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Post by frankthetriviaman on Sept 23, 2015 14:45:22 GMT -5
New Railway Series No.46 Little Engines Turn 150 Written by Diesel 11 & Frank
Forward Dear Friends,
This year marks a very special occasion, as Skarloey and Rheneas celebrate their sesquicentennial, or 150th birthday. Mr. Roger Sam, also known as the Thin Controller, wanted to make this an extra special occasion. So he contacted an old friend in Wales, and made arrangements for a rail reunion like no other. This is what happened.
The Authors
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Post by Biblically Accurate Angel on Sept 23, 2015 14:46:54 GMT -5
Coaches Written by Diesel 11 Skarloey and Rheneas are two old engines on the Skarloey Railway. They were the very first engines there, and have seen a good deal in there time. They were going to turn 150 soon, and the Thin Controller had decided to hold a celebration. “Pah!” snorted Duncan, “Have any of us ever had a party?” “No,” said Rusty, “but you must admit that 150 years is a good long time, and worthy of a celebration.” “Pshaw! Anyway,” continued Duncan, “those two old geysers are thought more highly of than us. Why? I ask you.” “Maybe because they’re all older than us,” said Ivo Hugh. “Huh!” sniffed Duncan, and went away to fetch his coaches.
Duncan was in a bad mood. He bumped the coaches fiercely, and by the time they reached the station, they had decided to pay him out. As he started for the next station, the coaches put there plan into action. All of them slipped their brakes on. Duncan pulled and pulled, but he only moved a few inches. The coaches then slipped their brakes off, and Duncan, still trying to move forward with all his might, suddenly shot forward and came off the track. “Bother!” he moaned. “That’s done it,” said his driver, “We’ll need another engine now.” “Oh, crumbs,” said Duncan, and he started to wait.
At last, another engine came up. It was Sir Handel. “Well, well, well, Duncan,” he laughed, “Fancy seeing you in this state.” Duncan growled, and Sir Handel backed down on the coaches and bumped them. “Listen to me,” he ordered, “I want no trouble from you.” The coaches, now enraged, lied, “Of course, Sir Handel, of course.” “Good,” he said, and they started.
The track climbs a hill at a certain stretch. Trains must be careful here, as they can speed down and cause an accident if they go too fast. Sir Handel should have remembered this, but today he was too busy thinking about arriving home early. The coaches could now take revenge. As they came to the top, the coaches suddenly surged into each, shouting, “Go on, you!” Sir Handel was taking by surprise, and suddenly found himself careening down the line at a tremendous rate. “Stop! Stop!” he wailed. He tried to apply his breaks when - CRASH! - he raced off the track and crashed through a barbed wire fence. No one was hurt, but Sir Handel was quite dazed and confused. “Ooooh,” he moaned.
A short time later, Skarloey arrived. “Well, well, well,” he chortled. “You helped an engine, and now an engine must help you!” “Grrrr,” growled Sir Handel. “Ah, well,” continued Skarloey, “we’ll have you up in no time.” And with that, the workmen put Sir Handel on the rails.
That evening, the Thin Controller spoke severely with Sir Handel and Duncan. “Listen,” he said, “you could have killed someone today. You will stay in your sheds until I trust you to behave.” The two engines groaned. But they weren’t the only ones to get it! “You could have seriously injured your passengers,” he said to the coaches. “I expect better from you!” The coaches, abashed, said not a word, for a good few days!
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Post by frankthetriviaman on Sept 23, 2015 14:48:29 GMT -5
Skarloey and the Incline Written by Frank Skarloey was in his shed waiting for his driver and fireman. He was told that he would be working at the quarry today, and he didn't want to be late. "Driver and Fireman should have been here by now," Skarloey observed; he hoped that everything was all right. Just then, two young men came up to Skarloey. "Hello there, we're looking for an engine called Skarloey." "That would be me. How can I help you?" "Well, we are your relief crew. Your driver has fallen ill and your fireman has a family emergency, so Mr. Sam sent us to take care of you for the day," the new driver explained. "Ah. Well, we had better get started then; we are running late." Skarloey pointed out.
