Engines of Britain

Chapter 23: F-L-O-O-D spells Trouble

After Bolt's visit to the Godson Railway, life has began to settle down to a casual pace, without being such a hassle or so. The engines had gotten back into routine, Eric and the other engines worked twice as hard then they had before, making sure they are on time and schedule. Little did they know that the weather would turn for the worst.

~*~*~

Every summer, like every other railway, the Godson Railway is busy with holidaymakers visiting the railway to see the sights. With no sign of inclement weather, visitors often enjoy going to the mountains or the valleys while children enjoy the seaside.

Down at the Bristol Branch Line, Magenta is busy on a coastal run taking children to the beach. When she reaches Southampton Hault, she sees Eric and Olivia taking some trucks to the harbor.

"Hello Magenta." Eric greeted. "You look cheerful, what's got you in a good mood today?"

"It's these coastal passenger runs I've been doing lately." Magenta responded. "Not only that, I get to see the seaside and watch the ocean as I go by."

"That sounds amazing." Olivia spoke up. "I wish we were taking passengers today instead of trucks, but a job needs to be done no matter what."

"Speaking of which, who are those kids over there?" Eric asked as he looked over to the kids coming out of Magenta's coaches and going onto the station platform.

"They're the Vicar's Sunday School." Magenta replied. "I'm supposed to take them home this evening, but I'm going to be busy with other jobs."

"We can take them home for you." Olivia said. "It would be a good break from all these goods trains."

 "Thanks you two." Magenta thanked. "Oh, and before I forget, when you two left early this morning, Ms. Avery had told everyone that heavy rains and strong winds are expected to come, so be careful out there."

"Thanks for the warning Magenta." Eric said. "Anyway, we better get going these truck aren't going to deliver themselves."

Eric and Olivia puffed away to deliver their goods train. The Children enjoy a fun day at the beach and arrive at the station, but at tea time which time the weather began to turn for the worst. The coaches, which were 2 old coaches and a breakvan, were glad when Eric and Olivia arrived. When Eric's driver and Oliva had pulled the orange E2 to the coaches, the rain started pouring down and the wind blew violently.

"Ugh! I didn't think the rain would be this cold!" Eric said, disgusted by the rain. But then he started thinking of being in the nice dry sheds at Southampton, to take his mind off the cold rain. Once everything was ready, He set off toward Traintown, to where the children were to be taken.

~*~*~

Meanwhile at the Smart Jubilee Branchline, Gibraltar, Vernon, Victoria, and Alberta were struggling against the wind and rain: Victoria and Vernon doing whatever they can try and keep their passengers dry, and with Alberta and Gibraltar not taking a glance at the weather, for they continued on with their work, they kept going up and down the branchline using their sanders  to get any traction so they could get up to speed.

Up in the hills, not far away from the branchline, there was a brick wall dam between two hillsides, while behind it was a large lake and lagoon.