#TTTE Annie and Clarabel

[ohmystarrynight]

Better luck next time Bertie! But Thomas, PLEASE be mindful of your poor aunties they don’t like when you race for goodness sake!!!

I think it’s so cute that they race in so many movies and episodes :,)

Also- hey hey! Thomas art! Woah! Been a minute for sure.

[thefluffyrailway-official]

Lazy thing

(AU inspo creds: @steam-beasts <3)

[duskstargazer]

[1984]

“That is absolutely repulsive!!” Gordon exploded. “Utterly disgraceful!”

Pinned to a wall at the Big Station was a poster for the new television series about their railway.

“What’s wrong with it?” Thomas challenged. He was rather proud - for obvious reasons.

“Why did they name it after YOU?” Gordon barked. “Not even a main line engine, either!”

“You mean because they didn’t name it after you.” The tank engine sniffed. “Y’know,” he added, cheekily, “I thought after all these years you wouldn’t get as jealous over things like this. I suppose it’s like they say - you can’t teach an old dog new tricks!” And he took off with his coaches, laughing as he went.

“You’re older than I am!” Gordon shouted.

“Wait…” Charlie spoke up from across the station. “You’re younger than Thomas??”

“…oh no.”

[shinygoku]

Percy and the Coaches

Seems kind of odd in hindsight how Percy covering the Ffarquhar line during the Sodor Strike in Troublesome Engines is barely covered with a single sentance, isn't it? So odd, indeed, that I decided to turn my wheels for another fic for the first time in ages! Enjoy~

=-=-=-=-=-= =-=-=-=-=-=

Going back onto the main line, as he was specially sent for by The Fat Controller, was unexpected but something that Thomas was ready to roll with. Something about the Tender Engines having a strop and being rude to Edward?! What silly behaviour indeed! The very morning he was informed, he bustled down, but didn’t get to take in much information before the Controller himself was speaking with him, Edward, and a green Tank Engine who Thomas hadn’t seen before.

Thomas was quietly relieved that he wasn’t to go back to shunting, and wasn’t too worried about the task to pull trains on the mainline (where Edward would be in control of the opposite direction). It was no longer his heart’s desire, now he had his beloved Branch Line, but it was still a thrilling prospect. Which helped take the edge off his concern for his equally beloved Coaches, Annie and Clarabel. He wouldn��t be able to take them along with him, and in any case it would be better for his Branch Line to have his faithful coaches keeping their eyes on things. That meant that someone else would have to take them out on runs, and the someone else was the new Tank Engine he’d met that morning.

Thomas couldn’t quite trust another Tank Engine with Annie and Clarabel yet, and he wasn’t sure just why. Part of it was that the Green Engine was indeed brand-new to this railway, and didn’t know the first thing about Ffarquhar, but there was something else.

“He seems decent enough, I suppose. But I can’t tell if there’s much going on behind his eyes! He’s got this sort of face, how would Gordon put it– not that I think Gordon is right about whatever it is he’s blathering on about now! Just– oh! It’s so annoying, if The Fat Controller brought him in he must be sensible, but I can’t quite make the connection.”

His Fireman murmured suggestions while cooking a late breakfast on his shovel. Thomas didn’t know what some of them meant. 

“Retty-sense? What’s that all about?” he asked, distracted from the moods he was going through.

“My education is wasted on you,” Fireman sighed, before pausing to take a bite out of his runny egg sandwich. “Nevermind, Driver will tell me off if I put new ideas into your smokebox anyway.”

Driver and Clarabel’s Guard came back from the conversation at the station building, where it was established that Thomas’s footplate crew were to remain with their charming (and fussy) Engine. Both of them were very keen to assure him that both of his faithful coaches would be well looked after. Driver also hastened to get back on the footplate while Fireman was still cooking, before the shovel would be returned to its standard use.

Feeling a little better, Thomas again remembered the remark ‘Common Tank Engines’ and felt his fire burn a smidge hotter, and then a curious sound like alarm from his crew …and their rapidly blackening bacon.

== ==

In the whirlwind that had him successfully sold to this portly new owner, given a name, driven to the Railway and having another half-day to be refreshed in the basics by a nice local Engine, Percy was still quite abuzz in the thrill of it all.

Most of this was decidedly simple, of course. He’d been bought and sold and sent to many and various corners plenty of times before, and this little island being uncharted territory was the trickiest part. Well, and getting used to having a name now, but as long as there weren’t any other Percies then he should be fine.

