Author's notes: Alright! We are onto our biggest saga yet. At a total of 29 chapters, it's 'The Mid Sodor Railway Legacy'. Originally, we wanted to do a part with the Mid Sodor Heritage Railway coming to operation, but that will be done another time. I also wanted to make the transition of the topic to the Mid Sodor Railway a bit smoother then the original. I like the end result for chapter 1. Check it out.

Dear Rachel, Mike, James, Mitch and Dustin,

The Mid Sodor Railway was a narrow gauge railway which was built in 1880 and operated from 1880 to 1947 running from the port of Arlesburgh and King Orry's bridge south of Peel Godred, hauling local goods, holiday makers and mineral trains such as slate and lead until 1947. That year, the line closed down for good and the rails and stations have been scrapped, or so many thought. Thanks to many dedicated railway enthusiast from the Sodor Railway trust society both human and ponies the spirit of the Mid Sodor Railway still lives on, in the form of the Arlesdale Miniature Railway run by the Small controller and alicorn princess helper Princess Cadence running between Alresburgh to Arlesdale the halfway point of the original right of way, many years after the end of the Mid Sodor Railway's revenue service.

These are stories of the Mid Sodor Railway's Legacy. I hope you like them Rachel because you helped me to create them.

Your best friend forever,

William James Holden.

PS: I hope that one day that we can revive at least some of the Mid Sodor Railway somehow.

Humble Beginnings

Narrator: One evening, Sir Handel had arrived back with his last train. After shunting the coaches away, Featherweight and Mr. Hoskins drove him back into the sheds next to William who was talking to Rachel at the time. Soon followed by Peter Sam with Sweetie Belle and Miss Ravens who came into the sheds next to Rachel, then Duke with Mr. Hawkins and Pipsqueak. Then Freddie with Babs Seed and Mr. Roberts and Rheneas returned with Apple Bloom and Mr. Holden next to Skarloey and of course Duncan was the last to return to sheds with Scootaloo and Mr. Thomson. Duncan was complaining bitterly.

Duncan: Ugh! First I get shunting, then I have my 9 am passenger train to lake and back then I have to go and collect 2 produce trains! And then return with a hay train and those stupid trucks kept bang and smash me all the way! I STILL GOT HAY ON MY RUNNING PLATE!

Scootaloo: Ah, go stick in tunnel Duncan and shut up!

Skarloey: Stop complaining! Be happy that we are still on a fully operational railway.

Apple Bloom: Agreed, so put an apple fritter in it will ya!

Duke: And anyway Duncan, our railway would close and end up like the Mid Sodor line if our workload begins to dwindle.

Sir Handel: It is a shame we lost it.

Peter Sam: If only there was a way to get a part of it back or something.

Freddie: Indeed. Truth be told, I do miss it a lot.

Duke: We all do, Freddie. But still…

William: Um, Sir Handel, Freddie?

Rachel: Uh, Sammy, Granpuff?

Duke/Peter Sam: Yes Rachel?

Sir Handel/Freddie: Yes William?

Rachel: Well, me and William have always been wondering what you're old line was like?

William: And me and Rachel were wondering, if you don't mind at all, but may we hear all about the Mid Sodor Railway?

Narrator: Duke, Peter Sam, Sir Handel and Freddie smiled broadly. They were waiting to hear that question for a long time and were ready to answer it.

Duke: I'm glad you asked Rachel (Clears his throat) well, our line used to run from Alresburgh along that line that Oliver and Duck work on called the Little Western branchline, then through hills and passed FFarquharr Roads and then into Arlesdale Green, and went north from the village of Alresdale and then into the mountains to King Orry's bridge just south of Peel Godred the end of the line. However, our original right of way had long since been gone. What's left of our right of way is now owned by a small railway, I think it's called the Arlesdale Miniature, am I correct?

Miss Ravens: That's correct Duke, only their line doesn't continue north from there, they don't go to King Orry's bridge station south of Peel Godred, their line ends south of the village of Alresdale.

Mr. Holden: Yeah, whereas the old Mid Sodor Line traveled north of Arlesdale station along the mountain road in the mountains of Gob-Y-Del-Gahn, their railway also runs down to one of the old mines to collect the spoils and waste for the old mine at Cas-ny-Hawin.

