Chapter 17: A New Tank Engine

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The yards were busy with the work, and the trains were over full. More trains had to be scheduled. Just then, a whistle was heard, and from the tunnel came a LB&SCR E2 Tank Engine.

He puffed cheerfully and said, "Hello, my name's Crovan, and I'm looking for work

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He puffed cheerfully and said, "Hello, my name's Crovan, and I'm looking for work." "Well," said Silver Link, "you'll have to talk with the shed and station master. They're the ones in charge." Crovan was brought to the roundhouse, and the shed master said to have him wait here.

In the roundhouse, the engines all talked with Crovan, and he told them all about his trip across the mainline, and how he was looking for work. He impressed all the engines. Even Mack earned his respect. Soon, the shed master came and said, "while you're here, we might as well put you to work." "Yes sir," said Crovan, "Anything is better than just sitting her and watching paint dry."

Up the line, Alex was hauling a goods train, and said, "Man, why is this so heavy?" "Don't worry," said his driver, "We'll get there soon." Alex huffed and puffed up the line, and when he reached the top of an in climb, it happened. The coupling snapped, and the trucks rolled down the hill. "Scrap," said Alex.

Crovan meanwhile, was collecting break vans from different sightings and taking them back to the yard. Just then, the guard blew his whistle, and said, "GO!! THERE'S A RUNAWAY COMING DOWN THE LINE!!!" "A RUNAWAY!??!" asked Crovan. He then took off as fast as he could.

Crovan raced down the line, but the trucks soon caught up to him. He braked hard, and so did the guard, but it wasn't stopping them fast enough. So, the fireman jumped from Crovan's cab, and went brake van to brake van, and applied all their breaks. Crovan then braked harder and harder, soon, the train came to a halt, just inches from Mallard. "Crovan!!" said Mallard, "are you okay?" "Yes, I am," said Crovan, "thank you for asking me."

Soon, word got round fast of what Crovan did, and he was the talk of the railway. Soon, even the diesels were impressed of what happened. E2 tank engines weren't supposed to be this useful, but it seems they were proving them wrong. Just then, the shed and station master came, and said, "I'm afraid we have bad news." "Despite your brave efforts, British Railways has decided to withdraw you from service." Crovan looked down at his buffers. "Oh well," he said, "I guess it was bound to happen."

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