Author's notes: Ok then. I really like this story because we are given a lot of information on the Bluebell Railway and end on a high note. Let's go.

Stepney's Special

Narrator: The next day, Stepney and his crew met Edward, Fluttershy and Mr. Holden at Wellsworth station

Stepney: Hullo there. What's your name?

Edward: I am Edward and this here is my friend Fluttershy.

Fluttershy: Um… hullo… Stepney.

Narrator: Stepney was surprised.

Stepney: Wait a minute, you're a talking pony with wings? How extraordinary.

Fluttershy: Um if you don't mind me asking… um but what is extraordinary?

Stepney: Well for starters, I've never met a talking pony before and I thought that this one here was the only one who could barring your Princess Celestia of Equestria.

Narrator: A colt pony stepped down and greeted everyone. He had a 2 tone blue mane and tail, blue eyes, white fur and had cutie mark similar to that of Twilight Sparkle's but it with shield on it.

?: Hey Fluttershy. I didn't know you were working on this island too?

Fluttershy: Oh Prince Shining Armor. Twilight's brother

Shining Armor: Ah, no need to be formal. Just call me Shining Armor. Everyone does. Besides, heheh, titles make my fur crawl.

Edward: Well it's a pleasure to meet you Shining Armor.

Shining Armor: Pleasure to meet you to (Looks at his number) Edward, NWR's No. 2

Edward: Amazing how did you know my name?

Shining Armor: Heheheh. You can say a certain element of magic told me all about you guys. I can't wait to see my sister again.

Edward: I didn't know you worked for the Bluebell Railway.

Shining Armor: Oh no. I'm actually on trial here to work for the fat controller and to help the manager of a mountain railway here.

Edward: Wow, you are the busy bee then.

Shining Armor: Indeed. Anyway, you must be Mr. William James Holden.

Mr. Holden: That's right, pleasure to meet you Shining Armor. I would be glad to have you apart of our island's railway networks.

Shining Armor: Same here. Oh, and this is Stepney's driver, Mr. Stepheson.

Mr. Stepheson: Pleasure to meet you too. I've heard all about you from Shining Armor.

Mr. Holden: Nice to meet you Mr. Stephenson.

Narrator: After getting aquatinted with each other, Stepney began telling them about the preservation of him and his friends.

Stepney: So I tried very hard and all, but I just work properly. They didn't say anything about mending me and put me on a siding. I stayed there for days and days. Other engines were there too, rusting and falling apart while others being cut to pieces by the cutters torch. I was afraid, I didn't think I would live ever again.

Fluttershy: Oh my. How awful. That does sound scary.

Edward: I know what you mean Fluttershy. I would have been frightened too.

Stepney: Then some men came along. At first I thought that this was the end of the line for me, but to my surprise, they mended me and even gave me a new coat of paint know by the LB&SCR, formally known as "Stroudley's Improved Engine Green" which is more of yellowish colour, heh. I couldn't understand it until my driver Mr. Stephenson came along, then it all became clear.

(flashback)

Workmen: There he is, lets get to work gents.

Stepney: Oh dear. This is end of the line. (starts tearing up)

(Workmen start mending him)

Stepney: Huh? What's happening?

(workmen start to repaint him)

Stepney: Hang on. What's going on? (When the workman start to repaint him he starts to laugh) Hey! That tickles. Careful with those paint brushes.

Mr. Stephenson: Alright scrap merchant! There's your pounds now let my engine out!

Stepney Narrator: My fireman came and lit my fire and I was steaming away from the scrapyards and down the mainline.

Stepney: Say Mr. Stephenson, what's going on here?

Stepney narrates: Mr. Stephenson smiled.

Mr. Stephenson: Stepney you lucky old engine! You've been saved! The Bluebell Railway has bought you and those cutters torches won't touch you now.

Stepney Narrator: I was overcome with joy and delight as headed off to my new home.

Stepney/Mr. Stephenson: HA HA HAHA! BLUEBELLS FOREVER!

(End flashback)

Fluttershy: Oh how wonderful. I'm so glad you were saved.

Edward: Same here, what a lovely surprise ending. So, did they save any other engines besides you?