A blue Tank Engine had appeared, seemingly one of the old guard of the island. He seemed confident, openly scoffing at the Big Engines and bustling off with his new assignment swiftly.

Well, except for one moment. Percy was having his coal and water topped up, as the Number One Engine was given a bit more detail than what Percy’s New Controller had initially offered. Number One’s face wouldn’t stop shifting between moods! It was almost funny to see, but Percy started to wonder what exactly had caused it. Oh dear! Maybe it was the island’s Coal! If that was the case, he’d probably start feeling peculiar before long, too!

Ah, but he was still new here, and it would look better not to make a fuss. And anyway, maybe that only had an effect when one had been on the island for quite a while. He needed to make a good impression, and he’d been tasked with running a branch line!

It may have occurred to Percy that it was a little odd to prioritise a branch line when the Main line was only having a single train in each direction at this time, but his wasn’t to reason why. They wanted him to run the line, so he’d be doing that with gusto.

The crew he’d been given did not appear to be old hands in this part of the island (honestly, they didn’t seem that old at all to Percy), but they swiftly adjusted to his cab and water and bunker needs, so that was enough for him. A Guard emerged from the Coach Who Had Brakes, and strode up to them.

To the crew, he said, “I’m sure you know enough about our Thomas to understand the gravity of this task.” They made affirmative sorts of noises.

To Percy, he said, “These coaches are very well mannered ladies, so be sure to treat them gently.”

“Oh, yes sir! Of course, sir!”

“Have you pulled many passenger trains before?”

“Oh, no sir! Barely any, sir! I’ve done all sorts but I’ve never even seen any coaches like this before, sir!”

His crew groaned. Was he supposed to say something different?

After a talk, where the Guard made several important notes and Percy’s new Driver became rather shorter in his replies and stiffer in pose, while his Fireman barely stopped smirking, they eventually broke apart to return to their respective spots.

A remark made in Percy’s cab was drowned out by the sound of coal being tossed into his fire. Ooh, he was eager to get going now!

He bustled over to meet the coaches. Their names were Annie and Clarabel, but only one of them could see him from this angle. He didn’t know which it was.

“Oh my, who might you be?” She asked.

“Where’s our Thomas?” Asked the other one.

“Good morning! My name is Percy, I’m here to run the Branch Line while your Engine helps out on the Main Line!” he beamed.

“Thomas, on the main line? Oh dear!”

“Oh goodness, I do hope he’ll be alright!”

They were coupled on, and Percy was again too awash in the excitement of this rare new situation to notice they hadn’t really paid much attention to him. His crew seemed to be operating a little slower than was needed, too, but the countryside line had plenty for Percy to look at.

Eventually they reached a junction that joined with the main line and had to wait. A blue engine rushed up, soon revealed to be the Tank Engine. When he caught sight of Percy, again his face shifted so suddenly it was quite comical, though this time the coaches behind Percy started to call out.

“Thomas!”

“Oh, Thomas! Hello!”

But Thomas (as his name seemed to be) couldn’t stop, instead whistling twice before disappearing down the line.

== ==

Percy was sitting idly, chortling to himself by remembering some of the silly behaviour of the Big Engines that Edward had told him. How the ringleader, Gordon, had had a jammed whistle once after being so stodgy about the etiquette, and that time his safety valve burst. What a joke! And there were less tales of the other two, but it did further prove to Percy, at least, how daft they all were. Strike indeed!

Whyever would Engines need to strike? Or humans, for that matter?

His crew were walking back towards him, not as content as he was here in the sun. There was an indistinct din in the distance, probably more people, but Percy hadn’t a clue what that lot were trying to say. He’d merely tuned it out ages ago, but it did seem to have redoubled around the same time his crew reappeared. How queer!

“Well, Percy, old boy–”

“Young, surely? He looks like a baby!”

“That confirms you ain’t polished him like you said, his builder’s plate is right there! He’s old as the hills!”

“Oh! No I’m not!!” Percy cried, nettled.

“Anyway. Well Percy, intermediate boy that you are, I hope you enjoyed your work on this Branch line–”

“Absolutely, sir! I have indeed!”

“Let me finish. Hope you enjoyed it as it looks like things will be back to normal soon. For a loose definition of Normal, anyhow.”

Percy’s face fell. “Oh sir, I won’t be going back to the Mainland, will I?”

“You dolt! You’ve got him upset now!”

“Oh, shove it. No, Percy, you’ll be the shunter at the big station, like you were that first day. THAT’s what I meant.”

