The Sudrians: The Salvation Collection

Western Heritage

March 1978

February had finally moved on and the winter season was going to soon end with the chilly days stopping and being replaced by the warm sun. However, work did not stop for the engines, and with the two new engines in the fleet, they had arrived just about a week ago and had made a massive impact on the railway. Carrying heavy goods trains along the mainline to help with the redevelopment at Vicarstown. William was one of them, he was a passenger diesel but worked hard with pulling the dirty, grimy trucks. He was a proud locomotive too, always talking highly about where he came from.

Which oddly enough were the western region, the old Great Western Railway.

When finding out about Bear, William was ecstatic about seeing another diesel from the western region, with both of them having similar, hydraulic engines both engines got on well swimmingly.

"This island is immaculate!" William complicated to Bear at Vicarstown yards one morning, "I've been in the countryside of both Wales and England, but this place, it's not like any other."

"Indeed," smiled Bear, "even though, Cumbria is very similar to this place."

"Oh, I quite agree," William continued, "but that's what makes Sodor more unique than any other."

Bear chuckled, he liked William, he seemed a pleasant sort and quite talkative, unlike the quiet Murdoch who kept to himself and would grumble at the littlest noise. William sighed though, making Bear raise an eyebrow. "What's the matter?" he asked, concerned.

"I just..." William said, "I wish to just see more of us here."

"What? Hydraulics?"

"No, no," chuckled William, "I'm not into all of that diesel revolutionary propaganda! I'm talking about all the western engines."

Bear blinked, a little surprised at hearing that. "All western engines?"

"Indeed," replied William, "seeing steam engines that come from the grand heritage of the Great Western, that would be something to see here."

There a moment of silence, then Bear gave out a light chuckle. "I'm guessing you haven't seen them yet?" he inquired.

"Seen who?" asked William, "hold on, are you saying there are Great Western engines here on Sodor?"

"Indeed there is," Bear grinned, "they work on the branch line that stretches further up north on the west of Sodor."

"Does it now?" William beaming from side to side, "are they strong?"

"Indeed they are!"

"Are they fast?"

"Oh yes certainly!"

"Well say no more," William said happily, "it's odd to hear that Great Western engines of their size would work on a branch line, but this island is fairly big enough to go up north is it not?"

"Indeed--wait--"

But before Bear could correct William on his misjudgement, the western diesel suddenly cut into the hydraulic diesel. "Now, since you're going to Tidmouth before me," he said, "could you ask the two chaps there about me and that I am looking forward to meeting them."

"Well..." said Bear.

"I take that as a yes," grinned William, "thank you very much Bear! You certainly a true western hydraulic!"

He wanted to say something about what William had said, but Bear found it difficult to communicate to the western diesel now, who was pretty much giddying himself up into meeting Duck and Oliver.