Trapped

**Trapped** is the fourth episode of the second season of the Stories of Sodor and the nineteenth episode overall.

Trapped/Transcript

## Plot

Throughout the stories up to this point, there have been some occasions when the Midis and Nor'easters worked together. One of these usual instances is annually during the first week of September when the Anopha Quarry would conduct blasting. The quarry would purchase the dynamite it used from the Franks & Son Munitions Factory, which was located at Brendam. One of the Midis would deliver the train of dynamite to Elsbridge where a Nor'easter would take it up to the quarry. Franks & Son's head technician, Mr. Billy Shoepack, always seemed very excitable whenever he set off dynamite.

One day, Thomas, Percy, James and Clive were at the quarry when Shoepack was blasting and there were no causes for concern. The stone was safely harvested and delivered to Elsbridge Harbour. Thomas hadn't been worried because he had said hullo to Bob that day. Bob was a large boulder that once sat between Crosby and Wellsworth. Every tour guide who had ever worked the site had admitted that nobody was sure of how the boulder got its name, though there was a local legend that saying hullo to him would bring good luck. For several days earlier, the Island was battered with heavy rain which softened the ground beneath Bob.

One day, after filling out a very large order at the China Clay Pits, Colin arrives at Wellsworth very tired. Adam informs Colin that Diesel has gone mad waiting for him because he had been waiting for Colin's train for an hour. Since Colin forgot his brake van at Brendam and there are none at Wellsworth, Diesel decides to go at the end of Colin's train until they get to Elsbridge where they might be able to find a spare one in the yards and they set off for there. Suddenly, Bob begins to roll towards them. The two engines brake, and narrowly avoid getting squashed while Bob comes to a stop on the tracks with Colin trapped on the other side with the Nor'easters. Colin and Diesel then sprint to Crosby and Wellsworth, respectively to raise the alarm. Colin would reach his destination first and all traffic was halted.

Gordon, Henry and Toby are at Elsbridge when Colin arrives. He tells them Crosby's stationmaster had gotten a telephone call from the works, and Mickey is undergoing maintenance there. Toby decides to do something about it, and they all leave to confront the boulder. Meanwhile, Diesel had just arrived at Wellsworth and is surprised to see Thomas. Thomas is still on ballast collection, and Diesel tells Thomas about what happened. Thomas decides to go look at the situation and orders Diesel to go get a crane.

Meanwhile, Colin, Gordon, Henry and Toby have arrived at the scene. In the trucks are machine parts for the Mid Sodor Railway, and Toby comes up with a plan: To make a battering ram, using the trucks, that he, Gordon, Henry and Colin would use to ram Bob and knock him aside. Gordon decides to wait for the proper authorities to arrive, but Toby tells Gordon they don't know when or if the authorities will arrive and they will continue to suffer delays as long as Bob is blocking the line. Soon, the engines have the truck ram ready. They charge forward but the first two trucks are destroyed and Bob doesn't move.

Presently, Thomas has arrived at the scene of the accident. Upon looking at the scene, he begins to have doubts about using a crane to move Bob. Suddenly, a voice shouts: "You can blow it up!", and Donald arrives with a train of dynamite from Brendam. The voice came from Billy Shoepack, who had been on Donald's train. Since the track bed is probably mangled already, they would have to replace it anyway.

Soon, all the engines have moved to a safe distance away from Bob and Billy sets up his dynamite to blast Bob away. Billy had already lit the fuse before Toby had told him to, and after a tense countdown – nothing happens. Billy finds out that the fuse has become wet. Meanwhile, Diesel approaches Bob with the crane that he had to go to Killdane for and come back with it. Billy has fixed the problem, and the countdown begins once more as Diesel is still approaching them. The dynamite blows a crater in the ground, destroying Bob, the trucks and rails; Diesel suddenly brakes and the crane bumps into him. Thomas decides to go get the crane, though Donald's guard says Diesel might need it first, and Thomas backs up to find Diesel derailed. Thomas laughs at Diesel's predicament and so does Donald.

Meanwhile, Mr. Star and Mr. Zorro meet up with Sir Topham Hatt again at the same place as before and ponder about who will get booted out. Sir Topham mentions that his time on Sodor has been interesting and that this was the most eventful inspection he has conducted. He also tells the two directors that they don't need to apologise since some of the incidents were beyond their control, and that they had worked together handling said incidents brilliantly, he tells the two directors they will BOTH remain in operation on Sodor, much to their shock. Sir Topham explains that the reason he has been conducting inspections across Britain is to assess the overall compatibility of the railways, because of how things are going in Europe, they could potentially be going to war again so he has needed to assure Britain's railways are able to support the nation if it should happen. Working together is also an important key asset to this. The Fat Controller also tells the two directors that the amount of public supporters both of them have is phenomenal. Since there is also enough business for both directors, it wouldn't be responsible if the Board should shut down either of them. Sir Topham also says he will be leaving Sodor the next day.

All the Midis and Nor'easters were absolutely thrilled when they heard that they would be staying on Sodor. Both sides helped in repairing the track and both sides got along splendidly for the longest time thereafter. Crosby also had another boulder, named Val, which was closer to the town than Bob was, has continued to draw in visitors to this day. At the site, the tour guides tell in vivid detail the true story about what had happened to Bob. The locals would sometimes come out to these groups and assert that, on a clear moonlit night, its mournful cries can be heard and are being carried across the valley to where her twin once used to stand, proud and silent.

## Characters

* Thomas
* Henry
* Gordon
* James
* Percy
* Toby
* Donald
* Diesel
* Colin
* Adam
* Peter
* Clive
* Mr. Star
* Mr. Zorro
* The Fat Controller
* Billy Shoepack
* Boulder *(does not speak)*
* Edward *(narration only; cameo)*
* Douglas *(cameo)*
* Eric *(cameo)*
* Lily *(cameo)*
* Reginald *(cameo)*
* Mickey *(mentioned)*

## Trivia

* This episode marks Bob's only appearence in the series (not counting stock footage shots).
* This episode is based on the TUGS episode of the same name.
* References to Ghost and Thief are made.