Thomas & Friends. Season fan-made

Duncan's Incline Rescue

Spring had arrived on the Skarloey Railway, bringing with it the vibrant colours of blooming flowers and the busy activity of the railway. The quarry on the railway was a key place to gather essential loads for the railways both small and large. The quarry often delivered slate and earth down to Crovans gate or the Warf. The quarry had a large hill which was too steep for the engines to climb up. This meant it needed a way to pull the trucks up to be loaded. This was where a winch system came in. The loaded trucks would roll down attached to one end of a rope, which would then pull up the empties that were attached to the other end of the rope. Duncan was often assigned to work at the incline, a task he took seriously despite his feelings on the matter.

One bright morning, Duncan was busy helping to transport loaded cars up the line from the quarry. Duncan worked diligently, but roughly causing the winch to get strained. It had been slightly worse for wears ever since Duncan and Skarloey had each attempted to climb it. Both going about how you would expect.

As Duncan was completing the arrangement of his first train, a problem began to develop. The winch system, which had been working well for years, was starting to show signs of wear. The gears and cables had been under considerable stress due to the heavy loads, but no one expected a major issue. Other engines had tried to warn the controller but he couldn't do much as the railway was in the busy season. This meant there was little time to replace the winch.

Without warning, the winch let out a loud snap. The cable snapped, and the loaded cars, now free of the winch's control, began to roll uncontrollably down the incline. Duncan's eyes widened in alarm as he saw the runaway cars gathering speed. They soon rounded the bend and rattled into the distance along the line.

"Oh dear! The cars are out of control!" Duncan shouted blowing his whistle as loudly as he could, hoping to get the warning out to approaching engines.

Duncan immediately sprang into action. He knew he had to act fast to prevent a potential disaster. With determination, he raced down the line, his wheels spinning as he accelerated to catch up with the runaway cars.

As Duncan raced, he spotted Freddie, who was heading up to the station by the lake after just leaving the station by the lake with a passenger train of bright red coaches. Freddie was unaware of the danger approaching from behind. Duncan knew he had to reach the runaway cars before they reached a crossroad which would spell disaster for Freddie if the cars weren't stopped in time..

Duncan's wheels spun and his axels ached as he neared the runaway trucks. He could see the crossing ahead, where the tracks crossed over each other, and if the cars continued at their current speed, they would crash right into the side of Freddie or his train.

With all the strength and speed he could muster, Duncan closed the gap between himself and the runaway cars. He approached the cars rattling past them and switching onto their line, before he slammed on his brakes. It was a dangerous manoeuvre, but Duncan didn't care. The trucks hit him with a "CRASH!" but the train kept going.

Duncan put every ounce of weight and steam against the trucks as they rocketed down the line, going well over the speed limit, and nearing the points. Duncan realised it would be no use and if he didn't do something fast there was no chance he could stop the collision. He then ordered his driver to couple them up to the trucks, which he did as fast as he could.

Once coupled, Duncan began to speed up going faster than he ever had before. He rocketed round the bend and into view of Freddie and his train. "What are you doing Duncan!" cried Freddie "Your going to cause an accident!" Freddie then slammed on his brakes slowing his coaches down, but not enough. Duncan's wheels started to whir and to wobble as he raced along the line. He sped towards the crossing and flashed right through with the last truck missing Freddie by an inch.

He was going to fast now to stop and he shut his eyes as he prepared for the worst. Duncan then rounded a bend and with mighty force he careened of the tracks ploughing into the field. He rolled across before toppling to his side and coming to a stop close to the roadside where George the steamroller was. He had been flattening the tarmac and once he had seen Duncan fly towards him, had reversed just enough to avoid being hit.

"What happened?" Freddie asked, puzzled as he quickly reversed back and switched lines to pull up as close as he could to Duncan.

"The winch snapped, and the cars were out of control," Duncan explained, still in pain from the crash. "I had to get them over the crossing before they crashed into you. Better me than the passengers after all." He finished.

Freddie's eyes widened in gratitude. "Thank you, Duncan! That was close. I didn't realize what was happening until I saw you."

The Thin Controller arrived at the scene, having been informed of the incident. He looked at Duncan with a mix of concern and admiration. "Duncan, you acted swiftly and bravely today. Your quick thinking and courage prevented a more serious accident. Even if this is still going to be a pain to fully sort out."

Duncan, though tired and injured from the intense effort, felt a deep sense of pride. "I just did what needed to be done, Sir. I'm glad everyone is safe."

The winch system was inspected and repaired that day thanks to the effort of Rusty and the workmen, ensuring that it would be safe for future use. The runaway cars were soon transferred onto Neville's goods train to be taken to the scrap yard. They were all smashed so there was no further use for them. With the immediate danger averted, Mr Percival praised Duncan and the other engines for their teamwork and quick response.

The incident served as a reminder of the importance of maintaining equipment and being prepared for emergencies. Duncan's bravery and resourcefulness ensured that the day ended without further incident.

As the sun began to set and the engines gathered at the sheds, they shared stories of the day's events. Duncan's daring rescue became the talk of the evening, and his friends admired his quick thinking and bravery.

"Well done, Duncan!" said Peter Sam. "You really showed what it means to be a hero."

Duncan smiled, feeling a warm sense of camaraderie among his friends. "Thanks, everyone. It was a tough situation, but with the help of my friends and a bit of quick thinking, we got through it."

The engines enjoyed a quiet evening, reflecting on the day's events and the importance of working together to keep the railway running smoothly. Duncan's actions had not only prevented a terrible accident but had also strengthened the bond among the SKR's crew.

And so, with the incline cleared and the equipment repaired, the Skarloey Railway continued its operations, ready to face whatever challenges the future might bring. And once Duncan returned from the works, they insured that it would always be that way. Duncan knew that no matter what, the support of his friends and his own confidence would always help him overcome any obstacle. But we all know that Duncan hasn't really changed, don't we.