Author's notes: Ok, here's that story of the Double Farile locomotive I mentioned in the pervious part. I based him off of 'Little Wonder' and how the real engine didn't work properly when it was built.

It's No Wonder

(Croven's Gate, 1990.)

Pipsqueak: Blimey! That was terror story.

Sweetie Belle: Oh dear. I'm gonna have nightmares about that.

Pipsqueak: It's alright Sweetie Belle. I'll sleep with you tonight. (Hugs Sweetie Belle.)

?: Never mind. What happened next?

Narrator: The engines, drivers and ponies all blinked. Standing there were the many other ponies and humans from the Sodor Railway Trust Society.

Duke: Hello everyone. I didn't see you guys there.

Coco Pommel: We've come up when you were telling the 1st story… but we didn't want to disturb you.

Duke: Oh, that's alright Coco. I do like a bit of discussion between stories.

Rachel: We all do Granpuff. So, what did happen after Pioneer had gone?

Duke: Well, a double farlie was soon bought in to help with the workload… but he didn't remain for too long.

Rainbow Dash: Why ever not?

Duke: (Sighs) Well…

(Mid Sodor days, 1892)

Narrator: The years was now 1892, and the engines of the Mid Sodor Railway; Shire Horse, Duke and Smudger, the drivers; Marie Ravens, James Holden and some others, and the ponies; Twilight Dusk, Jewel, Party Time, Zap Apple, Sky Dasher and Sunny were all struggling to keep up with their work. With Pioneer gone, Smudger, Shire Horse and Duke all had to work double duties on passenger trains, mine duties, shunting and goods work. They all did their best, but soon the railway grew busier than ever before. The manager had decided that it would be best to purchase another engine to help out with extra work load.

Shire Horse: Whew! It's about time… I can't wait to meet the new guy.

Sunny: Same here. I hope he's nice, kind and useful.

Smudger: Oh quit griping! We can handle this workload.

Zap Apple: Smudger! That was very uncalled for! If you keep this up this bad attitude, your get into big trouble.

Duke: Zap Apple is right. Mind your manners Smudger! At least we're going to get help with increasing workload.

Smudger: Be quiet you old gramps! I don't listen to imitations of Mistress. You think your better than her…We'll you're not and I ain't listen to you! Now if y'all pardon me, I've got a slate train collect from the mines.

Twilight Dusk: Oh dear. He's worse than ever before.

Narrator: The other ponies, drivers and engines agreed but they didn't know what to do. One day, the manager came to see Duke.

Manager: Duke, I've see that you have really matured a lot since 1888 and I am very proud of you. That is why I would like you to take the new engine under your wing for his trial run.

Duke: Yes Sir. I'll do my best.

Manager: That's a good engine. There's nothing like determination. You'll be working with Marie Ravens and Twilight Dusk.

Narrator: The new engine arrived in late Summer. The ponies, drivers and engines all stared in awe at the new engine. He had 4 sets of driver wheels, two footplates on both the left and right side of the boiler and it had two boilers in front and behind. He puffed elegantly towards the engines. The manager climbed down to introduce him.

Manager: Here is Great Wonder. A Fairlie duplex engine and our new No. 3. I have agreed to give him a trial. Duke, Twilight Dusk and Marie Ravens shall teach him. Giant Wonder, you'll be working with James Holden, Party Time and Jewel.

Great Wonder: Good morning. Pleased to meet you Twilight Dusk, Marie Ravens and Duke and same to you too uh….

Sky Dasher: Sky Dasher.

Jewel: Jewel.

Sunny: Um… Sunny.

Party Time: Party Time!

Zap Apple: Zap Apple.

Shire Horse: Shire Horse.

Smudger: (Grumbling) Smudger….. (Thinks to himself) I hope that freak breaks down…. How dare the manager gives the No.3 to a newcomer. That title belongs to Mistress.

Giant Wonder: (Dryly) Oh, pleasure to meet you…

Narrator: After the manager left, Great Wonder surveyed his surroundings.