Duke: Huh? Whatever for?

Miss Ravens: Well, have you noticed anything about the ballast?

Duke: Well, I know weeds don't grow in it.

Miss Ravens: Well, there's your answer Duke. They use the spoils from the mines and use it as weed killer ballast for their railway, the North Western Railway, the Skarloey Railway, Culdee Fell Railway and even on the South West and Blue Mountain Quarry railways on Misty Island.

Narrator: Duke sighed wistfully…

Duke: Ah. If only we'd known that the wastes still had useful properties at the time, The Mid Sodor line could have been saved. (Sigh) Quite a pity. Ah well, at least I'm now reunited with my old MSR grandchildren.

(Duke playfully winks at Sir Handel and Peter Sam, who wink back and chuckle)

Duke: …. Oh yes, I remember hearing about the weed killer ballast when I was still stuck in my shed. I heard about it from engine whom had accident at the green. If I recall correctly, he ran into some bails of sheep wool.

Narrator: Miss Ravens blushed and looked at her feet. Just then, Pinkie Pie came up and played her usual trombone fail song. Then the 6 drivers blinked and so did the engines and foal ponies.

Miss Ravens: Huh? What?! Pinkie Pie?

Pinkie Pie: Hullo? Miss Ravens.

Miss Ravens/Mr. Holden/Rachel/Peter Sam/Freddie/Sir Handel/William/Apple Bloom: Seriously…?

Pinkie Pie: What? That's my job to break the fourth wall! Okay, back to Percy! (Dashes off)

Sir Handel: Ok then… random moment is random moment. Back on topic.

Duke: What else would you 2 like to know, Rachel and William?

Rachel: Was there more engines on the MSR than you, Fearless Freddie, Peter Sam and Sir Handel?

William: Was it a big railway?

Narrator: Duke chuckled fondly and began to answer they're questions.

Duke: Heheheheheh. Ah yes Rachel and William. Our line was pretty long and big and we needed quite lot engines to run the line. Many engines had come and gone on our old line and towards the end, there were only Falcon, Stuart and myself left as we had to sell off several engines.

Narrator: He winked at Peter Sam and Sir Handel who just grinned.

Duke: We had to sell off ten other engines when the mountain road section from Arlesdale to king Orry's bridge at Peel Godred closed down. Proteus, Alex, Helen, John, Fletcher, Jennings, Millie whom worked at one of the mines, Mighty and his brother Mac, and Miney, she worked mostly at one of the mines like Millie did. Other engines came and went too our old line. Like I said before, many other engines came and went on our railway. They were either sold, stored away or scrapped.

Narrator: William, Rachel, Pipsqueak and Sweetie Belle were very curious and so were the other engines, ponies and drivers and surprisingly, so were Miss Ravens and Mr. Holden.

Everyone: Oh please tell us all about it Duke!

Narrator: Duke was happy to tell the stories. Everyone and everypony got comfortable, the CMC, Miss Ravens and Mr. Holden Got out note books pens and quills. Duke cleared his throat and this is the first story he told about the Mid Sodor Railway. This happened very long time ago when Duke first came to the MSR.

(Arlesburgh port, 1880)

Narrator: It was the fall of October 1880. The Mid Sodor Railway had finally been officially opened under the ownership of Sir John Arnold Norramby, the first Duke of Sodor from 1822-1894. When line was officially opened, the manager and the board of directors thought it to be wise to buy 5 little steam locomotives from the George England and Co. at New Castle England called Little Small Englands to maintain a good revenue and to eventually displace Horse drawn trains. The engines were called Duke, Bertram, Mistress, Pioneer and Shire Horse. Duke was painted dark brown with red line, Bertram was painted black with red line, Mistress was painted blue, Pioneer was green and Shire Horse was a lighter brown than Duke with yellow lining and all 5 engines had no cabs when they were built. As you all know, Duke was MSR's No. 1 and named after his grace the Duke of Sodor, Bertram was MSR's original No. 2 and named after one of King Godred's Knights, Sir Bertram Balladwail, Mistress was MSR's original No. 3 and named after a kindhearted mistress who visits Sodor, Mistress Marthwaite, on special occasions, Pioneer was MSR's original No. 4 and named after the brave pioneer Irish Missionary who explores and discovered the island of Sodor, St Luco, and then there was Shire Horse, he was MSR's original No. 5 and named after the island's native horse. When the 5 engines arrived, they found that they had a lot learn, espceially Bertram, Duke and Pioneer.

