Diagnosis

**Diagnosis** is the fifth episode of the fourth season of the Stories of Sodor and the fifty-fifth episode overall.

Diagnosis/Transcript

## Plot

 The incident with Jonny Cuba had not only left the Engines of Sodor in shock, but they also felt foolish for being so easily deceived, especially those on the Peel Godred Branch Line. Cuba's performance on the branch increased its efficiency, resulting in a lack of strength when he left. Sir Topham Hatt requested specifically for Molly to be brought in, and she soon arrived.

A few weeks before 1958, Molly was talking to Eric at Elsbridge, telling him about her jobs throughout the past few years, the most recent of which was being a banker on the Lickey Incline, having to fill in for a 9F that had to undergo maintenance for two months. Molly had brought down a new set of rails for Eric to bring down to Brendam, which is for the China Clay Pits, which will be reopening.

Soon, Eric has brought the train to Brendam, where Adam and Diesel are. Eric tells them he and Molly were better off as friends instead of in a romantic relationship. Diesel and Adam assume they might have had a mutual breakup and the two laugh as Adam starts coughing. Diesel is concerned, as he instructs Eric to shunt his train into Siding 3 and Eric leaves to do so. Adam then starts coughing harder, which he claims something is caught in his smokebox and could be fixed.

Later, Edward is in the siding where Eric had shunted the train, sleeping. A small, yellow tank engine pulls up alongside and blows a loud whistle, startling him awake. The small tank engines introduces himself as Bill, who is to work at the China Clay Pits. Edward gives Bill the directions to there; Bill leaves and Edward goes back to sleep. Soon, he is startled awake by another shrill whistle, coming from another similar looking tank engine on his left, named Ben, puzzling Edward. He gives Ben the same instructions on how to get to the China Clay Pits as he did with Bill. Ben leaves and Edward goes back to sleep again. This time, two shrill whistles from both Bill and Ben startle him awake. Edward knows the twins as encouraging pranksters and advises them to get jobs done before jokes, especially with the shape of the China Clay Pits. They were  abandoned and closed down due to massive flooding back in 1948 and the site is now essentially a forest. The twins assert their readiness for the task and know their limits with playing pranks and apologise to Edward, who introduces himself to the twins. As one last prank, Bill startles Edward with another shrill whistle.

The twins worked hard, replacing the rusted rails with new ones, cleaning the line of trees and bushes and delivered supplies to the Clay Pits, clearing up all the trees and within two months, the Clay Pits were almost ready to begin business once again. Adam congratulates them for their hard work. Bill comments it could be at a couple of months before mining can resume because they need to dig new tunnels. Adam will have to get the support beams for the new tunnels because they have to be near the shafts in case of an emergency with men working in them. Adam questions how workmen can work in the shafts without support beams, and the twins are unable to find an answer. Adam advises them to have the stories straight before they con someone into doing their work, before he departs, leaving the twins to argue.

At Brendam, Adam told Douglas about Bill and Ben. Douglas remarks how they remind him of Donald and himself in their youth, by playing a few pranks from time to time. Adam hopes Bill and Ben are the same, saying that he's too old to be paranoid. Presently, Adam's guard blows his whistle and waves his green flag. Adam prepares to leave, but struggles to move his train while his wheels are slipping. He stops to regain his breath, before he starts moving again. Suddenly, he begins spewing black smoke and into his cab, causing his crew to evacuate.

Soon afterwards, Mickey has taken Adam to the Works. He claims he had worse with the cough and pain, but says he didn't have his crew inspect him. Mickey tells Adam that they will inspect him to check what's wrong. The workmen inject the green water into Adam's systems and he goes to sleep as workmen begin their work. A couple of hours later, Adam wakes up and notices Sir Topham Hatt talking with a workman. He quickly realises he is at the back of the shed and demands to know why. After a short silence, Sir Topham tells him that he has a severe case of metal fatigue. He has thought of having Head Office give him an overhaul, but Adam has decided to have the final firing shocking Sir Topham.

Edward is also in shock upon hearing this, and Sir Topham Hatt had tried to talk Adam out of it for two hours, but to no avail and that a non-faceless vehicle's right to end their life is absolute. Sir Topham tells them about Adam's condition, and he only has a few months left to live if he isn't treated, but if he is, the chances of survival are very slim, which makes Adam's decision more justified.

Metal Fatigue, essentially a terminal illness for a non-faceless vehicle, is gradual increase of cracks causes by extreme strain. The only effective treatment for this is a complete overhaul, but this is expensive and time-consuming and fatigue-ridden vehicles often die during these procedures. As a result, most vehicles who get the illness go for the final firing. The news spread about Adam's condition and his choice. The engines were very divided on their opinions, however they all agreed on wanting to see him, but they couldn't because the Works does not have visiting hours. They were all anxious about what Adam was thinking and Mickey was not allowed to tell them.

