Author's notes: This is probably one of the 2 saddest ones of the lot. The story is very much the same, but I added Sarah Ravens and Jacob Ravens in as well. (This was before Jacob turned evil by the way).

The War Years

(Crovens Gate, 1990)

Scootaloo: That's horrible.

Duke: I know, but as Alfred did not improve his behaviour, he had to be dismantled.

Miss Ravens: If only he learned sense before it was too late.

Narrator: Rex was quiet for a moment, before speaking up again.

Rex: Duke, you said the ponies had been long gone by 1922 because of the war. What happened during that time?

Narrator: Duke, Sir Handel, Mr Holden and Miss Ravens sighed sadly. They knew this question was going to be brought up sooner or later.

Sir Handel: During that time, things were very tough on our railway. The war effort had us worked off our wheels to exhaustion.

Duke: Not only that but… we lost 1 of the drivers and 1 of the engines of our fleet. And this was before Alfred had his accident in the mineshaft.

(Mid Sodor, 1914)

Narrator: Albert had arrived back in the summer of 1914 and was now working with both Zap Apple and Angus Holden alongside Sunny, Elizabeth Ravens, Party Time and the two mine engines. James Holden worked with Duke, Twilight Dusk, Falcon and Sky Dasher and sometimes with Jewel and Her Sandel when Marie Ravens was busy with her daughter Rachel. Things seemed to be much calmer. But not for long. Hard times soon hit. On August 4th, 1914, the nation of Great Britain had entered into the first world war. They were dark and miserable years. The enemies had attempted to raid Sodor several times and so many men had to be drafted into the military to either fight in the trenches or in the sea and eventually high in the skies. The ponies, fearing that they too would be drafted as well, had fled and returned to their home in Equestria, never to return again. It was a sorrowful day for the Raven's, Holden's and for the engines, as they would miss they're pony friends.

Her Sandel: (Tearing up) I'm going to miss them… so much….

Duke: I understand youngin', I miss them too. But we must keep going. If we don't, then the enemy will surely defeat our nations.

Atlas: Monsieur Duke is right. We have to keep going. We cannot let our pony friends departure be in vain.

Falcon: Right. We'll do it for Sky Dasher! For Zap Apple!

Atlas: For Sunny! For Party Time!

Her Sandel: For Jewel!

Duke: And for Twilight Dusk!

Narrator: This became their war motto, well, apart from Alfred and Albert, who rolled their eyes. They all set to work with a will! The engines and their crew worked hard. The Holdens and the Raven's helped out as much as they could with the other drivers and firemen/firewomen. They had to get raw materials such as coal and granite to the port for both domestic and military use, but the most important raw material they had to bring was lead to make munitions for weapons and explosives for the ally troops on the western front of Europe. The two families tried not to push the engines too hard and give them some time to rest, but sometimes they had no choice but to push them almost to what their limits could take.

Duke: (Panting fit to burst) My goodness…. I… can barely breath…

Marie Ravens: Just hang in their Duke. Not long now till we get to Arlesdale Worksheds. We'll give you a quick topping off there (Almost cries) I'm sorry Duke. James Holden and his father don't like pushing you guys like this and neither do me or my mother, but we must keep up! We must not let the enemy beat the allies in this war! We must do it, for Sodor and for our pony friends!

Duke: (Wheezing, panting and coughing badly) It's alright… I understand! We mustn't let the enemy win! That would never suit his grace!

(Duke pants breathlessly into Arlesdale and is give a good rest)

Marie Ravens: Good job Duke. You'd make his grace very proud!

Duke: (Panting) Thank you.

(Falcon comes in with a supply train on another platform)

Falcon: (Wheezing and coughing) I can't breath. I feel so hot.

James Holden: Come Falcon. We're almost to the port. One more effort, then we'll give you a good rest and a nice good drink of water, I promise! (Sadly, nearly cries) I'm so sorry Falcon. Me and my father hate pushing you engines like this, but we must get all the supplies to the troops!

Falcon: (Wheezing badly) Your right! Almost there!

(Falcon wheezes into the port)

Falcon: (Panting breathlessly) Made… It.

James Holden: Well-done Falcon. You'd make Sky Dasher very proud!

Falcon: (Panting) Thank you so much…

(On another track, Her Sandel had come in with some troops.)

Her Sandel: (Panting breathlessly and crying) I miss Jewel. I wish she was here.

Elizabeth Ravens: I know and so do we, but we can't let her departure go in vain. We need to keep going for her and the rest of the ponies and for Sodor!

