Author's notes: Ok. This one is based off the ERS story, Albert. I think we did a good job with it. Take a look.

Albert's Downfall

Narrator: Soon, after everyone calmed down, Rachel broke the silence again.

Rachel: Um, I hope this isn't rude of me, but what happened to the other engines?

Duke: It's not rude at all young Rachel. But, I think I will tell you all about the story of Albert.

Narrator: Sir Handel sighed gravely and so did Miss Ravens and Mr. Holden.

Sir Handel: I know all about Albert's behaviour, and Miss Ravens and Mr. Holden know him too as they used to work with him. And believe me when I say they had nothing good to say about him, but sadly I was on an overhaul after the war effort when Albert left and so I never knew what happened. So what did happen to him Granpuff?

Narrator: Duke cleared his throat and this is the story he told.

(Mid Sodor Days, 1920)

Narrator: Albert was one of the engines who worked with Duke in the early days of the Mid Sodor Railway. He worked primarily on the goods traffic and was not one of the most favoured engines at all. He had a fearsome reputation on the MSR and was a complete and utter tyrant of the line. The Holden's and Raven's family often felt the strain and torture of working with him as he used to constantly bully them ruthlessly and relentlessly.

(Albert arrives back at Arlesdale sheds for the night next to Duke. Miss Ravens and Mr. Holden jump down)

Mr. Holden: Well that's been a long day's work, eh Rachel?

Miss Ravens: Sure has. Well, we better get going it's getting pretty late.

Mr. Holden: You're right there. Well, off we go then…

Albert: (Shouting) AND JUST WHERE DO YOU MORON'S THINK YOU'RE GOING!?

Mr. Holden/Miss Ravens: Oh no.

Mr Holden: Not again….

Miss Ravens: We're just going home to bed Albert and…

Albert: (Shouting) OH NO YOU DON'T! YOU GET BACK IN HERE RIGHT NOW! THERE IS STILL SOOT AND ASH IN MY SMOKE BOX! YOU GET IN HERE AND CLEAN IT OUT NOW!

Narrator: Mr. Holden and Miss Ravens sighed sadly and went back to work cleaning him.

Albert: (Rudely) That's right and you two better clean my smoke box out properly this time! I have choked full of soot cinders and ashes all day long thanks to your idiotic careless negligence!

Narrator: Duke, who did not tolerate Albert's rudeness was one of the only engines to stand up to him, barring Falcon.

Duke: (Sternly) You have absolutely no respect for your crew what so ever do you?

Albert: (Angry) PAH! WHO WOULD! IF THESE IDIOTS CAN'T EVEN CLEAN YOU PROPERLY AT THE END OF A DAYS WORK WHAT RESPECT DO THESE IDIOTS DESERVE? They're useless! Completely, utterly useless!

Duke: (Sternly) I've told you several times already Albert! All engines should always work with their crews and not against them! It is with cooperation that runs railways here and everywhere!

Albert: (Angry) Ah, put a piece of coal in it you rusty old fusspot! I'll say whatever I want or whatever like to say to these two idiotic losers, and if they don't like they can just jolly well lump it!

Duke: (Sternly) Shamefully for you, they actually do! You keep this nasty attitude up and it'll come back and bite you in the back of your buffers one of these days, mark my words!

Albert: (Rudely) Hmph. Listen here Mudpuff, if I was some fancy pansy passenger engine like you, perhaps I may listen to those stupid idiots more often! But I'm not. I work with filthy rotten trucks morning noon and night. If I were to listen to those two idiots telling me what to do, I'd become a push over, and that would never work. Those horrid rusty planks wouldn't know whose boss, and they'd take advantage with me like they would with an old rustbucket like you Falcon and that cheap worthless copycat Her Sandel! I know better I always have done!

Duke: (Sternly) With an attitude like yours, it's no wonder manager placed you on goods traffic! The passengers would be at risk right away, considering the lack of attention you pay to Miss Ravens or Mr. Holden, and the coaches would never want to run with you. You've petrified them during the war like you do with the trucks.

Albert: Pah! Just because you can't think for yourself without these moronic clowns!

