Silver Link was heading off to Crewe with a goods train. He wasn't too happy about it either. He had just gotten finished pulling the Silver Jubilee, and was just about to rest, when a diesel that was pulling the goods broke down, and Silver Link was the only engine available. Silver Link was never really fond of diesels. Daniel, Rose Barrow, Norvin and Rattler were acceptions. The rest, he wished would be able to face the scrap heap, just like the steam engines, so that they would know what it was like.

Silver Link passed through small stations, and saw that there were many 08 diesel shunters parked in the sightings. He also saw a few class 40s, 33s and warships in sightings along the mainline. He was confused. He soon arrived at Crewe, and he saw that there were many diesels lined up. Why would they need this many diesel engines? he thought to himself. The manager came, and said, "Leave those trucks there. We'll have them organized soon. There's a coal hopper and water tower over there." Silver Link saw the tower and hopper, and puffed off to refill.

While his driver and fireman filled him up, he saw a class 04 shunter, class 29 express, and class 33 diesels. He just looked the other way. "I can't remember the last time I saw a steam engine in working order, or in such a livery."

Silver Link looked back at the class 29, and saw his eyes. They were weary, and lifeless. He also got a good look at his paint work: it was old, was flaking in some places, and there were rust spots on it. "What's it to you?" asked Silver Link, "Unlike British Railways, my friends have taste in livery. Besides, you dirty diesels probably have all the attention you need." "Where are you from?" "King's Cross. I'm part of the Steam of Britain fleet." "Well, we're not in prime condition, not anymore," said a voice, "We all have been put here, waiting." Silver Link looked back, and was surprised. It was the class 40 that came from the south, and kept saying that the engines should be scrapped. "What are you doing here?" asked Silver Link. "You've met?" asked the class 33. "He pulls the express from the south." "Once," said the class 40, "Not anymore. Now, I'm here, waiting." "What are you talking about? Waiting for what?" "I thought it was obvious by our condition: We're waiting, to be scrapped." Silver Link looked at them, and just laughed, before saying rudely, "YOU THINK THAT YOU'RE IN THE SAME PLACE AS US STEAM ENGINES!?! YOU DIESELS ARE ABLE TO GO SCAT FREE WHEN IT COMES TO SCRAP!! MY CLASS ONLY HAS 7 SURVIVORS BECAUSE OF YOU DIESELS!!! YOU'RE UNTOUCHABLE!!!" "It seems that he's just blind to the truth," said the 33, "You believe that only steam engines are under threat of scrap, but diesels? They get off just fine." "I once thought that too," said the class 29, "We all did. We thought that we would last forever as long as we could function, and be really useful. But time and technology move on, so the works improve older designs, or make newer, and better machines. The old gets replaced with the new and the old, whether they are steam or diesel, gets thrown out." Silver Link was still doubtful. Diesels had always said that steam engines were useless, but here, they're saying that they themselves are being replaced. The class 40 then sighed, "If you don't believe us, look there."

Silver Link looked to where the diesel's eyes pointed, and what he saw made him freeze. "W-W-What?" It couldn't be real. It just couldn't. There, laying on the ground, was the old, rusted body, of a class 22 diesel.

It had no face, and was just an empty shell, of what it once was. "He was just cut up yesterday," said the class 04, "He hoped it would be quick and painless, but it wasn't." Long ago, Silver Link was almost in that exact position. He sat there in the scrap yard, wishing diesels could face the same fate that he had been condemned to, and now, he got it. But it felt, wrong. Sure diesels were mean, and horrid to the steam engines, but no locomotive deserved to actually be scrapped. He looked back at the diesels, and the class 29 said, "We all have been thinking that we couldn't be replaced, and yet, we have been." Silver Link now felt horrible now that he actually wished for this. He then looked further back to see tens, if not hundreds, of diesels, just sitting there. None had spoken a word, or even seemed to still be alive. He now felt a very horrible feeling in his boiler: guilt. Guilt that his wish was coming true. Just then, his driver and fireman climbed back on, and said, "Time to head back old boy!" Silver Link then puffed off to the turntable, and was turned around. He took one last look at the diesels, and said, "I-I'm sorry." He then puffed away, knowing, he couldn't save any of them. (end video)

Silver Link puffed down the tracks, not saying a single word the whole way. His mind was too occupied with what he just saw. When he arrived at the round house, the engine greeted him. "Hey Silver Link!" said Max, "How was Crewe?" Silver Link just looked at his buffers. "Silver Link?" asked Bertram. Silver Link still didn't reply, and backed down to his spot. Silvia then said, "Silver Link, are you okay?" Silver Link looked up, and everyone saw the worry in his eyes. "What's wrong?" asked Trooper. Silver Link look a deep breath, and told everyone what he saw. They were shocked, and bewildered. "So, it's our turn?" asked Rattler. "They claimed to be the future from this point on," said Barrow, "And yet, now they got a taste of their own medicine." "I said I wanted them to face the cutter's torch once," said Silver Link, "But, now that I've seen it, I wish I could just take it back."

From that day forward, the steam engines no longer said anything bad about the diesels. They had actually earned a new respect for them, because they knew, what it was like, be threatened for the scrap heap.

(Inspired by Youtuber Narrow Gauge)