The driver and fireman got into the cab, and brought him to steam. Unfortunately for Skarloey, this relief crew was young and inexperienced, and were not familiar with the little old engine. "Say, which is the reverser?" "That one, I think." "Don't be ridiculous, that one opens the firebox!" "I think we're looking for the regulator, actually." "Is this it?" The young driver pulled it. "Ouch! Driver, what are you doing? That's my brake!" Skarloey shouted. "Sorry, still trying to figure out these controls. Ah! here's the regulator." And Skarloey started off. "Driver! You've got to whistle before starting off!" Skarloey warned, but the young crew were too busy trying to figure everything out to even pay attention to Skarloey. "This day isn't going to go well," Skarloey thought.
The entire way to the quarry, Skarloey found himself randomly going fast, slow, braking and even losing steam at one point. "Fireman! More coal!" Skarloey had to yell. In all his years, he never had such a poorly trained crew. Eventually, they got to the quarry, where the manager told them to bring a load of trucks to the incline winch. Skarloey backed down onto the load of empty trucks and was coupled up. The driver backed down onto the winch area and the load of trucks was coupled. "Now let's see... what was it? Two short whistles to let them know we are ready?" the inexperienced driver asked the fireman. "I think so, go for it," the fireman replied. Then there was trouble. They hadn't realized that they forgot to tell the nearby quarry worker to uncouple Skarloey from the trucks, and the next thing they knew, they were going up the incline with Skarloey! "Ah! What's going on?" the driver asked. "Jump!" replied the fireman. They jumped clear, leaving poor Skarloey to be pulled up the incline. "Help!" cried the old engine, but it was no good, the full slate trucks going down the other side of the incline that were bringing the empty trucks up the incline were being pulled down by gravity, there was no way to stop it. Skarloey was nearing the top of the Incline when SNAP! the cable broke! "Oh no! Keep clear!" Skarloey yelled as he surged down the hill and rolled through the quarry. A quick thinking worker switched the points to direct Skarloey into a siding. Just then, there was a crash! Skarloey had made it into the siding, but he had crashed into three empty freight cars. Luckily, these had been deemed un-serviceable and were due to be broken up anyway. But Skarloey was dazed and confused.
The Thin Controller came as soon as he heard the news. "I am so sorry for all of this, Sir," Skarloey said sadly. "Cheer up Skarloey, this wasn't your fault. I should have known better than to have selected such an inexperienced crew for you, and they should have known the proper operating procedures. Fortunately, this winch was due to be replaced anyway, and your little accident here proves why it was necessary."
Rusty and Peter Sam came by to help clean up the mess. While Rusty prepared to take the broken trucks away, Peter Sam brought Skarloey to the Works. "Skarloey, what's it like riding up the incline?" Peter Sam asked. "Well Peter Sam, I will admit, there is a lovely view of the Quarry; but the danger involved with this kind of thing, I must tell you that an engine should never climb the incline winch; it is very dangerous, and it's a miracle no one was hurt," Skarloey replied.
Peter Sam smiled, "I guess it goes to show, an experienced engine is one thing, but it means nothing if there isn't a good crew behind him."
Based on the episode 'Skarloey The Brave', written by Paul Larson
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Post by Biblically Accurate Angel on Sept 23, 2015 14:51:32 GMT -5
Shed-Breaker Written by Diesel 11 Skarloey wasn’t too damaged after his ordeal, but you may be sure his relief drivers’ reputation was!
Skarloey and Rheneas’s birthday was coming closer, and preparations were being made for it. One day Nancy came. “Hello,” she said. “Nancy!” exclaimed Skarloey, “I didn’t know that you were coming!” “Wouldn’t miss it for the world,” Nancy replied. “How are your kids?” asked Skarloey. “Doing fine, but sometimes I miss the railway. Which is why,” she continued, “we are going to move here.” “It’ll be nice to have you again,” said Skarloey happily.
Duncan rolled up. “Oh, it’s her.” “Hello, Duncan,” said Nancy. “Wouldn’t even give me a polish!” grouched Duncan, and he roared away. Skarloey and Nancy chuckled.
Duncan was in a bad mood. He banged and bumped the coaches, and when the drivers stopped for lunch, the coaches were mad too. Luckily for Duncan, their talking to from the Thin Controller stopped them from doing anything drastic. Duke was next to them. “Well, young engine, I see that you are in a very bad mood.” “Huh!” snorted Duncan. “You’d best be careful, or you’ll end up like Stanley.” “I’ve already heard that story,” said Duncan, “so I don’t need a recap.” “But you’ve never heard of what happened that made him lose his wheels.” “Well then, what happened?” “Well, it was one day, when I returned with my Picnic…
“As I came to the Station, I saw Stanley already there. “‘Hello, youngster,’ I said. “‘G’mornin’ Dukey,’ he s{SLUR}ed. “‘How’s the train?’ I asked, ‘Not off the rails, I hope.’ “‘Pshaw!’ he snorted, and roared away.
