helping us finding Duke. Not only that, we also had to thank one of the greatest Ace Reports and mystery solvers in the world, Tintin, for helping in the search as well. Who would thought that the story of 'Duke The Lost Engine' would be heard of world wide. Anyway, theses are stories that helped us find Duke, the lost no more engine.

Your best friend, forever and always.

William James Holden.

P.S

Please tell Twilight Sparkle that I thank her so much.

Granpuff

Narrator: One summer night in July 15th of 1969, the Mane 6 ponies the 6 little foals and the main 6 drivers were out camping in the woods by the lake near the Skarloey Railway. They were roasting marshmallows and making S'mores but the friends found it hard to sleep. So Rainbow Dash, decided to tell a story and failed miserably.

(Foals shaking scared)

Rainbow Dash: (Spooky voice) And so, the little steam train and his pony friend ran as fast as they could, but the headless horse caught them and gobbled them up and every yea…

(Record scratch)

Narrator: Most of the mane 6 ponies and the main 6 drivers all raised they're eyebrows.

Applejack: (Unimpressed ) Seriously…

Mr. Hoskins: (Unimpressed) Wow. I'm sorry, but seriously Rainbow Dash that was by far the most worst ghost story we've have ever heard.

Mr. Roberts: Yeah. headless horses eating engines and ponies. Seriously, is that best you've got?

Twilight Sparkle: (Unimpressed) Yeah. Since, 1, how can headless horse eat without a head, let alone without a mouth and teeth.

Mr. Hawkins: 2, how can one horse, headless or not, manage to even down a locomotive let alone a pony along with it.

Applejack: 3, if it doesn't have a head, then how in tarnation does this horse know where it's goin'?

Rainbow Dash: It's headless, not brainless

Applejack: So, where's its brain?

Rainbow Dash: Ugh.

Narrator: And the ponies and the drivers, (Well, barring Fluttershy who was shaking, Mr Holden and Miss Ravens who were looking at each other in silence and Scootaloo, who rolled her eyes at the others in annoyance) all laughed and laughed whilst Rainbow Dash crossed her hooves and made a sulky face.

Scootaloo: (Walks over to Rainbow Dash) Hey! Rainbow Dash was trying to come up with a good story. (She hugs her 'big sister')

Rainbow Dash: Heh, thanks Scootaloo. (She returns the hug)

Narrator: The others felt abashed and remained quiet for a few seconds, but everyone still felt restless.

Apple Bloom: What we need, is a real good story.

Sweetie Belle: Yeah, a mysterious story too.

Twilight Sparkle: Oooh! And one with lots of historical references

Fluttershy: But, can this one have a less scary ending, please?

Narrator: Mr. Holden and Miss Ravens, whom kept very quiet, over heard this they looked at each other and nodded. They had had enough of seeing Peter Sam and Sir Handel mentally destroying themselves over one of their very old friends. They had decided that now was time to reveal the truth to their friends.

Miss Ravens/Mr. Holden: We actually have a story that fits that caliber.

Rarity: Really?

Mr. Holden: Indeed we do. I've actually have it with me right here (Pulls out an old journal) However, the story is incomplete. I did have book that helped me to write it. But unfortunately, that book was lost due to it being destroyed in a fire at old home in Vicarstown in 1950. That is why I moved to Ffarquhar.

Miss Ravens: Me and Mr. Holden have been working together to try and find another copy of the book, but unfortunately we've searched everywhere to no prevail, so we've wrote down we can recall from memory which sadly isn't that much. But there are very important things to know about this, cause we're gonna need your help badly to solve a mystery.

Pipsqueak: Please tells us. We'll be glad to help you.

Twilight Sparkle: Same here.

Narrator: All the ponies agreed to help as did the drivers. Everyone listened and this the story that Mr. Holden and Miss Ravens told.

(Mid Sodor Years)

Narrator: Once upon a time, there were three little engines who lived in their own little shed on their own little railway. Their names were Duke, Stuart and Falcon. Duke was brown, Falcon blue, and Stuart green. Of the three of them, Duke was the oldest. He had been the first engine on the line and named after his grace the Duke of Sodor. He was very proud of this and wanted everything 'just so'. The three engines were also best friends with two humans, one was a boy and the other a girl, whom often worked with them as driver and fireman (or the girl's case, 'firewoman') and they loved them greatly.

