Aviation

**Aviation** is the eighth episode of the fourth season of the Stories of Sodor and the fifty-eighth episode overall.

Aviation/Transcript

## Plot

Shortly after  the redevelopment of Vicarstown was completed, the Sodor Council set to work on many projects. One of these was the construction of an airport near Elsbridge. However, there were many objections to this arrangement from locals who were worried about noise pollution and Dryaw Airfield on the Ffarquhar Branch was scared of losing business. The engines also weren't pleased about potentially having a new competitor. After several months of compromises and redrafts, the proposal was accepted and after three years of construction, the airport was opened. It actually benefitted Sodor as now people could get to the Island quicker and not just from England. Throughout the 1950s, air travel companies were constantly innovating and creating new designs. Aside from planes, the new airport housed helicopters too.

One day, when Percy stopped at the airport, he met one of these helicopters, a Sikorsky S-55 named Harold who had arrived earlier that day. He is on Sodor to do whatever needs to be done, claiming to be able to do everything better than land vehicles. He also says railways are slow and out-of-date. Percy still likes his rails, but decides to leave, with Harold reminding him wings always work wonders.

Later that day, Percy arrived at the quarry, still fuming. He tells Clive about what Harold had said. Clive does point out that Harold is right when he said the engines were slaves to their rails, which Percy realises is true. Clive remembers this happened to him while the Sodor and Mainland Railway engines were extending Sodor's main line to Tidmouth during the First World War. A workman asked him if it was frustrating to not be able to go where he wanted to go and it took him days to come up with an answer, which he decided it isn't, as the rails make him unique. He then points out that every method of transportation has its pros and cons, so many means of transport exist, all links in a chain that keep the world running. Percy has bet on Little Dixie for the Regatta, while Clive has bet on Thunderstruck. Percy soon sets off for the harbour with his stone train. He made good time along the line and soon met up with Harold again. He had been surveying the branch line and goes off to the airport. Percy decides to beat the helicopter there, but his driver holds him back. When Percy arrives at the harbour, he sees Harold still hovering.

Percy later met up with Harold again, who had no clue they were racing and hopes Percy wasn't speeding. Percy pleads he wasn't. Presently, Harold's clients have returned and he sets off again, reminding Percy to stick to the speed limit.

That night, Thomas tells Emily at Elsbridge about what happened between Percy and Harold. He also tells her that the Regatta is an annually held yacht race where the competitors sail a lap around Sodor starting from Knapford where the engines take bets on the winners, wagering on bragging rights where the winner gets to boast to their desire for a week and for the others to listen. Thomas loves it, boasting about his three-year winning streak. Emily is depressed, as she remembers how James joked her bet should be Old Timer and he and her got into an argument, since she doesn't like being teased about her age. Thomas remembers during his trials, Toby showed him the ropes. He harassed the tram engine about his age, but that ended when Toby looked at him and said, "At least I got this far." Emily vows to apologise to James when she next sees him, though Thomas advises it would take a while for him to accept the apology. Emily comments this is her first time taking the Post Train on Sodor, but she always took them when she worked on the GNR. Thomas remembers he and Percy took the Post Trains back during the Big Four, and the other engines nicknamed them the "Vampire Twins", because they would sleep during the day and work at night. Presently, Emily's guard blows his whistle, and she departs.

Emily made good time along the main line, but after departing from Wellsworth, she began leaking steam. She struggled up Gordon's Hill, but stalled halfway up. Douglas soon arrived to help her up and as soon as she made it over the top, she sped away without a 'thank you'. She soon arrived at Vicarstown. There, she meets up with Sir Topham Hatt, as well as a Class 40 prototype named Theodore, who will joining the Sodor fleet if he passes his trials. Sir Topham advises the new diesel to change his attitude if he is to be in his region. Emily apologises for her tardy arrival and tells Sir Topham that the workmen found no problems with her at first. Nearby men, who represent BR and Royal Mail, are on Sodor to review the national ratings of the post trains and if any region is underperforming, it will undergo rigorous streamlining. Sir Topham feels Emily's late arrival could have the North Western Region's post service reduced, but hopes her attempts to make up time will impress the group. Theodore mocks Emily for her age, who retorts "At least I got this far", which promptly shuts the haughty diesel up.