Narrator: Stepney grinned. He was ready to answer that.

Stepney: I'm glad you ask. Well apart from me, you'll like our 2 South Eastern and Chatham Railway 0-6-0 T P class tank engines, their names are Bluebell and Primrose. Their twins you see, just like your Donald and Douglas, and there alike as two peas, literally. Both were built in the same year too, 1910. They only had numbers at first. Bluebell No. 323 and Primrose No. 27. Needless to say they very pleased when our controller gave them their names. Some said he was wrong to do it as it made them very cocky indeed, but they work hard and I think that all engines should have names.

Edward: I agree. It's most important and makes life much easier.

Stepney: Heheh, your right there Edward. That is why we've gave names to our engine number 488 and engine number 2650. Both were very pleased about it and now feel like they're part of the family. But our controller doesn't know about it it's a closed secret between us engines and crew. Please don't tell him.

Edward: Of course we won't tell him.

Fluttershy: Don't worry, your secret's safe with me.

Mr. Holden: Same here.

Shining Armor: My lips are sealed.

Stepney: Thank you. Anyway, 488 is called Adams named after his designer, Willam Adams. He's a lovely old engine, an 1885 Neilson & Co. 4-4-2t 415 class tank engine and a London South Westerner who used work in Devon. He can pull away with any work he's given. Cromford is engine No. 2650. He's an old North London Railway 0-6-0T Class 75 tank engine designed by John.C. Park and built in 1880. He finished his career pulling trucks at the high peaks of Derbyshire. He's a tough old Cromford. And after that job he had to be.

Edward: Any others?

Stepney: Well… there's engine No. 3217 The Earl of Berkley, which is a pretty long name for an engine like him so we just call him Earl for short. He doesn't mind. He the stranger on our line. He actually came from the Great Western Railway, he's a 4-4-0 Dukedog class locomotive built in 1938 by Swindon locomotive works. He's bigger and stronger than most of us our line and younger than he looks too.

Edward: Ah yes. We'll have to tell Duck about that.

Fluttershy: Oh yes. He will be pleased. He's the NWR's number 8, and is the main shunter for Tidmouth.

Stepney: Of course. Now, while Earl is younger then he looks, the same can't be said for poor old Birch Grove, an 1898 Brighton built London and South Coast Railway 0-6-2t E4 tank engine No. 473. The poor old chap is in a terrible condition, but like all good engines he tries best. Then we have my old brother, an LB&SCR 0-6-0t A1 terrier No.72 Fenchurch, who still retains the original design of my class before some of our batch were upgrade like and my class was renamed the A1X Terriers.

Fluttershy: Oh! Some came from the LB&SCR? Isn't that where Thomas came from?

Edward: Yes indeed. He may know them.

Stepney: Ah yes, I've heard about your railway's No. 1 engine. I even knew him when I worked on that railway.

Fluttershy: He would be pleased to see you, I'm sure.

Stepney: Indeed. Anyway, like Cromford, Captain Baxter an 1887 Fletcher Jennings 0-4-0t tank engine is tough too, and unfortunately very rude. But he used to work in at the Dorking Greystone Limeworks at Betchworth Station, and you what that does to an engine and his manners.

Edward: (Gravely) I understand. (Brightening up.) Did you say, 'Fletcher, Jennings and co.'

Stepney: Yes, why?

Edward: Why, 2 of the engines on the Skarloey line came from that very same company. They are…

Stepney: Skarloey and Rheanes, the SkR's No. 1 and No. 2. Of course, I've heard of them. Anyway, like I was saying about Captain Baxter, he's a good sort really and we both miss our work with trucks.

Narrator: Stepney paused and when Mr. Stephenson went into the station for coffee, he whispered to the two ponies, Mr. Holden and Edward.

Stepney: (Whisper) Um Edward, Shining Armor, Mr Holden and Fluttershy. I oughtn't to say this, after everyone's been so kind, but our line is very short and I don't get any good long runs like I used on the southern railway, I miss them dreadfully.

Edward: Never mind Stepney. I'm sure you'll get some while you're here on the NWR.

Fluttershy: So there you go. Every cloud has a silver lining.

