Work Text:
There are many certain jobs engines enjoy doing. Pulling the express, the mail train, the Flying Kipper, and a special visitor when such an occasion calls for it.
But there is one job every engine hates. And that's taking scrap.
There is one exception, however. Taking scrap to Crock's Scrap Yard on Edward the Blue Engine's branchline isn't so bad.
For one, the scrapped remains are from machines, buildings, and other debris.
And for another, Reg the crane is the friendly sort.
"Morning, Reg!" said Edward, puffing up to the crane with a train full of scrap. "Got some remains from the old work sheds Jack and the Pack tore down."
"Oh, excellent! Thank you, Edward." Reg beamed. "I'll unload them straight away!"
"So do it already!" barked S.C. Ruffey, who was at the head of Edward's train. "This metal weighs a ton!"
"Alright, alright, hold your horses, I'm going." Reg chuckled, unloading the scrap.
In a darker case, the Sodor Ironworks is the area the engines dread the most. That particular area is where the scrapped bodies of engines, vehicles, and rolling stock go to be taken apart, melted down, and made into something new.
Three diesels work at these Scrap Yards.
Iron 'Arry and Iron Bert, two Class 08 diesels hunters.
And Diesel 10, a Class 42 Warship diesel with a long mechanical claw on his roof, useful for picking up objects, particularly scrap.
The three had caused trouble on the island before, similar to the usual suspects Diesel, Bulgy, George, and Spencer.
But over the years, they've mellowed out after working with the steam engines and "steamie-loving" diesels - that and a buttload of punishments from Sir Topham Hatt - set them on the straight and narrow.
Now they tolerate the steamies, keep their scrapping views away, and work hard.
One day, the three diesels were getting up and ready to work when Boco pulled in with a train of fuel.
"About time more fuel was delivered to this joint." Diesel 10 said. "Here I thought we'd be grounded to a halt."
"Sorry it was delayed." Boco apologized. "I hit a lot of red signals."
"Think nothing of it." Diesel 10 said. "Just get it to the fueling station and be on your way."
Boco hooted his horn and went to drop off the fuel.
But no sooner did Boco leave, another long diesel pulled into the scrap yards.
"I didn't know we were hosting." Bert joked.
It was a long blue diesel with the number 199 on it.
"Well, well, well, if it isn't Old Spamcan." Diesel 10 smirked. "What brings you around here?"
"Nice to see you too, 10." Spamcan snorted, rolling his eyes. "The other railway's scrapyards are full. So you guys get this lot right here."
Diesel 10 eyed the train. It was a long line of trucks filled with pieces of scrap.
But at the end in between the last truck and the brake van was the rusted body of a steam engine. It looked to be an LNER B12 like Alfred, but no tender, funnel, or side rods, and a few of the wheel arches were missing.
"Who was the scrap engine?" Diesel 10 asked.
"Don't know, don't care. Probably just some withdrawn nobody." D199 said before smirking. "Do well to dispose of it, or the Scrap Spirit might get you." he teased.
Diesel 10 gave the blue diesel a flat look. "Very funny. And that's the best you can come up with? Scrap Spirit? I've heard better names come from Pinchy."
He clashed his claw as if Pinchy was agreeing with him.
"You are your bloody claw." Spamcan snorted. "Now where are those bumblebees? I need to refuel and get the heck off this wretched island."
He felt a bump push him forwards.
"Oy!"
"Sorry, didn't see you there." 'Arry teased as he took the train away.
D199 growled as Diesel 10 snickered.
Throughout the day after the mainland diesel left, Diesel 10, 'Arry, and Bert continued to work with ease shunting scrap all around the Iron Works.
Yet whenever they passed the Scrap Engine's body, 'Arry and Bert couldn't help but feel like it was watching them.
That night, the diesels were getting ready to head back to the Diesel Works when the manager came to see them.
"I need you guys here bright and early." he said. "Diesel 40125 is bringing in another train. And I know we don't need a backlog of work."
"Great. Thanks a lot, Old Stuck-Up." 'Arry grunted.
"Guess we're spending the night here." said Bert.
"You two have always done that before the Dieselworks was restored." said Diesel 10. "You'll be fine."
The twins grumbled, but reluctantly agreed.
Nightfall soon came.
The three diesels were fast asleep. The workers and manager had all gone home for the night.
As Diesel 10 tried to catch some Z's, he began to hear a creaking noise. He thought nothing of it, thinking it was a mouse wandering through the yard.
But then it grew louder. Diesel 10 was annoyed.
"Grease and oil, what is going on?" he grumbled.
Diesel 10 ventured out into the night and gazed around the smelter's yard.
"Hey, who's out here?!" he demanded.
No one replied. All that was around was the twisted remains of scrapped engines, rolling stock, even a few vehicles. Diesel 10 never really noticed before, but the twisted shapes of scrap amongst the dark sky was kinda creepy. Didn't help that the moon and stars were hidden by clouds.
"Yeesh, I'm starting to see why no one likes venturing out here at night." the Warship diesel replied.
Then, the creaking noise was heard again. Diesel 10 looked to his left and had to blink several times to make sure he wasn't seeing anything.
The scrapped body of the B12 was slowly moving on its own. It creaked and groaned as it moved down the track.
