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English
Series:
Part 37 of The Extended Railway Series
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Published:
2023-04-01
Completed:
2023-04-04
Words:
3,265
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4/4
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46
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38
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Jinty, Pug and the Ffarquhar Engines

Summary:

Dear Friends,
Jinty and Pug spent a couple months on Thomas’ branchline reacquainting themselves with life as working steam engines. But the pair quickly learnt that the engines living at Ffarquhar sheds are nothing like the engines they know on the mainland! Life on the NWR is never dull, and Thomas’ branchline is definitely the least dull spot on the entire line! Here’s how they learnt that lesson.
The Author.

Notes:

Please do not put this story into an AI for any reason or copy it elsewhere without my permission. Thank you.

(See the end of the work for other works inspired by this one.)

Chapter 1: Thomas and the Jet Engine

Summary:

Thomas likes the jet engine testing they do at Dryaw, while Harold wants a rather ugly old shed removed...

Notes:

This is a more realistic take on the episode - which I love.

Also, some housekeeping: in Australia, the episode is 'Thomas and the Jet Engine', based on the DVD is was released on. I only just discovered it has a different title in the UK.

(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)

Chapter Text

Jinty and Pug are two engines who have worked together since they were built. They shunted yards across the Midlands together, they came to Sodor together and they were preserved together. Pug is a small Kitson saddle tank engine, and Jinty is… well, a Jinty. Jinty and Pug are very firm friends, and both were recently repainted into NWR green in preparation to start work at Barrow harbour. 

Thomas and Percy are engines who work together because they have to. They are, technically, friends - but at the same time, they argue often enough that Toby has copied Duke and is now dumping teabags into his water every evening. They are friends, definitely - but they both have big personalities, and it can cause friction. 

After being repaired, Jinty and Pug headed to the Ffarquhar branch for a few weeks to ‘shakedown’ and readjust to being in steam. On their way, they passed by Dryaw. Harold was sitting by the line, glaring at a very ugly shed that stood at the edge of the airfield. After catching up on nearly half a century of gossip, Harold turned his attention to the shed. 

“If only they would demolish it already,” he grumbled to the two. “But no - they need it apparently. It doesn’t even store anything!”
“That’s not great,” sympathised Pug.
“It does look ugly,” huffed Jinty. “Just ‘accidentally’ ram it and knock it over. Problem solved!” 

Harold chuckled, and let the pair continue on their way. 

The other engines were pleased to see them - however the conversation soon turned to a special delivery Thomas was picking up the next morning.
“It’s a jet engine,” Thomas boasted. “I’m taking it to Dryaw to be tested.”
“That’s nice,” Jinty said kindly.
“No it’s not!” spluttered Percy. “All Thomas does is talk about it. It’s all ‘jet engine this’ and ‘jet engine that’. I’d like to see this jet engine explode in his smug smokebox!” Toby groaned, and subtly asked his fireman to dunk another teabag into his tank. 

Thomas collected the jet engine from the harbour, and dragged it along the mainline, grinning cheekily at all the engines he passed. Most of the other engines ignored him. 

Thomas reached the airfield and puffed proudly into the siding. He yawned, and dozed off while he waited for the men to unload the jet engine. 

Unfortunately, the men waiting to unload the jet engine were foreign, and had misunderstood the instructions they’d been given. They uncoupled Thomas, and then filled the jet engine with fuel. Thomas ran out of the siding just as Jinty arrived, stopped at a signal.
“What are they doing?” quizzed Jinty.
“Who cares,” sniffed Thomas.
“I care,” Harold said grimly. “That engine is for one of my friends. He’s been stuck at the Vicarstown airport for weeks waiting for this jet! They should be more careful… what are they doing?” 

They were filling the jet with fuel and locking the brakes on the flatbed it had arrived on. Jinty looked back, and his guard stepped out of the van to speak to the signalman. 

That was when it happened. One clumsy worker knocked the start-up switch for testing, and the jet began to whine. The men ran for cover; Thomas watched intently. The jet backfired with a tremendous Bang! Flames spewed all over Jinty’s empty trucks, setting them ablaze. Jinty’s eyes went wide, and he raced away down the line with the empty trucks, Thomas laughing at him as he thundered out of the station. 

