The Secret Railway: Season 3 (Female Controller Reader)

Chapter 21: Chaos on the Rails

Jasmine and Dudley waited at the sheds, and Mr. Franklin walked up to them.

"Now," he said, "You both are to be put on trial to see who is fit to stay. I can only keep one of you. And I want best behavior from both of you. Now, Jasmine, I want you on passenger duties, while you Dudley will help Diana and Shadow with goods work."

"Yes sir!" said the two engines.

Meanwhile, on Paradise Island, Braedey was picking up and dropping passengers, when Bear came up along side him.

"Hello Braedey!" said Bear, "How are things on the Josephine Railway?"

"We're doing fine," said Braedey, "Right now, we're trialing two engines to join the railway."

"Oh, what are their names?" asked Bear.

"Jasmine and Dudley," said Braedey.

When Braedey said Dudley's name, his face instantly turned into a frown.

"Is something wrong with Dudley?" asked Braedey.

"Yes," said Bear, "Dudley, is nothing but trouble. When he was first found, he was all rusted up, and he was restored at our works. However, he was lying, and played innocent. He tried to get some of the diesels here sent away, all because of their fuel type. He also was wreck less during a storm, putting his passengers in danger, and even damaged rolling stock. It wasn't until Lady decided to expose him through a trap, did he confess, and showed no remorse at all for his actions."

Braedey was stunned. He knew a few steam engines could be arrogant, but not to the level some diesels would sink to!

"Word to the wise," said Bear, as his guard blew his whistle, "Keep an eye on him. He maybe a steam engine, but he's as sly as any of the diesels we've faced."

Braedey looked at his buffers thinking, If this Dudley really is like that, then I'd better warn the others, and keep an eye on him.

Back at the Josephine Railway, Jasmine was finishing her passenger run, and shunted Libby, Stella and Elsa into the carriage shed.

"Goodbye Jasmine!" said the three coaches.

Jasmine then headed to the station. There, the station master said, "We have a train of tankers bound for London. Could you take them there?"

"Yes sir," said Jasmine.

Jasmine wasn't very fond of trucks, but did as she was told. Unknown to them, Dudley had shunted a faulty tanker that was unsafe to travel on it's own wheels. Jasmine was coupled up, and pulled as hard as she could. As she did, sparks flew from her funnel, and she pulled out of the station, slowly but surely. Dudley smirked to himself, pulling away from the scene.

Jasmine headed down the line, and was feeling confident that she could make herself at home here. As she steamed down the line, she saw Anna, and whistled a hello. However, Anna's eyes went wide, with her whistle blowing fit to burst, as she yelled, "FIRE!!!"

Jasmine and her crew looked behind, and saw the closest tanker had caught on fire!! At that moment, the coupling snapped, and thanks to a quick thinking signalman, the train was diverted into a sighting, hitting the buffers, and exploding. Thankfully, the guard had jumped clear when the train was diverted.

Soon, the fire brigade came, and put the fire out. They inspected the damage, and said that there was a leak in the first tanker, and the brakes were jammed on.

Jasmine looked down at her buffers, as she was taken to see if there was any damage on her. The one to take her was Dudley, who said, "It's alright. You didn't know about it. If anything, I'd say that diesel shunter might have shunted those tankers."