But what shocked Diesel 10 more was the fact that its tender wasn't attached.
"What in blazes?! How is that piece of scrap moving?!" he asked in shock.
The engine suddenly stopped on the junction, blocking Diesel 10's path. The diesel could've sworn he saw something fly out of the funnel and disappear into the darkness.
"What the bell did I just see?" Diesel 10 asked in shock.
The next morning, James was called to move the scrap engine out of the way so the three diesels could be free.
"Now how in heaven's name did you three manage to get yourselves trapped like this?" James quizzed.
"It wasn't any of us, we were all asleep in the shed!" snapped Bert.
"Maybe one of you steamies played a prank on us!" accused 'Arry.
"Calm down you two, they didn't do anything." Diesel 10 grunted.
The other engines were taken aback. "Never thought I would hear that from you." James commented.
"Look, I saw it move last night." Diesel 10 said.
The engines were silent.
"Maybe that fuel Boco dropped off screwed up your head, Diesel 10." sniggered Bert. "How can a scrapped engine move on its own without someone pushing it?"
"He's right. I think you were seeing things." James laughed.
"I know what I saw!" Diesel 10 snapped before pausing. "...I just don't know what."
Work continued on like normal for the diesels as they put any scrapped items in place to be broken up and melted down.
Eventually, Diesel arrived with another train of scrap.
"Here you three go!" he honked. "Courtesy of Old Stuck-Up straight from the Mainland."
Bert was nearby and saw that a part of the train had two more scrapped engines. One looked like a scrapped Class 02 diesel shunter, lacking its siderods, buffers, and roof. The other was a 9F steam engine like Murdoch, but the smokebox door was gone and boiler tubes stuck out of it, it's cab was missing, and it lacked a tender.
"Great, more for us to shunt, as if the sidings weren't packed enough already." snorted Bert.
"You might as well ask Curtis Vale to help take the load off your buffers." Diesel quipped.
Bert blinked. "Who's Curtis Vale?" he asked.
"Come on, Diesel, we gotta get back to the yards." Diesel's driver said.
"See ya later, Bert." said Diesel as he oiled away.
"Ah, I'll ask him another time." said Bert as he got back to work.
That evening, the diesels were too tired and decided to stay at the yards for the night again.
"Be on the look out for moving scrap, Diesel 10." joked 'Arry.
Diesel 10 glared at thrashed Pinchy at them. "I know I saw something off last night. Not sure what though."
"Just get some sleep." said Bert.
And soon they all closed their eyes and fell asleep.
Hours later, odd screeching noises rang out amongst the scrap yards.
Diesel 10 was the first to wake up from the noise.
"There it is again..." he said.
Diesel 10 carefully snuck out of the sheds. He looked around to see if anything was out of place.
So far, all he could see lit by the yard light stands were the same pieces of scrap and yard machinery still in place.
"Coast is clear over here." he murmured.
Then the creaking noise sounded out again.
"There it is." the diesel snarled.
Diesel 10 creeped closer near a crane. Then, his eyes widened when he saw the scrapped body of the Class 02 diesel slowly moving around the line, creaking closer.
"I knew it! I knew I wasn't seeing things!" Diesel 10 whispered loudly. "What to do about it... alter the manager? No, he's asleep. And driver's gone home to bed too."
Diesel 10 then looked up at his claw and smirked.
"Maybe Pinchy should give this odd one a little scare..." Diesel 10 snickered.
He moved slowly closer towards the scrap engine.
"Alright, Pinchy, my little bucket of badness, get ready to spook..."
Diesel 10 was about to go closer when...
"Whaddya doing?"
Diesel 10 almost blew a gasket when he saw that 'Arry and Bert had snuck up to him.
"What the devil are you two doing?!" he hissed.
"I opened my eyes and saw you were gone." said 'Arry. "Bert and I came to see what you were doing."
"So... why are you snooping around the smelter's?" Bert asked.
Diesel 10 grunted. "Because what I saw last night was real." he said. "Look."
The diesels looked to see the scrap diesel in place.
"It's just the husk of one of our own... tragically." Bert said dismissively.
"I think you need to get some sleep, 10." 'Arry suggested. "Lack of creep and you're seeing things."
Diesel 10 growled. "I am not seeing things." he said. "That scrap moved on its own. I could hear the creaking from our shed. And I will prove it."
Diesel 10 moved forward towards the scrap diesel.
"Alright, I don't know what's going on, but I know I saw you move." Diesel 10 said. "Whoever's inside there, I don't know how you managed to make this hunk of metal move... but I do one thing."
Diesel 10 raised Pinchy and clashed him.
"I'm not putting up with your nonsense tonight and neither is Pinchy!" Diesel 10 growled.
Suddenly, a blast of white light shot out from the scrap diesel and flew by the alive ones, making them jump.
"Bust my buffers!" cried 'Arry. "What was that?!"
"I don't know, but it looked like those comet things from space!" Bert said.
"There it goes!" said Diesel 10.
The light flew into the scrapped 9F. It glowed briefly before it suddenly began to move. It creaked loudly as its rusted wheels turned.
"It's moving!" cried 'Arry.
"It's a ghost!" Bert yelled.
"Let's get outta here!" 'Arry suggested.
'Arry and Bert raced away out of the scrap yards.
