Ghost Train: the Untold Story of Timothy

The next morning, Sir Toppham Hatt arrived at the sheds to speak to the engines. "There have been reports," he said, "of a railway accident at Brendam Docks, where a train went clean through the buffers and into the water. This is most concerning, not least because the buffers will need repairs to make them usable again. However, there is some positive news. I have been able to secure additional funding in grant money from the goverment, and this will help us get through our current financial troubles."

The engines kept quiet about the events of the previous night, as they did not want Sir Toppham Hatt to find out what they had done. As the days went by and October turned into November, with Christmas around the corner, the story of Timothy was slowly forgotten. There were no further sightings of the ghost train, and life continued as normal on the Island of Sodor.

Thomas, however, was worried. The last few days had shaken him, and he feared that history may repeat itself. One day, whilst waiting at the junction for Gordon to arrive, he confided in Luster Dawn. "What if Timothy isn't truly gone?" he asked. "What if his spirit is still lingering here, haunting our railway?"

"I really don't know," Luster Dawn replied, sounding exhausted. "I only know it's affected us in different ways. As you've probably observed, First Base, Cherry Pie, and Percy refuse to talk about it, whilst Toby has his doubts that Timothy will ever return.

"Well, whatever the truth is," Thomas said, "I can only hope that Starlight Glimmer's soul is finally at rest."

"Me too, Thomas. Me too." At long last, Gordon arrived with the express, and the passengers transferred to Thomas' train. With a blast of the whistle, he was on his way to Ffarquhar, the horrific events of the last few months finally behind him.