TNWR Ep 11: The Rock

1980.

Judy & Jerome are the Sodor Breakdown Cranes. They have been responded to many rescues & help build new railway lines ever since they arrived on Sodor when it's railway was still under construction. As more accidents & building occured through the years, the harder it got, even when Harvey arrived on Sodor, & later use them for extra lifting. Judy & Jerome don't mind Harvey. They like him for how unique he is, But once in a while more help had to be called, & one eventually made a mark. Sir Charles Topham Hatt had order a new crane that could lift things that are bigger & heavier, & soon enough, the crane arrived & was taken to the Knapford yard where Judy & Jerome were resting. Sir Topham Hatt was there to introduce the workmen & the cranes to the big red one.

STH: This is Rocky. He is the new breakdown crane that i order a couple weeks ago. He'll be here for extra strength for bigger & heavier things, as he's has the combine strength of Judy & Jerome.

Judy was impressed by Rocky & his strength, but Jerome was concerned & a little worried. He thought Rocky had come to replace him & his sister.

Judy: (Whispering to Jerome) Isn't he a handsome & strong crane?

Jerome: He looks like he's come to replace us.

Judy: Don't be so worried Jerome. Harvey told us he came here to help us.

Jerome: But his strength is our's combined.

Judy: Don't worry.

After the Fat Controller's announcement, he & the engine carrying Rocky left, leaving the workmen getting back to work, & the cranes alone. After an awkward silence between the three cranes, Rocky spoke up to break it..

Rocky: Hello there you two. I am Rocky.

Judy: Nice to meet you dear. I am Judy.

Jerome: I... i'm Jerome.

Judy: And we're the Breakdown Cranes.

Rocky: Nice to meet you two. It's a pleasure.

Judy: So you're here to help us?

Rocky: Indeed. Three arms are better than two.

Both Judy & Rocky chuckled while Jerome was thinking if Rocky was actually going to replace him & Judy.

Jerome: (In thought) If anything that'll get him to replace us is how impressive he'll be at rescuing engines. I don't want anything of that. I don't him to replace us.

After an hour of him & Judy chatting, Rocky was moved over to Brendam Docks. As Judy & Jerome were about to drift off into sleep, Jerome picked up a small conversation between Gordon & Edward at the station.

Edward: Come now Gordon, what would make you think that?

Gordon: That new crane is just going to be a show off, & i don't mean to brag, but someone like myself wouldn't consider it.

Edward: Oh Gordon! You have shown off so many times before, i lost count ages ago.

Gordon: Hmph. Well something like that new fangle nonsense crane would be just as. Wouldn't you agree Edward?

Edward: No, of course not. Who would think of me like that & why?

Jerome couldn't get Gordon's insult for Rocky out of his head. "New fangle nonsense". He couldn't help but agree even more to what Gordon said, & would consider Rocky that. The next day, Judy & Jerome had woken up to the workman coming over to inspect the two cranes, & soon the cranes began their daily chat.

Judy: What kind of big accident do you think Rocky could handle?

Jerome: Why would that matter Judy? That new crane is nothing but a new fangle nonsense.

The look of Judy's face went from happy curiosity, to shock & angry.

Judy: Jerome! How could you say that?!

Jerome: Well he is Judy. If anything that could replace us, which shouldn't, if definitely won't be that nonsense of a crane.

Soon Judy became annoyed.

Judy: Oh Jerome, you keep believing that rumor you thought up yourself. The Fat Controller had already said that Rocky's came here for help out on extra emergencys.

Jerome: But The Fat Controller said his strength is our's combine. He's stronger than us.

An hour had pass since the two cranes argued. They were just going to drift off into sleep again, when they heard a familiar whistle. It was Harvey, who was rushing over to them.

Harvey: Wake up you two! It's a emergency! Edward has gone around a bend too fast & his load of pipes had spilled over & all over the main line! We got to get there immediately!

Judy: Yes Harvey!

Jerome however still wasn't thrilled, & kept thinking about Rocky.

Jerome: (Sarcasticly) Why don't you get Rocky instead? He's stronger.

Harvey: Rocky is busy at the moment lads. He's rescuing Bear from an accident, & besides. Two arms are better than one!

Judy: Indeed! Now come on Jerome. Quit being a stick-in-the-mud, & let's go help Edward!

So Harvey coupled up to the breakdown cranes & the workvan with workmen inside, & they headed off to where Edward is. At the site, Harvey, Judy, & Jerome were all lifting up the pipe off the tracks, & onto Edward's trucks, but none of the cranes had their nets to help lift up more than one pipe at a time, & clearing up the pipes was much longer & tiring.

