#the asshole engine trialed on edward's line

[mean-scarlet-deceiver]

So odd question, but have any of the engins gone into a protective rage before? If so, what happend?

It's really a very good question! But I think I'm the wrong person. I've been soul-searching for a while now (as you know, given how long this response took)—and I guess I just don't really have this trope much in play. Not in my headcanons.

It's not so easy, for engines to "go postal." They can wrest control and do a single biff, but beyond that they really need their drivers' cooperation and seldom are both engine and operator going to be in a rage at the same time.

Honestly, that's why their insults and gossip can be so damn poisonous. It's really the only weapon they can freely use.

Gordon once tried to do something rather... dramatic to one of the Three Unnamed Tender Engines, and it was arguably protective. "Rage" is a misnomer, though—Gordon never really acts in anger. He's a strategizer. He'd been toying with and refining the plan for over a year. Won't say anything more for QLIR-spoiler-related reasons... but suffice it to say, there was a reason he panicked and thought karma had come for him, when Bill and Ben threatened to push him into the sea.

Speaking of Bill and Ben, there was a trial engine on the Brendam line in the early 50s. Edward returned from his overhaul to discover that he had kept the twins cowed by telling them that everyone hated them and their tricks would lead to them being scrapped. Edward was ready to chase the errant guest down with murder in his eyes... James, of all engines, had to talk sense and remind him, with amusement (and alarm? but mostly amusement) that violence wasn't the answer.

Speaking of James, he would have gone after Diesel, after his lies were exposed, if his driver had let him. (James really cannot tolerate lies and all that sort of he-said she-said whisper-campaign drama. Gordon and Henry are really rather "political" in that way—but James missed out on some of the conniving and sneaking about that was necessary to survive the N.W.R.'s early days, and has never had any patience for such things. He may be a rude bastard but you are never in any doubt where you stand with him, and he demands the same transparency in return, thank you. Besides, the idea that Duck had been right was alone enough to infuriate him. He didn't want to have to apologize to the pannier know-it-all!) Diesel was certainly frightened enough by James's whistle and forward lurch of rage that he scarpered out of the yards. It was, admittedly, a hilarious and satisfying sight. (Hence James boasting for years to come that he had sent Diesel packing!)

Some "underemployed youths" once vandalized Clarabel. The occasional graffiti tag is one thing (although the engines and rolling stock hate it, as they seldom give consent—nor are asked for it), but they broke her windows and threw a party in there with much smoking and damage to carpet and upholstery. They also considered her protests funny. The damage was quickly mended, but Thomas roared with rage at the suspects when they were brought in by the railway's security force for questioning at Ffarquhar. There is video footage... although FC4 has paid off Youtube and Vimeo, so you'll have to dig deeper than that if you want to see the disturbing sight yourself.

Emily may have done something stupid in a fit of righteous anger once... or twice... However, her lawyers prevent me from speaking of it.

But ultimately, none of this even came close to the protective badassery seen in canon from Donald, Douglas, and Oliver. Those three are about as rough as any FCs are ready to accept. (To be honest, FC3 probably wouldn't have tolerated them, had he been the one in charge back then.)

Go ask @joezworld. He'll have something good, I'm sure of it.

#chatter #ttte headcanon #ttte gordon #ttte edward #ttte james #ttte thomas #annie and clarabel #the asshole engine trialed on edward's line #was the matter i referred to james dealing with so *splendidly* in edward's absence #that was in relation to the fic snippet i once posted where james first meets the twins