Author's notes: Boy, this one took longer then I thought. It was worth it though. I think this episode pulls off some really good comedy and shows how to respect continuity. Let's go.

Dear James and Dustin

Me, Rachel, Mitch, Mike, Applejack, Rarity, Big Macintosh and Rainbow Dash had a very, very adventurous time together on the mainline. First, Donald, Big Macintosh and Mike managed to teach some new trucks a lesson in good manners after a breakaway, James and Rarity learn what real hard work is about by Rachel, Applejack and I had to go and run after Henry after he ran away from the sheds, (thank goodness for trap points) and Gordon, Rainbow Dash and Mr Thomson got trapped by tree at Wellsworth. But enough of me rambling. Here's what happened.

Your best friend forever,

William James Holden.

Donald And The Breakaways

Narrator: Donald and Douglas, the Scottish Twins, who worked with Big Macintosh and Braeburn, didn't mind what job they did. Weather it was coaches or trucks, it was really all the same to them. Because of this and the fact that they both had their private brakevans Ted and Toad, more often then not, they were put in charge of goods work along with Gator since the big engines such Gordon and Henry despise them with a passion, though, the latter doesn't mind it as much as the former. Murdoch, Hero and Hank usually handled the heavier goods work.

Rarity: Surely Douglas, you and Donald can't really be fond of scruffy ruffians?

Douglas: Och aye. I've been pullin' trucks up in Glasgow and we had loads of fun do in it.

Braeburn: That's right. They told us and they still enjoy it today.

James: Your joking me and Rarity. You don't really, do you?

Douglas: Och, it's all work.

Braeburn: That's right and If we didn't do who else eh?

Narrator: James and Rarity marvelled at this. Now, they both hated trucks themselves, but they were willing to admit that Donald and Douglas along with Braeburn and Big Macintosh were able to keep the trucks in order much better than any other engine or pony did, well barring Edward and Fluttershy of course. The secret, was the trucks hadn't forgotten that memorable incident in 1959 where Douglas had smashed a very nasty and spiteful brake van into pieces.

(Flashback)

Spiteful Brake van: Alright Douggie boy! If it's a battle you're lookin for, then bring it on!

Douglas: Famous las' words Brake Van!

Narrator: Soon the guards whistle blew and the green flag waved.

James: Come on! come on! Come ON!

Douglas: Get moving you! Get moving you! Yer really testin my patience!

Spiteful Brake van: Keep holdin back boys!

Narrator: Slowly but surely, the snorting engines forced the unwilling trucks and the spiteful brake van up the hill! Halfway up however, James was losing steam.

James: I can't do it! I can't do it! I'm sorry Douglas!

Douglas: Dinna fast yerself James. Leave it to me!

Rarity: Right Douglas. We'll keep our brakes off!

Douglas: Thank ye! Much Obliged Rarity!

Spiteful Brake Van: Hahahahaha! Keep holdin back boys! They're slow down! We've beaten them. Hahahaha! You can't beat me Doug! Now you know why no engines challenge the might of the spiteful brake van!

Douglas: Ye'll Never beat me! Ye muckle nuisance! Miss Ravens, give us full steam!

Miss Ravens: Righto Douglas!

Narrator: Miss Ravens opened the regulator wide open, Braeburn shovelled for dear life and Douglas push and puffed so fiercely that sparks flew from his funnel. The brake van was soon starting to feel funny as he was squeezed between Douglas and the trucks.

Spiteful brake van: Oooerrr! Hey trucks, mah boys and girls! I'm feelin a little sandwiched here, like a cheese sandwich uh…

Trucks: Hold back! Hold back! Don't worry boss. We ain't gonna let these chumps beat us!

Spiteful Brakevan: Uh heheh, yeah uh… That's the spirit my trucks but… would you guys mind taking 5 for bit.

Narrator: There was ominous creaking straining sound of wood. The Guard was anxious.

Guard: Easy Douglas! Easy. You're straining the van!

Spiteful brake van: Oh jumpin pesto sauce! I wish I never thought of this!

Trucks: Go on! Go on! Go on!

Spiteful brake van: Stop with the holding! Stop with the holding back! Make with the holding forwards!

Oddball: (Sigh) you should have taken my advice, Mr. Brake Van.

Spiteful Brake Van: Alright, you don't have to rub it in. Just please for the love of Marlon Brando, pleases. Go on! Go on! Ooooerrr! Make…..Sure….You… Avenge… Me….

Guard: Go steady! The Van's breaking!

