Author's notes: This one is a bit shorter then most, but I really like it. Not too much to say here other then, enjoy.

Freddie The Warhorse Engine

(Crovens Gate, 1990.)

William: My goodness. Proteus was a determined little engine.

Duke: Indeed he was. I've never seen something quite like that before.

Sweetie Belle: Who came next, Duke?

Duke: Well, take a guess.

Pipsqueak: Did Stuart arrive?

Peter Sam: No. I didn't come until later.

Apple Bloom: Could it have been Freddie?

Freddie: (Chuckles) Sure have, Apple Bloom. My 1st few weeks didn't go uneventful either. I had trouble going through the tunnels of the Mountain Road.

Scootaloo: Oh, please tell.

Freddie: You got it.

Narrator: Frederick also known as Fearless Freddie is a 2-6-2T 'warhorse' pannier tank engine. He was the Mid Sodor's first Number 8 locomotive. He was brought in 1922 to handle heavy goods trains. In those days, Freddie was a quite a young rascal as were any young engine was, but he was always eager to work. On Freddie's first day, he was to take the 'Horse and Cart' to King Orry Bridge Station with Miss Ravens driving him.

Duke: Good luck young Frederick. Don't be late, cause that would never suit his grace.

Narrator: Freddie laughed playfully..

Freddie: Heheheh don't worry I will I promise. Oh and you can just call me Freddie.

Duke: Very well Freddie, but all the same just do you're best, be careful and don't be late.

Mr. Holden: That's right. Good luck to you both of you. We'll be cheering you on.

Miss Ravens: Thanks Duke and William. Ready Freddie?

Freddie: Righto Miss Ravens. I'm ready take us away.

Narrator: The guard blew his whistle, Miss Ravens eased open the regulator and Freddie puffed confidently away.

Mr. Holden: Well I say, Freddie's got a lot of determination on his side.

Duke: Yeah I know. Especially since it's the youngin's first day out too.

Narrator: Mr. Holden and Duke chuckled and went off to collect they're coaches for the Picnic. Meanwhile, Freddie was making good progress despite it being his first day. He stopped at each station to pick up and set down trucks as usual delivering goods at each station as well. He was having the time of his life.

Freddie: Boy this is fun Miss Ravens. I've never seen such a beautiful line in my life.

Miss Ravens: It sure is Freddie. Me and Mr. Holden's family have worked here for many, many years and him and I love this railway to pieces.

Freddie: I think I'm going to like this railway too.

Narrator: They soon left the works station and began climbing the mountain road. Freddie was thinking about telling Duke what a wonderful railway it was when it happened.

Freddie: OOffpff!

Narrator: His funnel and dome scraped the ceiling of the second Tunnel and several rocks fell loose and piled up around Freddie. He was stuck. Miss Ravens got out and examined the wreck.

Miss Ravens: Oh dear, that's torn it. Don't worry. I'll go call for help .

Narrator: Fortunately, the platelayer's cottage was nearby and so she didn't have to travel far to get help. Duke and Mr. Holden arrived at the works station in good time when the station master came up.

Station master: There's been an accident.

Mr. Holden: (Worried) What happened Wilson?

Stationmaster: Freddie's stuck in the second tunnel on the Mountain Road. I need you to take the breakdown crew up there at once.

Duke: Yes Sir, we're on my way.

Narrator: So they left the coaches at the station collected the workmen and took them up the line. When they arrived, Freddie felt awful about the accident. The workmen soon started to clean up the mess. It took a little time to clear away the rocks and set Freddie free again, then Duke carefully pull Freddie and his trucks out of the tunnel they went back down the Mountain Road and back to the works station. Freddie was taken off the train. As soon as Duke cleared his path, Falcon, who was also at the sheds came to take the 'Horse and Cart' up to King Orry's bridge station with Miss Ravens. That night, Freddie and Duke were talking together about the mishap.

Freddie: Sorry Duke. I don't what happened. I'll try not to let it happen again.

