Meanwhile...

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***Meanwhile...*** is the fifth episode of the ninth series of *The Dark Railway Series*.

## Plot

Caracus Smash is generally enjoying his time out on the national network, but his experience is hampered by the presence of Barry, who is refusing to go home after following him there. One day, during an open day at his base depot, he is engaged in conversation by three other mainline engines who compliment him for his appearance and nameplates. The leader, Green Arrow, gives Caracus an offer to join their exclusive little club, but Barry turns up before he can accept. The three engines are disgusted by Barry's presence, and despite Caracus' insistence that they aren't friends Green Arrow orders him to get rid of him before he retracts his offer. Caracus takes Barry aside and angrily berates him for ruining every opportunity presented to him with his insanity. He ends the conversation by yelling at Barry to go away, leaving Barry feeling hurt and dejected.

Back in the south, Ed and Sid are on a startup heritage railway in Hampshire which they used to occasionally frequent back in their S&D days. Tired of being inactive for so long, they actually agree to work hard to help the volunteers there, and assist with a test train to give feedback on the permanent way. They then proceed to operate the line's passenger trains, satisfied with the arrangements despite missing their home. Back in the north, Leno is also settling in well on his heritage line. He is tasked with pulling the line's vintage train and is commended by the resident engines for his handling of the line's gradients. One day Leno is at the line's bottom station where it meets the mainline and waits for a railtour to pass through. He is alarmed when he sees the engine on the front of the train, and stunned when he realises how it is even possible.

Caracus refuses to speak to Barry in the wake of their confrontation. On the same day as Leno's encounter, Caracus leaves to take a mainline charter. As Barry contemplates going home after all, news comes in that Caracus has failed and is in need of rescue. The three mainline engines refuse to go, not wanting to spoil their paintwork in the rain or miss out on any glory, and deride Caracus for his association with Barry. Barry angrily calls them out on their attitudes before proceeding to help him himself. When he arrives, however, he is surprised to find Caracus accompanied by none other than Repulse! Repulse reveals she was called in to help too, and after Barry informs him of the engines' comments she assures Caracus that he is better off not being involved with them. Barry admits that he still cares about Caracus, calling him by his proper name for the first time as a way of showing his sincerity. He also admits that he knows he can be irritating to be around and promises to try and better himself while Caracus apologises for how he has treated him.

The three engines proceed back to Carnforth, where Repulse makes the others promise not to mention her to anyone before departing. The other engines sneer at Barry, but Caracus finally calls them out himself, rejecting their club and heading off elsewhere with Barry. They decide it's time to finally go home, but the depot's supervisor interrupts them and reveals that that won't be possible, as the DR has now been disconnected from the national network and Mr. Smash has therefore requested that they stay on the mainline until further notice. The pair are left alone, concerned about this latest news.

## Characters

* Leno
* Ed
* Sid
* Caracus Smash
* Barry
* Repulse
* Green Arrow
* Mayflower
* Scots Guardsman
* 43924
* 48431
* 5775
* Flying Scotsman (*cameo*)
* Stan (*cameo*)
* The Carnforth Engines (*cameo*)
* Leanne (*mentioned*)
* Mr. Smash (*mentioned*)

## Locations

* Carnforth MPD
* Castleman's Railway
	+ Ringwood
	+ Holmsley
* Keighley and Worth Valley Railway
	+ Damems Junction
	+ Keighley
	+ Haworth
* Dark Railway (*mentioned*)

## Trivia

* This episode marks the first appearance of Repulse since Apply Overnight.
* This episode marks the first speaking roles for Ed and Sid in *The Dark Railway Series* since the seventh series episode The Man in Overalls.
* This episode marks the last appearances of several characters for extended periods:
	+ Repulse's last appearance to date.
	+ Barry's last appearance until the tenth series episode Barry the Steam Engine.
	+ Leno's last appearance until the eleventh series episode The Times. It also marks the last appearance of his original model, as this was replaced with the newer Caledonia Works model when he returned.
	+ Caracus Smash's last appearance until the eleventh series episode Quatro.
	+ Ed and Sid's last appearance in *The Dark Railway Series* until the eleventh series episode Feel It.
* The music in the end credits is "One Wrong Turn (SLJD Remix)" by Dark DJ.
* This episode is the most viewed episode of the ninth series, by Apr 2023 the episode had over 22,000 views making it the fourth most viewed episode in "The Dark Railway Series" (the second most viewed of season 9 being Pogo / Mere Anarchy having 18,000 views). As of Dec 2023, it still holds the title as the fourth most viewed episode of TDRS with over 26,000 views.