(Flashback, 1912)

Narrator: But Duke was right… The manager did not approve of Albert's temper since he was first trailed on the line in 1904 with Angus Holden, Elizabeth Ravens and Zap Apple.

Manager: Oh dear. He's a good, strong and keen work but I'm a bit worried of him. He seems constantly heated and quite very aggravated. I don't understand why.

Zap Apple: Same here. He's been like this since he's arrived.

Angus Holden: I can't understand it either.

Manager: Perhaps he might improve if we trial him on passenger working, but for the mean time let's have him work in Casy-n-Hawin mines.

Narrator: But unfortunately, Albert did not improve at all and he was demoted from passenger duties and from the hospital trains during the first World War and remained on goods duties for the rest of his career on the line. He despised the manager for that and was not shy of saying so.

(Mid Sodor, 1920)

Albert: Besides, that stupid bozo of manager doesn't have a single clue on how to run a railway! The senile old fool never has and never will! I can handle any type of train my own way, scotch free. Much better than you ever could!

Narrator: Duke sighed heavily and said no more. Albert never listened to reason and remained steadfast in his belief that he knew better than anyone else and that horrifying enough also included the manager. Albert's tyranny and bad manners were staples of life on the MSR and many a villager in the old days would often remark that you could hear Albert's bad tongue all across the valley down to the port at Alresburgh and Both Miss Ravens and Mr. Holden had the misfortune of suffering the brunt of his wrath and every night both Mr. Holden and Miss Ravens would head home every evening in tears. However, there was one day where Albert found that his ways were not always the best and he ultimately paid the dire consequence. Miss Ravens was working with Albert on his last run of the day and as usual he was hurry to get back to the sheds, much to the dismay of Miss Ravens. He bustled about the granite quarries marshalling the trucks roughly and bashing them just as roughly around the yards, much to the annoyance of the foreman.

(Albert bashing trucks)

Miss Ravens: Easy Albert! Easy! Don't!

Albert: HURRY UP YOU RUSTED PLANKS!

Truck 1: OW!

Truck 2: OW!

Truck 3: OW!

Albert: OY! LOOK SHARP NOW!

Truck 1: OH! OUCH!

Truck 2: STOP IT!

Albert: COME ON! WE HAVEN'T GOT ALL YEAR YA KNOW, SO LOOK SHARP, SHUT YOU'RE MOUTHS AND COME ON!

Foreman: OY! Be careful with those trucks you silly engine! You bump and bash them like that and they're likely to break.

Narrator: But Albert took no notice.

Albert: THEY ARE DISPENSABLE, HORRID, RICKETY OLD THINGS! They're not even worth mineral materials they're built for to carry.

Foreman: Well, so long as they can get the materials to Arlesburgh Port in one safe shipment, than I don't care what you make of them! Now less of this nonsense, shut up and behave yourself.

Miss Ravens: Ugh! I'm sorry about him. He's been like this since my grandmother and mother had been working the line.

Foreman: I understand, but all the same, try to keep that bad mannered engine under control. He's a disgrace to the line the way he carries on.

Miss Ravens: I know. I'm sorry. I'll give it all I can.

Narrator: Soon, miraculously, Albert's trucks were arranged and Albert brought them to Marthwaite junction to wait for Duke to pass with 'The Picnic'. It was late in the day and the picnic excursion had always been given clearance for a clear run. Albert waited furiously.

Albert: Ggggrrr. That Duke is taking liberties again… The useless old mudpuff is late!

Miss Ravens: 1, don't you call him such a name and 2, calm down. He's probably been held up by sheep.

Albert: Oh quit making excuses for him! I should take priority myself and run on anyway. Knowing that old fusspot Mudpuff, we'd more likely clear the section before that rust bucket even got this far.

Miss Ravens: (Sighs, to self) Thank goodness Sunny and Fluttershy didn't have to be here. Albert would have torn them apart.

Narrator: Eventually, Duke rushed into sight. He had been held up by some strayed sheep and was now hurrying along trying to make up for lost time. He whistled 'hello' to Miss Ravens as he passed. Mr. Holden called out an apology to Miss Ravens.

