#ttte supplementals

[mean-scarlet-deceiver]

I TOLD Y'ALL BABA YAGA SHOULD SOMEHOW ENTER SODORLORE

[anonymousboxcar]

TTTE Headcanon: Edward the Audiobook Narrator (+ Bill, Ben, and BoCo)

From what I’ve seen of Edward, it seems like he’s fond of telling stories, both about the island’s history and about stuff he’s made up. As a result, I like to think that not only the Thin Clergyman turns to him as a resource for his books.

One company wants to publish an audiobook collection of stories that originated on/surround Sodor’s railways. It’s a deal that’s arranged with the Fat Controller and the NWR board of directors, giving the NWR hefty royalties so long as it gives them exclusive rights to consult their employees — including the engines.

Edward soon becomes one of the most popular engines to consult. Aside from his sheer repertoire of stories, it’s clear he has a knack for narration and voice work. He’s also very happy to share his tales with new audiences.

There’s only one issue. Or rather, two issues disguising themselves as one underneath a shiny, obnoxious yellow trench coat.

Bill and Ben take a great deal of joy in interrupting Edward’s first recording session. They whistle at inopportune moments, commentate on story events like newscasters, and wind up the person holding the tape recorder until they blow their stack.

Edward tells them off each time. When a stern “knock it off” doesn’t work, he says that they’re wasting tapes every time they make a racket, which means more money and time down the drain.

Bill blinks. “You really care about this, don’t you?”

“You know how I like my stories. And some of them were told to me by engines that aren’t with us anymore, nor their railways. I’d like to make sure they live on in that way.”

“Oh.” Ben winces. “Sorry.”

Edward sighs, but smiles. “It’s alright. Just try to be quiet next time, please.”

That’s when a second issue emerges: Bill and Ben find it very difficult to stay quiet. They’re hyperaware of every little sound they make in the next recording attempt. They start to whisper to each other about the sounds, trying to alert each other, only for it to escalate into a furious shouting match.

While the person from the company steps out to take an aspirin, Bill flushes. “We really tried, Edward.”

“I tried. I don’t know what you were doing.”

“You—”

“I think,” Edward says, his brow furrowed, “something else might suit all of us much better.”

When they pick up again, Edward narrates like before. But this time, Bill and Ben supply sound effects. They rattle back and forth over their tracks. They whistle. They provide the raspy groans of ghosts, muttering nonsense words and cackling in equal measure.

Bill and Ben get very enthusiastic about it. Edward grins at each supplement from them. And the person from the company loves it, proclaiming at the end of the session that it lends a certain “charm and realism” to the recordings.

The company greenlights it for future recordings. As far as they’re concerned, it saves them the money and the time of editing in the sounds themselves.

With each new recording, Bill and Ben get better at it. They practice their sound effects in advance — first on their own, then in a “dress rehearsal” with Edward for an audience of BoCo. BoCo gives his feedback, helping to keep everything in line.

For example: “The screams are very atmospheric. But any louder, and the issue of my cab windows shattering might start up again.”

Sometimes BoCo also offers sound effects of his own, ones better suited to his diesel engine and different voice. His mimicry of the Fat Controller is eerily accurate, everyone agrees. It’s all he and Edward can do to keep Bill and Ben from using that for devious purposes.

Once they finish the recordings and the company edits them, the audiobook gets released on cassettes, CDs, etc. It’s a huge hit. Newspaper reviews reveal that Edward, Bill, Ben, and BoCo’s narrations are the favorites with the public and critics.

They all enjoy the experience so much that they continue to record narrations and sound effects for the company, all the way into the age of the Internet and streamed/downloadable audio. It’s fun and a bonding exercise of sorts for them!

[mean-scarlet-deceiver]

At first I read it as "Mood!" says Edward...

"Moo!" - Wise old engine.

Bless the whole idea of Edward being silly just to try and get a laugh out of Thomas while they work.

Again I really love Random House's books, like the illustrations are just so damn pleasing to look at.

[mean-scarlet-deceiver]

Yeah, I used to spend a good deal of time trying to include the complication that there must be more than a 1-to-1 engine-crew correspondence.

But after a while I simply grew weary of fighting against the tide, lol. Especially as the tide includes TTTE magazines/supplementals (there's a letter where "Sir Topham Hatt" specifically talks about each engine having one driver) and I think even somewhere in Reading Between the Lines C. Awdry himself seemed to handwave that away? So yeah. I'm tired. I gave up.

Genuinely, I do think it's likely that it is largely 1-to-1. Pre-Grouping companies often did have "rostered" engines in the care of a particular crew (according to Ajax, the L.B. & S.C.R. would even have the driver's name painted on the engine). While there must sometimes be substitutions and swaps, I can believe that this is kept relatively minimal. The old TTTE conceit of the "steam team" all returning to the sheds each night might not be that far off (with a nocturnal team of engines to trade off with).

If we are getting into it, it's worth really getting into the weeds as far as how there must be restrictions on who can "swap in" on which engines. On larger railways at least if you had a different engine than usual it was likely the same class or at least same works/similar design principles. The sheer mishmash on Sodor must make being "the relief" quite a challenge! And considering the dramatic example of Blue Peter showing how important it is that a crew knows the ins and outs of a particular engine's design, I'm sure the Sodor railways are keen to make sure that anyone who drives an engine, even occasionally, has been well-trained on that particular engine!

I can imagine, like, Duck and Oliver's crews are preferred to fill in on the other engine. Maybe the whole Little Western is very familiar with the engines over there, but there could be massive trouble if any of them tried to drive an LNER beast like Gordon or Ryan. Henry's Stanier controls put him in an ex-LMS pool with James and the Caledonians. Etc. Thomas and Percy are both just enigmas in how whimsical and quirky their workings are and only the Ffarquhar crews can safely step in there.

How many different crews do you think the engines have gone through over the years?

Sodor seems to follow the pre-Grouping model of a driver having their "own" engine. So, based on what I know from pre-Grouping drivers' careers... maybe the driver average for charge of an engine is 25-30 years?

It well could be longer on Sodor/in this universe, given that the engines are sentient and therefore the bond would be even stronger. Nevertheless, people do move away, become disabled, shift into other railway careers, etc., so that pushes the average down.

So, I dunno, if we take Gordon who now on 100 years on Sodor... I'd estimate 5 drivers? Maybe less. Probably no more (especially in Gordon's case, as driving him is surely the premiere post and once you get it you are unlikely to give the honor up lightly).

I say "drivers" not "crews" because the firemen would shuffle around even a bit more. In real life a fireman who had a chance to promote to driver is going to take it and join with a different engine, no matter how happy they've been with their old crew. I suppose it's possible that the Sodor railways incentivize firemen staying with their engines until the driver retires and they can take over, if they have a good bond with their engine. But in that case I'd hope very much that the "incentive" is giving them the pay raise they would otherwise get. If not, then openings are dispensed by seniority and I'm sure the firemen will move up when it's their time.

Which brings me to the question of: What engine would it be funniest for Sidney Heaver to join up with as a driver?