Narrator: The mine engines often had to help out as well to aid in the war effort and Albert was quickly forsaken his trials to help in the war effort. It was bad enough that they had to tackle so many trucks loaded to the brim with lead and other raw materials but that was only half of it. In beginning of 1915, the engines found themselves working not only on mineral traffic for the war effort but soon they had to now start ferrying troops down to port so they can be taken by steamers to be taken to western front of Europe after jumping ship at Isle Of Man. Because of a great rush, they often had to take the troops and the raw materials down to the port in one trip. Soon, worse was to follow. On October 12th, 1915, which was also the year that North Western Railway was formed, the Royal Flying Corps had finally perfect it's aerial combat units. Eventually, poor James Holden and Edward Ravens were drafted into Sudrian Squadron of the Royal Flying Corps. The Holden's and Ravens' came to see them off.

9 year old William Holden: (Tears) Oh, I don't like this at all daddy!

8 year old Rachel Ravens: (Tears) Please daddy, don't go!

7 year old Jacob Ravens: (Tears) We don't want you to leave daddy!

6 year old Sarah Ravens: (Tears) We want you to say with us, daddy.

James Holden: It's alright William… I need you to be strong. And remember no matter what happens to me I will always love you no matter what.

9 year old William Holden: (Tears) Me too… Daddy…

Edward Ravens: Same goes for you, Rachel, Jacob, Sarah. Please be strong for your mother.

Children Rachel/Jacob/Sarah: We will, daddy!

Narrator: Both Mrs Holden and Marie Ravens kissed their respective husbands before the men boarded Edward's train. They waved sadly goodbye and went down to the Mid Sodor Engines. Duke, Falcon, Her Sandel and Atlas all felt sad.

Duke: I am going to miss James Holden. He's driven us so well. And Edward Ravens too.

Her Sandel: Me too.

Falcon: So do I. However, we must keep on going so not to let them down!

Narrator: The others agreed and kept on going but further down things grew tougher as the war raged on. The engine drivers tended to their engines as best as they could but almost everyday they would begin to feel weak by the days end as the work load increased with both Mineral trains and troop trains and the most horrifying railway service. The railway men sombrely called this service the hospital train. The hospital train is a railway train with carriages equipped for the provision of healthcare. Historically, this has ranged from trains equipped to transport wounded soldiers with basic nursing and first aid facilities on board, to fully equipped mobile medical centres. For obvious reasons, non of the engines from all over the island liked undertaking this task. For a while, the Mid Sodor Railway never had this problem as there was already an hospital at Arlesburgh. But eventually, the hospital at Alresburgh was so full of wounded and injured military men that the Mid Sodor railway's engines Duke, Her Sandel, Falcon and Albert had to bring injured and wounded soldiers and military men to one of the hospital's at Marthwaite. Like Alresburgh Hospital, Marthwaite station was divided into two sections. It became both a hospital and a mental asylum for military men who suffered terrible cases of shell shock from trenches in the western front of Europe. The Mid Sodor engines, Angus Holden, Elizabeth Ravens, Marie Ravens and the other engine drivers and firemen/firewomen all had to undertake this grim task and had to witness very horrifying things.

Her Sandel: (Tear stricken) I don't think I can bare it anymore Duke. Seeing all those poor young men wounded and hurt… seeing them crying for their mothers, wives and children. It breaks my heart.

Duke: I know. It breaks my heart too.

Alfred: Oh quit complaining! Back in France, engines do not mess about with petty little complaints…

Atlas: Monsieur Alfred! Can't you see Her Sandel is having a tough time?

Albert: Oh get over it! It's a war! What did you expect? Young lads going to sweeties shop?! Suck it up and get over it you weak feeble useless copycat!

Duke: Albert that is enou…

Falcon: (Unbelievable rage) SHUT UP! JUST SHUT YOUR FILTHY ROTTEN MOUTH ALBERT AND ALFRED! At least she's willing to do her job regardless.

Atlas/Duke: Falcon please calm down.

Falcon: We all knew what to expect when the wounded men came from the boat and when the hospital started to overflow at Alresburgh. Manager didn't want to do this but we had no choice. Either that or the troops would have died! We all had to pitch in for the war effort, and Her Sandel has been doing more than her fair share of the work like all of us, YOU BELIEGERENT SINFUL BULLIES!

Narrator: Albert and Alfred subdued into a sulky silence.

Falcon: I'm sorry I lost my temper Her Sandel… Granpuff… Atlas. I should have…

Her Sandel: It's alright. Thank you for standing up to Albert and Alfred. I really appreciate that.

Duke: Indeed. You really would suit his grace, all 3 of you. And at least you calmed down Falcon before you did something that you would have regretted.

