Steam of Britain

Chapter 21: Old Iron

Duchess stood at the platform, waiting for Bertram to come. He was running late. Now, Duchess wasn't one to complain, but she was furious. "He's late AGAIN!!" she fumed. Just then, Bertram came steaming into the station. "I'm sorry," he said, "Car broke down at the level crossing." Duchess just groaned, and headed off.

"I swear!" said Duchess, "That Old Iron is just too slow to be useful!!" Perry and Max were furious!! "Bertram could beat you in a race any day!!!" said Max. "He knows the rails of the mainline better than any other engine!" said Perry. "I know where this is going," said Scotsman, "My brother Gordon once told me of an event that was similar to this. Only, it was with two engines called James and Edward. James called Edward a piece of Old Iron, and soon got his upcoming." "It still doesn't excuse Bertram for being late!!" said Duchess.

One day, Duchess was in the yard, and her crew were having a break. They forgot to damp out her fire, and the brakes weren't secure. She then started to roll forward. The yard manager told the crew what had happened. "The only engine available is Bertram!!" he said. Bertram came, and they climbed on board. He then set off.

As Duchess went down the line, she just remembered that she had no train. "Driver, where are my coaches?" No reply. She just went faster and faster. She then realized she had no driver or fireman aboard!! "OH NO, WHAT WILL I DO!?!" she cried, as she raced down the line.

Bertram whistled through King's Cross, and headed down the mainline. "WE'RE COMING, WE'RE COMING!!" he panted. Bertram hadn't gone this fast since his days on the express. He knew that Duchess would soon start to run out of steam at some point. Duchess meanwhile, was racing down at dangerous speeds. Bertram whistled to warn everyone. He soon caught up with Duchess. "Hold on!!" said Bertram. Duchess' driver carefully climbed Bertram's running board, and with a rope, he tried to get the loop on Duchess' buffer, but missed. He tried again, and again, until he managed to loop it around. He then tied the other loop around Bertram's buffer, and he then headed back to the cab, and jumped at the right time, to shut off steam, and bring Duchess to a halt.

Duchess was out of breath, and Bertram felt he was about to fall apart. Soon, the railway board came, and they were impressed. "Almost 75 years old, and you still have puff to keep up with a streamlined express engine!" said one. "You are a very useful engine!" said another. "Thank you," wheezed Bertram. Duchess had no steam left, but she felt sorry that she called Bertram Old Iron.

At the works, Duchess and Bertram were being looked over, and Duchess said, "I'm sorry I was rude to you. I'm, just not the type of engine whose usually late." "It's alright," said Bertram, "We all say and do things that we regret. I should know. I was once a pompous express engine." Duchess laughed as Bertram told her his stories, and they soon repaired their friendship.