The Iron Bridge Storm

The Iron Bridge Storm

Sodor, 1885, many years ago there used to be another railway before the North Western Railway it was known as the Sodor and Mainland Railway, it was run by three box-tanks engines, but they couldn't handle all the work by themselves so The Manger got a new engine to help with the work on the line.

S&M No.2, Neil, was waiting at the dockyard for the new engine as he was ordered to take the engine to the main station for the main line, soon a large steam boat pulls in to the key-side and they lifted up a large locomotive that got Neil amazed at this new engine.
“Wow” was the only thing Neil could say.

The engine was a large locomotive with two driving wheels, two training wheels and two back wheels, a small thin wide tender, a tall funnel and was painted in a LB&SCR brown lively with yellow lining.

Neil buffers up to the locomotive and sets off to the main station, during the journey talks with each other about their jobs, lines and what type of engines they were.
“So you’re a special type of single wheeler locomotive” said Neil.

“Yes, made us a sort of test engine to see if I can run goods and passenger trains” said the single wheeler “I’m going to be the fast passenger engine for your railway… until your manger gets other engines to help out with the work”.

“Ah I see” said Neil “you got a name?”

“No” said single wheeler “just a number 13 marking that I am the thirteenth engine on my old railway to be built”.

“You’re from the London Bright & South Coast Railway” said Neil “cause of your paint work”.

“Yes and no” said 13 “the LB&SCR helped my company designed and built me”.

“Ohhh” said Neil is a knowing tone.

Soon they arrived at the main station were The Manger was waiting with three coaches on one line and a goods train on the other line.

“Good work Neil now take the goods train to the Skarloey Railway and then help built the new sidings”.

“Aye sir” said Neil, coupling up with the goods train and puffs off as 13 couples up to the coaches and The Manger talks with her.

“Ah understand you’re the new engine we need” he said.

“Yes sir, I am sir” said 13 “but I not have a name sir just a number sir”.

“I see” said “if you work hard enough I might give you one”.

“yes sir, of course sir” said 13, and she puffs off with the passenger train.

13 puffs around with the passenger train all day and got back to the yard and shunt the coaches away and puffs in to a shed near the works.

The next day there was a big storm blowing around, 13 was once again pulling a passenger train this time to the Skarloey Railway and then back again, soon it was time for the afternoon train to Ballahoo just across a bridge that was made out of iron, but Neil had to get some major repairs.

13 was asks to take the train and so she did without arguing, when she got to the station the storm started.

“Oh bother!” groaned 13, but still went on with the passenger train towards the mainline and towards the iron bridge.

“Nearly there, nearly there” said 13 to herself and got to the bridge.

13 was nearly at the bridge but strong winds starts to blow everywhere and the bridge shakes to, 13 got to the bridge when it began to losses way.

“Ohhh dear!” called 13 with the bridge shaking under her, but 13 kept being on as the bridge starts to collapse “oh no!” 13 puffs to the other side as the bridge collapse down as the last coach fairs to the other side “that was close”.

13 got to the main station and the passengers thank her for her bravery as well was The Manger and he finally got a name for 13.

“13 for her brave actions you get a name…” said The Manger “from this day onward 13 you are known as Annabelle!”  

“Thank you sir thank you” said Annabelle smiling cheerful.

Annabelle now works as the main passenger engine and worked on a line between the Skarloey Railway and Ballahoo, from that day she couldn't find anything happy to do.