High Fidelity

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***High Fidelity*** is the ninth episode of the twelfth series of *The Dark Railway Series*.

## Plot

A gala is to be held on the Dark Railway and Rick is worried about all the attention that will be put on him. Fortunately, several guest engines are brought in to take the pressure off him. The first is Alfredston Cathedral, who comes from Stan's home railway on New Wessex. He delights in meeting Rick and seeing more of the famous Dark Railway. The second to arrive is Clint, an old Great Western engine from Buck's railway in Redwick. Rick gets uncomfortable when both engines talk about Big Bob, but is relieved that neither knew about Big Bob's actual reputation.

The third visitor is late to arrive, so the gala begins without them with Rick and Alfred double heading up Upway Bank together with each showing off their strength. When they return to the sheds, however, they find the third visitor, a Dexby engine named Cederwood, already there. Cederwood believes Rick to be Big Bob and immediately starts shouting at him about Bob's previous actions which included even attacking him and his friends. The other engines overhear him and learn the truth about the original engine. As Dave arrives at the scene and tries to diffuse the situation, Rick runs away upset. A furious Dave almost takes out his anger on Cederwood, who soon realises his mistake and feels remorse. His anger ebbing, Dave is pleased to hear the other engines say that they think no worse of Rick knowing the truth, as they know he isn't anything like Bob. He then leaves to find him.

Dave eventually finds Rick hiding at the works. After reassuring Rick that everything is OK, he admits something the others have been teasing him about for ages: he views Rick as a son and is willing to do anything to protect him. Rick admits that Dave is the one he truly looks up to, which almost brings Dave to tears. Hearing this makes Dave worry about leaving Rick to go to New Wessex, but Rick assures him that he will still have the others and that he needs to learn to solve problems himself anyway. The pair return to the sheds where the engines reassure Rick and Cederwood apologises. Everyone settles down for the night, ready to continue the gala the next day.

## Characters

* Dave
* Eddie
* Leno
* Ed
* Sid
* Caracus Smash
* Rick
* Ryan
* Warrior
* Stan
* Alfred
* Clint
* Cederwood
* Zeke Dark
* Barry (*does not speak*)
* Clyde (*cameo*)
* Raymond (*cameo*)
* Turbo (*cameo*)
* Hannah (*mentioned*)
* Goose (*mentioned*)
* Big Bob (*mentioned*)
* Frederick Hawksworth (*mentioned*)
* Mr. Dark (*mentioned*)
* Mr. Smash (*mentioned*)
* Robert Stovell (*mentioned*)
* Henry Dexby (*mentioned*)
* Hercules (*mentioned*)
* Gregory (*not named; mentioned*)
* Hart Hall (*not named; mentioned*)
* Leanne (*not named; mentioned*)

## Locations

* Galen Junction
* Merecombe
* Merecombe Shed
* Colhapper Shed
* Galen Junction Railway Museum
* Caracus Smash Ltd
* Colhapper
* Upway
* Upway Bank
* Bellgrave

## Trivia

* The music used for the opening credits is "Evolve" by Dark DJ.
* The events of Time Waits for No One, Part 2, Rock'n Roll and Wipeout are referenced. In addition, Clint references the events of the *Rails to Refuge* episode "Actions and Consequences".