“Oh, splendid, then!”

“Yeah, wonderful. But it’s something, ain’t it? Puts bread on the table.”

“Br…red? Why are you painting your table?”

“I’m still not convinced he’s not a newborn, ‘ere.”

Percy was too busy beaming, the Big Station was exciting a prospect. So many trucks to play with, the high glass canopy where light danced down, more coaches –oh, and he supposed more engines too. The same daft trio who’d caused all the mess? Well, they oughtn’t be too bothersome after this, making a fuss over nothing as he’d been told.

The two coaches he’d been pulling had been nice, but Percy did quietly wonder how long they were for this world, with how much that Guard had talked about pulling them gently and carefully. Hopefully the other rakes he’d assemble on the main line would take a playful bump or two… not too much, of course, Percy still had to profusely thank the Controller more for these exciting new tasks, and being sent back before then wouldn’t do.

== ==

The two tank engines didn’t get to swap stories with one another, their crews went on different rosters as relief shifts were shuffled and contracts were looked at again. Percy saw the blue Tank Engine looking much more Well, his face calmer than he’d ever seen it, and Thomas saw the green Tank Engine with flushed cheeks and a smile of gleeful anticipation. But it was fine, they weren’t likely to see each other so often they needed to take that much notice, did they?

“Annie! Clarabel!” Thomas beamed, not even hesitating before backing onto them to make their iconic Train.

“Thomas, are you quite alright?”

“Yes, you must be exhausted, on the main line like that, an Engine of your build?!”

“Ohh, don’t worry about me! I’ve been fretting over you two, did that green fellow treat you alright?”

“Oh yes, Percy was fine.”

“Percy was a very polite sort. Maybe a little slow and cautious.”

“O-ho? Too slow for your liking?”

The coaches fell into the comfortable, delightful pattern of quarreling with Thomas about his running too fast, and he chided them for being fussy old things. 

At the Big Station, Gordon watched from a siding, as Percy pushed a coach rake into the buffers. The coaches all made indignant sounds with the bump.

“If only little Thomas could see Sense,” he bemoaned. “But maybe this little green one is far cleverer than even I had accounted for. It seems he had restraint enough for those two to not have been converted into matchsticks. But I suppose that’s something to be grateful for…”

[number1spongebobfan]

Thomas' Christmas Party [1984]

[sketch-pencilpoint]

After a while of working I've done it. Some non engine monsters!

Harold (helicopter): legs connect in the air to look like og "legs". Eats primarily birds, fish and fruit. Took a very long time to get used to his new body, a lot longer than others. Covered in feathers, wings are metallic. While they look like they rotate still, they instead flap like a dragonfly.

Annie and clarabel (coaches): only 4 coaches were infected on the North Western since they could no longer perform they're old jobs as efficiently so a vaccine of sorts was developed. The infected being the sisters annie and clarabel as well as henrietta and hannah. The four of them now have new work carrying workmen on their backs. The coaches are herbivores.

Bertie (bus): he carries a special cab that replicates his old base, that allows him to carry his passengers as usual. Sometimes, he pulls a special carriage. He, and most road vehicles mostly eat wheat and grass but do also eat meat. Bertie likes pork specificly. Bertie is also the first non engine to have children (yes that will happen at some point I just need to solidify relationships).

Toad (break van): toad is the only (known) infected break van. He's still able to perform his old job though thanks to his claws and strong leg muscles. The fan on his head is a frill. It can stand up. He eats whatever Oliver eats, meaning cooked meat and veg.

What his frill looks like when up

Jack (front loader/digger): as expected, he's still just as strong as his vehicle form. He's also usually covered in mud. Since he's a construction vehicle, he had much bigger legs than standard cars or lorries. This makes him a lot stronger and more flexible. He eats mostly meat, but can eat plant matter as well. He and the pack huddle together for warmth.

I was going to include George but I decided last minute to remove him since I decided I didn't like the design.

[mintydeluxes-blog]

"Nonstop all night they go..." - Big Engine Brawl 2 Instrumental Teaser

Percy fans, let's go!!!

[the-cerene-rewritten-railway-au]

Sodor's Legend of the Lost Treasure - Rewrite Notes

March - June 1968

Sodor's Legend of the Lost Treasure (2015)

Since the restoration of the Arlesburgh Branch Line, the North Western Railway has wanted to expand their railway beyond Arlesburgh West. In late 1967, the board approved the plan and got the documents needed to construct the railway. Construction began in March of 1968. Engines from surrounding branch lines are tasked to help out, including a newcomer to help him adjust to railway service once again.