Sir Topham had been able to convince the delegates to keep the Post Train for the North Western Region, much to the relief of its engines, but the branch line trains were completely removed , leaving it only on the Main Line. Theodore had been placed on this run, being efficient and punctual, but irritated the other engines by boasting about his superiority. One night, he broke down at Elsbridge because of his failed cooling system. Percy was in the yard at the time and he took the heavy train on to Knapford. Once he arrived, Henry took the train over for the rest of the way. By the time Henry was finished, it was daylight.

That night, Thomas told Percy that Head Office and the Post Master have made a complaint to Sir Topham Hatt about the Post Train being so late. Although Sir Topham Hatt understands that it wasn't Percy's fault, they wouldn't listen, leaving the Post Train in limbo. Harold then tells the two engines that the Post Train will apparently be scrapped and the deliveries will be made by him instead. He boasts that he can deliver the mail quicker, despite carrying in smaller amounts. Just then, the stationmaster runs up and tells the two engines that they're needed on the Main Line, because the turntable at Knapford has jammed, putting them out of commission. Thomas and Percy, as well as other engines from other branch lines have been called in to assist in a last-ditch effort to keep the Post Trains. Harold wishes the engines good luck as they set off, still telling them that wings always work wonders.

That night, everything ran like clockwork for the engines and they made extra good time on their deliveries, earning Sir Topham Hatt's praise. The next day, it is raining. Percy stops by Harold's airfield, and the sad helicopter explains he has been grounded due to the strong winds. Percy takes the chance to get his own back for the earlier teasing by telling the helicopter that rails work wonders. Harold apologises to Percy for being rude, also telling him that the Post Master talked with the Controller of Air Traffic and that the trial with Air Mail has been cancelled, meaning Royal Mail will apparently keep the Mail Service on Sodor. Just then, Harold gets a call on his radio, telling him about an emergency at the Regatta, with several capsized yachts and Harold has to go out into the dangerous weather to save the racers. Percy wishes the helicopter good luck as he sets off. Harold set to work, saving the men and bringing them back to dry land. On his last one, he helped four more people and despite problems with his engine, he managed to safely land at Brendam to bring the four men to an ambulance.

Later, the rain had stopped and Harold is at Elsbridge Harbor with Thomas and Percy. Percy remarks how he hasn't remembered a year where the Regatta had been hit by a storm and praises Harold for a job well done, who thanks Thomas and Percy. The latter also mentions he gets to boast for the next week, since Little Dixie crossed the finish line before the storm hit.

Percy boasted about his victory for the next week, while accepting Harold's apology and the two became friends. The helicopter became a good friend to everyone and was very useful, especially in helping in emergencies. The Post Train also remained on Sodor, despite the Branch Line services never resuming, but it did add some efficiency. Meanwhile, Theodore had been repaired and reassigned. He said goodbye to no one, but left two things behind: A nasty smell of bad manners and a battered top hat.

## Characters

* Thomas
* Percy
* Clive
* Emily
* Harold
* Sir Topham Hatt
* Theodore
* Edward *(narration only; does not speak)*
* Henry *(does not speak)*
* Gordon *(does not speak)*
* James *(does not speak)*
* Toby *(cameo)*
* Donald and Douglas *(cameos)*
* Whiff *(cameo)*
* Neil *(cameo)*
* Reginald *(cameo)*
* Peckett *(cameo)*
* Geoffrey *(cameo)*
* Samantha *(cameo)*
* Sheffield *(cameo)*
* Eric *(cameo)*
* Molly *(cameo)*
* Arthur *(cameo)*
* Bill and Ben *(cameos)*
* Diesel *(cameo)*
* Bertie *(cameo)*
* Sebastian *(cameo)*

## Trivia

* Events and dialogue from Percy and Harold, Bowled Out and Thomas, Percy and the Post Train take place. The difference from the former being that Percy does not race Harold. If he did, Harold would have given Percy a speeding ticket.