Duke: Not bad. That's a good start cozy shed.

Bertram: Oh thank goodness. This certainly beats sleeping in that cramped workshop back in England.

Mistress: Now Bertram, this railway's about work, not about catching up on your sleeping. But yes, I do think it's nice here.

Shire Horse: I think so too Mistress. (Sigh) I can't wait to start work and explore our new home.

Mistress: Same here young Shire horse.

Pioneer: I just can't wait to start racing down this line. I bet's got tight curves difficult hills all for me to tackle in 10 seconds flat!

Mistress: That will do Pioneer! It's safety that counts, not speed!

Duke: I can't wait to start taking the most prestige passenger trains!

Mistress: Now Duke, you are speaking out of turn! This line is not all about passengers. You have to take goods trains as well.

Duke: Pah! You must be Joking Mistress? Us pull trucks?

Mistress: Duke, I am not Joking I'm being practical! Now mind your manners, all three of you.

Narrator: Bertram, Duke and Pioneer sulked and into silence. Mistress then noticed Shire Horse trying to remember what she had said to Bertram, Duke and Pioneer.

Shire Horse: Okay, let's see. On railways you can't be dilly dallying …. Safety always comes first and not speed, and running railways involves both goods and passengers… Okay, I think I got it!

Narrator: He smiled a bit nervously, but Mistress smiled.

Mistress: That's correct Shire Horse. I think you're going to do really well here.

Narrator: The others just sneered.

Duke/Bertram/Pioneer: Egghead…

Mistress: Well at least he's a sensible egghead instead of a brash cocky and stuck up knuckle head.

(1990, Crovens Gate sheds)

Peter Sam: (Laughing) So you had to be kept in line by your own sister?

Duke: (Embarrased) Well uh… yes Stuart. I did.

Sir Handel: (Laughing) Oh! I knew that keeping others in line had to come from somewhere.

Freddie: Alright, alright, that's enough you 2.

Sir Handel: Oh come on now Uncle Freddie. We were just playing around with him.

Duke: (Chuckles) I know you were young Falcon.

Skarloey: Don't worry Duke. Your not the only one who has been kept in line by their younger siblings in their youth.

(Skarloey gives Rheanes a knowing look, to which Rheanes looked slightly annoyed, but understood where Skarloey was coming from)

Duke: So I can tell. Anyway, can I contiune?

Rachel: Oh, of course Granpuff. Go right ahead.

(Mid Sodor, 1880)

Narrator: Just then, the manager came to see them and with him were was man and woman.

Manager: Ahem! I hope that 5 are done quarrelling. We need to start putting 5 through your paces. First, I'd like to introduce you to a couple your crews that you will be working with. This is Mr. James Angus Holden and Mrs. Marie Catherine Ravens. These are the ponies you will be working with.

Duke/Pioneer/Bertram/Mistress/Shire Horse: Ponies? What do you mean?

James Holden: These ponies right here. My friends.

Narrator: Marie Catherine Ravens and Mr. James Angus Holden moved aside and 6 queer, interesting ponies stepped forward

Marie Ravens: Guys these are your pony helpers. Party Time, Twilight Dusk, Sunny, Sky Dasher, Jewel, and Zap Apple.

Party Time: HI!

Duke/Bertram/Mistress/Pioneer/Shire Horse: AAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH! THEY TALK!

Marie Ravens: Whoa guys! Calm down. They have been here a long time now, but they're not dangerous.

(Crovens Gate, 1990)

Duncan: You were scared of the ponies too? Hahahahhah! How often does that happen on this island?

Duke: (Even more embarrased then before) Uh… yeah. I was.

(Pinkie Pie trombone fail)

Rheanes: Heh, your not the only one to go through that either. Never mind Duke.