The jet engine then backfired again, the whine growing louder, and louder. It ripped out of its constraints and went sailing through the air, right into the shed! The shed exploded in a ball of fire as the jet was destroyed by debris. A fire crew came sprinting over, and all anyone could hear was Thomas’ hysteric cackles. 

“I don’t see what’s so funny,” snapped Harold.
“Oh no - it’s just, you always did want that shed gone!” Harold was not impressed. 

The engines were not happy with Thomas that night at the sheds.
“Harold’s friend won’t get his jet for another month because of that stunt!” Percy complained bitterly. “His company’s thinking of selling him. The workers were all almost injured, Jinty’s got a scorch mark on his brand new paint and all you can do is laugh!”
“It’s a very funny scorch mark,” Thomas said. It was, admittedly, hilarious. There was a large black mark on Jinty’s bunker in the shape of a love heart. 

Emily had catcalled the poor engine when she passed through with her local passenger train. 

None of the other engines thought it very funny, and the argument lasted long into the night. 

Notes:

This is possibly the most ludicrous thing I've written for the RWS itself in a long time. The last time something was this wild was when a Boulder was inhabited by an undead spirit and terrorised Bertram I think. 'The Informant' does not count.

I have a Tumblr! Go look me up at Weirdo_with_A_Quill - I recently posted a WIP list and the more people ask about them, the more motivation I have to write!

Chapter 2: Not a Pet!

Summary:

Daisy wants to be more like the models in magazines, and Pug has an unfortunate name...

Notes:

Warning: this is by far the weirdest thing I've ever written.

You have been warned.

(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)

Chapter Text

Pug is a small Kitson Saddle Tank with a strong, bark-like exhaust. He’s a small engine - around the same size as Neil - but that doesn’t mean he isn’t strong. What he is, however, is quite small. 

Daisy thought the little engine looked adorable. He was a small, squat little engine who looked to Daisy a bit like the dog he was named after. Daisy had always had a fascination with dogs - she wouldn’t let the smelly things ride in her, of course - but her passengers always seemed to love them. The one time an actual model had travelled in her, she’d had a little pug dog in her purse, treating him to little pets and a pair of little woollen booties. 

Moreover, Daisy had just been chosen to feature on the front of a major fashion magazine, as a famous makeup artist from the mainland had decided she wanted to do Daisy’s makeup. Daisy decided that in order to boost her image, she needed a pet. Preferably a Pug. 

“Ack! I must have one!” Daisy sighed dramatically one night, to no one in particular.
“Have one what?” asked Percy, looking up from where the cleaner was scrubbing dirt off his cheek.
“A pet! All the greatest fashionistas have a pet!”
“But you’re not a fashionista,” Toby said, calmly and as sweet as sugar. Daisy snorted.
“I am too a fashionista! Look at my lining, is it not the most elegant design you have ever seen?”
“It’s certainly something,” Pug replied cheekily. Daisy did not catch the sarcasm in his voice.  

Daisy beamed. 

“I knew you’d understand, my little Pug!”
“Your little what?” But Daisy had already sauntered off to pull her evening train, leaving Pug looking very confused. 

The next morning, Pug collected a line of goods wagons, and was about to set off when Daisy came fussing over.
“Non non Non! Tu es mon Carlin, et je ne te laisserai pas toucher à des choses aussi sales!” She coupled up to Pug and forcibly dragged him over to the milk tanker, leaving him there and pulling away with a flourish. 

“Did… did anyone understand all of… that?” asked Pug slowly. Toby silently cackled from where he and Henrietta were waiting to collect the workmen for the quarry. 

She did this again, and again, and again! Pug was beginning to wonder if he’d ever be allowed to shunt a truck again. The poor tank engine had no clue what the crazy railcar was saying either - meaning every time she ranted at him in French, he just stared up at her in dumbfounded confusion. 

That is, until finally he discovered just what was going on. 