Great Wonder: Not bad…. I've heard about worse from the Ffestiniog Railway. But at least the sheds are not small.

Narrator: The engines and the ponies glared.

Duke: Come on now!

Twilight Dusk: We've got work to do.

Marie Ravens: Let's go.

Giant Wonder: Ah yes, the yards. Ta ta engines and ponies…

Narrator: So Giant Wonder followed them to Alresburgh yard, talking harshly to Duke.

Giant Wonder: Hmph! Pitiful. Absolutely pitiful.

Duke: I beg your pardon, youngin'?

Giant Wonder: Oh um no offence Duke, but it's no wonder that this railway is in a mess. You 3 engines are just too slow not any use and utterly out of date and not to mention board line pathetic.

Duke: What did I just here you say?!

Great Wonder: Just stating a fact old man! Your manager should just scrap all 3 of you engines and get engines like me! We duplex engines are far more superior in strength and speed. We are the most revolutionary engine of the industrial revolution.

Twilight Dusk: Well you just better mind yourself or you'll get into trouble.

Marie Ravens: Twilight Dusk is right. There have been serious accidents on the railway before and you'd best be careful in order to avoid them.

Duke: The best way to have a good time on this railway is to obey orders.

Narrator: But Great Wonder just scoffed.

Great Wonder: Pah! And whose an old, clapped, out of date engine like you to give me orders!

Jewel: Hey! That's our friend your talking too! You watch your mouth!

Party Time: Yeah don't you be a meanie to our friends!

Narrator: Great Wonder just snorted and buffered up roughly to his trucks and felt very indignant.

James Holden: Hey, be careful! You keep hitting trucks and coaches like that your gonna break something.

Great Wonder: Does that manager expect me to hall filthy trucks!

Marie Ravens: Oh cry a river and build me a narrow boat. Surely, a big, strong engine like you can pull some trucks.

Duke: Indeed. You have to share the work with the others on this line in order to have a good life here.

Great Wonder: And whose an old fuddy duddy like you to tell me what to do?

Narrator: And Great Wonder steamed away, brooding over his wrongs.

Duke: Oh dear. I've got a feeling he won't last long here.

Narrator: Marie Ravens was skeptical about the new engine too.

Marie Ravens: I have bad feeling about this engine too. With that kind of of attitude, I have feeling he may come to a bitter end.

Twilight Dusk: I agree. It's engines like him that don't last long on this line.

Duke: I couldn't agree more girls. I just couldn't agree more.

Narrator: And the suspicions of Duke, Marie Ravens and Twilight Dusk proved correct. By late evening, Great Warrior had already run into trouble and the manager was cross.

Manager: Duke, we need you, Twilight Dusk and Marie Ravens to help that fairlie duplex engine home. He's broken down on the mainline. Worse still, he's delaying a lot of our trains both up and down.

Duke: Yes sir. I'm on my way.

Twilight Dusk: Yeah. Don't worry. We'll get there as soon as possible.

Narrator: When they found him, he was blocking a crossover and steam was escaping in all directions.

Marie Ravens: Goodness gracious! What happened?

Narrator: James Holden, Sky Dasher, Party Time and Jewel climbed down choking.

James Holden: Great Wonder's gone and burst his safety valve.

Party Time: Yeah. We were going well until it happened.

Jewel: Yet he was grumbling dreadfully about pulling trucks and cross.

Twilight Dusk: (Quietly) Ugh! It's no wonder…. (normal) Alright. Better get you to the works station, then we'll take the train on.

Narrator: Duke buffered up to Great Wonder and began to push him to the works station at Alresdale.

Duke: I hope for your sake that this doesn't become a habit. You blocked the line for a long time and badly delayed our trains.

Narrator: Great Wonder snorted.

Great Wonder: What cheek. I'll have you know that I'm up-to-date. High spirits can happen to any new engine.

Duke: Well, you better make sure that that doesn't happen again. You'll be double heading a passenger train with me and we must keep running efficiently. Breaking down like that well not suit his grace at all.