“Later that day, I was resting, when my driver came up. “‘Come on, old boy,’ he said, ‘Stanley’s done it at last.’ “We started off to the scene of the accident.
“It happened like this: After leaving the station, Stanley had raced up the line. He took to the Mountain Road, and, as he roared down it again, suddenly realized his brakes didn’t work. “He roared down at a tremendous rate, and then crashed into my favorite shed. “I was cross, ‘Couldn’t you have crashed into your own shed, Stanley?’ “He just grunted.
“The next morning, the Manager spoke to him, his wheels were taken away, and he was turned into a pumping engine.” Duncan was shocked and silenced. He went away, and didn’t cause trouble for the rest of the day.
That evening, he crawled into the shed. He shut his eyes, when he felt someone touch him. He opened one eye. It was Nancy, polishing him. “Thank you,” he whispered, and went to sleep.
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Post by frankthetriviaman on Sept 23, 2015 14:53:46 GMT -5
Reunion Written by Frank Skarloey and Rheneas were excited. Today was their 150th birthday, and everyone was going to be there. Sir Handel, Peter Sam, Rusty, Duncan, Ivo Hugh, Duke, and even Fred the diesel would all be gathered to celebrate Skarloey and Rheneas' birthday. "Can you believe it has been 150 years?" Rheneas asked Skarloey. "Seems like only yesterday I was being unloaded from that ship and Neil brought me here... 'tis a shame that no one has seen him in over 90 years," Skarloey lamented. "Ah, but you heard the Thin Controller, we will still be having special guests at our celebration," Rheneas assured. "Indeed. I was told earlier that the Thin Clergyman's son will be there," Peter Sam informed the others. "Every bit the man his father was. Shame the good Reverend couldn't be here too," Rheneas lamented. "Cheer up guys. He wouldn't want you to feel down on a day like this, and remember that he is always with us in spirit," Duke assured.
The Thin Controller then came to the engines. "Glad to see you are all in good spirits, but let's get a move on! There are lots of people who want to see you." And so the engines started out of their sheds.
It was a grand occasion. All the engines lined up as rail fans and tourists alike gathered around and meet the little old engines. Even Duncan and Sir Handel couldn't help but be happy with all that were going on. And Fred the little diesel, who normally went unnoticed because he was always busy with maintenance jobs, was glad to finally take part in the festivities. But the biggest surprise of all came when two whistles were heard coming down the track. "Say, aren't we all here?" Ivo Hugh asked, confused. "Indeed we are. Who else could there be on this railway? Is there a double Fairlie no one told us about?" Skarloey asked. The Thin Controller laughed. "Don't be silly Skarloey; those are our special guests. They have finally arrived."
The whistles became louder. "Wait, I know that whistle," Skarloey said. "I haven't heard that sound in so long," Rheneas added. Then they realized. "Can it be?" they said together as the two engines finally came into full view and stopped. To everyone's amazement, it was as if a second Skarloey and Rheneas had shown up, except they were in different colors. The old engines were delighted; it was their twins!
"Talyllyn!" "Dolgoch!" The two old engines could hardly believe it. Both sets of twins had been reunited for the 150th anniversary celebration. The Thin Controller proceeded to speak. "Ladies and gentlemen, it is no secret that today marks the 150th anniversary of Skarloey and Rheneas. But Skarloey and Rheneas are twins, meaning two more engines are also 150 years old today. From the Talyllyn Railway in Wales, it gives me great pleasure to welcome Skarloey's twin Talyllyn, and Rheneas' twin Dolgoch. These engines have proven themselves to be both reliable and really useful, and I am happy to say that Talyllyn and Dolgoch will be sticking around for the next 5 days, since after so many years apart, one afternoon together would not do these special engines justice. A special thanks to the Talyllyn Railway for making today possible, and three cheers for our little old engines!" The crowd cheered as the four engines came together for the first time in many years.
"Welcome to Sodor, Talyllyn and Dolgoch. We hope you'll enjoy your visit here."
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