Author's notes: Not too much to say, but there is one thing to note: Alex is the Albert on the original MSR layout before the 2nd one was built. John is also an engine from the layout.

Alex and John

Narrator: The next morning Rex was still conversing with Duke again about the days of the MSR and asking about other engines that had come and gone on the old line. So were the ponies and the other engines.

Pipsqueak: Boy, that Fletcher and Jennings really did work well together and make a cracking good team.

Duke: They sure did, but they weren't the only ones.

Rachel: Really? There were more?

Duke: Indeed. 2 of them came from factories like Duncan did.

Scootaloo: Were they as bad as him?

Narrator: Duncan shot a nasty look at Scootaloo.

Duncan: OY! I HEARD THAT PEGASUS!

Duke: Ahem!

Narrator: Duncan quickly stopped ranting.

Duke: Anyway, these two engines did come from factories, but they were actually quite nice. They were known as Alex and John.

William: So, what happened to them?

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

(Mid Sodor Years, 1929)

Narrator: The Mid Sodor Engines, the mane 6 ponies, Mr. Holden and Miss Ravens were rushed off there hooves, feet and wheels struggling to keep up the work load so the Manager had took the liberty of buying two new engines from two separate factories to help out both on main line traffic and at the mines.

Falcon: Whew. Thank goodness for that.

Rainbow Dash: You're telling me Falcon.

Helen: Thank goodness we're getting more help with the extra work.

Proteus: Boy, am I glad to hear that. Can't wait to meet the new engines.

Rarity: Same here, dear.

Narrator: The new engines arrived a few days later.

Manager: Hullo there you two. What are you're names?

Alex: I'm Alex.

John: And I'm um… John.

Alex: We used to mostly work in a factories, but you'll get our best work sir. We promise.

Manager: Good. There's nothing like determination. I'll be assigning you both to work Applejack and Fluttershy on goods work pulling short distance goods trains.

Alex/John: Yes Sir.

Narrator: And Alex and John soon set to work and were soon friends with Applejack and Fluttershy. It also wasn't long before they became friends with Duke, Proteus, Falcon, Stuart, Jerry, Helen, Fletcher, Jennings, Millie, Miney, Atlas, Tim, Rainbow Dash, Rarity, Pinkie Pie and Twilight Sparkle.

Duke: So, how are you two engines getting along?

Alex: Great Duke. Absolutely great. This sure beats working in a factory, eh John?

Narrator: But John was distracted.

Alex: Yo! John? (Whew's to get his attention.) Yohoo!

John: Hmm? Oh yeah… yeah. It's cool. I love it here.

Narrator: Proteus was worried.

Proteus: Is he alright?

Alex: Yeah, he's just had a rough life at his factory. He really doesn't like talking about it.

Falcon: Oh, I see. Well, I hope he'll feel more at home here.

Narrator: Soon, Mr. Holden, Applejack, Alex, Miss Ravens, Fluttershy and John were busier than ever, taking short goods trains up and down the line greeting each other as they passed by. John loved every part of his new home from the lush green forest and to the beautiful mountain road.

John: (Sigh.) This is lovely.

Fluttershy: I know. This reminds me of my cottage back home.

Narrator: However, John and Alex had to go to the siding near the port. Alex doesn't mind heading down there and neither do the engines and the ponies; but poor John didn't fancy it at all. It was loud and scary. One day, John was taking some lead trucks to the port for a ship to take to the Isle Of Mann. When he arrived, the trucks started to tease and jive him.

Trucks: Oh dear. Is the little factory engine scared of loud noises? How pathetic.

John: Oh dear… Not the port…

Fluttershy: It's alright. I'm right here with you. You'll be alright.

Miss Ravens: That's right. You'll be alright. We're right here with you.

Narrator: Suddenly, when the trucks them into a siding, some pipes fell from one of the cranes. They landed with a loud clang!

John: AAAHHH!

Narrator: John jumped with fright and his trucks went flying. They hit the buffers with a bump and the last trucks catch burst open and lead fell out. James, who was at the port with Rarity, laughed.

James: Fancy jumping at a silly old crane! Hahahaha. What a scaredy engine!

Rarity: Hahahahaha. Too rich. Hahahahahaha.

Narrator: Poor John, blushing with embarrassment, felt very upset and smaller than ever.

Fluttershy: Rarity! James! That wasn't nice of you at all! I won't tolerate rudeness to poor John.

Miss Ravens: Don't listen to those jokers. They're just teasing.

Narrator: When the mess was cleared, John puffed sadly away to the sheds. Alex, Applejack and Mr. Holden were there.

Alex: What's the matter there, John? You don't look happy.

John: I had to go to the port today and I jumped at a loud noise, causing one of the trucks to spill it's load. James said I was a scaredy engine.

Alex: Oh dear. I'm sorry that happened to you again.

Applejack: Huh? Again?