Duke: Well, anyway…

(1880, Mid Sodor Days)

Narrator: Duke, Bertram, Pioneer, Mistress and Shire Horse all quickly calmed down and the manager continued.

Manager: Ahem…. Now then Duke, you'll be put through your paces first. We need you to take a train up to king Orry's bridge station at Peel Godred and then back again. One of the shire horses has already arranged train at the station. You'll be working with Twilight Dusk, Sunny, Marie Ravens and James Holden, and keep in mind that we have no turning facilities up at Peel Godred so you, along with the rest of you will have to run tender first on your return journey, so be careful.

Duke: Oh yes Sir. I'm on it Sir.

Manager: Good. Now then, run along and collect your train at the station.

Duke: Yes sir. You've got it!

Narrator: Duke puffed proudly away.

Duke: Finally. A passenger train at last I can't wait my first passenger train ever. Now I'll show you engines how to pull trains.

Narrator: James Holden and Marie Ravens gave a worried look and so did Sunny and Twilight Dusk.

James Holden: (As he shovels coal) Oh dear. He's in for a nasty shock.

Marie Ravens: I know what you mean. I just hope he isn't a difficult engine.

Twilight Dusk: I just hope he doesn't cause trouble.

Sunny: Same here. I so hope he's not swanky.

Narrator: But I'm sorry to say that Duke was swanky. As he be backed down towards his train, he found out that the train he was to pull was a goods train and he was most indignant about it.

Duke: What in the name of his grace is this?!

James Holden: It's a goods train Duke. We use them to get the slate down from the mines in hills and up in the mountains. We usually use shire horses for that Job.

Twilight Dusk: Yeah, and then we just use gravity to bring them down here to the port. But now, it will also be your and the other engines jobs.

Duke: Well, I never! You tricked me!

Twilight Dusk: What?! I'm sorry, but we did nothing of the sort, Duke.

Sunny: Um, yeah, she's right you know. To be honest, you didn't ask what kind of train we'd be taking.

Narrator: But Duke took no notice.

Duke: Does the manager really expect me, a fine engine like me, to pull these filthy trucks?!

Marie Ravens: Ugh! Oh cry me a river and build me a narrow boat. Duke, surely you can pull a couple of zippindee doo da trucks…. Or do we have to tell the Manager on you?

Duke: Ugh! Fine. Just couple me and let's just get this over with.

Narrator: Duke was soon coupled up and as soon as the guard blew his whistle they were off. Duke grumbled the whole way up, much to the annoyance of Marie Ravens, James Holden, Twilight Dusk and Sunny.

Duke: A goods train! A goods train! A goods train!

James Holden: OH WILL YOU QUIT BEING SUCH A FUSSPOT!

Sunny: Yeah, um, this is your first train after all you should be at least happy.

Duke: The Shame of it, the shame of it, oh the shame of it.

Twilight Dusk/Marie Ravens: Oh will you put a piece of coal in it!

Narrator: Duke took notice and continued to grumble as traveled up the line with his trucks clattering and banging behind him. Marie Ravens James Holden and the two ponies were very relieved when they reached the top station still intact when they arrived he was uncoupled from the trucks and taken to the sheds to be serviced before the journey down whilst the workmen pushed the trucks into mine shaft, to get loaded.

Marie Ravens: Oh goodness. That was a miracle.

James Holden: Yeah. I thought we're gonna go off the mountain road for sure.

Twilight Dusk: Same here. Oh I just hope he doesn't do this on the down journey.

Sunny: Um… I think better keep a good lookout on our down journey. Because I think Duke has made the trucks very mad.

Duke: Pah! It's not my fault. I'm used to pulling coaches not these trucks!

James Holden: (Under breath) Says the one who has never taken a passenger train before.

Marie Ravens: (Sighs) Don't bother James. Let's just get him ready to go.

Narrator: Soon after, Duke had been serviced. He came back to take the loaded trucks back down to the port tender first. But the loaded trucks were comfortable and didn't want to move and they realised too that they were being pulled by engine, instead of a shire horse.

Trucks: What right has that pompous windbag Duke have the right to poke his funnel in here and push us around?! WE WANT OUR SHIRE HORSE!

Narrator: Duke bumped them furiously in lordly way.