Mr. Holden: Sorry Rachel. Some stupid sheep strayed onto our path!

Miss Ravens: It's alright! I understand! Ah well at least I can have my lunch.

Albert: Pff. It's about time that old rustbucket showed up! Hurry up and get a move on, Miss Ravens!

Miss Ravens: (Disbelief) What? Oh come on! the signal hasn't even dropped yet and I haven't even had my sandwiches and tea yet. (Hold up one of her sandwiches) This is a cheddam cheese sandwich specially made by Fluttershy this morning!

Albert: Well Miss Ravens, too bad! You'll just have to go hungry! This is the last place I'll be resting! I want back in my sheds at Arlesburgh. The sooner that pile of junk Mudpuff clears his section the sooner I get there!

Narrator: The signal soon dropped. Miss Ravens, who had been denied the chance of having lunch by Albert sadly opened the regulator and Albert puffed away. He was hurrying along the line to get back to the sheds to what he believed to be a well-earned rest, but his bubble was soon burst when Miss Ravens began to apply the brakes as they neared Ffarquhar road station.

Albert: OY! WHAT'S GOING ON! WHY ARE YOU SLOWING MY DOWN !

Miss Ravens: We need to make a stop at the station!

Fireman: You're tanks are running low. We need more water. We can't finish the journey on such a low capacity.

Albert: (Cross) OH STUFF THE WATER! WE'VE WASTED ENOUGH TIME THANKS TO THAT DUKE! I DON'T SEE WHY WE CAN'T BE HELD UP ANY LONGER WE CAN CARRY ON REGARDLESS! BESIDES, YOU SHOULD HAVE TOPPED ME OFF AGES AGO AT THE GRANITE QUARRY!

Narrator: Miss Ravens and the fireman tried hard to reason with him but Albert refused to listen.

Fireman: We couldn't that water column was filled with nothing but weeds and muck you wouldn't want a drink out of that now would you?

Albert: Pah! You two idiots should have thought of that ages ago!

Miss Ravens: (Sighing sadly) Oh come on Albert, don't be so stupid please! I want to eat my lunch…

Albert: IF I WANTED YOU'RE OPINION I WOULD HAVE ASKED FOR IT MISS RAVENS! NOW SHUT UP AND KEEP DRIVING, YOUR STUPID PAL CAN KEEP ON STOKING!

Fireman: Hey! My name is Sam you idiot!

Narrator: At Ffarquhar Road station, Miss Ravens tried hard to bring Albert to a stop but Albert refused to cooperate and he used the wait of the trucks to keep on rolling over shot the water column.

Miss Ravens: Come on Albert, stop! Stop! Stop! Ohh! You over shot the water column.

Albert: We have enough water to keep on going you moron, so come on!

Miss Ravens: Oi! Don't you call me a moron! (To self) I wish I was riding with Duke, Falcon or Atlas.

Narrator: Miss Ravens tried in vain to back Albert to water column but the trucks weretoo heavy and Albert was not willing to try. Reluctantly, Miss Ravens and Sam conceded defeat.

Miss Ravens: It's no good. We'll just have to get water at the bridge station. (In her mind) If we make it.

Narrator: And so they reluctantly allowed Albert to proceed. This was Albert's big mistake. This was the chance the trucks had wanted. They were tired of Albert's tyranny and decided to pay him out once and for all.

Trucks: We'll teach him to call us rickety old things and we'll teach him not to bump us ever again!

Narrator: Meanwhile, Duke had arrived safely at the port. He had made up the time he had lost and was now resting in the shed. Mr. Holden was eating his remainder of his lunch. Albert shouldn't have been too far away with his granite train but tonight there was no sign of him.

Duke: I wonder where Albert is? He should have cleared the section by now. To be fair for all his faults, he is usually quite punctual.

(Mr. Holden eating his Wennslydale cheese sandwich)

Mr. Holden: Ugh! Goodness knows what happened to him. Yeah, him complaining about other engines not clearing the section in good time… ( notices Miss Ravens running up) Hang on, it's Rachel. Something must have happened.

