Prototypes

**Prototypes** is the sixth episode of the fourth season of the Stories of Sodor and the fifty-sixth episode overall.

Prototypes/Transcript

## Plot

Dieselisation had been introduced under the Modernisation Plan in 1955, but it didn't really get underway until three years later. The first diesels began with the Pilot Scheme. This was a small program to analyse the performances and how reliable certain test locomotives were, and one of these locomotives was to be brought to Sodor for a trial. All the engines had different opinions, and they grew more and more disagreeable as the date of the diesel's arrival approached.

One morning, Gordon arrives at Vicarstown, very cross from arguments about the new diesel. Peckett groans as he'd heard about this from the others and he rants about their idiocy, having forgotten there's already a diesel on Sodor and for thinking a diesel built by BR would never arrive. Gordon agrees with this, to Peckett's surprise. Gordon argued Peckett's point the night before, but some of the engines didn't listen. Peckett thinks a new diesel isn't different from building a newer steam engine to replace an older one, which Gordon also agrees with. He also mentions Reginald said that the diesel should be given a chance. They had learnt about the diesel's gender, but Gordon cannot remember the diesel's name or class.

On the day of the diesel's arrival, Samantha was in the yards at Knapford with Kate, who had delivered some of coal from the mine. Kate is grateful to be out of the mine, especially since a third of the mine's workforce has come down with the flu, apparently from taking bets on who could cough the most. She rants about how the Coal board has been closing down collieries across the country, and her own mine could be at risk of closure. She is happy to be making a delivery to Elsbridge tomorrow, as she can see Thomas. Samantha tells Kate he was there that morning because the day before, he had delivered a shipment of imported oil and was to tired to go back to Ffarquhar, so he decided to stay at Knapford. Kate and Samantha begin arguing over their mutual feelings towards Thomas when the diesel approaches them. The engine introduces himself as Joshua, and after Samantha and Kate resume arguing, the latter abruptly leaves. Samantha welcomes Joshua to Sodor and introduces herself. Joshua, a Class 42 Warship, remarks how amazing it is to be on the fabled Island of Sodor, having heard about it from the men who built him, from the Railway Series. Samantha warns the new diesel to be tactful when mentioning the books, as the majority of the stories are fictional and some engines are sensitive about them. Samantha says they will start with shunting, which puzzles Joshua, as he thought he was expecting to take Mainline trains, but Samantha points out that while he is new, they should test his strengths and fix any problems they have before he can go out on the Main Line. After remarking how similar her desires were to him when she was new, Joshua gives in.

Throughout the afternoon, Joshua was very reckless with his speed. That evening, Samantha reminds him to prioritise safety, but Joshua protests that he didn't cause any accidents and he can stop quickly with his new brakes. James presently pulls up alongside, pointing out that his brakes won't always save him. Joshua was about to ask James about the bootlace incident, but Samantha quickly stops him, and James mentions it's an embarrassment which is actually  half true. Samantha warns Joshua Sir Topham Hatt doesn't like insults, but he jokes that Sir Topham should be called the Fat Hatt instead of the Fat Controller. James couldn't hear Joshua over the noise inside his cab. The noise is Joshua's engine, and tries to show it off, but he breaks down only after moving a few yards, to his own embarrassment and James' amusement.

Joshua was at the works for almost a week, but soon returned to active service and at the request of Head Office, was quickly placed on the Main Line for the public to see him. The Class 42 proved very reliable with his own passenger train and goods trains, of which he now learned the benefit of shunting them himself. His performance was given praise, but he became very conceited. Head Office, emboldened by Joshua's success, sent in another prototype.

At Brendam, a couple of days later, Donald was at the station platform when the new diesel arrived with a passenger train. When he stopped, he released black smoke which made the passengers cough. The new diesel has had numerous problems since entering service. Donald comforts the new engine about having teething troubles and they should do their best handling them. Donald offers to have some workmen look over him, though he needs to collect a goods train soon. Donald knows the train isn't meant to leave for another twenty minutes, so he tells him to wait in Siding 3 for the workmen to take a look at him. Donald advises the new diesel to be nice to the steam engines, so they do so in return. The diesel introduces himself as a Metropolitan-Vickers diesel-electric Type 2, and is called BoCo. Donald leaves and promises to bring workmen for BoCo once he finishes shunting his train.