(Falcon and Stuart puffing away with there trains)

(Falcon and Stuart shunting)

Narrator: Whenever the others did anything they shouldn't….

Boy Driver: FALCON!

Girl Driver: STUART!

Boy driver/Girl Driver: LOOK OUT!

(Falcon and Stuart smash trucks into each other)

Boy driver/Girl Driver: DOH!

Falcon: (Sighs) That didn't go too smoothly.

Stuart: (Sighs) No joke Falcon.

Narrator: He would say.

Duke: That would never suit his grace.

Narrator : Many other engines came and went, but Duke outlasted them all. Stuart and Falcon used to call Duke 'Granpuff'. He was fond of them and tried to keep them in order. They were fond of him, too for he was like grandfather figure and role model to them, and he was so wise and kind hearted but they did get tired of hearing all about his grace. Sometimes they we would wink at each other and chant solemnly.

(Stuart and Falcon resting at Arlesdale Works Sheds and see Duke coming up with some trucks. They wink at each other playfully)

Falcon: Engines come.

Stuart: And engines go.

Falcon/Stuart: But Granpuff goes on forever. Heheheheheh.

Narrator: This sometimes annoyed Duke from time to time.

Duke: (Indignant) You impertinent Scallywags! Whatever are young engines like you two coming to nowadays?!

Falcon: Heheh! Never mind Granpuff.

Stuart: We're only young once..

Duke: Well you had better mind, unless you want to end up like No.2.

Falcon/Stuart: (Shocked) Oh Granpuff. Whatever happened?

(Flashback, MSR, 1919-1920)

Duke Narrator: No.2 was American, and very cocky. He rode roughly and often derailed because of it. I warned him to be careful, but he took no notice.

No.2: (Drawling) Listen Bud! In the states we don't care a dime for a few spills!

Duke: We do here youngin !

Narrator Duke: But No.2 just laughed. He didn't laugh one day when manager took away his wheels and told him he was going to make him useful at last.

(End flash back)

Stuart/Falcon: (Nervous) Why, would did manager do?

Duke: He turned him into a pumping engine, that's what. He's still there behind our sheds. He'll never move under his own steam ever again.

Boy driver: I can vouch for that. I used to drive him and he is there.

Duke: Now, you two wouldn't want to join him back there, would you?

Falcon/Stuart: (Frightened) Uh, no! Certainly not Granpuff!

Girl Driver: Well then, that's settled. All's well that ends well.

Narrator: After that, Stuart and Falcon were unusually good for several days. They both became useful engines and all three were happy together for many years to come.

Boy Driver: (Singing) There's nothing like working together it's so much fun to be one of two.

Duke: (Singing) Cause two heads are always better Put'em together and you get something new.

Girl driver: (Singing) If theres two things that we can count on. You know its gotta be you and me

Duke: (Singing) And when we work together we're as strong as we can be.

Boy Driver: (Singing) Working together

Girl Driver: (Singing) Will be friends forever

Duke: (Singing) And whenever there is work to do things will work out fine for me you.

Falcon: (Singing) In a lot of decades. We've worked a thousand times before.

Duke: (singing) And I guess it shows on our faces. We'll be together for thousand more.

Stuart: (Singing) We'll never ever be lonely. We're the best team that there can be.

Duke: (Singing) And when we work. Together everything comes easily.

Falcon: (Singing) Working together!

Stuart: (Singing) We'll be friends forever!

Duke: (singing) And whenever there is work to do things will work out fine for me you.

(Duke, Falcon and Stuart working motague )

Boy Driver/Falcon/Duke: (Singing) Working together.

Girl Driver/Stuart/Duke: (Singing) We'll be friends forever

Boy Driver/Girl Driver/Falcon/ Stuart/ Duke: (Singing) What we've got is nothing new. We're good old partners proud and true so whenever there is work to do things will work out fine for me and you.

(Work montage fading)

Narrator: But hard times came. The mines in the hills closed one by one and the engines had little to do. At last they're railway line was closed too, and people came to buy the engines.

