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Description
The NWR brought a major change in 1975. Two new engines had been brought from a heritage railway to show off their skills: Belle, a BR Standard 4MT, and Murdoch, a BR Standard 9F. Both of them had journeyed to Sodor previously to fill in for James and Henry respectfully while they and the other famous engines were in London.

A few days after this change was in place, James had to take the express due to Gordon filling in for Conner when he broke down on the way to the mainland.

"I love taking the express." Smiled James, backing down onto the coaches. But, as he started to pull, something wasn't right.

CLUNK!

"Oh no!" Gasped James. "My... *cough* saftey valve."

"Oh dear." said his driver. "We're going to need help..."

"I can help out." said Belle, backing down on the coaches. "Don't worry, James. I'll be at Barrow and back in no time."

"Uh... sure, Belle." sighed James. He slowly moved out of the way so Belle could buffer up to the train.

"See you guys later." Belle sang, puffing out of the station.

"Don't forget Bernice." Called Thomas. "She's my special coach."

Belle gave a whistle in reply, and carryed on her way.

"Well, that's just great..." sighed James. "I've broken down just when I was given the top mainline train."

"Don't worry, James." said Percy. "There will be other times."

"Indeed." agreed Thomas. "You're safety valve will be fixed at the steamworks."

"But... this has never happened before." James admitted. "I've been able to take the express without problems since I first came."

"Breakdowns happen all the time." said Duck. "My breaks were a bit sticky last week, but now they work okay."

"My bell was jammed about a month ago." said Mirabel, "now it's clear as a... bell."

This caused some chuckles from the other coaches and the tank engines, but James wasn't amused.

"Maybe it's more than just a breakdown." said Rani thoughtfully. "The mainline is getting busier. You aren't exactly the strongest or biggest engine around, James."

"I can still pull a train, Rani!" snapped James.

"Maybe you'd better come and help out on one of the branches." said Bailyo, "the trains need to be lighter for weight purposes, and you'd be the perfect size for it."

"No way!" James retorted. "I'm a mainline engine. Always have and always will be."

"But a change is as good as a rest." Said Duck, "my driver said so. I never felt so proud when I first got my branchline, and Alice and Mirabel are amazing coaches."

"My coaches Rani and Bailyo were a pleasent surprise to be sure." added Percy, "And since I found out I was helping Thomas and Toby with the harbour back in the 50s, I loved every moment."

"Annie and Clarabel being my coaches were a dream come true." smiled Thomas. "I couldn't believe it when I became the head of the Ffarquar branch."

James grunted to himself as he watched the three former station pilots take off with their coaches. They were no help whatsoever. Being pinned in a yard was boring to them (well, maybe not so much for Duck), and going down the branchlines brought a sense of adventure for them. And they had some friends to always chat with whenever they had a passenger service, so, bonus.

But to get downgraded from a mainline engine to a branchline runner, James could not see that happening to him.

Description
The NWR brought a major change in 1975. Two new engines had been brought from a heritage railway to show off their skills: Belle, a BR Standard 4MT, and Murdoch, a BR Standard 9F. Both of them had journeyed to Sodor previously to fill in for James and Henry respectfully while they and the other famous engines were in London.

A few days after this change was in place, James had to take the express due to Gordon filling in for Conner when he broke down on the way to the mainland.

"I love taking the express." Smiled James, backing down onto the coaches. But, as he started to pull, something wasn't right.

CLUNK!

"Oh no!" Gasped James. "My... *cough* saftey valve."

"Oh dear." said his driver. "We're going to need help..."

"I can help out." said Belle, backing down on the coaches. "Don't worry, James. I'll be at Barrow and back in no time."

"Uh... sure, Belle." sighed James. He slowly moved out of the way so Belle could buffer up to the train.

"See you guys later." Belle sang, puffing out of the station.

"Don't forget Bernice." Called Thomas. "She's my special coach."

Belle gave a whistle in reply, and carryed on her way.

"Well, that's just great..." sighed James. "I've broken down just when I was given the top mainline train."

"Don't worry, James." said Percy. "There will be other times."

"Indeed." agreed Thomas. "You're safety valve will be fixed at the steamworks."

"But... this has never happened before." James admitted. "I've been able to take the express without problems since I first came."

"Breakdowns happen all the time." said Duck. "My breaks were a bit sticky last week, but now they work okay."

"My bell was jammed about a month ago." said Mirabel, "now it's clear as a... bell."

This caused some chuckles from the other coaches and the tank engines, but James wasn't amused.

"Maybe it's more than just a breakdown." said Rani thoughtfully. "The mainline is getting busier. You aren't exactly the strongest or biggest engine around, James."

"I can still pull a train, Rani!" snapped James.

"Maybe you'd better come and help out on one of the branches." said Bailyo, "the trains need to be lighter for weight purposes, and you'd be the perfect size for it."

"No way!" James retorted. "I'm a mainline engine. Always have and always will be."

"But a change is as good as a rest." Said Duck, "my driver said so. I never felt so proud when I first got my branchline, and Alice and Mirabel are amazing coaches."

"My coaches Rani and Bailyo were a pleasent surprise to be sure." added Percy, "And since I found out I was helping Thomas and Toby with the harbour back in the 50s, I loved every moment."

"Annie and Clarabel being my coaches were a dream come true." smiled Thomas. "I couldn't believe it when I became the head of the Ffarquar branch."

James grunted to himself as he watched the three former station pilots take off with their coaches. They were no help whatsoever. Being pinned in a yard was boring to them (well, maybe not so much for Duck), and going down the branchlines brought a sense of adventure for them. And they had some friends to always chat with whenever they had a passenger service, so, bonus.

But to get downgraded from a mainline engine to a branchline runner, James could not see that happening to him.