Great Wonder: I beg your pardon little Duke, but I can handle this train on my own.

Duke: Ugh…. (Quietly) I think he's just glutting for punishment.

Narrator: The next day, Great Wonder was coupled to the Flying Falcon express passenger train up to Peel Godred. Because of the publicity of a new type of steam engine, more coaches were added to test him out. 7 coaches to be exact. Duke was anxious, for they normally never carried that many coaches, only 4 or 3 at a time at most. Great Wonder took no notice though.

Great Wonder: Oh look at me ladies and gentlemen. I'm the latest locomotive. Up-to-date and revolutionary.

James Holden/Jewel/Party Time: (Quietly) Says you.

Narrator: The passengers, interested, climbed aboard. The guard blew the whistle and they're journey began. At first, things were going along first rate.

James Holden: Well I must say, I think he might be improving himself today.

Jewel: For his sake, I hopes.

Party Time: Same here.

Narrator: But unfortunately for James Holden, Jewel and Party Time he didn't. As they were coming into the works station, there was a loud crack and a hiss of steam and Great Wonder stopped.

James Holden: Oh for the love of pete!

Party Time: Oh dear. What happened now?

Jewel: This better not be another breakdown.

James Holden: Unfortunately, yes. One of his steam pipes has cracked.

Narrator: James Holden and the two ponies groaned.

Jewel: Oh bother. It's no wonder! He can't handle that many coaches on his own.

Party Time: Now what do we do? We can't leave the passengers stranded.

Narrator: But luckily for them, Duke was at the sheds with Shire Horse. Marie Ravens, Sunny and Twilight Dusk were with them too. The 5 friends had just gotten back from their last run.

James Holden: Hey guys. Can you help us please? That blasted engine took one too many coaches and has now burst a steam pipe. We'll need to shunt him off the train and have you two take it as a double header. Think you two can manage?

Duke/Shire Horse: Definitely. We'll do our best.

Marie Ravens: Of course James. We'll help.

Twilight Dusk: Yeah. We must get the trains running efficiently.

Sunny: Sure thing… um, if we can do it.

Narrator: So, Party Time and Jewel climbed into one of the coaches. Duke shunted Great Wonder into one of the sidings and then he backed down onto the train. After Sunny coupled Shire Horse to the train, Twilight Dusk coupled Duke to Shire Horse. The two engines gave a mighty effort, twin columns of steam shooting high in the air the train jerked and began to move.

James Holden: What a show Shire Horse. You're doing great!

Marie Ravens: Well-done Duke. You're doing great too. Keep it up.

Narrator: The difficult part of the journey was climbing the mountain road, but the two engines were fired with determination.

Shire Horse: We can do it! We can do it!

Duke: We will do it! We will do it!

Narrator: They made one more brave effort then at last, exhausted, but triumphant, they made it to the top station.

Twilight Dusk: Well done Duke!

Sunny: Well-done Shire Horse!

Narrator: The manager, whom was on the train, was very pleased with Duke and Shire Horse.

Manager: I'm very proud of both of you and to you too Marie Ravens, James Holden, Twilight Dusk and Sunny. You managed to get a heavy train to the top station despite the extra weight. You were all very smart to double head the train.

Duke/Shire Horse: (Pant) Thank you Sir… We couldn't leave our passengers stranded.

Narrator: Soon after, the trains were divided to reduce the weight on the engines return journey. Shire Horse took 4 coaches whilst Duke took 3 coaches back. The manager was not pleased with Great Wonder, and following the mishap he was sent to the back of the shed. A year passed and Duke, Smudger, Shire Horse, the ponies, Marie Ravens, James Holden and the other drivers had lots hard work and struggling to keep up. Finally, Great Wonder came back to service.

Manager: Now you listen to me! You will be pulling no more coaches. You will be relegated to goods workings.

Narrator: Great Wonder was cross but set to work anyway. It didn't stop the problems with breaking down almost every-day and causing much delay and making James Holden, Party Time, Jewel and the manager very cross. But one day, he had gone too far one time too many. He was taking a lead train from Casy-N-Hawin and he was very cross. He set out and he was speeding down the line much too fast.

