Hello readers, it's ThomasZoey3000 here with the first installment of a new fan-made Thomas series which follows along with the Railway Series Books and the adaptations I've been doing. Also note too that this series will replace the Thomas & Friends-the Untold Stories, so that one won't be continuing. Many of the stories in that series will be adapted into this series in due time, so that means you'll be seeing the likes of Niki the Third Person Engine, North Western Star the GWR engine, Maggie, Edna and the rest. Of course that will take time, so until then, please don't ask of when certain characters will be coming back. Anyhow, onto this first story, it's Part 1 of 4 of the 'Barry the Rescue Engine' tales which shows Barry before and after he returns to service, and in case you're wondering how he came to Sodor, please check out my adaptation of Rusty to the Rescue. Oh and Barry is an LMS Ivatt class engine, just like the one in ThomasFan247's videos.

The Untold Sudrian Stories

Season 1-Episode 1: Edward & Barry (1995)

A sad looking Edward was being shunted into the Crovan's Gate works by BoCo the Diesel. The blue engine had recently had a fright where one of his front wheels came off and bounced into a farmer's field. No injuries were accounted for, and the train he was pulling didn't derail, but nerves were shaken, and cabbages were cut by the wheel. Now the wheel was in the tender, and his branch line duties had be looked after by Donald.

"The poor engine," Edward thought to himself, "it was hard enough for him and Douglas before, now they'll be worked to the frames with handling my duties as well as their own."

BoCo slowed to a gentle stop. The Fat Controller was also at the works, "I'm glad you and your crew are safe Edward, that was a scary moment to hear about."

"It was scarier when it happened Sir," said Edward, "but I've never known an engine's wheel to come off before."

"Neither have I. But don't worry, the workers will make sure you are fixed up in time for the Golden Jubilee celebrations." As the Fat Controller was getting ready to leave, he added; "and by the way, the farmer has told me that if your crew wants cabbages, there are better ways to cut them."

Edward gulped, he was lucky the cabbages were all that were cut up. BoCo was uncoupled, the Fat Controller climbed aboard and the big diesel rattled away.

"Sorry to hear about your wheel," said a voice from nearby.

Edward looked and saw Wendell the works Diesel pulling a steam engine from the back of the shops to the front. Edward had never seen this engine before. He had the same wheel arrangement as James, but had a different shape, a weather prove cab and his cylinders were visable from the outside.

"That's alright, at least I wasn't going too fast during my run." Edward looked the engine over, "you're here for an overhaul, am I right?"

"That's correct, the Fat Controller wants me at work as soon as possible. He wants me to help Donald and Douglas with their workloads."

"Oh so you're a new engine to the railway. We haven't had a new steam engine since..." but then he stopped, "hold on a second, did you say you were going to help Donald and Douglas?"

"Indeed I did."

"But I thought the Fat Controller was going to buy an engine like Wilbert."

"He is," replied Wendell as he was uncoupled, "but that engine's not due to come till after the Golden Jubilee celebrations. This engine was brought from Barry Scrapyard just last year by BoCo."

Edward smiled, "well it's good to know there's another engine saved from scrap. Oh and I'm Edward by the way."

"Please to meet you Edward, they call me 'Barry' after the scrapyard I lived in for so many years."

"It must've been scary to be there all the time."

Barry sighed unhappily as Wendell rolled away, "yes it was scary. Everyday, one could see engines like steamers, and later diesels being cut up because they were considered 'Old Fashioned', and while they were being cut up, I was left to witness it all." Barry shuddered remembering, "it's not something an engine wants to remember."

"Indeed not," agreed Edward. "That's why two of our engines escaped the scrap yards. Douglas ran away with Donald to avoid being scrapped, and Oliver ran away with a coach and a brake van."

"Oh yes I heard about that." Barry chuckled, "it was a great talk agmost the remaining engines in the yard. An Auto Tank escaping. Scrappers were furious, but we just laughed."

At that moment, a workman climbed into Barry's cab, "we're going to give you your first steam test Barry, you let us know if there are any problems."

The fire was soon lit and Barry was steaming nicely. All the gauges were reading at the correct levels, and there was no pain whatsoever in the boiler or anywhere else.

"Ahh, that feels wonderful," smiled Barry, "I haven't felt like this since my last day in service."

Edward was now curious, "what kind of work did you do?"

"Goods, passengers, you name it. Whatever job was required, I would do it. In fact, any of us Ivatts would do it, not a single one of us thought we were better than everyone else."

"Wow, now that's a first," Edward thought to himself.

"We were deemed as Mixed Traffic Engines," Barry continued. "In our early days, we worked the main lines of the London, Midland and Scottish Railway, then later we were sent to Branch lines because we were lighter than pacifics or anything else that was bigger than us. Many of us then carried on to Brtish Railway days where we would help smaller tank engines with their workloads. It was all great fun, and everyday, we would always meet someone new at the junctions."

Barry sighed and looked down to the ground, "but then things began to change. Diesels started to arrive, and word spread that branch lines were being shut down. I feared ours would be next, and my fears came true one day."

"I'm sorry old boy," my Driver told me one day, "but British Railways are shutting down the branch line."

"But what about us Driver? Will we get a new place to work?"

My Driver shook his head in disgust, "The board say you lot are outdated machines and need to be cut up for the sake of progress. Blast those fools, they're destorying history."

"But they can't."

"I'm sorry, but they can. In fact, our next stop is Barry Scrapyard, and that's where you will remain."

My fireman was kicking the ground in frustration, "now I'm out of a job, and my wife is due to have a baby in three days. I can't support her now. I sure like to give British Railways a piece of my mind."

"Jim, you know that won't do any good. Besides, I said I would help you and your family."

"I know Mitch, but still, it's not right. All for the sake of progress."

Still, the Driver and fireman took me to the scrapyards and left me there. That night, I cried more tears than I had ever done before, but many more would shed as perfectly good engines were cut up.

"But it's not all doom and gloom," added Barry, "my fireman soon got a new job and was able to support his family. Plus over the years, many wonderful engines were spared from scrap, some just in the nick of time. Now, since the moment I've arrived at Crovan's Gate, the workers here have been telling me that many of those engines have gone on to live new lives on heritage railways or museums. I'm happy for them, even though some will never run again, they're still in good hands."

"Indeed," agreed Edward. "Many of us have met those 'preserved' engines as they come for visits, or take over when one of us is down with repairs, and they say they love their new lives, and to see many people, including children come see them."

"Children come to see us old fashioned engines?"

"Oh yes, there are so many of them that you lose count after a while."

After hearing that, Barry was eager to get out and get to work.

Meanwhile, poor Donald was exhausted as he pulled into Brendam Docks. He felt like his wheels would fall off, and he was feeling short of steam, "I canna go on like tis," he groaned to his Driver.

"Sorry old boy, but it's what we have to do," his driver sighed.

Donald was uncoupled and puffed over to the Water Tower. At the tower, he found the Fat Controller waiting for him, "I know you're tired Donald, but try your best for the next few days. The answer to all your problems will soon be here."

The Fat Controller turned and headed off for home, leaving Donald wondering what the answer would be.