Chapter Four: Derek's finest Hour

Derek's overhaul was finally complete, and he made his way back to Wellsworth. BoCo and Edward were there waiting to greet him.

"Welcome home, Derek!" cheered BoCo, "Glad you've finally been fixed."

"Oh, heheh, why thank you." then he looked at Edward, "I don't think we got a chance to properly meet yet, you're Edward, aren't you?"

"Indeed I am." said Edward, "Great to meet you at last, Derek."

"Charmed... I do apologize again for the breakdowns I had a few weeks ago, I didn-"

"Quiet old boy, we forgave you long ago." assured Edward, "At least you're fixed now, I'm assuming."

"I think so…" thought Derek, "I didn't break down on Gordon's hill a few minutes ago. Anyways, let's get to work, what would you like me to do?"

"Mmmm... I actually have to take these trucks to Kildane." said BoCo, "Can you look after those ones over there? They're meant to be taken to Crock's scrap yard."

"O-Of course... Right away." said Derek.

Derek's first day went by very smoothly. He dropped off the trucks at the scrap yard, then picked up some China Clay trucks at the docks, where he'd meet Bill and Ben once again. He made it back to Wellsworth safely without any overheating. He was glad that he seemed to be working fine! While Derek was waiting for the line to be cleared, he noticed that the express was rolling backwards into the station, with Gordon at the front. Derek soon figured out why.

"Oh that stubborn hill…" grumbled Gordon, "Honestly, it must be the steepest hill in the world!"

"Stand back, Derek. Let me handle this." said Edward, he then buffered up to the back of Gordon's train. "Hello, Gordon! I've come to give you a push!"

"Thank you Edward…" Gordon called, "But I just wish we didn't need to have a banker for the hill."

Derek watched in astonishment as Edward pushed Gordon and his express right back up his own Hill. Derek wanted to talk to Edward about it when he came back down, but then he was given the all clear to continue to Tidmouth. But the next day, when the two engines met again, Derek was sure to talk to Edward about it.

"So you're a banker too?"

"Why, of course." answered Edward, "I've been banking trains up Gordon's hill for decades, Derek!"

"Amazing... I actually sometimes banked trains too in South Wales, but... Eh-heh... I almost always overheated…" sighed Derek.

Edward looked at him sympathetically.

"Well, since you've been overhauled, maybe you'd like to give it a second go…"

"Oh, I don't know…" doubted Derek, "I made a complete fool of myself, especially when I tried to do the same thing with Bill and Ben"

"Don't let it get to you, Derek... Even the most reliable engines break down once in a while."

"Even you?"

"Even me! In fact…" he whispered to Derek, "Don't tell anyone, but my front wheel's been feeling funny today…"

"I promise I won't." assured Derek.

At that moment, Douglas' whistle blurted in the distance, and he came rushing into Wellsworth station.

"Care to explain why you're 15 minutes late, Douglas?" asked Edward crossly.

"Sorry Eddie!" panted Douglas, "Ah wis delayed back at knaprford! Helen derailed oan th' points 'n' we hud tae hauld yer horses fur her tae be rerailed afore continuing! ah tried tae mak' up fur lost time, ah swear! "

Edward chuckled, "It's alright, Douglas. I understand."

But then Douglas noticed Derek sitting in the yard.

"Isn't that th' diesel that overheated twa times a few weeks ago? What's he daein' 'ere?" he asked.

"He's been overhauled." said Edward, "I think you'll find Douglas that he's drastically improved. They did a good job repairing him at the works."

"We'll see aboot that." snorted Douglas, "If he breaks doon yin mair time, ah reckon th' Fat Controller shuid send him packing!" then Douglas puffed away.

"Why was he so hostile?" asked Derek, who was rather upset, "What did I do to him?"

"Nothing." said Edward, "But Donald and Douglas don't get along with diesels easily. Don't worry, the same thing happened with BoCo when he arrived. But once they got to know him they said, 'For a diesel, yon BoCo's nae sich a bad sort of engine.'" then Edward's guard's whistle blew, "Oh! I'd better get going. See you later, Derek! Don't worry, Donald and Douglas will come around eventually!" then he puffed away.

"If you say so…" said Derek, still a little doubtful.

Derek did more odd jobs in the Wellsworth area for the rest of the afternoon, and took another scrap train to Crock's scrap yard. But he was soon held up to see BoCo racing down the line with a breakdown train!

"BoCo?!" called Derek, "What's happened?!"

"I'll explain later! Got to go now, bye!" then BoCo rushed off.

Derek made his way back to Wellsworth, and soon got the answer to his question. BoCo pulled in with Edward on a flatbed, looking sad and embarrassed.

"One of Edward's wheels fell off during his run to Brendam!" explained BoCo, "I'm taking him to the works to be repaired!"

BoCo and Edward were soon out of sight. Later that evening, the Fat Controller came to see the two diesels.

"Edward's repairs won't take long, I'm glad to say." he explained, "But there are no other engines available at the moment, so I've done some rescheduling. BoCo, you can look after Edward's passengers, while you Derek can take care of the trucks. Deal?"

"Deal." said the two diesels.