Narrator: They all went to sleep. For the rest of war, the engines and their crews all had to work very hard keeping up with both Mineral traffic transporting troops and grimly working the last hospital trains. But by 1919, a year after the end of the first world war, the struggles of keeping up with the war effort had caught up with Her Sandel. One day, she had the grim task of taking the Hospital train again. Despite the best efforts from Angus Holden, Marie Ravens, Elizabeth Ravens and the other engine crews, Her Sandel began to suffer mechanical problems and was struggling with her trains.

Her Sandel: (Coughing) I can't seem to breath properly.

Angus Holden: It's alright. We'll give you a good rest when we've reached Marthwaite.

Narrator: They soon arrived at Marthwaite and the wounded soldiers were soon transported to hospital and asylum. Angus was just filling Her Sandel with water and were just slowly leaving when it happened. A soldier who had suffered severely bad from shellshock had escaped from the asylum stole a rifle from the gamekeeper and chased a nurse towards the line. Angus Holden saw the nurse fleeing in terror and quickly applied the brakes and ran to help her but it was too late. The solider emerged from the bushes and shot the nurse right onto the line. Angus Holden tried to stop him but Soldier shot him several times killing him instantly, most of the bullet's hitting Her Sandel's badly damaged steam pipes and steam hissed from her in an alarming way. The soldier then killed himself and the station master who had heard the shots quickly came to see what the matter was. The scene was an awful sight. Her Sandel was hissing steam badly from the gunshots and there on the line ahead of her were the bleeding bodies of Angus Holden, the soldier and the nurse all lying in front of her dead. The station Master tried to get Her Sandel to the works station, but she was so badly damaged that she couldn't move. The station master called for help as Her Sandel stood there crying of the loss of Angus Holden. Duke was in the works station when the news came through.

Manager: (Horrified, over the phone) WHAT DID YOU SAY?! SHOT DEAD?! AND SHE'S DAMAGED?! OH LORD! NOT THEM!

Narrator: The manager came out tear stricken, to Duke.

Duke: (Worried) Sir, what's happened?

Manager: GET TO MARTHWAITE, QUICKLY! Her Sandel's been badly damaged and Angus Holden… he… He's dead!

Narrator: Duke was horrified.

Duke: NO! Oh dear lord no!

Elizabeth Ravens: OH MY GOODNESS! HURRY!

Narrator: Elizabeth Ravens climbed aboard Duke and Duke mournfully set off to undertake his grim task. When they arrived, Duke eye's widened with horror. Her Sandel had lost all of her steam pressure. Her steam pipes were badly holed from the gunshots and worst of all, there lying in front of her were dead bodies of Angjus Holden, the traumatised soldier and the nurse. Elizabeth Ravens began to cry as the asylum's medic's came to take the the dead bodies away. Duke then took a weak and badly damaged Her Sandel to the works station.

Her Sandel: (In pain and tears) Oooohh…. I'm sorry Duke. I'm sorry that failed you and failed the railway… and … I failed his Grace…

Duke: No … No you didn't Her Sandel. You have made me and the railway very proud and you would definitely suit his grace.

Her Sandel: (Tears and in pain) Oohh… thank….you… Duke.

Narrator: When they arrived the manager was waiting for them. He looked all over Her Sandel and with a sad tear trickling from his face he sadly shook his head.

Manager: I'm so sorry Her Sandel but I'm afraid that we won't be able to mend you….

Her Sandel: (Tears trickling down her face) I understand Sir. I'm sorry I failed you I probably be better off scrapped anyway.

Manager: Absolutely not. After such progress you've made and after so much effort both prior to and during the war I would never allow you to be scrapped. There is still hope for you. We can store you into the the storage siding until we can find enough money to mend you.

Her Sandel: (Weak) Thank… You… Sir… I'll make sure to keep … the faith.

Narrator: And so she was sent to the storage siding in the works shed. Duke and Falcon were tear stricken about Her Sandel and so was Elizabeth and Marie Ravens, but they were absolutely heartbroken when they heard about Angus Holden's death. William Holden was flooded with tears. First he had lost his mother had died from influenza, his father was killed in the war, he had long lost his grandmother and now he lost his grandfather and now William James Holden had become an orphan. Later that same year at Peel Godred sheds, Duke Falcon Albert and the mine engines were all gathered sorrowfully around a wooden casket. Elizabeth Marie Ravens, Marie Ravens' husband and their daughters Rachel Ravens, Sarah Ravens and son Jacob Ravens were all there, dressed in their finest clothes with a tear stricken William Holden was also there. He too was dressed in his finest clothes. Rachel hugged her best friend tightly. The manager stepped forward and cleared his throat.