A short time later, BoCo had been waiting, but Donald still hasn't brought the workmen. He starts to think that the steam engines are trying to sabotage him. BoCo decides to take the train anyway, since he is running late, and his driver reluctantly agrees. As BoCo leaves, Eric whistles a cheerful hullo, but BoCo doesn't answer back. After he leaves, he left behind some oil on the track.

Later, Bill and Ben's drivers examine the patch of oil. The twins argue as Donald, who had been held up, arrives with the workmen and realises BoCo is gone. The workmen survey the patch of oil, and one knows how problematic the Metropolitan-Vickers diesel-electric Type 2s, or Class 28s, are from the blueprints of them. BoCo had left for Wellsworth, and since Bill and Ben will soon be heading there with a train of wood, the workman tells the twins to observe the track on the way while he calls Wellsworth to tell them to halt BoCo until he can be checked.

Bill and Ben soon make their way towards Wellsworth, keeping very watchful eyes on the tracks in front of them. Once they make it into the yard, they leave their train behind and simultaneously go boldly alongside until they meet up with BoCo. The twins say BoCo had stolen their trucks, but he protests the trucks are his and tells the twins to go away. Just then, Edward bustled in and BoCo is antagonistic at first towards Edward, but he tells the diesel no one is prejudiced against him. He tells BoCo that he got a phone call from Brendam about the patch of oil BoCo had left behind, and since Bill and Ben saw no patches of oil since leaving Brendam, they decided to have fun and they argue again. BoCo apologises to the twins for snapping at them, and they do the same. Edward tells BoCo to stay until he is looked over, while Bill and Ben take a load of girders back to Brendam. He instructs them to inspect the line between the yard and the junction to check for oil again, because an important train will pass by that night and he needs to assure Sir Topham Hatt that the section of line is safe.

That night, at Knapford Sheds, Sir Topham Hatt tells the engines of Condor, a new overnight fast goods train that British Railways is testing and Joshua is assigned to take it. Sir Topham advises him not to gloat about his recent achievements and Joshua apologises if he had offended anyone. Sir Topham then leaves for his dinner, expressing his love for a good buffet. Once Sir Topham is out of earshot, Joshua tells the others they should retire soon, and after some banter, including being called a buzz box, Joshua furiously leaves, telling them they should go for the Final Firing, to the steam engines' fury.

Soon, Joshua has set off with his train. As he leaves, an owl hoots, and soon, the fog comes down. Joshua had to curtail his speed due to the fog, but he nonetheless made good time. As he was approaching the crossing at the junction leading to the Brendam Branch Line, he notices a lorry stalled on the crossing. He throws on his brakes, but he crashes into the lorry, destroying it and derails.

The next morning, Mickey had arrived to clean up the mess. Joshua is puzzled he hadn't stopped as soon as he expected. He had going at a same speed in foggy weather, but could've avoided the accident if he was running light if he was running light at a slow speed. The driver of the lorry went for help, while Joshua's driver wasn't seriously injured. The Lucky Lamp had apparently been the cause for the accident being as mild as it was. He tells Joshua the workmen should have him mended and back in action soon, but Joshua thinks the others wouldn't be happy.

Mickey then spoke to Joshua severely and told him about  Adam's final firing. The Class 42 vowed to apologize as soon as he was back in service. He was badly damaged, and after a month of repairs, he apologised to the Main Line engines. While James didn't accept it, the others did to accept that main line operations would proceed smoothly. At the end of his trial, he was reassigned, having left on good terms and would go on to have a productive career. However, Joshua's departure opened a gap in the mainline roster, so BR forced Sir Topham Hatt to put BoCo there. The Class 28's problems continued to plague him, but in an ironic sense, it would bring to light some  very interesting secrets.

## Characters

* Edward
* Henry
* Gordon
* James
* Donald
* Reginald
* Samantha
* Peckett
* Mickey
* Kate
* Bill and Ben
* Joshua
* BoCo
* The Fat Controller
* Eric *(does not speak)*
* Toby *(cameo)*
* Douglas *(cameo)*
* Diesel *(cameo)*
* Whiff *(cameo)*
* Geoffrey *(cameo)*
* Matthew *(cameo)*
* Rosie *(cameo)*
* Emily *(cameo)*
* Bear *(cameo)*
* Daisy *(cameo)*
* Diesel 199 *(cameo)*
* Bertie *(cameo)*
* Trevor *(cameo)*
* Thomas *(mentioned)*
* Adam *(mentioned)*