Steam engines, Skullgirls, and Universes

Chapter 20: Percy and Filia

Thomas was taken to the works shed to get repaired. Men decided to work on the ground level before lifting him with chains in order to work on his undercarriage. The men had to source new parts from donor engines, and take measurements from his funnel to make new parts from scratch. 

"Well, sorry to say Thomas this is going to take a while to fix." one workmen said as he climbed down the latter. Thomas sighed. 

"already figured that out." he said. 

"Don't worry, we know what we are doing, and you'll be good as new in no time."

Thomas smiled at this, but inside he still felt nervous being away from work for so long. 

Percy lay in the shed resting. The whole ordeal with the Medicis had left the little engine tired, and scared. The others had told him his driver was recovering well in hospital which did make him happy, but he still worried over what Parasoul had told him. 

|You'll have the day off tomorrow, but we need your help in the coming days, lots of goods need to be taken.|

"Oh dear." Percy said to himself. "I do hope my driver gets well soon, and that the new driver is good."  

Thomas' crew were still working on the branchline despite Thomas being repaired. Another six wheel tank engine was brought to the line for passenger use. It was different to Thomas in that it had outside cylinders like Percy, sloping side tanks, two domes on its boiler, and it was painted in an all black livery with no lining. The passengers missed their smart little blue engine, but both driver and fireman told them that Thomas needed repairs. They understood this, but it was going to take some time for them to get use to the black tank engine. 

It wasn't just the driver and fireman on the footplate however, Percy's new driver was there as well. They studied how to properly driver and engine all throughout the day. They even let them try to drive the engine up the branch, and well. 

"You're doing great." the driver said. 

"Am I really?" the trainee asked. 

"Of course. You're driving her well." the driver said. 

"Oh, here comes the station." the fireman said leaning out of the cab.

"Ok, now you need to put on the brakes gently, and reduce steam." instructed the driver. 

The trainee grabbed hold of the brakes and the regulator, and turned them over a little bit. The engine began to slow down, but it looked as if they were going to over shoot the platform. 

"Um, I think we need to go over more." the trainee said. 

"Yeah, but don't do it hard over." the fireman said. 

The trainee turned it over more, but it still looked like it wasn't enough. The trainee panicked, and threw the brakes full on. The engine's wheel skidded along the rails creating a terrible screeching noise.

"Jesus Christ!" said the driver. The three in the cab covered their ears. The passengers and the people on the platform did too. People from within the station looked out at the noise. At last they had stopped. 

"I'm so sorry." the trainee said in shame. 

"Ah don't worry, you're only just learning after all." comforted the driver. They suddenly heard a commotion. 

"Hey! We can't get out here!" the passengers cried. The driver and trainee looked back, they didn't over shoot the platform, but under shot it. Some of the coaches at the rear of the train weren't at the platform. The driver got the engine to the correct spot, and the angry passengers came swarming out.