The Sudrians: Barry the Rescue Engine

Working in New Areas

Barry began to take his sessions with this inspector Murdoch had been going on about. He would come every morning and evening at first, but later just in the evenings. He questioned Barry and talked to him on a chair he would bring. Barry would be quiet at first but eventually began to open up to the inspector just like he did to Arthur and Murdoch.

However, he was still not working well with the diesel engines. Barely saying a word to them or giving them a whistle hello as he went by them whilst pulling his trains. The inspector eventually took note of this from what he had been told and would give his notes to Stephen one afternoon.

Stephen looked at them carefully, before setting them down at his desk. He turned his head up to the inspector. "Still not well with diesels?" he said.

The inspector nodded, and Stephen huffed. "And what shall I do about this? Any recommendations?"

"Well..." said the inspector, "you could make Barry be in part of a schedule where he's working with diesels. He is currently on a branch line with just another steam engine, after all, perhaps if he could... double-head a few trains or shunt with another diesel, he could open up to them."

Stephen nodded thoughtfully. "Yes," he said, "that could work. I will have to readjust the schedule, but I think I could make it work starting tomorrow."

"That's great," the inspector smiled, "any diesel in mind?"

"Oh yes," smiled Stephen, giving a wink to the inspector.

***

The next morning, Barry arrived at Crovan's Gate with his usual rush hour service to the busy town. As he waited, he felt himself be uncoupled to his train, it wasn't out of the usual, but then he noticed an odd diesel coming rolling up along the other track. "Hello there," he greeted, "you must be Barry, our newest engine."

Barry looked helplessly around, he didn't say a word and looked quite tense. The strange diesel noticed this and tried to give a kind, warm smile. "My name is Derek," he said, "don't worry about your train, I will be taking it back."

Barry blinked in surprise. "But, I take this train back?" he said quietly.

"Oh?" said Derek, "weren't you not told about the new arrangements?"

"No he wasn't," came the reply, Barry looked to his driver, "don't worry, he'll be taking over our services temporarily until we get back."

"Get back from what?" said Barry nervously.

"From this run of course!"

Barry looked over to see BoCo come into the mainline platform with a long passenger train. "Stephen has ordered that me and you will be taking this train together," BoCo said, "that is, if you want to of course."

Barry looked at his driver, then at Derek and then BoCo again. He was panicking as little, then he remembered what Murdoch, Arthur and the inspector had told him. No matter what, Barry will be working with diesels, he must accept that. "That does me I'll like it," he muttered to himself.

"Pardon?" asked Derek.

"Nothing," replied Barry instantly, and he puffed over to BoCo and gingerly buffered up in front.

He felt very uncomfortable, but when the guard blew his whistle and the all-clear was given, he decided to concentrate on pulling his new train out of the station. But as he did, he looked back to see his coaches in his platform with Derek at the front of them, waiting to head back down the line. He sighed deeply and tried to clear his head as he left Crovan's Gate through the tunnel.

They continued to travel along the mainline. Fields went quickly by and trees rushed past them. The sleepers were blurred. Barry hadn't run this fast with a train like this for so long, however, he had never pulled a train with a diesel before and even though he tried to enjoy himself, the new engine couldn't help but remember who was behind him.