Daisy had bought a ribbon to wrap around Pug’s funnel.
“You’ll look absolutely adorable!” she gasped.
“You’ve lost it,” Pug deadpanned. “I’m not wearing that.”
“You will!” snapped Daisy furiously. “I am a fashionista of the highest calibre, and I must have a stylish dog to go with!”
“I am not a pet!” roared Pug, blowing steam at Daisy and ruining the ribbon. Daisy screeched in horror - but Pug had already ran for it, going as fast as his little wheels could carry him. 

He made it to the junction, where he told Percy exactly what had happened.
“I can’t believe it!” Pug snapped, steam whooshing from his safety valve. “I’ll show her! I’ll show her!” He paused, then smirked. “And I know just how to do it.”
“You do?”
“Yes,” grinned Pug. “I do.” 

The next morning, Daisy came sauntering into the yard, looking around for any sign of Pug. To her surprise, the little engine happily puffed right up alongside her. 

“Look, Daisy, I understand you want a pet to boost your image?”
“Why yes! Did you not hear? I am to be the star of a fashion magazine, and the photoshoot is today!”
“Is it?” asked Pug innocently. “Do you have your pet?”
“Well…”
“Because I was talking to an expert in pets, and together we came up with the perfect match for you!” Daisy gasped in delight.
“What is it? Is it a poodle? A chihuahua? A Persian Blue cat?”
“Better,” grinned Pug. His driver stepped out of his cab, holding up a… 

“Eeek!” screeched Daisy. “Get it away from me!” The little piglet oinked happily, and waved its little hooves at her. Daisy shuddered violently, and shunted back. “No! I won’t be near such a creature!” 

Daisy dashed away just as Percy arrived.
“Hullo! What’s got her in such a panic?”
“Farmer Trotter’s piglet,” Pug replied easily. The piglet had been put down, and was happily sniffing about the station, getting pats from the passengers and a piece of lettuce from the signalman’s lunch. 

Percy stared, then burst out laughing.
“You really got her good!”
“Of course I did. I wasn’t going to let her get away with it!” sniggered Pug. “I am no pet.” 

Notes:

For reference, the line Daisy says in French is: "No no no! You are my Pug, and I won't let you touch such dirty things!" Daisy really had a mental break in this chapter, trying to be as fashionable as possible, and it was both hilarious and kind of weird to write. Hope you enjoyed!

Chapter 3: Mavis and the Twins

Summary:

The argument between Thomas and the others forces Sir Stephen to rearrange the roster because of a large stone contract...

Notes:

Less insane this time. Hooray for that.

Also Mavis.

(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)

Chapter Text

Thomas was being stubborn. He was refusing to do any work other than his passenger runs, trying to force the other engines to give up on ignoring him. 

In response, the other engines ignored him more, and that left the Fat Controller in a difficult position. The quarry at the end of Thomas’ branchline had recently been given its largest order for stone yet, to build a massive new state building over on the continent. They needed to get the stone to the mainland, but only Jinty was really strong enough to handle enough trucks on his own to keep the schedule… if Thomas helped. 

With no other choice, Sir Stephen reshuffled his engines so Jinty and Diesel went to the Little Western, Percy to the yards and Donald and Douglas to the branchline. The pair were very excited. 

“Awright toby! Awright Pug!” called Donald, coming to a stop in the berth beside the old tram.
“Hello Donald! Hello Douglas!” the two called back.
“So Sir Topham sent you two to pull the stone?” huffed Thomas as he puffed by with Annie and Clarabel. “Good. Percy was being annoying anyway.”
“Whit's th' maiter wi' him?” asked Douglas.
“We’re not really talking right now,” Toby explained, and he told the Caledonian twins what had happened. Then, he stopped the pair from chasing Thomas down and smacking some sense into him. “He needs to fix this himself,” Toby sighed. “And to think, things were actually quite peaceful before the jet incident.” 

Donald and Douglas fit in well with Pug and Toby - but there was one engine who had never met them before. Mavis. 

Mavis was certainly startled when Donald hauled a long line of trucks up into the quarry backwards, blasting his deep whistle loudly and startling her from her siding.
“Who are you?”
“A'm Donal’, who're you?" 
“I’m Mavis, I work here.”
“Nice tae mak yer acquaintance. We're 'ere tae shift yer stane.” Mavis blinked.
“What?”
“Ur thae mah trucks? Cheers, Mavis - ah will be aff noo!” And off Donald went, leaving behind one stunned Mavis. 

