Den
Stacy
Stanley
Wilbert
Jinty
Annie
Jack
Niel
Smith
Helen
Boris
Belle
Railways have always used coal to keep things running along smoothly.
Belle once thought that moving coal trucks was the worst job, but now that Steam has been withdrawn everywhere else, it was the most important job to her now.
"You coal trucks have been very good to me," she said, "I hope you understand."
"We really just want to be done with this coal!" said the trucks, "We're tired of just going back and forth on the same line!"
Soon, Belle headed along the country side, when suddenly, the rails beneath her exploded, destroying all the coal, and Belle bruised, and badly damaged. Luckily, a local corn farm was nearby, and phoned for help.
Soon, Jinty arrived with the Break Down Cranes, and the American Controller. He inspected the track.
"This was no accident," said he said, "We have a Mad Bomber on the loose. I'm afraid I'll have to close the coal mine rails because of this incident. Now, until we catch this bomber, I'll have all the coal transported by road."
Belle was gently lifted on the flatbed, and was taken back to the works.
The engines saw what had happened, and were very worried.
"Now," said the American Controller, "I'm sure you've all heard that we have a mad bomber on the loose."
The engines all looked at each other suspiciously.
"Come on Jack!" said Neil.
"Smith, who are you looking at?" asked Stanley.
"So, I will have you all fitted with special cameras as a security measure. Please be careful out there."
Jack rolled onto the turntable and looked at the cameras and said, "Wow, digital HD, and high storage systems. With these cameras, we could start a video club!"
Gleaming Red Annie then said, "I challenge all the engines to come with their own movie on any subject with their cameras within a month. The engine that makes the best video gets a boiler flush!"
Everyone was given a camera, but everyone was very scared of a mad bomber on the loose.
A visiting Class 46 'Peak' diesel called Boris was brought to help out. He enjoyed teasing the steam engines of scrap. When he heard about the bomber, he was very delighted, and wanted to prove diesels were better, but he had one major flaw. He was very lazy.
"I heard your coal supply has dried up," he said to the engines, "It's about time you all were scrapped."
Stacy, who was trying to figure out how to turn on her camera, said, "We maybe old, and reliant on coal, but we're survivors! And you are perhaps the laziest diesel I have ever seen!"
Boris just scuttled away in disgust.
Stacy and Margo continued carrying the food supplies on the branch line.
Elsewhere, Neil was busy making a video of the ways to find alternative fuel source.
Jinty made his video about the town's fellow cats.
Jack had his eyes on the sky, and teamed up with Helen the Helicopter.
Stanley made his video about the story of an engine's last journey.
Smith made his about how sometimes the cars and buses would want a challenge and race him to the stations.
Belle was in the works, and she also had a camera. Her video was being planned.
"At least I can keep an eye on Boris."
The American Controller was not happy about this whole situation that was happening. "The prices have really dropped since the bombing," he said to himself.
He then turned to Boris on the turntable.
"I'm relying on you Boris to bring things back on track."
"I'll do that easily," said Boris, "You can forget all about those steam engines now."
Later....
"Ah," said Boris, "Just the engine I wanted to see. Listen, I have very special plans."
Den the diesel looks at Boris, and says nothing, as the plans are whispered to him.
"That's my boi!! I like the quiet ones. No back chat. Not like what I get from those clapped out dinosaurs, and that goes for you too stinking coal trucks!........ What's that green paint splat on your driver's cab? Have you been helping repair that pesky Belle engine?"
"..........."
"For a chap who doesn't say much, it seems you've been betting for the other side. Take my advice, stick with me. I have connections way above the American Controller. He's just a puppet about to loose his strings."
2 weeks have passed, and the engines assembled at the roundhouse. The engines packed into the sheds while a storm brued in the distance. Belle was fully repaired, and her first run was a complete success.
"Alright," said Annie, "I believe tonight might be a good night for a movie. We can each see each other's movies, so good luck, and may the best engine win."
Silence fell over the shed, as the first movie played.
"See, I put my camera on the Helicopter."
"Wow, look at that view!!"
"Oh, I.. I don't like heights. W-Why is it shaking? It's all wobbly! You should use a tripod."
"Wow, look at those sheds!"
"Not bad Jack. Some shots a little shaky, but good none the less."
Stacy was next, but was unable to remove the tape from her camera.
"See it's a drama. I act in it. One of the best forms of media I've ever filmed."
"Okay, okay, don't give the story away Stacy! Stanley, you're up next.
Silence fell, and the engines watched, as the thunder broke the silence.
"Now that is a video!! It sends shivers down your frames!
"Heh heh, Jinty, it seems you had the camera pointed at the tracks, and not the pets." Jinty's face turned as red as Annie.
"An educational video. Not bad Neil."
Belle was next.
"Well," she said, "Mine is sort of an animation see. Victor and Kevin helped make it."
"Is that legal?" asked Smith, "I feel that goes against the rules here."
Annie then thought for a moment, "Well, I think we can stretch the rules just this once."
So, Belle's video was shown, and it was her being repaired.
The engines were amazed.
They had never seen an engine being build and repaired like this before.
"Amazing," said Annie, "You did well Belle."
"Wait! Hold up, rewind Belle's video!" said Jack.
"What's up?" asked Neil.
"Something wrong?" asked Wilbert.
"Did you see something?" asked Stanley.
"I think I saw a bomb," said Jack.
"A BOMB!?!?!" exclaimed the engines.
"On the turntable."
The engines looked carefully, and saw Jack was right!
"I'll get it!" said Belle, as she was closest to the exit.
She raced onto the turntable, and the Bomb was placed on her running board.
Belle raced down the mainline, until someone switched her off the mainline.
"Oh no!! That's Boris' shed!! I'LL NEVER STOP IN TIME!!"
Boris opened his eyes, and couldn't believe them!!
"OH NO!!! HELP!!!! HELLP!!! CRICKY, NOT ME!!!"
The bomb exploded, and both engines were enveloped in flames.
Next morning, Belle was once more placed on the tracks for repairs.
The police arrived, with the American Controller, and Jack explained that he saw the second in command of the railway putting the bomb on the turntable.
"We also noticed that he manipulated the stock markets just before the first bombing!!"
The police then headed to the station, to find the second in command.
"Well done everyone," said the American Controller, "You have saved the railway."
"It was Belle who did it," said Annie, "Her video was the key to saving the railway."
Just goes to show you that a little video and story can go a long way.