However, one day, Toby had the chance to see Adam, as he had to go to the Works to have one of his axles replaced. Toby tells Adam his condition reminds the old tram about  the time his boiler was severely damaged in the spring of 1938. Toby isn't sure if Adam should try the overhaul, since metal fatigue was not the cause of his boiler exploding. Adam thought the overhaul would be hasty at first, and he now considers it too expensive and doesn't know how many years he has left in him, being seventy-five years old. Toby says he hasn't considered a final firing yet, even with him being older than Adam. Adam tells Toby that the age of steam is over, and with mainline diesels soon arriving, steam locomotives most likely won't be supported in the next few years, so he has decided to go out like this. Toby understands this.

Later, he tells Edward and Diesel about the matter at Wellsworth. After Edward and Diesel briefly bicker, Diesel says why he's so stubborn to not see Adam die because he has always considered Adam his best friend and now he can't do anything to return the favour for him for helping him accept steam engines. Edward understands, and a phrase he learned in France that sums it up: "C'est la vie"(That's life). Toby tells them that Adam has planned his final firing on Thursday, and had requested Edward and Diesel be there. Sir Topham Hatt knew it was impractical to have all engines attend, but can let Edward and Diesel go if they want to. Both engines say yes, and Edward decides to bring another person with them.

That Thursday, Edward, Diesel and Sir Topham Hatt are at the works, ready for Adam's final firing. Diesel says he was going to try to talk Adam out of the final firing but it would be too much like begging, which Adam scoffs at, saying it isn't like a Midi. Just then, Mr. Zorro walks out of Diesel's cab. He had triumphed against cancer and is enjoying his new lease on life. Mr. Zorro isn't happy with Adam's decision, but he respects it, though Diesel is reluctant to do so. Adam tells Diesel he never did owe him anything, being happy to have Diesel as a colleague and a friend. He expresses his pleasure in working for Sir Topham Hatt and Mr. Zorro, and the honour of serving under Edward's command in the war. Adam is now ready for the final firing. Sir Topham gives the order for the workmen to pour the black water into Adam and they do so. Adam, in his final breath, says his final goodbye and peacefully passes away.

That night at Brendam, Edward, Diesel, Douglas and Eric mourn over the loss of their friend. The latter chuckles, remembering  when he and Adam were at Wellsworth to keep a watch on the train with the flare during the Wendell incident. Diesel remarks Adam had liked Eric the most out of the Nor'Easters since he always meant well, similar to Colin and Lily, as Douglas is reminded how all three Wellsworth and Suddery Railway engines are gone. At that moment, Sir Topham Hatt arrives, saying that while the W&S is gone, there will still be those who remember it. The others were sad, and Sir Topham told them that if they need help they can talk to him or Mickey and he gives the four engines the assurance as well. Sir Topham is depressed about the matter himself, having mentioned he has seen several final firings before, but it doesn't get easier.  Due to the expected increase in workload and the vacancy left in Adam's passing, Sir Topham has decided to bring in Donald to help with the workload while another engine is called who will replace Donald on the Main Line roster.

A week after Adam's passing, a memorial was held for him. Adam's remains were taken to be scrapped. It was difficult for the engines losing him, but they eventually got over it.  Edward then remembers another story to tell about the Wellsworth and Suddery engines, as well as the heroic actions of one of its brake vans, which he saves for another time.

## Characters

* Edward
* Toby
* Adam *(death)*
* Diesel
* Douglas
* Eric
* Molly
* Bill and Ben
* Mickey
* The Fat Controller
* Mr. Zorro
* Donald *(does not speak)*
* Clive *(does not speak)*
* Neil *(does not speak)*
* Matthew *(does not speak)*
* Jonny Cuba *(does not speak)*
* Thomas *(cameo)*
* Henry *(cameo)*
* Gordon *(cameo)*
* James *(cameo)*
* Percy *(cameo)*
* Samantha *(cameo)*
* Peckett *(cameo)*
* Geoffrey *(cameo)*
* Reginald *(cameo)*
* Paul *(cameo)*
* Hurricane *(cameo)*
* Arthur *(cameo)*
* Samson *(cameo)*
* Kate *(cameo)*
* Whiff *(cameo)*
* Rosie *(cameo)*
* Caroline *(cameo)*
* Brian *(cameo)*
* Colin *(mentioned)*
* Lily *(mentioned)*
* Wendell *(mentioned)*
* Mr. Star *(mentioned)*
* Farmer McColl *(mentioned)*
* Peter *(indirectly mentioned)*

## Trivia

* This episode marks the last regular appearance of Adam.
* This episode marks the first time a final firing is shown in full detail. This is also the first time Bill and Ben appear canonically in the series outside of the introductions and "Preview".