TGR but There's a Roleswap (2x5)

Chapter 8 - Troublesome "Trucks"

Word Count: 674

The following day, James left Kildane Sheds as quickly as possible to Tidmouth Yards to meet up with Edward, who he'd managed to get a space at Tidmouth Sheds for the night and pick up the Honeypot coaches.

When James pulled into Tidmouth Yards, he was about to head for the carriage sheds when he saw something blocking his path. "What the..." His path was blocked by a goods train—a weird one at that. There were odd large boxes randomly placed within the trucks, which were full of stone. The bright red medium-sized tender engine could care though. This train was in his way. But as he was about to switch points, Diesel came roaring into the yard. "'Ey! Don't touch those trucks, red rusty! That's my train right there."

Of course, James thought. He knew the shunters at Tidmouth well enough to know that they wouldn't leave this sort of mess. "What're you doing here? You work at Vicarstown, not Tidmouth," he scolded.

"I need to show Sir Topham Hatt something really special," Diesel replied smugly with a snicker. "You better not move them. I'm going to need them in a moment." With that, Diesel laughed as he rolled away, his wheels whirring as he headed to the platform of the Fat Controller's office.

James groaned and rolled his eyes. "Ugh! I don't have the time for this," he exasperated. He backed away and switched over to the line where the oddly placed train started. As one of the yardmen coupled him up, Edward appeared from the roundhouse that was Tidmouth Shed.

"Guid mornin', James!" exclaimed Edward as he left the roundhouse. "Whit've ye got?"

"Some goods train some-engine left. I can't get to the coaches with this in the way," James replied. With a whiff and a puff, he tried to pull but the small train wouldn't budge.

Meanwhile, in the south area of the yard, the Fat Controller walked out of his office with a clipboard in hand. Today was the day before The Great Railway Show, and Sir Topham Hatt II needed to look for the final contestant he planned on taking. He looked around, hoping to find them but only saw Donald heading in his direction.

"Hold it right there, Donald!" he exclaimed.

The navy blue tender engine came to a halt. "Is thare a problem, sir?"

"Have you seen James? I need to speak with him."

"I saw him up near the carriage shed, sir."

"Good. I need you to take me there then."

"O' course, sir!"

The Fat Controller quickly climbed into Donald's cab. With two whistles and a puff, Donald backed down the track.

James struggled to move the train. "Oh, come on!" he huffed. He blasted his whistle as loud as he could and continued to pull.

Edward was about to move forward when he noticed something odd. He frowned. His eyes could've been playing tricks on him but those big boxes...

Are they moving by themselves?

"Uh, James?" called out Edward, right as an engine stormed by. "Those boxes. They're movin' by thaimselves!"

The noise of rails rattling had muffled most of Edward's sentence, only allowing James to catch on to the last bit. "Yes, I'm moving them by myself! Just-"

The trucks bashed against him.

"Shit!" Frightened, James accidentally released his brakes, making it easier for the "trucks" to push against him. "Hey, stop! Stop!" he yelled as he slipped and was pushed back.

Edward hollered out as he rushed towards him. "James!"

Donald arrived with the Fat Controller, who peaked out of the engine's cab to see James being pushed. "James?" he hollered as Donald popped open his smokebox door to see the same thing.

The navy blue six-driver gasped, realizing that something wasn't right. Shutting his smokebox door, he quickly moved forward, away from the area right as Norman passed by. "Norman, stop!" he hollered.

Diesel rushed back and exclaimed, "My surprise!"

Edward saw Norman coming right after, immediately pulling on his brakes. "James!"

James and Norman screamed as they collided.