Author's notes: This episode is another pretty dark one and there are quite a few in this feature length. This time, explaining why Pioneer will never steam again.

The Pioneers Parish

(Crovens Gate, 1990.)

Rusty: Gosh. That's terrible.

Apple Bloom: Did Mistress ever get restored?

Duke: Well… she didn't. The manager was raising money to get her restored, but prioritising it got lower every year until it was eventually forgotten about.

Scootaloo: What about your other 2 brothers Duke? Are they still around?

Duke: Actually… no. Pioneer had one of the worst accidents ever to happen on the railway.

Pipsqueak: What happened?

Narrator: Duke took a deep breath and began to tell the dark tale.

(Mid Sodor days, 1889)

Narrator: The year was 1889, one whole year after Mistress sacrifice that saved Smudger. The engines and the ponies had now more work to do on their own. Without her, the railway began to get busier. As punishment for playing truant, Duke and Pioneer were relegated to working goods trains and shunting and mine works, Shire Horse did mixed duties whilst Smudger worked the passenger services. As time passed, Smudger became bitter and very rude to both Duke and Pioneer. After all, they were reasons why Mistress was gone. Smudger hated Duke and Pioneer and became spiteful to them, much the concern of Shire Horse, Zap Apple, Sunny, James Holden and Marie Ravens.

(Smudger is waiting to start his up passenger journey to Peel Godred when Shire Horse comes clanking next to him with a train of trucks.)

Shire Horse: Look Smudger. I know your still angry at Duke and Pioneer for what they did, but please let it go. I just want what's best for you.

Sunny: Besides, Duke's sorry for what he did last yea….

Smudger : AH SHUT UP! I should have known you'd be the first to go soft on them stupid moron on wheels. Shire Horse and Sunny, we maybe friends but that doesn't mean that I'm not going to let those filthy, rotten George Englands get away with what they did to her.

Zap Apple: But Smudger, ya know it's not right ta hold a …

Smudger: Shut it work horse! I'll get those two engines if it's the last thing I ever do. Now if you'll excuse me, I've got a passenger train to pull!

Narrator: And Smudger snorted angrily out the station.

Marie Ravens: Oh dear. He's gotten worse than ever. I have a feeling he's eventually going end up in trouble.

Shire Horse: I fear that too my friend. I do indeed.

Narrator: Soon, the engines, drivers and the ponies grew busier than ever, and with it, Smudger's bitterness grew too. Although Smudger developed into a foul behaviour, Pioneer was worst of all. He was rude and cynical. He rocked and rolled along the line and derailed himself some thought he did it deliberately.

Pioneer: Wahoo! Now this how you ride rails! (Derails around a bend) Wahoo!

Marie Ravens: Oh you have gotta be kidding me! Pioneer, you better not have derailed again (Looks out of his cab, sighs exasperated) And you have…

Sky Dasher: OH FOR PETE SAKE!

Pioneer: What? It was fun! Hahahahaha

Sky Dasher: You know, you really are an idiot!

Narrator: Just then, Smudger showed up.

Pioneer: Hey Smudgy, do I remind you of someone? Hahahahahaha!

Smudger: GGGGRRRRRR!

James Holden: Just ignore that idiot.

Zap Apple: Yeah. He's just trying to get you mad.

Smudger: (Gnashing his teeth) Yeah, and it's slowly startin' to work!

Sky Dasher: HOW DARE YOU! YOU ARE NOTHING BUT A TYRRANT!

Pioneer: Ah, shut up and get me back on the rails.

Narrator: Fortunately, the works station wasn't too far and the workmen had little trouble in lifting him back onto the rails, then he puffed off again, with Marie Ravens and Sky Dasher scowling at him. But Pioneer didn't care in the slightest. He just loved tormenting Smudger or Shire Horse whenever he had the chance.

(Pioneer swaggering down the line with his goods train)

Pioneer: Hey, this siding feels very rough. I know… yes, and this will be perfect. (Charges at it.) Wait, whoa! (Comes of the tracks.)

James Holden: You stupid clumsy great engine. Look what you did!

(Just then, Shire Horse passes by with his lead train)

Pioneer: Hey Shire Horse, look at me! Do I remind you of anyone?Hahahaha. Poor old Mistress.

Narrator: Shire Horse ignored him and continued on.

Sky Dasher: Do you think this is funny to torment engines like that? Well, it's not.

Pioneer: Yeah, well it is to me. Mistress was just nothing but a grouchy old buzzard.

(Later, Pioneer is re-railed and he sets off again)

Narrator: Pioneer was derailing himself deliberately at crossovers whenever he had to pass by Shire Horse and Smudger, for he knew that they had great respect for Mistress and loved to torture them immensely.

Duke: I think it would be better if you quit it with the derailing and be more careful. Manager is starting to get really annoyed.

Pioneer: Oh great! Now your taking Mistress' side. Listen, I'll deal with trains my own way. I don't need your advice. Besides, you enjoyed teasing that yankee, didn't you?

Duke: I was wrong and you are too. Please, I'm only trying to lookout for you.

Narrator: But Pioneer just brushed Duke off and left to collect his trucks from the mines. Later that day, he rattled and swayed as he went home.

Sky Dasher: Oh no you don't! I'm not gonna let you….

Narrator: But it was too late. With a loud bump and clunk, Pioneer derailed himself again outside the station just as Smudger came by the water column nearby.