People: Well take Stuart and Falcon.

Narrator: But no one wanted Duke they thought him to old. Stuart, fighting his tears, called out to him as he and Falcon went away.

Stuart: (Fighting tears whilst trying to be optimistic) Cheer up Grandpuff! We'll find a nice railway and then you can come and keep is order…

Falcon: Can't you tag along with us?

Duke: (Sighs) I wish I could young Falcon. I really wish I could. Stay strong and be safe. You'd better get going. Don't want the new owner to throw a fit, now do you?

Narrator: They all laughed bravely, but sadly, not one of them thought that their dreams would ever come true. Duke's driver and fireman (Or is it firewoman) friends, sadly oiled and greased him one last time.

(Oiling and greasing Duke)

Driver boy: (Singing sadly) What are we gonna do no one seems to want us anymore.

Driver girl: (Singing sadly) What are we gonna do no one seems to want us anymore.

Duke: (Sad singing) It seems like yesterday you could hear the people say. That we could move a mountain or anything in our way. But now its just a dream cause when you've run out of steam. Then no one wants you anymore.

Duke: (Sad singing) What are we going to do. No one seems to want us anymore.

Driver Girl: (Sad singing) They came from miles around to come ride us up and down, and everybody knew that we were best that we were best that could be found.

Driver Boy: (Sad Singing) But now we've told that we're far too old .

Driver girl/Driver Boy: (Sad singing) And no one wants us anymore.

Duke: (Sad singing ) Where is it written, that things can't stay the same. The fix is in, we'll never win if can't stay in the game.

(Oiling and greasing Duke finished)

Driver boy/ Driver Girl: (Sad singing) And wasn't all that long ago, they cheered for us and you, but they say that things are different now and theres nothing we can do.

Boy Driver: (singing sadly) I know that time moves on

Girl Driver: (singing sadly ) The years just creep along,

Duke: (Singing sadly) I guess we've been forgot and the good old days are gone.

Boy driver/ Girl driver/ Duke: (Singing sadly) But the things we did back then we can do again.

Boy Driver: (Singing sadly tears) No one wants us.

Girl driver: (Singing sadly tears) No one needs us.

Duke: (Singing sadly) No one wants us any more.

Duke/ Boy driver/Girl driver: (Singing sadly tears) What are we gonna do? No one wants us….. any more..

Narrator: They sheeted him snuggly and said goodbye. Then, faces filled with tears, they had go away and find work elsewhere. Duke was alone locked up in his shed.

Duke: Where's his grace? It's not like him to forget me. (Sad sigh) Oh well I'll go to sleep. It'll help to pass the time.

Narrator: But his grace was killed in the Second World War, and a new Duke, who was still a boy, hadn't heard of his little engine. Years passed. Winter torrents washed soil from the hills over the shed. Trees and bushes grew all around. You wouldn't have known a shed was even there, let alone a little, lonely, lost engine asleep inside it.

(Flashback ending)

Narrator: Mr. Holden and Miss Ravens ended the story mournfully. The ponies and drivers stood shocked and felt sorry for the poor engine.

Fluttershy: (Whimpers like sad puppy) Oh my… the poor old engine. (Starts to cry in Miss Ravens' arms as the only female main driver hugged her tightly)

Narrator: Pinkie Pie couldn't speak. She had grabbed a hanker chief and began bawling in tears. Babs Seed stayed silent, remembering something.

(Flashback)

Duke: Goodness, this again?!

?: Oh great! Here comes that old geezer again!

No.2: Listen bud! Back in the states we don't care a dime for a few spills!

Duke: Well we do here!

?: Ah shat up, mind ya own business, and get our of our backs ya old geezer!

No.2: Now your talkin' kid! Tell that old goat we ain't gotta take orders from him! We can run this railway blind folded!

Duke: Famous last words.

(Flashback ends)

Scootaloo: Bab's? Bab's?!

Bab's Seed: (Surprised) Huh? What?!

Apple Bloom: (Concerned) Are you alright Babs? Your acting a bit zoned out and it like something's troubling you.

Babs Seed: Oh um, don't worry Scoots. It's nothing. I'm alright.

Sweetie Belle: (Tears) Oh my goodness. I feel so sorry for Duke.

