Denise

Denise (numbered D9572) is a BR Class 14 diesel shunter. She originally arrived 'on trial' on the NWR, but, after proving herself to be Really Useful in an emergency, she was purchased by the Fat Controller. She now works as a station pilot at Vicarstown.

### Bio

Traffic in 2020 had increased substantially, and the railway was preparing to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the Thin Clergyman's books. To combat the extra workload, the Fat Controller felt it appropriate to purchase an additional engine. But, since Edward needed to have an overhaul, and the railtour needed an additional engine, he decided to arrange for three engines to come to the railway 'on trial'. Two were from a heritage railway - D199 (AKA 'Spamcan') and D7102. The third was a new build, fresh from the factory (though based on a vintage design, to reflect Sodor's heritage) - D9572, Denise.

Denise was already subject to victimization even before her arrival on Sodor. Though the volunteers at the diesel-only heritage railway she was tested at were kind towards her, the other diesels, 7102 included, shunned and bullied her relentlessly. This made her feel distressed and unwelcome on the line.

Immediately upon arrival, Denise was constantly bullied by the two larger diesels. They insulted her, called her rude names, and even tricked her into doing their work. The other engines, however, showed kindness towards her: Bill and Ben avenged her by tricking Spamcan into pulling a line of trucks which resulted into his crashing into a butchery; Henry managed to bring her to a standstill when she almost ran, driverless, into the back of the Flying Kipper; and Edward encouraged her to come forth about D7102's treatment towards her.

But the engine she connected to most strongly of all was Diesel. When he heard about how she had been treated, and confronted 7102 about her behaviour, he began to suspect that Denise was not responsible for her runaway. The Fat Controller, however, was uncertain, and, despite acknowledging Denise's good character and vowing to look into the matter for her (aided by the Vicarstown Railway Museum Manager), was considering sending her away and keeping 7102. When he looked at the CCTV footage, however, he realized it was 7102 who had really been behind everything. Diesel, however, supported Denise right from the start, having become infatuated with her. He decided to visit Spamcan at the works himself to find out what had really happened.

Denise, meanwhile, would prove herself to be a Really Useful Engine. Suspecting that she had told on her to the Fat Controller and the Vicarstown Railway Museum manager, 7102 came across her in the yard, and rammed a line of loaded fuel tankers into her! Denise's patience finally snapped, and she began to fight back against the more powerful Hymek locomotive. But, even as she was hopelessly overpowered, Denise realized the danger of the situation, as an entire street with countless many people and houses living there stood behind the approaching goods shed. Knowing what could happen if she didn't act fast, Denise held her ground, now fighting to protect the inhabitants of the street. She managed to derail herself and several tankers, and broke through a wall - but the tankers remained intact, and the street was saved!

When Bear responded to the accident, he was horrified to discover what had happened, and revealed 7102 to be his sisters. He took Denise to the works to be mended, where they met Diesel. After he and Spamcan had learned what had happened, the four diesels hatched a plan to stop 7102 once and for all. As per the plan, Denise was placed on a flat truck as part of a goods train, fooling 7102 into thinking she could scrap her. This was supported by Diesel pretending to turn his back on Denise and helping 7102 take her to the scrapyards instead. But the siding they were on was marred by jammed points - as a result, Diesel and the trucks (sensing a chance for mischief) rammed 7102 off the rails, bringing her reign of terror to an end. The Fat Controller and the Vicarstown Railway Museum Manager, having secretly been watching the plan this whole time, emerged, sent 7102 away and thanked Denise, Diesel and Bear for stopping 7102, while arranging to have Spamcan repaired at the works before he was sent back to his heritage railway. In light of her heroic actions and hard work, the Fat Controller awarded Denise by purchasing her and allocating her to Vicarstown as a station pilot.

When the 75th anniversary parade and railtour arrived back at Vicarstown, Denise and Diesel remarked to each other about Edward's remarkable achievement that day, with Denise asking Diesel to tell her about Edward.

Denise was briefly transferred to the Ffarquhar branch line (after Percy had fallen down a mine with some trucks). There she learned about Harold the Helicopter, and even had the pleasure of meeting him, but was saddened to learn that he had reluctantly been retired from active service. When a period of bad weather struck the Island of Sodor, and word got to her about a pair of climbers who were stranded on the cliffs at Ballaswein, she volunteered Harold for the task. Despite his technical difficulties, the mission was a success and Harold was repaired before being brought back into regular service as a rescue helicopter. The two parted as firm friends.

Denise later attended the Christmas party at Tidmouth, and was openly concerned when the Santa Special was delayed. She later took part in welcoming Donald and Douglas home from the snowstorm.

In 2021, she was in need of an overhaul, leaving the Fat Controller one engine short once again.

## Persona

Denise is a kind little engine, who is also not afraid of speaking her mind when something has upset her. She openly shows concern for her friends whenever she suspects something is wrong. Where she was once a shy little engine when she first arrived, she is now more confident and often raises the alarm when danger arrives. She is also in awe of the older engines, expressing admiration towards Edward and Diesel over their adventures. Originally, because she was bullied on her old line, she was timid and unwilling to speak to the other engines, until they gained her trust. Now, she is willing to see the good in others, and will go out of her way to help them when she can.

This can, however, lead to her becoming somewhat gullible at times - she fell for Spamcan's lies about having failed, and took his train (which she was mechanically ill-suited to, because of a small fuel tank), little knowing that 7102 had set them both up. She is also unafraid of letting others know when they have tried her patience, and may lash out at them.

## Appearances

The The North-Western Railway Series:

* *Diamond Jubilee Engines Part 1: Visiting Engines* (debut)
* *Diamond Jubilee Engines Part 2: Beginnings of a Blue Engine*

Original TTTE Stories:

* *The Old Helicopter And The Sea*
* *Lost In The Snow*
* *Working Girls* (mentioned)

## Trivia

* Though TARDIS9 uses Wildnorwester's model of Iris in videos to depict Denise (as both are of the same class), they are not the same engine, and are in fact two fundamentally different characters.
* Denise is the first, and to date only, OC in the series to become a permanent member of the North-Western Railway.
	+ She is also the fourth OC locomotive (and the ninth OC character overall) to be introduced in the series.