As the title says, these are just notes. Mainly for reference.

there's some 1x1014 but its in the author's notes, not the actual rewrite notes

~

SAME UP UNTIL Ryan's introduction

Ryan's introduction: Ryan thinks that the branch line Sir Topham Hatt II is referring to is the Brendam Branch Line. Sir Topham Hatt II quickly clarifies that he's currently needed to help with the construction of the Harwick Branch Line. This slip up doesn't initially bother Thomas. If anything, he isn't bothered by him as a threat. He's bothered by Ryan for interrupting the conversation between Sir Topham Hatt and him. He thinks Ryan is disrespectful for this, especially because of his expression.

Ryan's headlamp placement prevents his eyebrows from moving around so much so they're pretty static in terms of pose. His lack of expression gives the impression that he's egotistical or overconfident.

Thomas is brought out of his own thoughts once Sir Topham Hatt grabs his attention. As punishment, Thomas gets his branch line taken away, which STH II sees as an opportunity for Ryan to get used to passenger service. This is where the one-sided rivalry starts.

Thomas expresses his frustrations about getting his branch line taken away. He doesn't blame anyone else.

SAME UP UNTIL Thomas shows up at the construction site after being quickly repaired.

Thomas overhears how Sir Topham Hatt praises Ryan for his work, telling him that he's getting adjusted faster than expected.

While Thomas was gone, Percy had shown up. Percy compliments how Ryan worked with the passenger train. He also makes mention of Annie and Clarabel's opinion, who do enjoy working with him. They all mean this as progress of Ryan re-adjusting to regular service but this rubs Thomas the wrong way. He didn't get the same comments when he first started. Instead, he got scolded and lectured over and over again.

SAME UP UNTIL Thomas come across Ryan at the shed.

Thomas gets spooked by Ryan. Ryan has white irises so when a light reflects on it, it ends up scaring others. he's used to it- scene continues as normal tho

SAME UP UNTIL Thomas and Ryan reconcile.

Ryan's apology is the same.

Thomas apologizes for treating Ryan the way he did. He comments how he thought he was before getting to know him, that he looked like he knew everything, only for Ryan to chuckle. Turns out Ryan was used to it.

Ryan: "That's a new one."

Thomas: ???

Ryan: "I guess my restoration didn't do much for me in that department. Let me guess. Do I look tired, too?"

Thomas: "…Yes. You do."

Ryan: chuckles "Well, it's… hard not to when you've got a lamp attached to your forehead all the time. Next time we speak, don't worry about my face. It'll save you the trouble."

Thomas: "I could've done that! If I had told you about the coal hopper, the dynamite- mess- that wouldn't have happened in the first place."

Conversation continues as canon.

SAME UP UNTIL Branch Line opening ceremony

Daisy and Flora are the ones to open the branch line as they will be the engines running it.

~

Not too many changes. These were done to fit my HC! I'm working on something else involving Ryan (for 2.5 seconds) and I somewhat started going into his backstory, so I diverted for a bit and wrote this! :)

Finally, something not involving Edward and James. About time! XD

and because i feel like it, have a few treats from me <3

totally accurate representation of post-SLotLT 1x1014 (or in my cases, 1x1724(GNR) / 32 (NWR))

i purposely shrunk Thomas from the actual TVS canon hieghts (they're the exact same) because i wanted to emphasize that inferiority complex between the two from the beginning. (Thomas wasn't rebuilt until 1960 in my headcanon)

also short king thom for the win!!!

i wonder what happens once Ryan starts working on Edward's branchline. jealousy is TOO obvious. SURELY i wouldn't write that, right?

lies

Busted out my markers for this one.

Here's what im basically trying to say here but condensed. (Haha, condensers)

His lamp iron (that's the thing on his forehead) restricts his eyebrow movement! I've been meaning to play around with this concept as other classes in my AU have this instead of it sitting on top of the smokebox.

silver eyes, my beloved. Unfortunately, they're reflective af and ends up spooking other engines. he's used to it...

livery layout is the same as the original GNR livery, but he doesn't get a darker shade of purple.

fighting with my life with his nose shape. kept fucking it up so i drew it out.

chassis rough design for my own sanity. simplifying it because it'll fit better... and for my sanity. and for the sake of consistency in terms of level of detail, haha-

wears his original number, GNR 1724 but does carry the plate with his NWR number. (BR NW-40032, later NWR S32 in 1992)

this happened because i may or may not have bingewatched SLotLT twice (along with KoTR, TotB, JBS, and s17-21) this week. oops.

