Chapter 6: Carries and Concerns

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By the time the morning had rolled around, everyone had simply forgotten about the worrisome flatbed. Skizz had brought some supplies down from the yard, and was shunting them into place, when the project manager arrived.
"Leave your trucks here please." She explained. "Edward has steaming troubles, it won't take long to fix, but you'll have to fetch his concrete trains."
Edward was one of the most reliable engines on The Fat Controller's Railway, so Skizz had no problems trusting Edward with shunting for an hour or two.
"It shall be done!" Skizz replied happily, and quickly set out.

It wasn't long before Edward arrived, and began shunting the trucks into place. First, he shunted some empty trucks, which were to be loaded with scraps. And another train, that because of all the backup at the docks, The Fat Controller allowed one ship to use the harbour, as a 'test run' as he put it. Edward glided carefully along each switch and turn, but he seemed rather dazed.
"Whots wrong?" His driver asked, patting her old engine on the cab softly.
"Oh, nothing. Nothing at all." Edward replied. "I'm just a little out of my field."
"How come?" Misty replied. "We've been helpin with this rebuild for at least a week."
"That may be." Huffed Edward darkly. "But we don't know the lay of the land here."
At that moment, the project manager arrived.
"Mind if you add a flatbed wagon to that train?" She asked. "York's meant to leave with it soon, and it's best if we have it out of the way sooner."
Edward agreed. As he backed the flatbed into place, he eyed the tramp steamer being docked right beside the port. It was a lovely looking boat, with spotless paintwork. Edward was very impressed.
"Marvellous ship that is.." He thought. He buffered onto the flatbed, and started moving it onto the train. Now, it's not apparent as to why, but the flatbed did not once act up for Edward as he carefully moved it into place. Of course, what Edward and his lovely crew failed to notice was that they'de shunted the faulty flatbed onto York's train. The ship's crew quickly began to load the trucks with cargo bound for all across the island. Edward blew a friendly whistle, and set off to fetch his next train.

Up the line, Skizz reached the works station, his trucks of concrete in tow. He looked exhausted!
"Phew!" He huffed. "This is hard work!"
He pulled into the works station and whistled for a road. In the yard, not far away, stood Donald and Gordon, both being readied for their next trains. Both smiled as they saw Skizz.
"Ahh, Skizzleman!" Gordon laughed. "What a fine morning it is indeed!"
"Global warming, more like, how good is this weather?" Donald's driver quipped from behind the tender. Skizz smiled.
"Oh, it is!" Skizz replied. "But I'm too busy to enjoy it?"
"Why?" Asked Donald. Skizz just chuckled.
"This harbour reconstruction's tough work!" The mixed traffic engine replied. "And, as you always say, tender engines don't shunt."
"Shame we don't have many tank engines." Ash grumbled. "Shame our last one had to be William."
"Don't remind us." Grunted Jessie. The engines and their crews all laughed for a moment, but it was only a short moment.
"Aye, look, lad." Donald ventured. "Gin the work is becomin ower much for ye, ye shoud speak tae The Fat Controller."
"Thank you for your concern!" Skizz smiled. "But I think we're just managing. Although, if it does get much worse, I'll make sure to tell him."
At that moment, Skizz's signal changed. Skizz smiled.
"Thank you for the chat, and thank you for the advice!" Skizz puffed away, feeling much better about things. Donald and Gordon just exchanged a look.
"I can only assume he's heading for trouble." Gordon grumbled. "Too much work for those engines, and they'll make mistakes."
"Aye, lets juist hope they know whit they're doin." Donald replied. "But, juist i case, gin they fuck it up, A get yer spot at the washdown for a week."
"Bet." Snickered Gordon. 

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