Manager: We are all gathered here today to give a final salute and to honour the life of one our greatest railway men and even greater friend that we have lost, Angus Sean Holden. He was always there for us and for every single railway all over the island from pre grouping to post grouping. Angus Sean Holden was always the most cheerful person who loved to drive trains even after his retirement. He was always there for us when we need help and he sure did bang up job at helping us when we needed him. His most fondest memories will live in our hearts and our souls. May you rest in peace, Angus Sean Holden. Amen.

Duke/Falcon/Albert (dryly)/Atlas/Alfred (dryly)/Elizabeth Ravens/Marie Ravens/Edward Ravens/Rachel Ravens/Sarah Ravens/Jacob Ravens/William Holden: Amen ….

Narrator: The precession then gently lifted the wooden casket into one of the most finest bogie coaches the Ravens family and the manager climbed on aboard. The Manager was kind enough to allow young William Holden to drive Duke to the port where the casket it would be laid to rest at a nearby cemetery. Duke gave a blast of his whistle to salute Angus Holden and the other engines whistled in salute, (Albert and Alfred were forced to.) as Duke took the train away down the line on the late Angus Holden's finally journey.

(Present day, 1990)

Narrator: The engines and the ponies along with the main 6 drivers all stood there in shock. All had tears in their eyes, even Rex, Duncan, Fred Ward Fell, Scootaloo and Rainbow Dash. Rainbow Dash hugged Scootaloo, Pipsqueak hugged Sweetie Belle tightly as Rarity hugged them both. Featherweight hugged Apple Bloom who was then hugged by Applejack, Big Macintosh and Granny Smith. All of the mane 6 ponies too were shedding tears as well. It was Duncan who broke the silence.

Duncan: Mr. Holden… I… I'm sorry about what happened to you're grandfather, and Sir Handel, I'm sorry for the loss of your sister.

Mr. Holden: It's alright Duncan. In all my years I had never felt so much sorrow in my life.

Sir Handel: I did feel heartbroken too.

Duke: May both of them rest in peace.

Mr. Holden: Thank you Duke and thank you for giving him the most wonderful last journey ever.

Duke: It's alright Mr. Holden, and although you and I along with Sir Handel here are still saddened by his death, I know he has gone on to a better place.

Mr. Holden: Your right Duke. You're right…

Sweetie Belle: But what happened to you after that, Mr Holden? I mean, you were orphaned.

Mr Holden: For barely a day, Sweetie Belle.

William: What do you mean, Mr Holden?

Mr Holden: Well...

(Mid Sodor years, 1919)

Narrator: After Duke had taken the late Angus Holden on his final journey, Rachel Ravens looked over at her mother and father.

12 year old Rachel Ravens: Mum, Dad, can I ask you something?

Marie Ravens: Of course darling.

Edward Ravens: What might it be?

12 year old Rachel Ravens: Do you think that William can stay with us?

Edward Ravens: Of course he can. We do have a spare bedroom in the house when he constantly sleeps over.

Marie Ravens: How thoughtful of you, Rachel. Go tell him.

12 year old Rachel Ravens: Got it mum. (Runs after William) Will?

13 year old William Holden: (Tearstruck) Yes Rach? I'm not in the mood to talk right now.

12 year old Rachel Ravens: Your going to live at my house now, in the spare bedroom.

13 year old William Holden: (Brighting up) Really? Oh, thank you so much, Rach. And god bless you and your family.

12 year old Rachel Ravens: Come on, (winks) brother, let's get your things and get you moved into our house.

13 year old William Holden: Of course.

Narrator: After telling Jacob Ravens and Sarah Ravens the news, the 6 family members headed for home. William James Holden felt very grateful for his friend, Rachel Marie Ravens indeed.

(Crovens Gate, 1990)

Everyone: How kind, Miss Ravens.

Mr Holden: I am eternally grateful for what you have done, little sister.

Miss Ravens: I'm happy to help big brother.

Narrator: With that, Miss Ravens and Mr Holden hugged each other tightly.

Everyone barring Duncan, Scootaloo, Ward Fell and Fred: Aww. How sweet.

Duncan/Ward Fell/Fred/Scootaloo: Give us a break.

Narrator: But the others just ignored them.

List time!

Duke: (No. 1) 1880-
Bertram: (No. 2a) 1880-1888
Mistress: (No. 3a) 1880-1889
Pioneer: (No. 4a) 1880-1892
Shire Horse: (No. 5a) 1880-1904
Smudger: (No. 2b) 1888-1904
Great Wonder: (No. 3b) 1892-1893
Duchess: (No. 3c) 1893-1904
Master: (No. 4b) 1893-1904
Her Sandel: (No. 2c) 1904-1919
Falcon: (No. 3d) 1904-
Albert: (No. 4c) 1904-
Atlas: (No. 5b) 1914-
Alfred: (No. 6) 1914-1922

Ok. Next is 'Albert's Downfall'.