BoCo and Derek were able to manage just fine on the branch line the next day. But meanwhile, on the mainline, Douglas was taking a goods train to Vicarstown. Normally, trucks don't play tricks on the Caledonian twins, but today they were in a bad mood and didn't care who they played tricks on.

"Give up! Give up! You can't pull us all!"

"We're too heavy for such a small engine like you!"

"Ye lot clam up! Ah cannae concentrate wi' yer games! " snapped Douglas.

Douglas was so cross with the trucks' rude behavior, that he didn't realize that he was approaching Gordon's hill!

"Hold back! Hold back!" screamed the trucks.

"Na...! Ye... Dinnae! " snorted Douglas.

He tried hard to overcome the trucks' strength, but it was no good. Halfway up Gordon's hill, he struggled, slipped, then stopped.

"This is not good…" groaned Douglas' driver, "We'll have to call for help."

The guard phoned the signalman at Wellsworth, and the signalman stopped Gordon.

"Why have we been stopped?" asked Gordon.

The signalman explained what had happened.

"We need to find a banker to help him!" Then he noticed Derek shunting some trucks in the yard. "Maybe you can do it, Derek?"

"N-N-No thank you…" said Derek nervously, "Banking is not my best skill.."

Gordon sighed. "I'll give it a go." he snorted, "I'm sure I can try it even without uncoupling my coaches."

Gordon soon set off, ready to take on the strain. He soon approached the end of Douglas' train, and buffered up to the brake van.

"Right... Here we go!" he puffed.

Gordon tried his hardest, but his wheels spun and spun.

"No use, Gordon." cried his driver, "Your coaches are holding you back!"

"Just when I thought I could overcome this hill by myself…" groaned Gordon, "What is it with me and always stalling here?..."

Derek was soon informed of what had happened, and was horrified.

"What am I supposed to do?!" he said, "It's bad enough I overheated when pushing one china clay train, but pushing an express and a goods train at the same time?!"

"But you've been fixed, old boy!" his driver pointed out, "Come on Derek, I know you can do it…"

"But... I've always overheated when banking trains…" he objected, "And if I overheat again, I'll-"

"Don't worry about it." soothed his driver, "We should at least try to help them, it's always the thought that counts. Besides... If you don't break down, that'll confirm that the workmen really did overhaul you properly."

"Al-... Alright, I'll try…" said Derek nervously, and he headed towards the hill.

Derek soon made it to the back of the strange cavalcade. Gordon looked back

"Derek?! What are you doing?"

"I've come to push!" he said.

"No use at all. You'll just overheat again…"

But then Douglas spoked up, "Gòrdan, gie him a chance, wull ye!? be grateful he's trying tae hulp efter ye screwed up."

That shut Gordon up at once. Derek buffered up to the train. His driver threw some sand on the rails to give a firm grip, and Derek prepared himself.

"Come on Derek…" he said to himself, "You are strong, you are capable... Your engine has been fixed, you won't overheat…"

Derek gave a mighty heave. He dug his wheels into the sand, and sure enough, the strange train was rolling once again. Gordon and Douglas whistled with delight as they rolled over the top of the hill.

"Three cheers for Derek!" said the two engines.

The cavalcade rolled towards the next station, gently and safely. But Derek was out of breath at this point.

"Whoo! This must have been one of the heaviest trains I've ever pushed…" he panted.

"Are you doing alright, Derek?" called Gordon.

"My engine didn't overheat…" Derek realized, "Yes, Gordon, I'm just fine."

"Alright. I'm sorry for saying you'd overheat, and thank you for helping us!" said Gordon.

"Indeed. Ta, Derek! i'm sorry fur whit ah said yesterday." said Douglas, "You're nae sic a ill diesel efter a'. "

Douglas soon continued to Vicarstown, as did Gordon. Derek slowly made his way back to Wellsworth, tired, but triumphant.

BoCo was there to greet him, "My my, Derek! You pushed two trains up Gordon's hill at once? That's gotta be a new record!"

"Thanks BoCo…" panted Derek, "I'm quite tired though."

"I'm not surprised!" laughed BoCo, "Maybe you'll take over Edward's role as the banker of Gordon's Hill!"

"But I don't want to replace Edward!" said Derek worried, "He's a great engine."

"I was just kidding, Derek." corrected BoCo, "But, I do think Edward will be proud of you when he learns of this."

And indeed he was. Edward returned to Wellsworth the next day, and was told everything.

"I think it's safe to say, Derek, that the works did a great job overhauling you!" he said proudly.

"Indeed... I don't think I ever overheated on that journey." said Derek.

"Which is great news…" smiled Edward, "Wouldn't you say that you're a better banking engine now that your issues have been fixed?"

"I suppose I can say that…" pondered Derek.

"Well I was wondering, would you like to take turns banking up Gordon's hill in the future?" Offered Derek, "I know I've been doing it for years, but I must admit, I could use a break every once in a while! I can give you a few tips too if you need any."

"Absolutely!" said Derek happily.

Derek is now one of the family. He still works on Edward's branch line most of the time, but will on some occasions go to the big stations and greet other engines, as he is now friends with everyone, especially BoCo. And best of all, his teething troubles are now gone.

The end.