It was barely twenty minutes before Douglas came snorting in, another long line of empty trucks dragged behind him. 

“Glaikit hings tried tae gied the pitch oan th' hill. Bit ah shawed thaim! Ye mist be Mavis - Donal’ tellt me you'd be 'ere. Nice tae mak yer acquaintance, a'm Douglas!”
“What?”
“A’m Douglas.”
“But weren’t you–” Mavis spotted the nameplate. “Ah! Your trucks are in the siding over there.” Douglas whistled cheerfully, collected his trucks, and puffed away. 

As much as Mavis liked Donald and Douglas, she couldn’t understand a word they said. She told Pug this when he made his way up a week later.
“They speak so fast,” Mavis exclaimed. “And they’re so nice, but I haven’t a clue what they mean! They could be telling me I’m wearing a clown nose and I’d think they were talking about the weather!” 

Pug didn’t know what to say to that. 

Then, the rain came. Blasting had to halt at the quarry, but there was still plenty of stone to be carted away. Donald and Douglas’ pistons echoed through the valley as they worked hard to clear through the backlog of stone. 

All the hard work and rain put a lot of strain on the track. The twins noticed, and they tried to warn Mavis - but the diesel didn’t understand at all! She just smiled and agreed. 

As the rain cleared, Donald became ill. His first train was ready, but he wasn’t able to steam up to collect it. Mavis had to bring it down. Mavis was very excited, and she began to make her way down the line. But not knowing the track was strained, she didn’t keep a good enough look out, and the track gave way at the tightest corner, dropping Mavis onto the ballast.
“Oooh!” yelped Mavis. “That hurt!” 

Douglas was sent to clean up the mess.
“How come didnae ye listen tae oor warnings?!” he scolded. Mavis blinked.
“Could you… repeat that?” she asked slowly.
“Pardon?”
“I… didn’t understand. I… your accent…” Douglas frowned, then his eyes widened.
“Oh! Ye brassic lass!” Douglas coughed, and tried again, speaking much slower and clearer.
“I dinnae mean ta confuse ye. A’m Scottish, an’ we can be a wee bit hard te understand. The other engines used ta tell us, but they’re used ta it noo, so we forgot.” 

Mavis chuckled.
“That’s no problem. I knew you both were nice, and that was all I needed.” Douglas beamed, and helped the diesel back onto the rails. 

The twins worked very hard, and by the time they left, the branchline was in a better state than ever! They’d even helped with track maintenance - the rails were as smooth as silk. Mavis sighed - she’d come to really enjoy having the Caledonian twins around. They were certainly much nicer than Thomas and his scowl! 

Notes:

I've started using scotranslate.com for the twins' lines. It's easier and more realistic than butchering Scottish dialect. It's certainly harder to follow, which fits perfectly for this chapter!

Chapter 4: Jinty and the Giant

Summary:

Jinty wants to get to know Murdoch, but he choses the worst time...

Notes:

Hope you enjoy!

(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)

Chapter Text

Murdoch the mighty engine is something of a gentle giant. He’s a quiet, peaceful sort who likes to do his work with little fuss and less noise. It has a lot to do with his smoke deflectors. The other engines don’t realise this - but sound echoes inside the giant smoke deflectors, becoming louder and more painful to the big engine. 

Worse yet, recently the Fat Controller had given him a new pair of deflectors, specially designed to help Murdoch see better. While well-intentioned, all the new deflectors had done was make that noise worse. 

Not long after Jinty returned to the Ffarquhar branch, he began noticing Murdoch steam by. Murdoch was a massive engine, and Jinty instantly wanted to know more. The 9F looked like an actual giant! All Murdoch noticed about Jinty was just how loud he was. 

One morning was worse than ever. An argument broke out between Duck and Spamcan, and it had devolved into most of the engines shouting at each other over the tiniest of grievances. Murdoch had escaped that… and arrived at the harbour. Salty had been as chirpy as ever - and Cranky had complained as loud as ever. A ship next to Murdoch then prepared to sail by honking and wailing for a tug as loud as it could, the sound rattling around in Murdoch’s new smoke deflectors. 

