Blitz

**Blitz** is the second episode of Stories of War and the thirty-second episode overall.

Blitz/Transcript

## Plot

The episode begins on June 4, 1940, as Winston Churchill delivers his "We shall fight on the beaches" speech. As all numerous engines and people in every corner of Britain listen. Edward recalls that while the speech was inspiring, it was made before the French Surrender. Nonetheless, their resolve remained strong, even when the Luftwaffe began carrying out bombing raid over towns and cities all across Britain, and even when the war would come to Sodor itself…

Depending on the consulting source, the Battle of Britain was either a single campaign or two separate ones that lasted from July of 1940 to June of 1941. One thing that is certain is this was the first time in history where all the fighting had taken place in the sky. The two objectives of the Blitz were to soften the nation up for a possible invasion and break its morale. The Nazis had figured that under the weight of relentless bombing raids, Britain would surrender to the Nazis. Thankfully, their gamble failed as the British held out against incredible odds. Thousands of planes battled in the skies above them, thousands of pilots perished and thousands more died on the ground below. Numerous towns and cities were devastated by the many air raids, carried out at all hours. Out of all the cities attacked, London had suffered the most damage.

One spring morning in 1941, Geoffrey, Spencer and Scott are at a station in London and are talking. Scott has heard the Nazis had redeemed themselves, after invading the Balkans and the Italians and Germans have reentered Africa with a new general named Erwin Rommel. Spencer then points out they need the assistance of the New World, and not just from supplies. Geoffrey then says that if the Japanese expansion in Asia continues to go unchecked, they could find themselves in league with the Americans again. Scott isn't sure about the idea of securing another ally and risking opening up another theatre to the war, before they decide to take out their evacuation trains.

At Lowfell, Scott meets up with Molly, who has recently gotten an overhaul. Molly is amazed how they were able to do such a thorough job with her since the workshop she went to was very close to breaking point, with the workmen working hard with no time to rest. Albert, who had volunteered to be the shunter in the yard, wonders if anyone had noticed they had started rationing coal. Scott and Molly definitely agree with him. The week before, Molly had to deliver a goods train and on that run, she was practically running on saw dust for the entire trip. Albert also brings up how the other day, he had to act as a banker to an engine with a long line of rail guns up an eight mile long incline and the engine was much too small for the train. Albert then complains about how harsh the conditions are on them, though Scott reminds them they're in a perilous time and they all have to play their part and soldier on.

Just then, air raid sirens blare as Nazi planes soar in. The stationmaster immediately orders to clear the station as the planes get closer and all the people run for their lives to find shelters just as the planes begin dropping bombs. Molly decides to shelter in the tunnel, and Scott decides to follow her and Albert decides to go with them, but a bomb drops on the shed and sets it on fire. Right next to the shed is a line of oil tankers and the yard office is nearby, with people inside. Albert reluctantly goes over to move the tankers while Scott goes over to the tunnel. Albert's driver uncouples the tankers from the vans and orders his engine to go. Coughing from the smoke, he can't make it out before some rubble from the shed falls next to him.

Albert's driver, Chrostopher Robin, had survived the attack, but had lost the use of his legs. Though nearly 30 people lost their lives in the raid on Lowfell, it could have been higher if the oil tankers exploded next to the yard office where an additional 40 people were taking shelter. Christopher had become a national hero for his bravery and quick thinking, as well as Albert. Their example was a well-known source of inspiration across the country. On Sodor, Edward had found out about his former colleague's exploit and felt so proud of him.

A few days after Albert's exploit, Edward, Toby and Skarloey are talking at Crovan's Gate. Edward is pleased to hear Albert is making a difference as it's been so long since he's heard from him. Edward remarks how similar Albert and Thomas are and of their actions. Edward also thinks Albert took the praise all in his stride or boasted about it until the cows came home. Toby then tells Edward to not mention cows in the presence of Gordon and Henry. Skarloey chuckles, remembering a joke his driver told him the other day, but before he could get to the punchline, Duncan arrives, in a bad mood as always. Duncan is complaining about being worked off his wheels and Skarloey reminds him that they are fighting a war. Toby points out that Duncan being overworked is irrelevant and the jobs have to be done, and Duncan begrudgingly agrees. Toby tells him Duncan's trucks have to be unloaded so he can take them to Knapford, which puzzles Duncan since the fort would make more sense. Toby tells him the fort is overloaded and the military shipments that are unable to be dispatched there are being sent out through Knapford or Brendam. Edward also says that their yards are getting very crowded, which concerns Skarloey as they are usually main targets for German Bombers. Duncan also gets anxious too as the Nazis have pillaged Scotland as of now, and wonders when they will attack Sodor.