Pioneer: Hey Smudger? Do I remind you of any pathetic steam engine?

Marie Ravens: You'd better knock it off right now.

Narrator: Finally, Smudger snapped.

Smudger: Yes it does remind me of a pathetic engine and that pathetic engine is you Pioneer! You always derailing. You should be scrapped. You're the most pathetic, useless, sorry excuse for an engine. The manager should scrap you.

Narrator: Pioneer was speechless with rage.

Jewel: Smudger! What a thing to say!

Smudger: OY! IF I WANTED YA'LL OPINION I'D ASK. Now shut up and fill up! I don't wanna be near this here sorry pile of scrap iron!

Narrator: And Smudger steamed away, laughing rudely at him.

Pioneer: Ohhh! I'll get that yankee one of these days.

Narrator: Pioneer never got the chance. One day, he was taking a train of trucks from Peel Godred and was going to bring it to the mines at Casy-n-Hawin. He was so determined to pay Smudger out he roughly bumped his trucks hard. Duke was at another platform, ready to take a goods train down to the port

Duke: Mind yourself Pioneer. I beg you. I don't want you to come to a bitter end.

Twilight Dusk: He's right. You've got to be careful. Those trucks will pay you out if you keep bumping them like that.

Narrator: But Pioneer just laughed.

Pioneer: I can handle these trucks my own way. I don't need your advice, traitor!

James Holden: You girls be careful. We don't know what he'll do.

Marie Ravens: Don't worry. We will James my friend.

Narrator: And still laughing, Pioneer puffed away. Duke had sinking feeling at the bottom of his smoke box that this was going to be the last time he'd see his old friend in one piece. Pioneer was rough with the trucks and they grew crosser and crosser.

Truck 1: Lets pay that ruddy Pioneer out!

Truck 2: If he likes to come off the rails, we'll give him a derailment he'll never forget on the mountain road, right at that section after Ulfstead Road.

Narrator: But Pioneer didn't pay attention. This was a big mistake and he paid for it direly.

Marie Ravens: Slow down Pioneer! Their's no rush. We need to take it easy!

Pioneer: Pah! I like it to be exciting.

Narrator: All trains must stop at Ulfstead road to pin down the brakes so that trains don't run out of control. But Pioneer took no notice.

Sky Dasher: WAIT PIONEER! WAIT!

Narrator: But Pioneer didn't wait. He was thinking what he'd say to Smudger and Shire Horse when they next met. The trucks chance had come.

Trucks: ON! ON! ON!

Narrator: And clashing and banging their buffers, they pushed Pioneer down the mountain road. Pioneer, taken by surprise, couldn't stop them and they rattled dangerously down the Mountain Road. He was very frightened. The rails were slippery due to an April shower, so his brakes couldn't hold him.

Pioneer: I got to stop! I got to stop!

Narrator: They rattled towards the third tunnel and were heading towards the difficult bend. Marie Ravens and Sky Dasher did all they could but Pioneer couldn't stop.

Marie Ravens: JUMP FOR IT SKY DASHER!

Narrator: Marie Ravens and Sky Dasher jumped from the cab. The guard jumped from the van as poor Pioneer sped helplessly along. Through the third tunnel, he shut his eyes as he hit the curve and he and the entire train flew off the sharp bend and landed into the ravine bellow with a loud crash. It soon followed by an a loud BANG! that echoed all around the valley. Soon, word came round to both Ballamoddey and Arlesburgh. Duke left his trucks and went to collect the breakdown train from the top station. Twilight Dusk coupled Duke to the breakdown train and climbed back into the brown engine's cab. James Holden opened the regulator and Duke clanked down the line. When they reached Ulfstead Road, they found to their relief, Sky Dasher and Marie Ravens still alive.

James Holden: Marie! Oh thank goodness your alive. What happened?

Marie Ravens: Pioneer has gone and flung himself off the mountain road. I called for help and Shire Horse and Smudger are coming up from Arlesdale with a breakdown train as well.

Sky Dasher: And that's not all. We also heard a loud 'Bang!' when hit the bottom and smoke rising. I think his boiler exploded.

Narrator: Marie Ravens and Sky Dasher climbed aboard and Duke puffed away to the accident sight. When they arrived, the scene was a horrifying sight. The brake van and trucks were all burnt to a crisp and there, beneath the burnt rolling stock was the charred remains of Pioneer. It was the most horrifying sight that ponies, drivers Duke and Shire Horse ever saw, but to Smudger it was like a masterpiece. He didn't say a word but smiled devilishly as they workmen and the ponies cleared the mess. Duke gave a mournful sigh and said wisely to himself.

Duke: I did warn him to be careful, but he wouldn't listen.

Narrator: In the end, Pioneer was scrapped and what was left was used for spare parts for Duke and Shire Horse. After losing 2 of his brothers and his one and only sister, Duke realised what it meant to be a true leader and example to other engines, and from that day on became the wise and kind figure that he is today.

Ok, update the list:

Duke: 1880-
Bertram: 1880-1888
Mistress: 1880-1889
Pioneer: 1880-1889
Shire Horse: 1880-
Smudger: 1888-

Yeah. This is also the main shifting point in Duke's character, making him the wise and kind figure he is today. Next one is about a double fairlie. And no, it's not Mighty Mac! Ok, I want to make that clear 1st. See you then.