Narrator: And he was right. There was Miss Ravens running up as fast as she could.

Mr. Holden: Hullo there Rach. What's happened? You look like you've just ran a marathon.

Miss Ravens: It's Albert. He's overheated. That stupid engine refused to take on water and forced us to carry on regardless. He's about a mile up the line near King Orry's Bridge station, stopped dead and wheezing pathetically with a dry throat. Sam is damping down his fire right now but need to shift him and his train. Do you think you can help us shift him, please?

Mr. Holden: Of course.

Duke: Hop up Rach.

Miss Ravens: I knew I could count on the 2 of you. (Hops into Duke's cab, her tummy was grumbling)

Mr Holden: And you can have your lunch while your here.

Miss Ravens: Oh thank you. That monster Albert kept on denying me the privilege to my lunch.

Duke: (Sighs) I thought so.

Narrator: Sam had stayed behind with Albert. He had thrown the fire out and was throwing buckets of water from a nearby stream into the firebox in an attempt to cool him down. Duke soon arrived and was coupled and pulled the wheezing Albert and his trucks all the way to the port.

Duke: You know, I think it might have better if you had listened to Miss Ravens and Sam. Just wait till manager finds out. I'm sure he'll have lot to say about this and believe me he will not be pleased with this at all.

Albert: (Wheezing pathetically) It was the wretched trucks fault! They (Cough) held back and made things worse. (Cough) If they had come quietly… (cough) we could have managed much better!

Duke: It does not surprise me from the way you treat them.

Sam: And you would have managed much better. If you took on more water, then we wouldn't have been in this mess.

Narrator: Miss Ravens could only agree.

Miss Ravens: You're as stubborn as mule and no mistake! I can only hope you've learned you're lesson from this!

Albert: Yes Miss Ravens. I'm sorry Miss Ravens.

Narrator: But unfortunately, his lesson had come too late. The manager came into the sheds and spoke severely to Albert. This was the last straw.

Manager: You've always been a bother to this railway and the damage you've caused yourself won't be easy to repair either. The inspector says that you're firebox crown has melted as result of you're foolishness.

Albert: (Nervous) I… I… I apologize sir…. I… I… promise it won't happen again. Honest, it won't.

Manager: (Sternly) No indeed it won't… For we will not be mending you ever again.

Narrator: Albert was horrified.

Albert: (Horrified ) WHAT?!

Manager: (Rage) QUIET! YOU ARE AN UTTER NUISANCE ALBERT! NOBODY CAN STAND YOU ANYMORE. NOT THE MEN, NOT THE WOMEN, NOT THE PONIES FROM BEFORE, NOT MISS RAVENS, NOT MR. HOLDEN NOT THE TRUCKS, NOT THE COACHES, NOT EVEN THE OTHER ENGINES, AND NEITHER CAN I! KNOWING YOU'RE BAD REPORT CARDS, IF WE FIX YOU UP YOU'LL LEARN ABSOLUTELY NOTHING FROM THIS EXPERIENCE! YOU'LL MORE LIKELY TO GO ON IN YOU'RE SAME ARROGANT RUDE AND STUPID WAYS! AT LEAST YOU'RE ACTIONS CAN SHOW HOW A LITTLE RESPECT CAN GO A LONG WAY! YOU SHALL BE TAKEN APART AND USED AS SPARES FOR THE OTHER ENGINES! YES, THAT'LL BE IT AND GOODNESS KNOWS THIS'LL BE LIFTING A STRAIN OFF OUR FINANCES! GOOD DAY TO YOU ALBERT!

Albert: But Sir I….

Manager: I SAID, GOOD DAY TO YOU ALBERT!

Narrator: And the manager stormed furiously away!

Yeah. Very dark. Add it to the list!

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) 1904-1920
Atlas: (No. 5b) 1914-
Alfred: (No. 6) 1914-1922

Next one is about Stanley. The RWS, not the TVS engine. We call the TVS version of Stanley, Stratton, and he will probably be seen in another story about Thomas' branchline. Sometime after the events of 'Wilbert The Forest Engine', I believe. See you there.