Duke : It's alright youngin. At least you were trying your best. Even though it didn't work out, knowing that you did your best would definitely suit his grace.

Narrator: Soon Freddie went back to work to take the 'Horse and Cart' again. As he approached the tunnel he tried to go very very carefully, but try as he might, the same-thing kept happening. Again and again and again, and dare I say it… Yet again, and either Duke or Falcon had to constantly rescue him. Freddie felt very miserable. The manager came to speak to him.

Freddie: I'm so sorry I….

Manager: I understand. It's not your fault. I know you're trying your best, however I do have a solution. Mr. Holden and Miss Ravens have been monitoring your performance at that tunnel and they have found the root of the problem. It turns out that your funnel and dome are to blame for the cave ins, not you. All we have to do is to trim them down a bit to the right size and that way you can travel the entire line scotch free from cave ins. Won't that be nice.

Freddie: (Doubtfully) Yes sir…

Narrator: Freddie was glad that he was going to be fixed to run the whole line, but he was scared what the others might say. So Freddie was then sent to Arlesdale works sheds where the workmen adjusted him to make him runnable throughout mountain road. They worked day and night and then at last, Freddie finally emerged from the workshops. His tall funnel was now short and stumpy and his large round dome was now small and square. He was preparing to take a nonstop goods to King Orry's station.

Duke: Good luck Freddie. I'm sure you'll do well.

Miss Ravens: That's right. We'll be cheering you on!

Mr. Holden: And I'll be with you every wheel turn of the way.

Freddie: Thank you guys.

Narrator: Soon the guards whistle blew and Mr. Holden eased open the regulator. Freddie puffed away.

Freddie: Here goes nothing.

Narrator: Like last time, his journey through the woods went without flaw and they reached the works station in good time.

Freddie: What if I cause it to collapse again?

Mr. Holden: Don't worry it won't I can assure this.

Narrator: But Freddie was still nervous. Eventually, Duke puffed passed with Miss Ravens in his cab and the picnic in tow and whistled good luck to Freddie.

Duke/Miss Ravens: Good luck Freddie and Mr. Holden.

Freddie/Mr. Holden: Thank you!

Narrator: At last the guards whistle blew and both Mr. Holden and Freddie took a deep breath.

Mr. Holden: Well…. Here we go.

Freddie: Right, wish me luck.

Mr. Holden: Always have and always will.

Narrator: Mr. Holden eased open the regulator and they set of towards the mountain road. They left the works station rattled through the first tunnel looped round recrossed the river and were now entering the second tunnel. Mr. Holden and Freddie held there breaths and shut there eyes. At last, they could feel sunlight and they at last burst into the sunshine.

Mr. Holden/Freddie: We've done it! We've done it! We've done it!

Cora: You've done it, hooray! You've done it hooray!

Mr. Holden: Alright Freddie let's do it!

Freddie: Righto Sir!

Narrator: Soon they were puffing happily along the Mountain Road. They swooshed smoothly through tunnels the guard cheered and they rolled proudly into the top station. Duke, Miss Ravens and the picnic passengers all cheered loudly. Mr. Holden cheered Freddie for his excellent performance. And there on the platform cheering too was the manager.

Manager: Well-done Freddie! You are a credit to the MSR! I knew you'd be a reliable runner all you just needed was a little tune up and now you can run the whole section now without any mishaps. Well done

Freddie: Yes Sir. Thank you sir.

(Crovans Gate present day)

Pinkie Pie: Oh, so that's why you were a bit stumpy. I should have known.

Freddie: Yep. It was so I'd be able to clear tunnels on the Mountain Road more safer.

Duke: That's right old friend, and that would definitely suit his grace.

Narrator: Of course, that made Freddie the warhorse engine smile happily.

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) 1904-1920
Atlas: (No. 5b) 1914-
Alfred: (No. 6) 1914-1922
Stanley: (No. 2d) 1919-1920
Tim: (No. 7) 1920-
Proteus: (No. 2e) 1921-
Freddie: (No. 8) 1922-

Next one is about Miney and Millie. See you there.