Apple Bloom: (Tears) He's been separated from his family, the poor engine.

(Pipsqueak hugs a tear stuck Sweetie Belle while Featherweight hugs a tear stuck Apple Bloom.)

Rainbow Dash: (Wiping tear) Darn it! Now you got me acting all sappy!

Rarity: (About to cry dramatically) Why Duke, why… (Shocked and surprised) Wait a minute? Did you say, Duke?

Rainbow Dash: (Surprised) Wait a tick! Did you two say Falcon as well?

Applejack: (Surprised) And did I just hear y'all mention Stuart?

Mr. Holden: That's right. The MSR trio from 1936 to 1947.

Mane 6: Holy sweet Celestia! I remember!

Miss Ravens: That's right. From the railtour trip back in the 1920s.

Apple Bloom: MSR? What's an MSR?

Miss Ravens: MSR is an abbreviation, it stands for Mid Sodor Railway.

Rarity: quite right Miss Ravens. A long time ago we once visited that railway, and we got to ride on so many engines and trains too. And Duke was the one whom helped me see the importance of both goods and passengers in 1921 while I was still working with Simmors.

Twilight Sparkle: That's right.

Miss Ravens: So, have you guys guessed about what had become of Stuart and Falcon?

Pipsqueak: Well… hmmmm… I actually don't know.

Miss Ravens: Well in that case…

Mr. Holden/ Miss Ravens: I think that these two can answer that question. (Pointing at Applejack/Rainbow Dash)

Applejack: What in the hay is that suppose to mean?

Mr. Holden: Guess, trying to think back to 1954 when you Henry, Rainbow Dash and Gordon stopped at Crovans Gate.

Narrator: Then Rainbow Dash and Applejack thought very hard.

(Applejack's memory)

Henry: Hmm. This won't do youngster! I can't be kept waiting. If you are late again tonight I'll go off and leave your passengers stranded.

Peter Sam: Poh! From what Skarloey told me, you had to make several water stops before being rebuilt at crewe!

Applejack/Rachel: Heheheh… Settle down you two.

Applejack: Come Henry. We'd better get the flyer over to Tidmouth. Rachel, Will, sis! I'll be seein' ya'll later. Say hi to Babs for me. And nice meetin' ya Peter Sam.

William: We will Applejack.

Narrator: Henry puffed away.

Applejack: (To herself) Hmm…. Call me an apple fritter but there's just something familiar about that engine.

(Rainbow Dash's memory)

Sir Handel: Hullo there! Who are you two?

Rainbow Dash: I'm the one and only Rainbow Dash

Gordon: Name's Gordon. Who are you?

Sir Handel: I'm Sir Handel.

Rainbow Dash: Hey, you look very familiar. Have we met before?

Sir Handel: (In his head) Hmm. If they don't know who I am, maybe, just maybe, this can give me and Peter Sam a chance to cover it up.

Rainbow Dash: Yoo hoo? Sir Handel?

(Memories end)

Rainbow Dash: (Shocked) What the heck!

Applejack: What in tarnation?!

Rainbow Dash/Applejack: (Surprised) you mean that…..

Mr. Holden: Yes your quite right. Stuart and Falcon came to the Thin Controllers railway back in 1953 5 years before Princess Luna came to help us out.

Miss Ravens: The Thin Controller gave them both new coats of paint and new names. Stuart became Peter Sam.

Mr. Holden: And Falcon became Sir Handel. They prefer they're new names, But that was a very long time ago.

Miss Ravens: They never forgot they're Granpuff and often talk about him when alone or with me and Mr Holden here.

Sweetie Belle: Oh! So that explains Sir Handel's and Peter Sam's excitement when they heard the duke was coming to Skarloey's and Rheneas' 100th birthday.

Pipsqueak: And that also explains why they were disappointed to find out that the duke that did come was only a man.

Narrator: The 6 foals, the mane 6 ponies and the main 6 drivers all consulted together and agreed on a plan before going to bed. But we must say no, more or we'll spoil the next story.

(Tears) My word. That really hits all the emotional cords it needs to. Look out for 'Bulldog' next. In the meantime... I think I'm going to have a good cry.