[edwards-exploit]

rivals to friends (who are also still rivals) speedrun any%

[ladychandraofthemoone]

Since the RWS and early TVS depict coaches as sentient, even the faceless ones, are the coaches, including Emily's coaches, sentient in this universe? If so, what are their names and personalities and what do they think of one another (for example, what do Emily's coaches think of Annie and Clarabelle?)?

Hello 👋

Yes, a majority of the coaches are sentient, non-faceless coaches are more common on the narrow gauges railways like with Skarloey, Rheneas, Sir Handel/Falcon, Andreas (a few being faceless like with the miniature gauge lines there’s still some with faces along with trucks but it’s not as common as other gauges)

As for Emily’s coaches, they are sentient and have their own personalities and names (I’m torn between Elodie, Elliot, and Elwyn or Morgan, Martha and Martin/Marvin for their names) they get along swell with Annie and Clarabel plus the other coaches though two of them, (I’m not sure which names cause I’m still thinking but it was the guy and the girl of the group) had a bit of negative attitude towards the other coaches, thinking of themselves as superior and were quite a terrible influence, I’ve based it off a fanfiction I’ve on DA where it was during Emily’s HiT era persona and it rubs off of them though I’m changing it a lot)

Over all they along quite splendidly like with Dexter the mobile school coach despite him being an oddball (sure it’s the classic case of them thinking he’s strange but have come around to accept it) I’ve even made some coaches oc for certain characters as well (names are still a WiP though pfft-)

Thank you for the ask 🤩😊

[ask-sentient-vehicles]

What are Annie and Clarabel’s favourite things about being mothers to Thomas?

Annie: Playing with him. Our favorite game is hide-and-seek.

Clarabel: Shh, Annie! We don't want to get caught by the Galloping Sausage.

Annie: You mean Gordon? Oh, right.

Clarabel: Our Thomas is an eccentric engine. He has . . . a rather active imagination.

Annie: We love our son. He is the best thing that's ever happened to us.

[railwayseriesbookcast]

Percy's Promise

Book Club.. Saturday? A new Railway Series Book Club is out now! this week we're covering Percy's Promise, we all know this is a classic, so why not hop aboard and hear our thoughts?

[thefluffyrailway-official]

"𝕀 𝕔𝕒𝕟'𝕥 𝕦𝕟𝕕𝕖𝕣𝕤𝕥𝕒𝕟𝕕 𝕪𝕠𝕦 𝕡𝕦𝕡!"

𝙰𝚒𝚍𝚎𝚗 𝚜𝚎𝚎𝚖𝚜 𝚝𝚘 𝚗𝚎𝚎𝚍 𝚜𝚘𝚖𝚎𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐. 𝙱𝚞𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚙𝚘𝚘𝚛 𝙰𝚗𝚗𝚒𝚎 (𝚠𝚑𝚘 𝚍𝚒𝚍𝚗'𝚝 𝚜𝚕𝚎𝚎𝚙 𝚙𝚛𝚘𝚙𝚎𝚛𝚕𝚢 𝚜𝚒𝚗𝚌𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚙𝚞𝚙 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚋𝚘𝚛𝚗 𝚕𝚘𝚕) 𝚑𝚊𝚜 𝚗𝚘 𝚒𝚍𝚎𝚊 𝚠𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚒𝚝 𝚒𝚜.

(𝙰𝚄 𝚒𝚗𝚜𝚙𝚘 𝚌𝚛𝚎𝚍𝚜: @steam-beasts <𝟹)

[duskstargazer]

"Dear Christopher.

Here is your friend, Thomas the Tank Engine. He wanted to come out of his station yard and see the world. These stories tell you how he did it. I hope you will like them, because you helped me to make them."

-Rev. W. Awdry

[terrys-thomas-blog]

Thomas' faithful coaches

[number1spongebobfan]

Merry Christmas, Thomas the Tank Engine

POV: You are Annie and Clarabel

Annie: Good morning, Thomas.

Thomas: nye

Annie: Did you have a good sleep, Thomas?

Thomas: nyam

Clarabel: Look what you have inside!

Thomas: nym

Clarabel: So much coal! You've been such a good boy this year.

Annie: Merry Christmas, my baby.

Clarabel: Merry Christmas, Thomas the Tank Engine.

Thomas: merry crism