"Hey, get back here!" Diesel 10 yelled.
Suddenly, the scrapped 9F slammed into the back of the warship diesel.
"Gah! Hey, watch it!"
The scrapped 9F suddenly wheeshed loudly. It's steam was blood red.
Diesel 10 froze before he decided, "Forget this! I'm not dealing with a ghost tonight!"
And he raced away.
The next morning, Edward arrived at Wellsworth station to collect his passengers when he was met with a surprise.
In the yard shed, the three diesels were asleep.
"'Arry? Bert? Diesel 10?" Edward called.
The diesels woke up.
"Oh, Edward!" Bert said. "What uh... what are you doing here?"
"Collecting my train..." Edward slowly replied. "Why are you in the yard sheds?"
"Uh... couldn't sleep at the Iron Works!" 'Arry quickly said. "The wind was howling through the twisted metal, made all sorts of weird noises, bit hard to sleep."
"Just carry on with your passenger work. Don't let our unexpected sleepover derail you." Diesel 10 said dismissively. "Come on, you two."
Without another word, Diesel 10, 'Arry, and Bert turned on the turntable and rolled away.
At that moment, Stanley arrived with a train of goods vans filled with vegetables.
"Did that seem weird to you, Edward?" the silver tank engine asked. "They sounded so skittish. I mean, the scrap twins I get, but Diesel 10 too?"
"James did mention he saw something move two nights ago... a scrap engine I believe." Edward reminisced. "I did find it strange that he would say something like that... but he seemed so sure about it too."
"You think something supernatural is up, don't you?" Stanley assessed.
"Maybe." the NWR's No. 2 said. "I'll talk to them when I get the chance."
Back at the Smelter's, the manager was waiting crossly for the diesels once they arrived.
"Where were you?!" he demanded. "I came to wake you up and you weren't here! Diesel 261 had to shunt his train, which was hard for him!"
'Arry and Bert winced at his tone, though Diesel 10 tried to calm things down.
"Sorry, sir. We were startled by a strange noise last night." he said. "The twins ran off and I followed to make sure they were okay. We stayed at Wellsworth."
The manager calmed down and thought for a moment. "Hmm... I see... it was probably just the wind." he said. "Just carry on with your work and make up for the backlog."
"Yes sir!" the diesels said in unison as they scurried back to work.
But as they did, they kept their eye out for the white light from last night, seeing if any scrap engines moved on their own. But nothing happened.
That night, the engines were trying to sleep. But the thought of more scrap engines coming to life kept them awake.
"I don't like this..." said Bert.
"Neither do I." 'Arry said in agreement. "Whatever that thing was last night, I bet it's watching us!"
"Why can't we just go back to the Dieselworks?" 'Arry asked.
"Because they're closed for power failure, unfortunately." Diesel 10 gruffed. "Bear said they won't be active again until morning. We'll just have to bear it out here."
'Arry and Bert didn't want to, but they knew they had to spend the night here again.
Eventually, the three diesels didn't spy a thing, so they ended up going to sleep.
It was a little after 4:00 p.m. when a creaking noise sounded out across the yards.
Diesel 10 was the first one to wake up. "Hey. 'Arry. Bert. It's happening again!" he said.
The twins slowly woke up.
"Come on, let's try this again." said Diesel 10.
"How are you not scared?" Bert asked incredulously.
"He has a claw on his roof." 'Arry pointed out. "And he works with us here. He also survived off that Little Dipper viaduct."
"That and I know magic exists, so I know ghosts aren't that far-fetched." Diesel 10 said. "Come on!"
"Can't we just stay here?" 'Arry pleaded.
Diesel 10 grunted. "Bust my buffers, and I thought Splodge was dense."
"Hey, we're better than Splatter and Dodge!" retorted Bert.
"Then prove it." the larger diesel challenged.
Reluctantly, the scrap twins followed Diesel 10 out of their sheds.
The three diesels ventured out into the dark ended scrap yards.
The yard lights barely helped ease their worries.
"See anything moving, you two?" Diesel 10 asked.
"Not yet." said 'Arry. "But Bert and I are keeping our eyes-"
Suddenly, a loud creaking noise was heard, making the diesels stop.
"There's the creaking puffball." Diesel 10 sneered. "Hold your ground, you two."
"We'll try." said 'Arry.
And then, coming into view, was a scrapped LNER A1, missing its buffers, coupling hooks, break pipes, and dome.
"Alright, you little sneak! Who are you?! Show yourself!"
Suddenly, the scrap engine glowed an ominous white light... and then a white light flew out of the engine's smokebox and landed on the tracks, making the diesels jump.
It then stood up, revealing the faded figure of what looked like a man wearing worker's overalls, a cap, boots, and coated in smudges.
He glared coldly at the diesels.
"It's a ghost! A ghost man!" Bert shrieked.
Diesel 10 tried to pluck up courage as he looked at the ghost. "Alright... who are you? And why are you chasing a mess of the smelter's yard?" he demanded.
The ghost said nothing. He continued to glare daggers into Diesel 10.
"Are you deaf or just too stubborn to speak? Why are you here?" Diesel 10 demanded again, raising his claw.
"Uh, you know your claw won't work against a ghost, right?" Bert asked.
The ghost said nothing as he turned around and disappeared as soon as he made contact with the scrapped A1.
