The Caledonian Engines

The Caledonian Engines is the ninth episode of Season 1 of Sodor Then And Now. The episode premiered on March 2nd, 2021

Plot
The Fat Controller has arranged for an engine from Scotland to assist with the goods work, but he and the engines are shocked when two identical engines arrive and claim that they were both sent there. The Caledonian Twins, Donald and Douglas work alongside Duck in the yards at Knapford preparing the coaches for the engines and pulling goods trains along the mainline. During this time, Douglas has an encounter with a brakevan called Dimitri.

A few weeks after they had arrived, Duck explained how shunting the express worked. Douglas was told to put the brake coach at the front so that it would be at the back of the train, but Douglas neglected to do this and the passengers began to complain. Donald arrived and quickly came up with a plan to have him and Douglas swap tenders so Donald would take the blame. They did so, but their plan backfired as soon as Sir Bertram arrived. He then forced a confession out of the twins and Douglas admitted that he wasn't supposed to be on Sodor.

A few days later, Donald had an accident with a signalbox and was sent to the works for repairs. Later that night, the engines sympathized with Douglas and after he left, Henry created a plan to keep them both on the island. The other engines agreed with the exception of Edward and Toby. Regardless, James pretended to be ill the next day and asked Douglas to help him up the hill. Douglas agreed and they reached the hill. There, Douglas realized that the brakevan he was pushing was Dimitri, but it ended up being too late. The pressure Douglas applied crushed Dimitri and caused him to break apart, killing him.

That night, the police arrived and after some questioning, Henry, James, and Dougals were arrested. Sir Bertram was also taken into questioning. Charles Hatt then arrives and informs them that three new diesels will be coming on trial. The engines are upset, but Charles states that the contract has been updated so that whoever is in charge is extremely strict on the diesel.

The episode ends with Patrick Boomer telling Diesel 10, Splatter, and Dodge that they will all be going to the North Western Railway for a trial, and that Peter Boomer and Diesel will find a way over as well. Patrick states to himself that he wants Bertram dead and the island to suffer.

Characters

 * Donald
 * Douglas
 * Sir Bertram Topham Hatt
 * Charles Topham Hatt
 * Duck
 * Henry
 * James
 * Gordon
 * Edward
 * Toby
 * Thomas
 * Percy
 * Patrick Boomer
 * Diesel 10
 * Splatter
 * Dodge
 * Peter Boomer
 * Diesel

Trivia

 * This episode was the first to use a new camera: an iPhone 11 Pro instead of an iPhone 6S.
 * The Donald and Douglas scene at the works was added during production.
 * This episode took only a month and a half to complete.
 * Henry's initial plan did actually involve destroying a brakevan, just not a sentient one, but that idea was scrapped due to the fact that the guard would likely die regardless.