Duke: LOOK SHARP YOU SCRUFFY THINGS AND HURRY ALONG!

Trucks: That's not way to speak! We'll teach him a lesson!

Narrator: Duke took notice of them. It might have been better if he had. Soon the trucks were all arranged, the guards whistle blew and Duke set off.

James Holden: I've got a bad feeling about this, Marie.

Marie: Same here, That's why I asked the guard to keep a good hand on the hand brake on the brake van.

Twilight Dusk: Thank goodness.

Narrator: The trucks ran nicely at first, but as they left Ulfstead Road, Duke felt them surge forward.

Duke: (Alarmed) What the… What's going on…. WHHOOAAA!

Narrator: Marie Ravens applied Duke's brakes, but they were useless against the loaded trucks.

Trucks: ON! ON! ON!

Narrator: Duke, taken by surprise, couldn't stop them and in a minute, they were careering down the mountain road. Duke whistled in horror and despair!

Duke: HELP! HELP!

Narrator: The Guard heard the whistle and applied the van brakes until they screamed, but they were still going much too fast. Duke gathered more and more speed and was terrified. Marie Ravens, James Holden and the ponies were scared too.

Sunny: Oh my what do we do?!

Marie Ravens: I got it! It's risky but it's our only chance.

James Holden: Alright, but be very careful my friend.

Marie Ravens: Don't worry. I know what to do and I'll be alright. I promise. You take the controls my friend. Twilight Dusk, try to use your unicorn magic to try and stop us and Sunny, you take over the fire shovel.

James Holden/Twilight Dusk/Sunny: Righto Marie!

Narrator: Young Marie Ravens scrambled across Duke's side as quickly and as she could, then running along the train, she pulled several handles on the sides of the trucks. She was attempting to apply all the brakes along the train. The train swerved and swayed and lurched but she kept on going. More than once she was nearly thrown clear, but was just saved by Twilight Dusk's teleportation spell .

Marie Ravens: WHOA! (Teleported) Whew! That was close one.

Narrator: Then at last…

Marie Ravens: Just… One more truck and….. Ugh! (Triumphant) GOT IT!

Narrator: She gently braked the last truck and was safely teleported into Duke's cab and at last the entire train was under control and arrived safely back at the bottom station at Alresburgh. The manager met them at the station and praised James Holden, Marie Ravens, the two ponies the Guard for their brave efforts.

Manager: You were all very brave, thanks to all 5 you. You've all managed to stop a nasty crash. Well done.

Narrator: But Duke was not gonna get off scotch free.

Duke: It was those trucks sir. They pushed me. Honestly

Manager: It doesn't surprise me! It was your fault and you know it. You agitated the trucks enough to make them want to take vengeance out on you! You were very lucky Duke, that you didn't fly off the Mountain Road. If Marie Ravens hadn't set those wagon brakes and if James Holden hadn't kept your hand brake on and without the guard's brake, you would have had a horrific accident and not live to tell the tale.

Duke: But sir…

Manager: That's enough Duke! You have a lot to learn about pulling trains! After pushing some coaches and trucks around here for a bit, then I hope you will become a useful engine.

Duke: (Sadly) Yes Sir. I'll try.

Narrator: Duke puffed sadly back into the sheds. Mistress spoke severely to Duke too.

Mistress: Oh shame on you Duke! You could have damaged yourself or badly hurt someone!

Narrator: Bertram and Pioneer teased him.

Pioneer: Well Duke my boy! I didn't know you wanted to break the landspeed record. Hahahahaha! Boy, that must have been memorable.

Bertram: Heheheheh. Oh yeah. I don't think he's gonna forget this one anytime soon.

Narrator: Duke felt miserable. Not only had nearly caused an accident on his first day, but he had also completely humiliated himself. Then, Shire Horse spoke up.

Shire Horse: Never mind Duke. I think you've learned a good lesson today. And as long as you learn from your mistakes, then you'll be very wise engine.

Mistress: Shire Horse is right. Learning from your mistakes is one of the many stepping stones of becoming a really useful engine.

Narrator: And with that, Duke felt a little bit better.

Heh, who knew that Duke could be so swanky in his youth? Well, look out for part 2. See you there.