"Okay..." Diesel 10 said in confusion.
The scrapped A1 suddenly began to back up down the line, creaking loudly.
"Is he... leaving?" 'Arry asked, confused.
"I hope so." Bert muttered.
Suddenly, the A1 wheeshed red stream.
"Bust my buffers!" yelped Diesel 10.
Suddenly, the A1 shot forwards, it's scrapped body screeching like mad, and rammed into Diesel 10 so hard that he fell off the rails at the bend.
"Ouch!" Diesel 10 yelled as he skidded against the rubble.
'Arry and Bert were shocked.
The ghost suddenly shot out and into the scrapped Class 01 diesel engine. Screeching loudly, it shot forwards and rammed into 'Arry from behind.
'Arry screamed as he rolled forwards and derailed on the points.
"'Arry!" cried Bert.
"Bert, get outta here!" 'Arry cried.
Bert tried to reverse away, but then, a scrapped Sterling Single crashed into him so hard that he rolled right into the derailed 'Arry.
"How is he doing that?! Those scrapped engines can't travel that fast!" Bert cried.
"He's a bloomin' ghost! They're unpredictable!" 'Arry snapped.
Creaking noises of scrapped engines echoes across the scrap yards.
"I think we're gonna need help..." Diesel 10 said to himself.
The next morning, Madge the snub-nosed truck drove into the scrap yards, her flatbed full of crates.
"Hello!" Madge honked. "I got the new tools and cleaning supplies-footplates and fenders!"
Madge stared in shock as she saw... dozens of scrapped engines and machinery scattered all across the yards. The husks of engines once living were on and off the rails.
And 'Arry, Bert, and Diesel 10 were still derailed as well.
"What happened here?!" Madge exclaimed.
"Madge! Please, go get help!" Diesel 10 yelled. "We're stuck!"
"And trapped!" 'Arry called.
"In more ways than one!... As you can see." added Bert.
"Right away!" Madge said.
Her trailer was unhooked and Madge raced away to find help.
Eventually, the nearest engines had come to help.
Thomas, Gator, and Diesel shunted the scrap engines on the line out of way.
And Hiro had brought Rocky to lift Diesel 10, 'Arry, and Bert onto flatbeds to be taken away for repairs. Once that was accomplished, Rocky lifted the scrap engines back into the line for Diesel and the tank engines to shunt out of the way.
"How are you three feeling?" Rocky asked.
"Still sore from being rammed off the line." 'Arry grunted.
"How did this even happen?" asked Gator. "I have never seen such a mess in my life, even in a scrap yard."
"It looks like someone played a sneak attack on these three, knocked them off the line, and then left the scrapyards in a mess." said Thomas.
"Whoever did this probably has it out for you." Diesel joked.
"Diesel, show some sympathy." scolded Hiro. "Your friends could've been hurt." He looked up at the diesels. "Do not worry, you're safe now. I am sure Den and Dart will have you looked over in no time."
"Thanks, Hiro." Diesel 10 said with a weak smile.
Sir Topham Hatt walked up. "Do you three know who was responsible for this?"
The diesels weren't sure what to tell him.
"Whatever you can tell the authorities and I, it would be very helpful." Sir Topham Hatt said, an officer holding a notebook walking up beside him.
"It... may have been an engine..." Bert said slowly.
"But it was dark." 'Arry quickly said. "You know how these lights flicker."
"Do you think it was one of the Sodor engines?" the officer asked.
"Certainly not." said Diesel 10. "The lights were dark! For all we know, it could've been a disgruntled worker hijacking us."
"It did happen very fast." said Bert.
"That is a distinct possibility." nodded Sir Topham Hatt.
"But then how do you explain the scrap engines scattered all over the yard?" the officer asked.
"Some things are still a mystery." Sir Topham Hatt said gravely. "But I'm sure they can be looked into."
"I hope so. If whoever did this was mad enough to cause this kind of mess, who knows what else they can do across the island." Gator said.
Diesel 10 looked determined. "Once I'm repaired, I'm gonna start asking all the right questions..." he said.
Thankfully, the diesels weren't too damaged and were out of the works in no time.
But Diesel 10 didn't go straight to the scrap yards. Instead, he went further down the line to find someone.
He soon came to Cronkite Scrap Yard where he found Reg putting some scrap in the crusher.
"Reg? Hey, Reg!" the diesel shouted, honking his horn.
Reg turned to face him. "Oh! Hello, Diesel 10! What brings you this way?"
"Edward. Have you seen him?" the warship diesel asked.
"He told me he had to pick up a load of jobi wood from Misty Island." Reg said. "They're building a new shed for Trevor."
"Right. Thanks." Diesel 10 gruffed as he rolled away.
He eventually arrived near the Vicarage Orchard. Edward was there with the load of jobi wood. Jerome and Judy were unloading it.
Edward was surprised to see Diesel 10 come up to him.
"Diesel 10? What brings you down to the orchard?" Edward asked.
"I think there's a ghost haunting the scrap yards, Edward." Diesel 10 replied without hesitation. "And no, it's not the puffball who lost his whistle."
"Explain." Edward said.
Diesel 10 told Edward about the scrap engines moving, the ghost man, and how last night the ghost possessed the husks of scrap engines, bashed him, 'Arry, and Bert off the rails, and made a mess of the yard.