Shining Armor: That's right, and I'll be operating you for my trials.

Narrator: Just then, Mr. Stephenson returned. Shining Armor climbed back into stepney's cab and Stepney said good by to Edward and Fluttershy and went to the big station at Tidmouth. There he helped Duck and Big Mac shunt in the yards. All 4 were soon good friends and enjoyed there afternoon together. Thomas arrived with Mr. Roberts, Twilight Sparkle, Annie and Clarabel and stayed for little bit until it was time to for his last branchline train. Twilight didn't see or notice who was with Stepney as they went and Thomas didn't recognise Stepney. But the trains tail lamps were hardly out of sight when the two engines and the two stallions heard a commotion at the station.

Duck: Hullo? Wonder what's up?

Shining Armor: Well your guess is as good as mine Duck.

Stepney: Is this normal on your railway?

Big Macintosh: You have no idea.

Narrator: Presently the night duty foremen came hurrying up. The bell in the cabin on the branchline rang once, 5, pause 5. That means 'shunt to allow following train to pass.' The signalman was puzzled so he telephoned control.

Signalman: Oh, a special is it? Oh yes, I see. Got it!

Narrator: Thomas, Twilight Sparkle and the passengers on there train grumbled at the delay but there was no help for it.

Thomas: Why are waiting? My passengers are getting delayed.

Twilight: Clock is ticking Twilight! Clock is Ticking!

Mr. Roberts: Calm down you two, I'm sorry but we have no choice. We're being shunted to allow another train to pass.

Twilight: Ugh… But I… WHAT?!

Narrator: Soon they all heard an unfamiliar puffing sound. Express headlamps swayed and twinkled in the darkness. Then Stepney, pulling one coach, loomed from the station's lights he slowed to exchange tablets, whistled a greeting and gathered speed into the night. Thomas and Twilight's jaws dropped.

Thomas: (Indignantly) Well bust my boiler!

Twilight: (Disbelief) Well bust my horn!

Narrator: Next morning, they were still fuming.

Thomas: CAN YOU BELIEVE THIS TWILIGHT! SHUNTED! ON MY OWN BRANCHLINE TOO!

Twilight: AND CAUSING DELAY TO OUR PASSENGERS!

Thomas/Twilight: IT'S A DISGRACE! AN ABSOLUTE DISGRACE!

Narrator: And Twilight Sparkle again got so angry her mane and tail turned into flames.

Stepney: Um excuse me. I just want to say I'm sorry for last night. I was a special.

Thomas: Huh? Why?

Stepney: Well you see, an important passenger arrived just as you left. He order a special and Duck and Big Mac let me take it. We had a splendid run, no record braking of course but…

Twilight: It can make an engine nervous to not know the line.

Thomas: Never mind Stepney, perhaps when you know the road as well as I do.

Stepney: Exactly Thomas! You and Twilight are such experts.

Twilight: Hey how did you know my name?

Thomas: And mine?

Shining Armor: From your B.B.B.F.F Sis…

Narrator: Twilight ran over excitedly and hugged her brother as he clambered down and nearly knocked him off hooves.

Twilight: SHINING ARMOR! I didn't know you were driving Stepney! Oh I'm so glad to see you B.B.B.F.F

Shining Armor: Same here Twilight .

Twilight Sparkle: So I see your working for the Bluebell railway.

Shining Armor: Nope, I'm working here. I'm on trial from princess Celestia and Sir Topham Hatt, the Fat Controller.

Stepney: And Thomas, don't you remember back on the LB&SCR, we were shunters together?

Thomas: Wait, Stepney?! Oh my word! I am so glad your here.

Stepney: Glad to see you too Thomas. Now then, I have heard that you run on a branchline. Care to tell us about it?

Narrator: Thomas and Twilight, flattered, felt much better and forgot they were cross. They began telling Stepney and Shining Armor all about Thomas' branchline and the rest of the North Western Railway.

Didn't expect to see Shining Armor, did you? Heh, we also threw some other engines into the conversation between Edward, Fluttershy and Stepney. Nice touches, don't you think? Next is 'Train Stops Play'.