Harvey: Ack! If only we had our nets, then this will be easier.

Edward: I've heard Rocky has one with him all the time. how about i go get him? He is available right?

Judy: No. He's helping Bear.

Jerome: Besides. A new fangle nonsense like him would just get in everyones way.

Judy let out a annoyed grunt at Jerome's remark.

Judy: For gosh sakes Jerome. Will you stop assuming that?!

Jerome: We don't need him Judy. Harvey & us got this.

Harvey: Well i do think we'll need him eventually. We're blocking the main line.

After a few more tiring minutes of lifting the pipes up one by one off the tracks, everyone heard something that made their hearts stop. It was a whistle. The signal box up ahead was faulty & couldn't get the engine to stop. The engine was Murdoch, & he was heading towards Knapford light-weighted. The workmen were fleeing from the tracks & tried to stop Murdoch & his crew, but it was too late. The engine & cranes prepared for impact as Murdoch slamed into the pipes that lifted him up & threw his front off the tracks. Thankfully, he didn't hit Edward or the cranes, but his crew were injured from getting thrown back from the collision. The crash only made things worse, as the pipes scattered everywhere, & even some of the ones the cranes put back onto Edwards trucks fell over.

Murdoch: Dear Lord! No one even warned me about this!

Several crew members headed back to the impact & were truly disgusted by what just happen.

Workman 1: Well damn! That's done it!

Workman 2: It looks like will be needing Rocky for this.

Harvey: Indeed. It'll take even more time to lift up Murdoch & out of the way.

Jerome: No need. We can all do this without him.

Judy was about to complained to her brother, but Edward decided to speak Judy's words.

Edward: Jerome. i may not know what you have against that new crane, but we do need him.

Jerome: He is a new fangle nonsense Edward. If he takes over for me & Judy, he might replace u-

Judy had enough.

Judy: He's not going to Jerome!! I don't know why you are thinkIng this. Rocky came to help us, even if you think otherwise. The Fat Controller's not hiding anything from us so Rocky could replace us. He knows the more help, the better. If he was going to replace us, the rumor would spread over to us, but he is not going to replace us with Rocky. Now can you stop acting so stubborn Jerome? For my sakes?

Jerome thought for a moment while everyone else waited impatiently. Then, Jerome finally made his decision.

Jerome: *Sighs* I guess we will need him.

Harvey: Very good Jerome.

Edward: Indeed, i will go get him, he's likely done from helping out Bear.

And Edward set off to collect Rocky, & after about a half-hour later, Edward arrived back with Rocky. Soon, all four cranes had been lifting up everything from the tracks, with Murdoch for starts.

Murdoch: Thank you Rocky.

After about another half-hour later, the tracks were cleard, & all the pipes were placed back in Edward's truck & he set off to his destination, while Harvey & the cranes helped Murdoch to the Steamworks to see if he's damage from the crash. Soon after, Harvey had taken Judy & Jerome back to Knapford Station yard, & took Rocky back to the docks. Before they had plans to go back to sleep, Judy ask her brother her obvious question.

Judy: So Jerome. Do you still think Rocky is a "new fangle nonsense" that has come to replace us?

Jerome took a moment to remember Rocky helping them clearing up the main line.

Jerome: ....No. I don't. I'm so sorry Judy, for thinking that of Rocky.

Judy: Well i will accept your apology when we next meet him.

Thankfully it wasn't long until they met Rocky again. as later that night, Edward came to the yards with Rocky, & shunted him next to Judy & Jerome, & puffed back to Tidmouth Sheds. Judy & Jerome woke up to talk to Rocky about the day.

Rocky: So Judy & Jerome. Did you see me lifting up Murdoch all by myself?

Judy: We sure did Rocky, but my brother want to tell you something.

Rocky: What's is it?

Jerome took a minute to think about it. He was worried if Rocky would not like him for his thoughts on him.

Jerome: I.... i thought you came here to replace us.

Rocky: Replace you two? Why would i do that?

Jerome: Well the Fat Controller said you had the strength of me & Judy combined, so that why i thought you were going to replace us, & i thought you were..... a new fangle nonsense, & i'm sorry that i thought that.

Rocky: Oh it's okay Jerome. I know how you feel, because i would think the same thing if a new crane came & was better than me. But hey, you're lucky Jerome. At least you got a sister who will always help you.

And all three of them chuckled, & they soon went to sleep after a long chat. Jerome was now happy with Rocky, & accepted him as a new friend.