Narrator: But it was too late. The guard jumped as the van collapsed.

Spiteful Brake van: GGGGGGAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

Narrator: The van was in pieces but the guard landed safely by the side of the line.

(Flashback ends)

Narrator: It had been a accident really, but no one told the trucks that. To this day, the trucks still believe to this very day that he had done deliberately and would chatter anxiously to each other when either twins or Braeburn or Big Macintosh were about.

Trucks: Keep on the right side of those four.

Narrator: One day, Donald, Big Macintosh and Mr. Hawkins had to take some empty trucks to the other railway and bring back loaded ones.

Mr. Hawkins: All hooked up Big Macintosh?

Big Macintosh: Eeeyup!

Mr. Hawkins: Good stallion. Hop in!

Donald: Ye ready Ted?

Ted: Ready Donald. Let's do it!

(Donald starts off)

(Donald nearing Barrow-In-Furness)

Narrator: The empty trucks behaved well and Donald reached the Big station at Barrow-In-Furness 10 minutes ahead of schedule. He, along Big Macintosh, Mr. Hawkins and Ted, were feeling great.

Donald: Och! We got those trucks licked into shape.

Big Macintosh: Eeeyup!

Mr. Hawkins: You got that right!

Ted: Well done boys. That was a good job we did.

Narrator: However, what they didn't realise, was that the loaded trucks that they were about take out were visitors and had never been licked into shape by any engine. When Donald backed down on them and Ted was coupled at the back, they screeched loudly and rudely.

Loaded truck 1: WHAT'S THIS?!

Loaded truck 2: WE WANT A PROPER ENGINE AND CREW!

Loaded truck 3: NOT AN OLD FASHIONED, HORSE LOVING STEAM KETTLE!

Loaded truck 4: (Quietly) I think they are nice.

Loaded truck 5: Oh be quiet Fluffy!

Ted: (To Fluffy) Don't listen to them. At least someone respects us.

Fluffy: Thank you Mr… um…

Ted: Oh, it's Ted. And, your welcome, Miss Fluffy.

Fluffy: No problem my friend.

Narrator: They should have told the truth. They should have known better, but then trucks hardly do, and that's not surprising. But Donald, who took offence more easily than his brother Douglas, was furious.

Donald: OLD FASHIONED STEAM KETTLE! Oooohh. I'll teach you a lesson! TAKE THAT!

Big Macintosh: Eeeyup!

Narrator: And he gave the trucks a fierce hard bump, but the trucks snickered.

Loaded Truck 1: Heheheheheh. They're getting cross and quite up tight.

Loaded Truck 2: Let's have little bit of fun with them.

Fluffy: I think we should behave ourselves guys. You've really hurt the poor engine's feelings.

Loaded Truck 3: Fluffy! Why don't you have fun for once in your life?

Fluffy: It can be fun to be kind.

Ted: She's right. You lot better be on your best behaviour.

Narrator: Soon, they were away. At first, the trucks behaved surprisingly well, (partly thanks to Fluffy) and Donald thought that he had them under control. But like the trucks, he outta have known better. For instance, when they reached Corvans Gate works, one of the trucks had run a hot axle box and they had to shunt the truck off the train.

Donald: (Sniff) Och aye, does anyone smell something strang?

Big Macintosh: Eeeyup! (Sniff) Smells like something burnin…

Mr. Hawkins: Oh for the love of pete. One of those stupid trucks has run a hot box.

Fluffy/Ted: You shouldn't have done that number 3.

Loaded Trucks: For pete's sake Fluffy and Ted! SHUT UP!

Narrator: Den and Nurse Snowheart were just outside the works arranging some machine parts and came over.

Nurse Snowheart: Hello Donald, Big Mac, Mr Hawkins, Ted.

Den: What's happening?

Donald: Ah, Den and Nurse Snowheart. Good ta see ya. Could ye please tak this truck te youn' woks? It's run a hot axle box.

Den: Of course. The workpeople and workponies will have it mended in no time.

Nurse Snowheart: They sure will. See you guys later.

Narrator: The pony nurse waved and the Class 02 tooted goodbye as Donald whistled and Mr Hawkins and Big Mac waved goodbye, and they set off again. When they reached Kellsthorpe Road, they had stop whilst the guard had to unfasten a brake rod and Ted had to strain to keep his brake off which had slipped on, (Cough! Cough!) 'Accidentally on purpose', as the old saying goes.

Donald: Alright, here we are. Kellsthrope Road.

(After getting the trucks arranged)

Donald: Away we go… Oy! What's going on?

