AlanPegler

All the preserved Australian locomotives are proud of their heritages.  Each one represents the power and romance of an age that ended all too soon for many.  Ever since Thomas and some of his friends came Down Under, they were very much at home despite all of them never turning a wheel on Australian tracks before.  One day, the manager came to see everybody as they were “lighting up” for another day of pulling fan trips. “Engines,” he said, “the NSW Rail Center’s annual dinner’s coming up in a few days.  Murdoch, Geoffrey, and Cuthbert, I’ve 3 jobs I want you to do courtesy of Pacific National.  Murdoch, you’re to take a train of meat to Newcastle.  It’s a bit heavy so be careful.  Cuthbert, you’ll take an intermodal train to Melbourne, and Geoffrey, you’re to take a train of Diesel parts to Melbourne as well.  Both of you are to carry out those jobs this afternoon, so I’ll expect you to pull rail excursions for now.  I’ll decide which of you 3 will take the guests from Bommadery to

For many years, Thomas & Friends has delighted people of every age all over the world.  In North America, this has never been truer.  While many people’ve argued and fought over which era of Thomas The Tank Engine is the definitive best, be it the glory days of the model era from 1984 to 2003, the controversial 8 years HiT Entertainment reigned supreme from 2004 to 2012, and the start well finish poorly era of Mattel Creations from 2013 to 2020, most don’t know that the way Thomas and his friends came to the USA and Canada was a bit different than most expect.  For the first 5 years Thomas was brought to us by a television show called “Shining Time Station,” a variety show that took place on the fictional Indian Valley Railroad at a train station called “Shining Time.”  It follows the antics of the station staff such as Schemer, Stacy Jones, Billy Twofeathers, and Mr. Conductor, a 1-foot-tall magical train conductor played by the Beatles’ drummer Ringo Starr and later the trash-talking

After Edward was fired up from his week out of action, he and Joshua became even closer.  On the end of his first day, he was listening to one of Thomas’s stories from when he visited the NRM 35 years ago. “...And after me and Green Arrow got over the damaged section of track,” he said, “we brought the train back to York.” “Sounds like that Green Arrow fellow was a nice one,” observed Joshua. “At least he cared about others,” said Geoffrey coldly, “unlike certain other LNER engines I met in Great Britain.” “Oh is that that Really Useless Engine who worked with u in your final years in traffic?” asked Shane, “I think you told us about him before, just don’t remember all what happened, that’s all.” “I think I know who,” said Murdoch, “Dudley, isn’t it?  I met him a few times at Carlisle Kingmoor depot in 1958.  A right old trouble maker.” “Do you know what they’re talking about?” asked Toby. “No,” said Oliver. “Me neither,” said Stepney. “Who’s Dudley?” asked Edward. “It’s a