The Fat Controller stood in his office, pacing on the phone.
"Send the breakdown train!... Yes I'll be right over!"
With that, his set his phone into the front sleeve of his pocket, and sighed
"Not again..."
The need for stone had become of great importance. The Fat Controller had decided that new hopper wagons from the other railway would be brought in to help cover the loads.
"They'll be stronger, and you should be able to transport more stone per trip!"
The engines liked the sound of this!
One morning, Kermit brought the new hoppers to the big station, where they were taken to places to be loaded.
By the time some had returned, Barry had arrived, to take the hoppers to the works station. He eyed the train with great suspicion. All the trucks look like your run of the mill troublesome ones. All that is, except for one. It looked rugged, and had patchy facial hair, its scowl is what alerted him.
"Alright!"
He announced.
"I want no nonsense, you understand!"
The trucks whispered quietly, as the large tank engine coupled up to the train.
"Crystal clear!"
Came a rough voice.
Barry soon set off. He hadn't got far, when there was an almighty scratch!
"OOOOAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!"
Came a awful cry! Barry and his crew brought the train to a quick stop!
"What's the matter!"
He cried. His stoker checked along the train, before she and the guard noticed it!
"Looks like this ones put the brakes on!"
Barry gritted his teeth.
"Sorry mate! Force of habit!"
The hopper laughed. The driver shook her head, and watched, as the remaining crew released the brakes.
"What's this?"
The stoker rubbed some dust off the side of the hopper, to reveal a name written on the wagon's side.
"Bolts?"
"Do excuse that name Miss, Old codename ya see!"
Barry didn't reply.
Over the next few days, Bolts the hopper wagon earned himself a name. He was awfully behaved, and not like Clarence or Layton, he was dangerous, and always had it out for the engines.
First, he caused Donald's tender to come off the line near Edward's station.
Then he flicked rocks at Big Mac, smashing his windows.
He even pushed Ben into the turntable well! And each time, he'd always cry.
"I'M THE TROUBLESOME TRUCK KING!!"
"Something needs to be done!"
James snapped!
"He's a danger to all of us! Nothing but trouble!"
"The amount of times we've all had near misses or delays because of him is insane!"
Benedict barked!
"Someone should just put him in his place!"
"What if we pull him apart?"
Alaric suggested.
"It's helped Douglas and Oliver before."
"Oh yes and have blood on your buffers! Leave his corpse in the yard for the other trucks to see. What difference will that make, the trucks resent us more?"
Lance grumbled.
"Well, does anyone have any better ideas?"
"Alaric."
Duck cut in.
"We're not pulling him apart, or crushing him. I'm sure we'll find a perfectly reasonable explanation."
But no one else had any ideas. So the topic was dropped.
The next morning, Alaric was asked to assist bank trains up Gordon's hill. Travis was busy helping at the harbour.
"It's just for the day."
Promised The Fat Controller.
"The trains are going to be quite heavy today, and your... well... look at you."
Alaric sneered, but did as he was told.
Doc however, hadn't even left the big station. Bolts' hatch had opened up, causing rock to cover the line, and to delay the train.
"Can't we just hurry this up!?"
He grumbled.
"I don't want to be late."
"Yeah sorry mate!"
Bolts called.
"Couldn't help myself!"
Doc's driver gave the hopper the finger, before Doc shunted him back onto the train.
"Take him to the works, and make sure he stays empty."
The yard manager spoke.
"Don't want to risk his hatch opening while on the move."
Doc and his crew agreed. Doc steamed away, without another word.
His run had gone well enough, Bolts had tried to hold back, but without any rocks, he found himself quite useless. He was fuming by the time the train trailed into Edward's station, to Doc's dismay, the signal shown red.
"Bother."
He grunted.
"Good way to ruin a mediocre run!"
"Hmm, we'll need help up the hill I reckon."
His driver pondered.
"Just wait and we'll be ready."
Fortunately, Alaric clanked in, and was readied behind.
"Peep! Peep! Ready Doc!"
Alaric snorted!
"Peep! I think so!"
As the two engines roared into life! Bolts began plotting.
"Hold back on the hill, and pass the word"
The other trucks snickered, and whispered back down the train.
They had a plan fully set into motion as the train charged the hill! Doc felt his wheels slipping, as the trucks began holding back!
"COME ON! COME ON!!"
He puffed!
"This is awful!!"
"Come on!!"
Alaric called, having no trouble himself.
"Full steam!!"
Doc was coughing, and panting, and started losing grip! This is what Bolts had wanted from the start. What he wasn't expecting was for Alaric to keep going!
"Oh no."
He gulped.
"This wasn't a good idea."
Alaric tends to not know his own strength, he was pushing with all his might! Doc was out of breath, and was only just moving on his own! All the weight from both engines and a whole train was being pressed onto his frames.
"STOP!!"
He begged! But it did little good. The snorting and roaring from the two engines drowned it out. Bolts felt like he was being crushed!
"HELP ME!!"
He cried, at last Doc heard him. He whistled for Alaric to stop! But by then, it was too late! With an ear-piercing screach! Bolts was crushed between Doc's tender and the front hoppers. Only then, did Alaric notice. The train was brought to a stop.
Luckily, Douglas was passing, and Alaric's driver rode down with them, and informed control.
By the time The Fat Controller had arrived, Doc had taken the rest of the train on, say some of the front trucks which had been pushed off the line. Alaric stood near the wreck, as James and Douglas set about clearing the gory mess.
"That looks nasty."
The Fat Controller commented.
"From what I heard!"
Douglas shivered.
"It sounded nasty..."
The Fat Controller made his way to Alaric.
"Are you alright?"
He asked kindly.
"Yeah, no issues here."
Alaric replied.
"Just hoping those hopper'll now give us some level of respect."
The Fat Controller just shook his head.
"He really doesn't know his own strength."
Of course, Bolts was mended and became a different truck. While still troublesome and always up to no good. He doesn't push the boundaries often, and knows that he's quite fragile.
The remaining hoppers proved to be any other troublesome truck. While not as nasty as Bolts, they act out, just like any truck.
Alaric was given an earful by the other engines, who heavily disapproved with attempted murder. But the subject was dropped after trains ran back to time. First Douglas, then Oliver, now Alaric, I wonder who's next?
"Hey lads?"
Bolts whispered, as Barwick coupled up to a goods train.
"Let's pay him out!"