Jewel: Oh my goodness! Be careful Great Wonder!

Great Wonder: Pah! I can handle this train my own way.

Narrator: Soon, he neared the bottom station. He was pleased.

Party Time: Hey, easy does it Giant Wonder! You'll get into trouble at this speed.

James Holden: Steady boy! Steady!

Narrator: But it was too late. Great Wonder tried to stop, but he felt several cracking sounds and found to his horror that his brake blocks had broken. (Party Time comedy drums) He was out of control.

Great Wonder: HHHHHHEEEEEEEEEEELLLLLLLLLPPPPPPPPP!

Narrator: A quick thinking shunter diverted him onto a siding out of the way but the but he crashed through buffers, slithered off the rails and into a ditch. James Holden, Party Time and Jewel jumped clear and trucks were undamaged. They stayed upright too, but the same could not be said for Great Wonder. He was in an awful mess. His steam pipes had cracked, his safety valved burst and his brakes had failed and he was leaking steam in all directions.

Great Wonder: Help…

Narrator: Soon, Marie Ravens and Twilight Dusk arrived with Duke and they helped to clear the mess. Zap Apple, whom was shunting in the yards with Smudger, saw everything came and helped too. They all looked down at Great Wonder and just shook their heads in disgust, except the engines who rolled their eyes in disgust.

Party Time: If he hadn't been such a silly engine, he wouldn't have gotten into this mess.

Jewel: I agree with you darling. If he hadn't been rushing, rocking and rolling he wouldn't be in such filthy mess.

Engines, drivers and ponies: (Sigh grimly) It's no wonder, Great Wonder.

Narrator: They brought Great Wonder back onto the rails and brought him home to the sheds where the manager was waiting for him crossly.

Great Wonder: It was those trucks sir! They….

Manager: No whoopers! It was entirely your fault! I have had it with you Great Wonder! We will no longer be wasting our money repairing you! You will be sent the works sheds at Arlesdale where you will be cut up and used as spare parts.

Great Wonder: No! Please sir! I'll be different. Please, anything but that.

Manager: DON'T SAY ANOTHER WORD! YOU HEARD MY CASE AND SHALL RECEIVE YOUR PUNISHMENT! GOOD DAY!

Narrator: And he stormed furiously way. So it was arranged . Great Wonder was coupled behind a short goods train and Smudger hauled him away to Alresdale Sheds to be dismantled. Smudger was delighted and smiled devilishly.

Smudger: Heheheheheh. So, your not so strong or revolutionary after all eh!? Heheheheheh … you'll never be the number 3 engine anymore, you pathetic pile of scrap iron! (Evil) And let me tell you it's going to be so much fun seeing you getting ripped to pieces. Gosh, I can't wait to hear your screaming… (Evil, menacingly and demonically) HahahahHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! Oh My wheels and coupling rods! I'M GONNA LOVE THIS JOB! (Evil Menacingly demonically) HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

Narrator: Zap Apple and Marie Ravens, whom were driving Smudger, were taken quite aback. They had never heard Smudger sound so evil in their lives. Although they were scared they carried on the grim task, finally they reach Alresdale. Smudger then coupled up to Great Wonder and still laughing he pushed into the sheds where Great Wonder was to be dismantled, then he returned to work. In the end, Great Wonder was cut up into pieces and what was left of him was used for spare parts for the other engines until there was nothing left of him.

Yeah. Dark, I know. Add it to the list:

Duke: (No. 1) 1880-
Bertram: (No. 2a) 1880-1888
Mistress: (No. 3a) 1880-1889
Pioneer: (No. 4) 1880-1892
Shire Horse: (No. 5) 1880-
Smudger: (No. 2b) 1888-
Great Wonder: (No. 3b) 1892-1893

Next one is much more lighthearted, I promise. It's called 'The Duke And The Duchess'. See you there.