Steam of Britain

Chapter 18: The Royal Train

Crovan was put on a sighting, and the engines took pity on Crovan. They despised British Railways for just deciding to scrap him, even after he proved he was very useful. "Disgraceful!" said Mallard. "Disgusting!" said Steve. "Despicable!!" said Harry. "Deplorable!" said Flying Scotsman. "This is murder!!" said Harold. "I've seen this tank engine in action, and he's no slacker to work!!" said Barrow. "I know this isn't the best situation," said Bertram, "But the board must see that Crovan is still useful."

The engines soon heard that there was to be a special visitor coming to King's Cross. Queen Elizabeth II was coming to see the railway. Some of Scotsman's pullman coaches were used for the train. Duchess was meant to pull the train, but she didn't come. The shed master came, and said, "Duchess has been derailed at a set of points. The other engines are too busy to help put her on the rails right now." "Well, then we'll have to send the relief engine," said the station master. "But the relief is trapped." "Well, what engines are available is Crovan." Max then said, "How about he takes the train!?!" "Brilliant!" said the shed master, "That should change their minds!" Crovan was fired up, but it took a while for him to steam up. So Max helped bring him to the platform. Then, he set off.

Crovan was coupled up to the train, and his fire was now burning brightly. His steam soon came, and he set off smoothly.

The queen loved the engine, and even thanked him. When Crovan returned, he was once again the talk of the railway. "If this doesn't change their minds," said Perry, "Then nothing will!" Just then, the shed and station masters came, and said, "An inspector is coming. They're not happy that Crovan was the engine pulling the train." "Please," snorted City of Truro, "He doesn't scare me!" "You mean, she!" said a voice. From the entrance came a female railway inspector. "Shed master, what is the meaning of this!? Using a withdrawn locomotive on a prestigious job such as the royal train! This is not the modern image we're trying to keep!" "Then you should've sent one of your modern diesels on the train instead of duties elsewhere," said the station master, "Besides, the engine that was due to pull it derailed, and the relief was trapped." The inspector looked at Duchess, and said, "Ah yes, the royal engine that derailed, ACCIDENTALLY on purpose!" The engines were furious!! "Disgraceful!" said Mallard. "Disgusting!" said Steve. "Despicable!!" said Harry. "Deplorable!" said Flying Scotsman. "You wanna blame something," said Steve, "blame your new electric points!! They're still malfunctioning!!" "The shed master can't make engines just magically appear!!" said Alison. "He couldn't keep the Queen waiting!!" said Daniel. "If it wasn't for Crovan, she probably would've taken the bus!" said Rattler, "That would've been more damaging to the railway's reputation!!" "And you still haven't thanked Crovan for his hard work!!" said Max. The inspector looked at Crovan, and said, "Shed master, this round house is for engines who are still in service! Remove this antique to the sightings and await further instructions for disposal!!" The engines soon erupted into a chorus of angry whistles and horns.

The inspector just walked away. "How dare she speak to us that way!!!" said Harold. "We need to be heard!!" said Jack. "And that we shall," said Trooper, "Bertram and I have been talking. We have come up with an idea." The plan was told, and the engines all agreed. The shed and station masters pretended not to hear.

The next morning, the station was empty. There were no trains at all. The station was dead. The inspector went to the round house, and what she saw surprised her: The engines all stood there, blocking Crovan from harm. Scotsman and Alex stood on both ends of the turntable, jamming it, while Jack stood with a break van, right in front of Crovan. The engines hissed steam at their crews, and they argued, but it was no use, the engines would not move. "Shed master, Station master, what is the meaning of this?!" asked the inspector. "Isn't it obvious?" asked the station master, "Our engines are on strike until you reconsider your decision on Crovan." "YOUR engines?! They belong to British Railways!!!" "And yet ma'am, they answer to us," said the shed master. "Insubordination will not be tolerated!! I order you to move at once!!!" City of Truro just wheeshed steam, and said, "Listen sweetheart, if we aren't moving for our drivers, we aren't moving for you, you biiiiiiiii-rrraaat." City of Truro changed his language when Trooper and Bertram shot him a look. "Give Crovan another chance!" said Silvia. "There's plenty of work for him here!!" said Norvin. "Why prolong his already expired life?" asked the inspector. "But I'm not expired!" said Crovan, "I'm still useful, I've proved I can still work!" "And then what? When it's finally time to the end, then what?" "Then you'll have to scrap us all." 

The inspector just said, "Very well, then. You will all be taken off the rails, and withdrawn from service." "WHAT IS THE MEANING OF THIS!?!" asked a voice. They all turned around, and saw Queen Elizabeth II. "Your majesty!" said the inspector, "I was just correcting a mistake that happened ear-" "No, the only mistake that I can see is you!" said the queen, "You dare to just scrap the engine who came to help rescue me, when the original engine was derailed due to YOUR faulty points!?! And to add insult to injury, you dare to withdraw the very engines, MY  family happened to help save!??!?" The inspector then stammered, "Um, well, we-" "And what's worse!!" continued Elizabeth, "YOU claim to stay, up-to-date, and yet, instead of one of your new modern diesels to pull the train, you decided to have a steam engine that YOU all preserved!! And finally, YOU, don't know how to show any respect to any of the engines here!!!" The queen then stormed off. The inspector was embarrassed. The railway board was even more embarrassed when the queen had made an announcement about what she saw in the roundhouse. The papers fed on the story, and passengers then started to take the bus. Railway enthusiasts started to protest, and support Crovan. Goods started to cut off the railways until they saw Crovan in service. Even some diesels, including Mack, went on strike! So, British Railways buckled under pressure and gave into the engine's demands. Crovan was saved!

After that, the trains ran to time, and Crovan was a celebrity. He could often be seen shunting in the yard, and hauling local goods and passenger service. To many people, he's known as the Royal Engine, but to the fleet, he's Crovan the Tank Engine.