#sodor mailbox

context: this is the post in question

Railway Reincarnation is less of a "headcanon" and more of an "AU", so technically this would be an AU of an AU- but to answer your question! It would definitely be a shock to turn back human- mercifullythey all probably remember by now and aren't panicking at being a squishy human for the first time, and they have new clothes as a remainder of their engine self! Though, obviously, they died in different clothes...

I think that some would struggle to get used to limbs again. Henry in particular is having a very bad time having arms and legs once more.

Though, of course, some are ecstatic to be able to hug each other properly again!

(ask box ficlet game here!)

As Thomas backs down Tidmouth sheds for a short visit, he noticed the downright exhausted faces of his friends.

"What's wrong-?" He asked, but then was quickly cut off with Henry's panicked voice.

"Thomas, save yourself. It's not worth it to stay here anymore!"

Thomas blinked, and he couldn't help but let confusion and concern colour his tone, "Wait, what? Why?? Did something happen-?"

"What Is Up, My Dear Skibidies?" Gordon's voice boomed, as he went on the turntable.

Everyone in the sheds groaned. Thomas, meanwhile, had to bite his tongue to not burst out laughing.

"I Have Had A Sigma Day!" Gordon continued, in his normally grandiose tone, "The Passengers Were NPCs, As Usual-"

"Please, stop." James begged.

"But I Was Of Course On The Grindset And-"

Donald squeezed his eyes shut, hoping it magically made him deaf as well.

"-I Kept Being The Railway's GOAT By Keeping To Time."

Douglas actually, in his annoyance, literally growled- how about that! Then, Thomas realised he could do the funniest thing ever.

"Wow, it sounded like you really took the W today, Gordon!"

Okay, so the AU is called Railway Reincarnation and the basic premise is that all engines were humans who died, but they got a second chance but as engines. They don't remember their human life, but they have the capacity to recall their memories! In fact, some of them start out remembering that they're humans...

In fact, it actually inspired me to rewrite BWBA to have James in it with my own AU!

Just wanted to let you know.😁

YOU CAN'T JUST DROP THAT YOU ALSO HAVE A BWBA REWRITE WITH JAMES AND NOT SHOW IT!!!

Buuut don't worry, I'm still doing BWBA James!!! I still need to map out the differences and new scenes so it's not JUST a 1-1 of canon BwBa... but, I'll leave you guys with a sneak peek.

ficlet ask game

“The Tidmouth Tribunal Will Now Decide The Fate Of Gerrard Graves.” Gordon The Big Engine’s voice boomed- which was not hard, considering his natural volume is ‘Capitalising Each Letter.'

Gerrard kneels in front of his doom, shielding his eyes from the light of three lamps pointing directly at him- the hissing of steam only reminded him that he’s in the dragon’s den, now. “Yes, that- that’s me.” He could only stammer as he lowered a hand to see James the Red Engine’s apocolyptically furious face, next to Gordon’s dead serious expression, and Henry’s bored one.

“You Are Accused Of Dirtying James-”

“ACCUSED?! ACCUSED?!” Screeched James hysterically, and Gerrard could still see the soot on what’s supposed to be glistening red, “I SAW IT WITH MY OWN EYES, IT WAS HIM THAT RUINED IT ALL-!”

“A-hem.”

And James reluctantly simmered down, as Gordon gave him an annoyed sidelong glance, “As I Was Saying… You Are Accused Of Dirtying James’ New Paintwork By Coating Him With Coal Dust. How Do You Plead?”

Gerrard could only stammer nervously as he swept away the sweat from his forehead, “I-I-I didn’t mean to, I swear-”

“NOT MEANING TO DOESN’T ERASE THE FACT THAT YOU SULLIED MY PAINTWORK!” Wailed James, and Gerrard covered his mouth and coughed as he wheeshed steam all over the place, “IT WAS BRAND NEW AND YOU RUINED IT! GUILTY! GUILTY AND SEND HIM AWAY!”

“James,” Henry spoke up for the first time, with a voice that suggested he’s heroically supressing a long suffering groan, “We don’t hold tribunals over something this minor. You could’ve just had it washed off!”

James gave an offended scoff, “Minor, you say! I had this paintwork just mere hours before he scuffed it all up! Minor, indeed! Gordon, you’re on my side, right?!”

With a magnanimous sigh, Gordon answered: “While I Admit That The Whole Incident Was Undignified And Disgraceful On His Part… He Only Opened The Chute Because He Thought You Were Properly Under It Instead Of Boasting About!” With an offended scoff, James was about to argue before-

“Gerrard?” Lawrence Lennox poked his head in the sheds, and James perked up. Gerrard only shrunk even more- oh, man, he already felt bad when he saw his furious expression earlier, now… “DRIVER! Driver, tell New Fireman that he’s GUILTY and-”

“For god’s sake, James,” Lawrence sighed as he pinched the bridge of his nose, and Gerrard widened his eyes, “He already got a telling off from me and the Fat Controller. Just leave it.”

“Leave it. LEAVE IT?! I-” “OH MY GOD, JAMES, JUST SHOVE IT UP YOUR FUNNEL-"

At the resulting argument, Gerrard and Lawrence snuck away as everyone in the shed argued. “You think they’ll notice?” Gerrard anxiously asked, and Lawrence snorted in sympathy.

ficlet ask game

"Oh, goddamn it," The Driver says, "The brakes! There's a leak in the brake pipes!"

Secondman could only scratch his head, "How'd that happen?" He wondered aloud.

Bear could only eye the cantankerous coaches, who are looking quite sheepish indeed, with a scrutinizing eye, "Yeah," He growled, "How'd that happen?"

"Well, old boy, unless we magically have some duct tape," Driver was preparing to swing into his cab, clearly about to radio some help, "We might have to give up."

Bear's eyes widened- he didn't want to make a bad impression on his first passenger run as a NWR engine! "No! Wait!"

Driver, Secondman, and the Guard did indeed wait. Which was a bit weird for Bear, who was used to humans ignoring his pleas.

"Er, what if we use... Bootlaces?"

"... Bootlaces."

I think cranky would see diesel 10 do his shit and go "the hell is this guy's problem" anyway you also get to see a sneak peek of my human au lore with d10 :]

ficlet ask game

Perhaps, Henry thought as he thundered down the line, I'll be on the Flying Kipper again!

The run was going wonderfully, if you were to ask him- and he reckoned that his crew would agree, as he felt his Fireman shovel coal in his firebox without his usual franticness.

Miraculously, the only thing he could complain about is the lack of visibility due to the snow, but he had his Driver for th-

There was a goods train on the line,

right

in front of

him.

He whistled as long as hard as he could like a screech, and he wanted to say "GET OUT OF THE WAY!" But his lips were far too cold for that, and he can feel his driver scramble for the brakes, and he can feel his wheels screech against the rails but it was far too late-

CRRR-UUUU-NNNNCHHHH

The wood was like straw under his power and it hurt, and trucks wailed and howled and he feel himself tip over from the steadiness of the rails, and into the cold, unforgiving snow.

Oh, bother.