Edward was surprised. "Bust my boiler, that is a problem."
"Do you think you know who's responsible for it?" Diesel 10 asked.
"Maybe." said Edward. "But I would need a little more to go on."
Diesel 10 thought for a moment. "Well... that Spamcan fella mentioned a scrap merchant ghost or somethin' the day this all started. And Diesel mentioned the name Curtis Vale. Ring a bell?"
"Curtis Vale... Curtis Vale..." Edward murmured before gasping. "I know who's haunting you!"
"Explain." Diesel 10 said. "I wanna know who we're dealing with."
"Very well." Edward said. "I heard this story back in October of 1970 from a visiting diesel engine... his number was 31120 I think."
"That's Dwayne." Diesel 10 said. "Tragically scrapped in 1994. Carry on."
"He told me a story about a scrap merchant that's been circling the Mainland for decades." said Edward. "And that... was Curtis Vale."
Flashback:
We see a younger version of the man Diesel 10, 'Arry, and Bert encountered... and alive. He was helping repair a section of the line
"Curtis Vale was a regular workman who helped out with maintenance around the mainland during the 1940's."
"Alright, you are all set to go!" Curtis said to an LNER A3.
"Thank you, Mr. Vale!" the express engine said as he puffed down the line to collect his train.
"He was professional in his job, always kind to those who worked on the railway, human, engine, etc."
Curtis was now working on a signal. An Ivatt Class tank engine was working with him and the other workmen.
Soon, the single moved to show a green light.
"Another successful job!" Curtis grinned.
"Thank you for taking care of our railway's maitenence." the Ivatt engine smiled.
Curtis patted him on the buffer. "It's what we do." he said kindly. "We help keep you running as we all do our part to keep the railway running."
Curtis also worked on the engines as he worked on a Haydock Foundry Well Tanks.
"There you go!" he said, tightening a bolt. "Now your side rods and coupling rods are fixed. I also fitted you with six new brake pipes; four front, two back. Isn't that just nifty?"
"It is!" the engine smiled, looking herself over. "And did you give me a new coat of paint?"
"Yes, I did." said Curtis. "Mort suggested the blue. Matches the sky."
The engine giggled.
"So he seemed like a nice guy. What happened to him?"
"I'm afraid the railway fell on hard times in 1969. Because of that, many workers lost their jobs. Curtis was among them. And I'm sorry to say that the controller wasn't exactly the most comfroting..."
Curtis was confronting the then-controller of the Mainland.
"Sir, please, you can't fire us, at least not me!" he begged.
"Sorry, Mr. Vale, but that's just the way the economy is." the controller said dismissively. "Besides, you lot are expendable."
"Expendable?!" Curtis exclaimed. "Sir, I've worked for this line doing various jobs for 15 years!"
"Then I'd say you're past your prime." the controller sniffed.
Curtis glared. "First of all, you're 5 years older than me! Second, how am I supposed to pay the bills? Keep a roof over my head? Afford food, water, electricity?"
"What you do is none of my concern." the controller said, walking away. "Now begone, you're fired, remember?"
And he got into his car to drive off to his office, Curtis glaring behind him.
"Yes, Curtis took his firing hard. While he couldn't blame the economy entirely, he hated how easily dismissed he was by the controller. He decided to no longer work on the railway again. But I'm afraid to say he had fallen within the wrong crowd. While trying to find another job, Curtis had heard whispers about a group of scrap merchants, people who would take valuable engine parts and sell them for a good profit. So he decided to take advantage of that."
Curtis is seen stealing parts from engines lined up to be taken for the cutter's torch.
"As many steam engines were deemed obsolete under the Beeching Act and were going to be scrapped without having any say in the matter, Curtis took to taking their parts and sell them for money."
He managed to sneak past workman on the job, hiding behind buildings, trucks, machinery, and piles of scrap with ease.
Curtis then handed the parts to some shifty looking characters.
"These are useful." one man said, handing him some money. "Sorry you can't do this for a regular scrapyard."
"They'd get suspicious and report me to the police." Curtis huffed, taking the money. "Besides, why should I work for the railway again after it turned its back on me?"
"Wasn't it the economy?" another man asked.
Curtis glared at him. "It doesn't matter. The controller didn't give a bother about me and my fellow fired co-workers, after all we've done for the railway. He just sees us as indisposable. And I'll show them how they messed up."
"Curtis began taking risks. It wasn't just engines on the scrap line he was taking parts from, but engines that weren't even scheduled for scrapping. Steam or diesel, he would snatch as much stuff as he could; biggers, siderods, brakepipes, whistles, and more."
Curtis stole a whistle from a sleeping E2 tank engine, who woke up just to see him run away into the night.
"Help! Stop! Thief! He has my whistle!"
"This went on for a couple of years... until 1971. Curtis had targeted an A4 Pacific."
"Isn't that Spencer's class?"
"Yes, though I don't remember which one. What I do know is that she wasn't due for scrapping. Curtis' greed got the better of him."
Curtis sawed off the whistle.
"Ouch! Hey! Help! The scrapping thief is back!" she wailed.
"What Curtis didn't realize was that a police car was nearby on patrol. He had gotten careless with his surroundings."