Fluttershy: What do you mean?

John: Well, when I was first built, I had to work at a factory. I didn't really like it because it was so noisy, loud and big. I was scared. And then the factory manager had enough of me and decided to sell me to the MSR.

Narrator: John sighed sadly but Alex, Fluttershy, Miss Ravens, Mr. Holden and Applejack wanted to help.

Fluttershy: Hey there Alex. It's alright. We all have our fears.

Miss Ravens: Yeah. Fluttershy's right and at least you're willing to go to the port. That's very brave of you.

John: I don't see how.

Alex: Cheer up. Maybe you're courage is in there and you just don't know it.

Narrator: The next morning John, Fluttershy and Miss Ravens were to take the horse and cart down to the port. John was scared, but determined to do his job.

Fluttershy: Don't worry. It'll be alright.

Miss Ravens: Just do you're best.

John: Alright. I'll do my best.

Narrator: He set off to the port. Things were going along first rate. The trucks behaved well and they were going along smoothly.

Fluttershy: Well done John. Keep it up!

Miss Ravens: Yeah, you're doing grand.

Narrator: John reached Marthwaite in good time, when he saw to his horror a load of runaway trucks from the granite mine. Then he heard Duke's whistle coming from the distance.

John: Oh NO! Those trucks will smash Duke to pieces!

Fluttershy: OH DEAR! WE NEED TO SAVE HIM!

Narrator: John tried to whistle but Duke was too far away to hear.

John: Miss Ravens, open the regulator!

Miss Ravens: What?! What are you crazy?

John: We've no choice!

Narrator: Miss Ravens opened the regulator and John charged forward.

Fluttershy: Hhhnnggg! I can't look!

Narrator: Fluttershy shut her eyes tight and she and Miss Ravens crouched in the cab as the trucks slammed right into John, derailing him. The trucks stopped too. Just as Duke came into sight, he gasped.

Duke: THUNDERATION!

Twilight Sparkle: Holy sweet Celestia!

Mr. Holden: What happened?

Narrator: John sadly explained.

John: I jumped at a sound at the port yesterday and then I saw the runaway trucks hurtling down you're path.I tried to stop them but only derailed them and myself. I'm nothing but a scaredy engine, and scaredy engines will never be useful engines.

Narrator: Duke, Twilight and Mr. Holden were surprised.

Duke: But you just saved me from a terrible crash. if you hadn't acted fast, my passengers and crew would have been badly hurt. You are truly a very brave engine.

Twilight Sparkle: That's right. We're very proud of you John.

Fluttershy: Same here

Mr. Holden: You got that right.

Miss Ravens: Definitely. I'm proud of you too. You truly are a useful engine.

John: (Doubtfully) Thank you guys.

Narrator: Soon, Alex arrived with the breakdown gang. They quickly rerailed John and the trucks.

Alex: You know, I'm very proud of you John. A lesser engine might have just sat there and do nothing. Come on. Let's get you down to the port.

Applejack: Yeah. You're braver than when the 6 of us ponies took down Nightmare Moon.

Narrator: The breakdown train was left in a siding and John was coupled up to Alex and together they finished the journey. John shut his eyes and prepared for the worse but then he remembered what everyone said.

John: They're right Alex and you're right. I am a brave engine, just like all of you.

Narrator: As soon as they reached the port, John gave a deep breath. To his surprise, the workmen were all cheering him as he and John rolled into the port.

Port men: WELL DONE JOHN! YOU BRAVE LITTLE ENGINE!

Narrator: John was delighted! He hadn't felt so happy in ages. He let off steam and whistled happily.

John: Thank you very much.

Narrator: As soon as the trucks were shunted away, Alex helped his best friend back to the sheds.

Fluttershy: Well done John. You're absolutely brave.

Narrator: James and Rarity we're there too.

Rarity: Hullo John. I heard about what you did and James and I would like to apologize to you for being rude to you yesterday.

James: Yeah. I'm sorry. It was very uncalled for. Can you ever forgive us.

Narrator: John smiled happily.

John: Of course. Thank you for owning up.

Narrator: John is no longer afraid of the port. On the contrary, he loves going down there. Thanks to his driver friends and pony friends, the port is now his favourite place to go.

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. 6a) 1914-1922
Stanley: (No. 2d) 1919-1920
Tim: (No. 7) 1920-
Proteus: (No. 2e) 1921-
Freddie: (No. 8a) 1922-1926
Miney: (No. 6b) 1922-
Millie: (No. 9) 1922-
Stuart: (No. 4d) 1923-
Jim: (No. 8b) 1926-1927
Helen: (No. 8c) 1927-
Jerry: (No. 10) 1927-
Fletcher: (No. 11) 1928-
Jennings: (No. 12) 1928-
Alex: (No. 13) 1929-
John: (No. 14) 1929-

Next is Penny Sally. See you there.