Ted: (Straining to keep the brake rod off) My brake rod's on. One of the trucks has slipped it on.

Mike/Donald/Big Macintosh: OH FOR PETE SAKE!

Fluffy: You lot are pushing it.

Truck 5: And you aren't having any fun Fluffy!

Narrator: One delay followed another and Donald, Big Macintosh and Mr. Hawkins got crosser and crosser, but the trucks didn't care a bit.

Donald: Ugh! Stupid things!

Big Macintosh: Eeeyup!

Truck 1: Heheh… What does he know about it?

Truck 2: Let's face it, we're modern we're not out of date like the pony loving engine.

Truck 5: HAH! PONY LOVING STEAM KETTLE! HEHAHHAHAHAHA!

Ted: Will you shut up and behave?!

Fluffy: Yeah. This is the North Western Railway. You should really obey their rules.

Truck 6: Quit being a kiss up Fluffy!

Narrator: But little did they for see the change was in foot. At the top of Gordon's Hill, all trains stops so that wagon brakes can be checked along the train. Unfortunately, they were running so behind schedule that Donald had restarted much to quickly than he intended and the result in jerk broke an old coupling hook ten trucks from the end. Feeling the snatch, Big Macintosh looked back and what he saw made his heart pound fast. They were already a little ways down from the hill by this point but coming after them and gradually gaining speed down the slope was the last ten trucks and Ted careering down the hill out of control. Mr. Hawkins quickly opened the regulator wide open, much to Donald's surprise.

Ted: AHHHHH! HELP!

Fluffy: TED!

Big Macintosh: HOLY APPLE FRITTERS! FLOOR IT DONALD! FLOOR IT!

Donald: What the!?

Mr. Hawkins: OH GLORY! We got to keep ahead Donald! Quick now!

Big Macintosh: Eeeyup! I just hope theres nothing at the platform at Wellsworth station.

Donald: But we're suppose to stop and leave some of these trucks.

Mr. Hawkins: We can't help that, cause if those lest ten trucks catch, us well stop even early than that… CAUSE THEY'LL KNOCK US OFF THE RAILS!

(Toink!)

Donald: Well, what are we waiting for then?!

Narrator: Donald hastily accelerated. It was touching go to start with and the runaway trucks were nearly catching up, but if Ted hadn't been restraining his brakes with the guard's help, Donald might not have kept ahead, but he managed, only just! They saw Edward's station in front and whistling at full volume. Donald raced towards it. Emily, Miss Ravens and Cheery Jubliee were waiting with Emily's coaches, Justin & Nicholas, as Mr. Hawkins and Big Macintosh shouted.

Emily: My goodness. Cheery Jubliee, Miss Ravens, Justin, Nicholas, do you hear something?

Cheery Jubliee: It sounds like…

Big Macintosh/Mr. Hawkins: DANGER! RUNAWAY TRUCKS!

Big Macintosh: Eeeyup!

Justin: Oh horrors!

Nicholas: Look out!

Miss Ravens: Someone set the points!

Narrator: The trucks followed in screaming in sheer fright! The signalman heard them. He quickly seized up the situation and set the line to clear as a far as he could and Donald thundered safely passed. The runaway trucks came next, but the signalmen saw to his relief that they were slowing down by the time they neared his signalbox. With a groan of relief, the trucks stopped just beyond the station platform. The signalmen set out an obstruction danger notice and set all his points and signals to danger and then he waited. When he was sure that the trucks had stopped, Donald stopped too a half a mile further on.

Mr. Hawkins: We'll to gain permission to get those trucks. Big Macintosh, think you can go clear it with the signalmen.

Big Macintosh: Eeeyup.

Narrator: When they had permission, Donald was able to go carefully back to the trucks. He bumped them fiercely.

Donald: NOW, WILL YE TWERPS BEHAVE YERSLEVES?!

Narrator: And this time, the trucks, surprisingly scared themselves, quavered uncertainly.

Truck 1: Uh yes... of course…

Truck 2: Um… no… problem…

Truck 5: Uh… you bet Donald. You bet.

Fluffy: Glad you know your place.

Donald: Ted, are yer ok dear friend?

Ted: A bit worse for wear, but I'm fine.

Donald: That's a relief.

Narrator: And Donald set off again as he, Big Macintosh, Ted and Mr. Hawkins all chuckled and finally, Donald was able to finish his journey with no trouble at all.

Heh, yeah. Now the engines have a 2nd truck on their side. Look out for part 2, "A Near Miss".