The sirens wailed as Curtis saw the red lights flash around him.
"Blast! I'd better leg it faster!"
Curtis ran over the hills as the cars chased him. He had gotten a headstart. However, they were catching up fast.
"Curtis ended up at the scrapyards and hid behind some trucks. But the police had surrounded the yards, questioning the engines, trucks, and staff."
"I've gotta find a back door and slip away..." Curtis mumbled.
Curtis carefully ventured around the smelter's shed, coming near a crane that had seen better days. It was lifting a scraped engine's boiler to be thrown into the melting pot. But the hook's rope was old and in need of replacing.
As Curtis began to run for the exit, he tripped on the points and fell onto the rails.
"Agh! My ankle!" he cried.
And it just so happened that he had fallen near the crane.
Then there was trouble. The rope began to tear apart.
Curtis heard it as he looked up. By the time his head faced the boiler... It was too late.
SNAP!
Curtis' scream echoed through the shed.
SMASH!
The police heard the crash and ran inside with the workman and manager. They all gasped when they saw the scene.
The engine's boiler had landed on the track... and Curtis' arms and legs stook out from under it, his blood coating the piece of scrap.
"Good lord, look at that!" said Ulli, one of the diesels working there at the time.
"What a mess!" said an officer.
"Dear lord, this is gonna be one for the papers." sighed another.
Then, a workman noticed something. "What's that next to his hand?" he asked.
An officer walked towards the body and saw the A4's whistle near Curtis' limp, cold, hand. He picked it up.
"I think we found our scrap merchant." he said. "And he won't be thieving anymore..."
Present:
Diesel 10 winced. "Yikes... getting crushed to death by an engine's boiler? That isn't a good way to go." he said.
"Indeed. I still remember being knocked over by accident by Big Mickey lifting a ships' boiler." said Edward. "They called a rail crane to take it away. They identified Curtis and his remains were returned to his family. They were devastated by both his loss and the lengths he went to to make a new, dishonest living... even though they didn't blame him. They took their anger out on the controller. Something must've worked because he was out of office within a fortnight."
"Serves him right for being harsh towards those he had no choice but to fire." Diesel 10 snorted.
"Mr. Vale's remains were buried in his hometown. Police searched his home and found the parts he had yet to sell. And a phone number on paper led them to the people he sold the parts too and many were apprehended within a week. The parts were all returned to the engines or the scrapyards they were stolen from." Edward went on. He paused. "But a year later, a few diesels working at the smelters claimed to had seen what looked like a ghostly figure of a man walk into the body of a scrapped LNER B17... and made it move. The creaking noises it made echoed across the whole yard and frightened the engines and people. And at one point, it charged at one of the diesels so hard it was knocked right off the rails."
"How is that even possible?" Diesel 10 asked.
"Some theorize that the ghost was Curtis Vale, given the descriptions they've used." Edward replied. "They say his ghost is so full of anger at the world that he used it to force the husks of engines to move under his own power. It seems in death he blamed the railway. And that's how the ghost of Curtis Vale exacts his revenge, even after all these decades."
Diesel 10 was silent after Edward finished the story.
"Looks like Mr. Vale entered our yards. He must've been on the train Spamcan brought in." Diesel 10 theorized. "And here I thought he was just joking..."
"He may have not known." said Edward.
"Well, what are we gonna do?" Diesel 10 asked. "If this keeps up, 'Arry, Bert, and I will be out of a job. The workman might get spooked so much that they'll quit. And I know you don't want to burden Reg with all the work if the smelters closes down. And he doesn't like dealing with scrapped engines."
"Don't worry." smiled Edward. "Tonight, that all changes. I will join you and the twins after sunset."
"You're either brave or foolish, Edward." Diesel 10 commented, through a smile was on his face.
"I guess we'll see after dark." Edward chuckled. He then thought for a moment. "I have an idea as to how we can lure Curtis' ghost out. Some bait oughta do the trick."
"I'll see what we can find." Diesel 10 said.
That night, Edward ventured down the line towards the Iron Works. His light shone through the darkness of the night.
He eventually arrived at the yards.
Diesel 10, 'Arry, and Bert were waiting by the sidings, their lamps lit and brightening the dimly lit scrap yards.
"Finally! You're here!" said 'Arry.
"Sorry I took so long." Edward apologized. "The mail train started early. I had to wait for Percy to puff through. Is everyone gone?"
"Yes." said Bert. "Manager's been home in bed for hours and the night shift just finished."
Now then, did you get the bait?"
"Show him, Pinchy." said Diesel 10.
Pinchy moved over and gestured towards the smelter's shed.
On the line was the body of a scrapped LNER D15.
"Looks like Molly, don't it?" asked Bert. "Only this one was brought down from the Mainland by Splatter and Dodge double-hea."
"Must've been nice to see them again, eh, Diesel 10?" Edward joked.
Diesel 10 rolled his eyes. "Yes. Sure. Let's go with that." the warship snorted. "The engine is in good shape despite being rusted. Guess the workman on the Mainland never bothered to cut this one up before decided it took up too much space."
"That's fine for us." said Edward. "It has one last job to do... bait Curtis Vale so we can confront him."
"Do you think this Vale guy will show up?" asked 'Arry.
Then, the air grew cold around the four engines.
