Industry

**Industry**  is the tenth episode of the third season of the Stories of Sodor and the forty-fifth episode overall.

Industry/Transcript

## Plot

The key to a successful economy is a strong industry and that railways have always been vital to industries ever since the Industrial Revolution, as well as transporting raw materials and manufactured goods. Some of the larger industries own a dedicated engine. Industrial engines are either engines retired from regular service or are mostly built or bought solely to operate in factories and mines. Due to spending the majority or the entirety of their careers in such a service, they sometimes aren't seen as "proper" engines. Edward then talks about Atlas, who was owned by the Mid Sodor Railway, but actually leased to the various mines and quarries that operated around the line, which technically made him an industrial engine.

One day, Andreas was taking a goods train to Arlesburgh when at the slate mine near Cas-ny-Hawin, some slate spilled over the tracks and blocked his path. Atlas worked as fast as he could, but Andreas had been made late and hurried to Arlesburgh, only for the points to be jammed, trapping Edward in the siding. Andreas explains to Edward about the delay Atlas caused him. He doesn't see why Duke is defending Atlas since he isn't versatile like the rest of them. Edward remarks how Andreas reminds him of himself back when he worked on the Furness Railway, revealing that he used to have a negative opinion about industrial engines and offers to tell the story about what made him change his mind.

While there were only three non-faceless locomotives on the Furness Railway, Edward, Winston and Albert, there was also a fourth one, a privately owned industrial engine named Samson, who worked for the High Harrington Steelworks, located on the western side of the line. Edward hadn't out there before 1896, as the line wasn't part of his designated route. The engine that usually ran the service had broken down and Edward was called in as a last minute replacement. Pulling out of the nearby town and station of Sycamore, Edward first met Samson, almost crashing into him. Samson apologises for the mistake and promises to not let it happen again. He introduces himself to Edward, who bluntly tells him to move out of his way, which he does. Samson then asks if he can know Edward's name, but Edward declines, as he has important work to do and is amused by thinking goods trains are as important as passenger trains. He continues on and curtly tells Samson to stay out of his way.

That evening, Edward was still cross from his encounter with Samson as he backed into the sheds at Dalton. He tells Winston and Albert about his encounter. Winston and Albert explain to him about Samson and Edward begins bad-mouthing him. Presently, Mr. Pettigrew arrives. He congratulates Edward for his performance and tells him that he will continue to run the service until No. 19 is back in service. He also tells Albert and Winston that they will join him, as the Steelworks has been contracted by the Sodor and Mainland Railway to produce rails for a new phase in their expansion and they have been contracted to deliver the materials. He instructs Albert to organise the trains in the yards at Sycamore and for Winston to take the trains to Barrow-in-Furness. Edward then asks if Samson will be involved, which Mr. Pettigrew confirms. He heard about Edward's meeting with Samson and sternly tells him that he has no right to torment him.

Over the next several weeks, Edward and Samson didn't speak. Edward was impressed by his work ethic and when he would shunt trains, Edward was amazed by his strength, but never told him. However, because the Sodor and Mainland Railway only had three engines, it was difficult for them to simultaneously work on the expansion and their jobs, so the S&M contacted Mr. Pettigrew to lease Edward and another Furness Engine to the Sodor and Mainland Railway to handle the trains. Edward enjoyed his time on Sodor, where he first saw a narrow gauge railway.

One day, Edward was talking to Skarloey, whom he has heard of, because of his rescue of stranded workmen from a flooded ballast mine. Edward then comments he heard that their line mostly dealt with ballast trains, he thought the railway was only an industrial railway. Skarloey is offended by Edward's words and before Edward can correct himself, Skarloey departs with his train.

Later, Edward told Albert about what he said to Skarloey. Albert tells Edward that he needs to go to the Steelworks to pick up a train because Samson is busy. Edward agrees, to Albert's surprise, as he didn't expect Edward to agree easily to a job he's never done before. Edward sees no difference, though Albert warns him that he needs to handle a goods train properly.

Edward promptly heads over to the Steelworks and upon arriving, he meets up with a truck who points to the train over to his left. The truck then tells Edward he can find a turntable nearby and decides to give him advice on how to handle a goods train, but Edward refuses the advice and takes the train, confident that nothing will happen. This was Edward's first goods train and was unprepared by its heavy weight, but was able to get moving. Outside the steelworks was a hill, and Edward, oblivious that he needed to stop at the top so the guard could pin down the brakes, kept moving. The weight of the train began to push against him and he quickly became a runaway. Samson had been approaching the Steelworks when he sees Edward approaching, but instead of moving, Samson stays put as Edward slams into him. Samson throws on his brakes and manages to bring Edward and the train to a complete stop. Mr. Pettigrew soon heard about what happened and reprimanded Edward. While Edward only took a small amount of goods trains afterwards, he always remembered to be extra careful. Edward and Samson becoming friends eroded his views on industrial engines. When he next visited Sodor, he apologised to Skarloey, who forgave him.

Andreas remarks how quaint the story is but fails to see its point. Edward tells him the point is to not write off someone just because one can't see their qualities. Duke agrees with Edward, since he used to think Stuart and Falcon were just impertinent scallywags, but he had since seen how hard they work. Andreas knows why this is because they are proper engines and leaves in a temper. Once he was out of earshot, Duke tells him that on some days, Andreas is worse than others, with today being one of them. Edward hopes that one day Andreas will realise Atlas' qualities, and Duke promises it will. That day would eventually come, however, the circumstances leading up to that were far from pleasant…

## Characters

* Edward
* Winston
* Albert
* Samson
* The Steel Mill Truck
* Skarloey
* Duke
* Andreas
* Atlas
* Mr. Pettigrew
* Falcon *(does not speak)*
* Stuart *(does not speak)*
* Clive *(not named; does not speak)*
* Neil *(not named; does not speak)*
* Matthew *(not named; does not speak)*
* Thomas *(cameo)*
* Henry *(cameo)*
* James *(cameo)*
* Douglas *(cameo)*
* Oliver *(cameo)*
* Eric *(cameo)*
* Diesel *(cameo)*
* Adam *(cameo)*
* Kate *(cameo)*
* Glenn *(cameo)*
* Hurricane *(cameo)*
* Rheneas *(cameo)*
* Gordon *(mentioned)*

## Trivia

* The ending foreshadows the events of the episode Closure.