Brake on Me

**Brake on Me** is the sixteenth story of the second set of *Between the Lines*, as well as the 42rd original story of the SeventyVerse overall. It was originally published on February 19th, 2023.

## Plot

Samson and Bradford are reoccurring visitors to the island, but neither of them are in the engines' good graces. Skarloey and Rheneas have known Samson since they were young, and they are very displeased to see him. Peter Sam wishes that Tasha, Nicole or Katie could have visited instead, and they were better former Sudrians. Bradford gets a bit too technical, and the narrow gauge engines glare at them.

Samson is scoffing at the idea of Tasha, Katie and Nicole getting so much praise, especially due to Tasha being locked away for so long. Bradford urges him to hurry, and Samson tries going up the hill. Unfortunately, he's out of sand because he forgot to fill up on it. The duo get into an argument when Douglas arrives on his way to the Steamworks. He tried to push the train up the hill, but the trucks held back due to not knowing about his and Donald's reputation. Suddenly, after Bradford yells to push harder, Douglas goes into shock and Donald arrives just in time to help his brother after Samson and Bradford get both confused and angry at the sudden holdup. As he was towing his brother to Wellsworth, Donald had a feeling Oliver wouldn't be happy.

As Donald predicted, Oliver was just as angry as he was, as Samson and Bradford both realize Douglas was in shock. Oliver decides that he'll handle Bradford for the time being. He didn't want to get Toad involved, but Toad insists he'll handle Samson. Sir Topham Hatt is surprised, but agrees. The following morning, Oliver angrily biffs Bradford into submission after he told him off for taking a while to steam up, while Toad is wondering if him being with Samson is a good idea.

When Oliver gets to Alsbrugh, he sees Douglas talking to Rex. Glad that Douglas is feeling better, the two are relieved Old Spiteful wasn't there to make things worse. The two turn to Rex and ask him about the latest news, but Bradford wants to know about Old Spiteful. Unfortunately, as no one trusts him due to what happened yesterday, they ignore him and Oliver asks Douglas about Victor and Kevin. At the Blue Mountain Quarry, Paxton and the Skarloey engines are pleased to see Toad, but they quickly realize that Samson is with him on a punishment. Like with Bradford, the group ignore Samson as if he was unimportant.

Oliver later realizes it's his turn to run with Gladys, which is relieving as he doesn't have to be around Bradford for that run. Bradford asks again about why Douglas reacted like he did, but Oliver refuses to say anything. Bradford presses on, the autotank staring daggers at him and expresses concern for Douglas. Oliver threatens to get him turned into a tool shed if the trucks find out, and he finally tells Bradford the truth: Douglas accidentally crushed Old Spiteful because the brake van got caught between Douglas and the trucks holding James back. Shocked, Bradford apologizes to Oliver, but he remarks *he* didn't need to hear it. The two are about to get into another argument, when Bradford reveals his own history of being strict: he lost an old friend in an air raid during the war because they miscalculated how much fuel they needed. Oliver promised that he would help Bradford through his trauma, and he went off to find Gladys.

Toad was relieved when his goods run was finished and he was hoping to run with Donald or Douglas next. Samson was fuming that no one wanted to speak with him, but Toad had an idea. He listed off Tasha, Nicole and Katie, and their flaws and strengths. This got Samson to finally come clean: that he always felt relegated to second best. Richard, Neil and Mary were already well established by the time he got to the Sodor and Mainland Railway, and Hiro coming made things even worse. Then, Samson was chosen to be sent away when the S&M went under, and Albert and Mildred were put onto heritage operations before he and Neil were when they were out on static display, before finally convincing Stephen and Helen Hatt to put him into heritage service, his first being to take dinosaurs to the Earl's Dinosaur Park. Toad apologizes to Samson for his rough history, while Samson admits he was at fault too.

Later, Samson and Bradford both apologise to a stunned Douglas, and they promise to be better behaved from then on. Douglas asks Oliver and Toad what happened, to which Oliver responses it was a long story. Samson and Bradford then head off to the quarry with a more relaxed attitude.

## Characters

* Donald and Douglas
* Oliver
* Paxton
* Samson
* Skarloey
* Rheneas
* Sir Handel
* Peter Sam
* Rusty
* Duncan
* Luke
* Rex
* Toad
* Bradford
* Sir Charles Topham Hatt
* Old Spiteful (flashback)
* James (mentioned)
* Albert (metioned)
* Mildred (mentioned)
* Tasha (mentioned)
* Nicole (mentioned)
* Katie (mentioned)
* Malcolm (mentioned)
* Richard (mentioned)
* Neil (mentioned)
* Mary (mentioned)
* Spencer (mentioned)
* Victor (mentioned)
* Hiro (mentioned)
* Hilda (mentioned)
* Mike (mentioned)
* Frank (mentioned)
* Gladys (mentioned)
* Helen Hatt (mentioned)
* Sir Robert Norramby (mentioned; unnamed)
* Bradford's old friend (mentioned; unnamed)

## Voice cast

### Official

* Rob Rackstraw as Donald and Bradford
* Joe Mills as Douglas, Oliver and Toad
* Steven Kynman as Paxton and Peter Sam
* Robert Wilfort as Samson
* Keith Wickham as Skarloey and Sir Handel
* Ben Small as Rheneas
* Matt Wilkinson as Rusty
* Tom Stourton as Duncan and Rex
* Michael Legge as Luke
* Kerry Shale as Sir Charles Topham Hatt

## Trivia

* This story was written in for character development on Samson and Bradford.
* Other than Old Spiteful, who would have had stock footage from *Never Be Alone,* all the characters in this story have the official voice cast for *Thomas and Friends*.
	+ As this story was written prior to Michael Legge's retirement, he still voices Luke.
* Bradford's old friend has yet to be designed and named.

## Continuity

* The fact Douglas almost crushed Old Spiteful is a massive plot point of continuity, and a nod to the special *Never Be Alone*.
* Oliver also mentions his escape run with Toad, a nod to *Resource and Sagacity*.

## Links

* DeviantArt
* Fanfiction.Net (Chapter 16)