"I think he's here." said Bert, nervous.
Then, a white light appeared around the scrapped D15.
"You're right." Diesel 10 gruffed. "The merchant approaches... Edward?"
"Right." the blue engine nodded.
Edward slowly puffed ahead of the diesels and switched onto the line the scrapped engine was on. He puffed boldly forward towards it.
"Curtis Vale, I presume?" Edward asked. "You can come out."
The scrapped husk stopped glowing. And out came a white light that formed the shape of a man.
It was the ghost of Curtis Vale.
He glared coldly at Edward.
But the old blue engine wasn't phased.
"Mr. Vale. I've heard your story straight from your old home." Edward said calmly. "I would like to quickly say that I am sorry about what happened in the final years of your life. You lost your job along with many others while your controller didn't give a care as to what you should do, and you fell in with the wrong crowd in order to keep a roof over your head. Even if you got too greedy for revenge and money, you didn't deserve to be crushed." Edward then became stern. "But taking it out on the railways is not the way to achieve your revenge. The engines did nothing to you. These diesels here did nothing to you. And yet you still spooked them, trapped them, and knocked them off the rails. This isn't healthy. You must stop this madness."
Curtis glared at Edward, clenching his fists.
"Don't think you can scare me." the old engine said back.
Curtis suddenly stepped backwards and the scrap engine glowed.
"He's not listening!" cried 'Arry. "What do we do!?"
"Plan B! Ram him!" said Diesel 10.
The scrap engine began to puff forwards, but Edward rushed forward and bashed his buffers against him.
But the husk was pushing back against him.
"I could... use... some help!" Edward strained.
Diesel 10 rushed up behind Edward and buffered up behind him. The two engines push with all their might.
But the possessed scrap engine was pushing back against the steamie and diesel, loud creaking noises echoing through the air.
"His rage for revenge is making him strong...!" Edward wheezed.
"Should've dragged Murdoch, Hiro, Flying Scotsman, or even Sam into this!" Diesel 10 grunted. "Barry! Get over here and help us!"
"Uh, it's 'Arry-" 'Arry began.
"JUST GET OVER HERE!" Diesel 10 snapped.
"Right! Coming!" Bert yelled.
Bert rolled up behind Diesel 10 and 'Arry followed suite.
The four engines pushed against the scrap engine with all their might. Sparks flew from all the wheels on the rails.
"He's too strong...!" cried 'Arry.
"For a ghost!" added Bert.
"Just... keep... pushing...!" strained Edward.
Diesel 10 then had an idea. He spotted a scrapped wheel by the track. He used his claw to pick it up and fling it. It bounced off the scrap engine.
Within the husk of the scrap engine, Curtis' ghost was startled enough to the point he became distracted.
The four engines were soon shoving the scrap engine so fast into the smelting sheds.
The scrapped D15 was shoved through the buffers and fell into the melting pit... but Edward was on the edge!
"Bust my boiler!" Edward cried.
"Hold on, Edward!" shouted Diesel 10.
As he had no Driver, Diesel 10 had to extend his claw out and grabbed Edward's cap. He quickled pulled Edward to safety.
"Phew! Thank you, Diesel 10. Thank you..." Edward said in relief.
"Hey, I'm over scrapping you guys for no reason. Wasn't gonna let you fall in for no reason." Diesel 10 smirked.
Then, a white wisp of light flew out of the melting pit and through the ceiling.
"What was that?" asked Bert.
"I think Mr. Vale has finally departed..." Edward said.
The next morning, Sir Topham Hatt had been summoned to the scrap yards. Edward was telling him everything while the diesels watched from their sheds.
"So that's what happened and why your cab needs to be replaced?" Sir Topham Hatt asked.
"Yes, sir." Edward replied. "You know I would never lie to you."
Sir Topham Hatt nodded and smiled. "Thank you, Edward. Head to the Steamworks right away. Boco and Derek will look after your trains. And thank you for helping deal with the problem. I'll speak to the diesels for their effort soon."
"Of course, sir." Edward said as he puffed in reverse to join the diesels.
"So, he believed you? Just like that?" 'Arry asked.
"Sodor's full of crazy stuff." Diesel 10 said. "Ghosts probably don't phase him."
"He knows I would never make stuff up." said Edward. "I have been around for a long time and have seen many things that have been told as ghost stories. If anyone asks, we'll just say it was some nutter who skipped the island and won't bother us again."
"You were really brave standing up to Vale, Eddie." quipped Bert.
Edward chuckled. "This isn't my first time dealing with a ghost at the scrap yards. Remember when Dennis and I dealt with Lionel?"
"The ghost engine wandering around here for his lost whistle? Yeah, I remember, hearin' 'bout that." said Bert. "'Arry was being repaired and Diesel 10 was helping out on the other railway."
"And then there's Destiny." Edward added.
"Ah, yes, Gordon and Scotsman's late experimental A3 sister." said Diesel 10. "I don't know if it was bad or not that scrap engine wandered around the island beyond these yards."
"Speaking of wander, you don't think Curtis Vale is gonna come back here or across Sodor, do you?" asked 'Arry.
Edward smiled. "I think he realized that as long as we attempt to fight back, he won't stand a chance." he said. "I can only hope that he can find peace."
And everyone agreed.