A few days later, at night, Adam and Percy are at Wellsworth. Percy has had back-to-back jobs for the day and that he had to take one of Thomas' trains, which was delivering slate from the Mid-Sodor Railway to the Skarloey Railway. Adam wonders why it seems strange taking slate from one narrow gauge line to another, and Percy thinks the SKR might be the only narrow gauge railway in Britain that doesn't mine the slate. Adam points out that it may change in the future, since he had heard about surveyors from the SKR looking around a valley on the eastern side of Culdee Fell. Although it's rough territory, it's chock-full of natural resources and knows how humans are with natural resources. Just then, they hear the whirring of planes getting closer. Lily and Henry also hear the whirrings of planes too.

At Knapford, Colin, Diesel, Toby and Thomas are sitting at Knapford station, as the air raid sirens start blaring. The Nazi planes soar by and destroy the barrage balloons as the soldiers try to shoot down any planes they could, and some planes drop bombs on the city nearby. Presently, Peter, with a passenger train sprints into the station, narrowly avoiding getting blown up. Toby then suddenly remembers the gunpowder vans he brought in earlier are outside and he had to put them there because it was the only siding available. Colin decides to get them, despite Diesel's warnings. Colin quickly collects the vans and runs away from the station as fast as he could as the engines watch him go. Colin had only made it beyond the road bridge outside the station when a plane a drops a bomb by him and the explosion is heard from the station.

When the Fire and Rescue Team showed up at the scene the following morning, all they found of the Midi's No. 1 and his crew and blackened metal and charred bones. Colin's death had left every engine and person on Sodor with a broken heart, especially Adam and Lily. His sacrifice had made headlines across the country and his heroics had undoubtedly saved many lives. While more than 100 people had died during the attack, and more than 300 had suffered severe injuries, it would have been catastrophic if the gunpowder vans had exploded next to the station. Even though Sodor had been spared total disaster, the damage inflicted on the city an surrounding rails was extensive. Gordon, Reginald, James and Donald were sent back to the Mainland to help with the repairs, which were completed in record time.

In addition, the attack on Knapford was one of the last to be carried out by the Luftwaffe. A few days later, the Battle of Britain had been officially ended, with Britain emerging triumphant. The soldiers in the RAF weren't really responsible for this, since the declining ferocity and frequency of the raids coincided with Operation Barbarossa, where the Nazis had launched their massive invasion of the Soviet Union on June 22, 1941. Edward says he considers this the turning point in the European Theatre in the war, and the conflict as a whole. Later that year, two more great powers would come to blows: The United States of America and the Empire of Japan. The fighting would extend into the Pacific and finally draw in the might of the New World…

## Characters

* Thomas
* Edward
* Henry
* Percy
* Toby
* Diesel
* Peter
* Colin *(death)*
* Lily
* Adam
* Geoffrey
* Flying Scotsman
* Spencer
* Molly
* Albert
* Skarloey
* Duncan
* Christopher Robin
* Gordon *(does not speak)*
* James *(does not speak)*
* Donald *(does not speak)*
* Reginald *(does not speak)*
* Mickey *(not named; does not speak)*
* Charles *(not named; does not speak)*
* Duck *(cameo)*
* Eric *(cameo)*
* Douglas *(cameo)*
* Clive *(cameo)*
* Kate *(cameo)*
* Alfred *(cameo)*
* Cuthbert *(cameo)*
* Lenny *(cameo)*
* Hank *(cameo)*
* Duke *(cameo)*
* Falcon *(cameo)*
* Stuart *(cameo)*
* Bertie *(cameo)*

## Trivia

* This episode marks the final regular appearance of Colin.
* If you look closely in the scene of the workshop, you can see Marc, Lenny, and Victor Tanzig's engine.
* The events of this episode take place in the former half of 1941.
* The name Christopher Robin comes from the Winnie the Pooh books by A. A. Milne.