The trucks sang loudly, then cackled when the chains on one of Donald’s trucks snapped and spilt pipes all over the line, the metal clanging and ringing out. The breakdown gang that came to right the mess hollered and banged the pipes together even more, and Murdoch’s eye began to twitch. His smokebox was screaming in pain. 

Several cars and lorries raced past Murdoch as he set off again, honking and hooting at him. A crow cawed as it flew overhead. The church bells rang in the steeple above him. Harold buzzed overhead. Douglas whistled loudly as he passed. 

Murdoch was absolutely wincing in pain as he entered the junction and stopped at the red signal, looking very pale and wishing more than anything for some peace and quiet. 

Jinty didn’t notice any of this, and came puffing over looking very chipper.
“Hello!” he chirped. Loudly. The last of Murdoch’s patience snapped. 

“Shut up!” Murdoch roared. “I don’t want to hear you! Go away! Go!”
“But I…” Murdoch winced sharply, his eyes shutting tight.
“Shut. Up. You little imp! I don’t want to hear you, see you - you little pain!” 

Jinty gazed up at Murdoch, and saw a pair of glaring eyes staring back down at him. 

Thomas puffed in at that moment, and saw Jinty about ready to cry while Murdoch glared daggers. 

“Murdoch! What are you doing?!” thundered Thomas, storming over and leaving Annie and Clarabel behind. Murdoch shot Thomas a dirty look.
“Go away,” hissed Murdoch.
“No! You apologise.”
“Go. Away.”
“No!”
“Thomas!” Murdoch roared. “I cannot deal with you now!” The signal dropped, and Murdoch charged away, dragging the trucks after him. 

Thomas watched him go, and realisation dawned. 

“He’s dealing with his smokebox pains,” he said slowly. “Oh… oh dear. Jinty, are you alright?”
“You… you stood up for me?”
“Of course I did!” huffed Thomas. “No one insults engines on my branchline!” 

Jinty took a moment, then huffed.
“So…”
“So? I…” Thomas spotted the scorch mark still on Jinty’s paintwork. He sighed. “Ah… I’m sorry. I was a bit of a jerk, and I shouldn’t have been.”
“That’s okay,” Jinty replied. “But all this needs to end now. I don’t know how you lot manage to keep the branchline running with the way you argue!” Thomas agreed. 

Thomas spoke to Murdoch later that day, after Murdoch had spent some time on a peaceful siding to calm down. 

“So…”
“The new deflectors have made hearing worse. The sound bounces around even more now, and it hurts. I had a really bad morning, and Jinty was just the last straw.”
“I think you need to apologise to him,” Thomas said. Murdoch agreed. 

Murdoch met Jinty at the junction that evening. 

“I’m sorry Jinty,” Murdoch said quietly. “I’ve been having trouble with my smokebox pains, and it was just a bad time.”
“Oh… is it like a migraine?”
“A… what?” 

“Well,” Jinty hummed, “back on the LMS, the 'Coronations' used to get migraines from their big smoke deflectors all the time. Have you considered speaking to Sir Stephen Hatt about it?”
“I… haven’t,” Murdoch admitted. “I don’t want to become a burden to him, after he and his father saved me.” 

Luckily for Murdoch, Thomas told Sir Stephen instead, and Murdoch was given new smoke deflectors with special holes to help with the sound. He’s happier now, though he still does need time when the sound levels become too much for him. 

Jinty and Pug left for Barrow a week later, and as they did, they told the Ffarquhar group to “come see us at any time!” The two are happy at their new home, but they do sometimes ask to take trains back to see their friends: Thomas, Daisy, Mavis, Percy and Toby. 

Notes:

Please be kind to Murdoch, it's not his fault that he gets bad migraines. Those really hurt.

The idea for Murdoch's migraines being compounded by his smoke deflectors was actually devised during a conversation with a friend of mine! I quite like the idea - it really works! The large smoke deflectors that Murdoch has are unlike anything on Sodor - or really much of Britain in general. The Southern had half-height ones, the LNER used the smaller German-style ones which are directly connected to the smokebox. The only railway that would have experience is the LMS.

Stay tuned for next up is 'Bowler the Redeemed Engine'!

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