Edward eventually had his cab repaired and was back on his branchline.
Diesel 10, 'Arry, and Bert were able to catch up with work. And it helped that no more scrap engines came to life and tried to cause trouble in the yards.
There were no more sightings of Curtis Vale. Perhaps Edward's theory about him moving on was correct.
One can only hope that he won't return and force any scrap engines to do what he did...
Run again from beyond the grave.
CAST
Thomas - Joseph May
Edward - William Hope
James - Rob Rackstraw
Diesel - Kerry Shale
Boco - Kevin Frank
Spamcan/D199 - Rupert Degas
'Arry - Kerry Shale
Bert - William Hope
Diesel 10 - Neil Crone
Stanley - John Schwab
Hiro - Togo Igawa
Gator - Clive Mentle
Ulli - John Schwab
S.C. Ruffey - John Hasler
Rocky - William Hope
Madge - Jules de Jongh
Reg - Tim Whitnall
Sir Topham Hatt - Kerry Shale
Curtis Vale - Alfred Molina
Additional Voices:
Neil Crone
William Hope
Teresa Gallagher
Rob Rackstraw
Kevin Michael Richardson
John Schwab
Kerry Shale
Shelby Young
And once again, I did my Halloween Marathon. One movie and one or more TV show episode or special a day, watched on DVD, Blu-Ray, Disney+, Netflix, Amazon Prime, Hulu, Tubi, PlutoTV, YouTube, Dailymotion, Google Drive, WatchCartoonsOnline, DisneyNow, recordings on my TV, and in theaters.
The 2025 candidates were:
1. Beetlejuice/Phineas and Ferb - One Good Scare Oughta Do It!, That's the Spirit!, The Curse of Candace, Druselsteinoween, and Night of the Living Pharmacists
2. Spirit Halloween: The Movie/Hey Arnold! - Haunted Train, Four-Eyed Jack, Arnold's Halloween, The Headless Cabbie, Sid the Vampire Slayer, and Ghost Bride
3. Hotel Transylvania/The Suite Life of Zack and Cody - Ghost of 613 and Arwinstein
4. Hocus Pocus/The Ghost and Molly McGee - Frightmares on Main Street
5. 2023 Thanksgiving/Kiff - Totally Tabletown, Trevor's Halloween Bash, Trevor's Rockin' Halloween Bash, The Haunting of Mrs. McGravy's House, and Ye Olde Candy Shoppe Of Horrors
6. Tale of the Brave/Primos - Summer of La Muñeca and Summer of Hacienda Chills
7. I Know What You Did Last Summer/The Loud House - Tricked!, Ghosted!, Fright Bite, Haunted House Call, Great Lakes Freakout, Bye, Bye Birthday, A Bite in Transylvania, The Winning Spirit, Treasure Haunt, and Close Encounters of the Nerd Kind
8. Ghostbusters/Knight Squad - Fright Knight
9. Sinners/Amphibia - The Shut-In!
10. Heart Eyes/2017 DuckTales - The Trickening!
11. Hocus Pocus 2/Marvel's Zombies
12. Ghostbusters II/Sing: Thriller
13. Hotel Transylvania 2/Gravity Falls - Sumerween
14. I Still Know What You Did Last Summer/The Suite Life on Deck - The Ghost and Mr. Martin
15. Shaun of the Dead/Helluva Boss - Ghostf*ckers
16. Ghostbusters: Answer the Call/The Owl House - Thanks to Them
17. Beetlejuice Beetlejuice/Paw Patrol - Pups and a Ghost Ship, Pups Save a Ghost, Pups and the Ghost Cabin, and Pups save the Trick-or-Treaters
18. A Really Haunted Loud House/The Haunted Thundermans
19. The Nightmare Before Christmas/Mickey and Friends: Trick or Treats
20. Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation/The Fairly Oddparents - Scary Godparents
21. Casper/The Casagrandes - New Haunts, Fails From the Crypt, Bad Cluck, The Curse of the Candy Goblin, and Phantom Freakout
22. Ghostbusters: Afterlife/The Bad Guys Haunted Heist
23. Renfield/The Thundermans - Happy Heroween
24. 2025 I Know What You Did Last Summer/The Really Loud House - Sweet Dreams Are Made With Cheese
25. 2024 Abigail/Toy Story of Terror!
26. Stitch Head/The Fairly Oddparents: A New Wish - Fearless
27. A Haunting in Venice/Rubble & Crew - The Crew Fixes a Haunted House
28. Monster Summer/Tiny Toon Adventures - The Horror of Slumber Party Mountain
29. Hell of a Summer/Lilo & Stitch: The Series - Spooky, Snooty, and Belle
30. Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire/Fireman Sam - Mummy's Little Pumpkin
31. DOUBLE FEATURE: 1991 The Addams Family & The Addams Family Values and Thomas and Friends - Scaredy Engines, Haunted Henry, Thomas, Percy, and the Dragon, Percy's Ghostly Trick, Toby's Discovery, Bad Day at Castle Loch, Percy and the Haunted Mine, Duncan Gets Spooked, Rusty and the Boulder, Stepney Gets Lost, Jack Frost, Percy's Scary Tale, Halloween, and Flour Power)
(Underlined episodes were watched on the Thomas' Halloween Adventures DVD)