The Other Railway Series: Season 1

Epsiode 3: An Island's History

November 27th 1921

The railway was doing well, Landlords were buying land and building towns and villages givening NER money to expand and buy rolling stock.

They also brought a crane and they named him, 'Harok'.

But surprising nobody had named the hybrid. But he was given a class, 'LNER Mountain'.

He was proud of the name but when people started to call him mountain he was starting to complain about getting a name.

"I mean I should have a more important name, like you all," he said.

"Never mind mate," said Anderson, "you can give yourself a name."

"I need a name givened by Mr Lang," replied Mountain, "that makes you feel important."

"Well at least you have a tempory name," murmered Ashfull.

Soon the next day Anderson was pulling a train of emty vans to the yard when he had to stop at a signal.

"Bother ration," he said.

Then he sawed Mr Anderson at the station talking with an unfilmillier man.

"Hum, that's a bit odd," he said as the signal dropped and he puffed towards the yard.

As Anderson came into the yard, he sawed Hymerk and Mountain in a sidding whilst the shed was being finished by Harok.

"What's up Anderson?" asked Hymerk.

Anderson explained what he just sawed.

"That's odd," said Hymerk, "Mr Anderson is being elected as Governor of the island. So why is with a man on the platform?"

"Because someone had just descovered a castle on the island."

The engines looked down to see Mr Anderson walk up to them.

"A castle sir?" said Mountain.

"Yes," answered Mr Anderson, "an old one too, we are looking into the history at once so why is there and who owned it."

"Probably a King or Queen," sniffed Mountain.

"Anyways, unfortunately I will not be the director of the railway, but the Governor of this island," anounenced Mr Anderson.

"Congratulations sir!" whistled Anderson.

"Thank you Anderson," replied Mr Anderson, "now I will be leaving the island tonight so good luck engines and don't get into trouble. Oh, I almost forgot. Mr Lang will be acting controller so all on your best behaviour."

"Yes sir," they all said as Mr Anderson walked away.

"Ahh, a proper shed at last," sighed Mountain.

The shed was finally complete and now the engines were all in the warmth of it.

"So your telling me," said Ashfull to Hymerk who had explained what Mr Anderson said to them earlier, "that there's a castle on this island?"

"Yeah pretty much," said Hymerk.

"Hum, I wonder what will Mr Anderson will have when he will come back," said Anderson.

"I don't know but proberbly somethink about why the castle is there," replied Hymerk.

And they did, four weeks later Ashfull pulled with a passenger train with Mr Anderson on board.

"Well come back Mr Anderson," said Mr Lang.

"Thank you, Mr Lang," said Mr Anderson.

Then Mr Lang looked back to see a van at the back of the train.

"What's in the van?" asked Mr Lang.

"I will show you tomorrow," he said and winked to him as he lefted.

The next morning all the new crew members and engines were all at the shed.

Mountain was outside the shed and the others inside the shed.

Soon, Mr Anderson was standing on Mountain's footplate and began his speech.

"In 1754, a man owned his this island. A king and he had a queen called Queen Mary and a daughter called Princess Eleanor. Sadly they all died in a battle called the Thesang battle and it was a battle on this island against the english. The island got forgotten about after the battle. So in rememberance I call this engine. 'King Callum of Thesang"! As well as the island is called 'Thesang'."

The crew members and railway staff cheered and the engines whistled. King Callum of Thesang just beamed.

That night King Callum of Thesang said to the others, "the name sounds a bit of a mouthfull doesn't it."

"Say that again mate," agreed Anderson.

"So I've dicided to shorten it to King Callum for you guys to say to me."

"Thank you," murmured Ashfull.

"Well then King Callum, happy you have a proper name?" asked Hymerk.

"Probably half," chuckled Anderson, "he didn't get the name announce by Mr Lang."

King Callum just rolled his eyes and went happily to sleep.

But meanwhile at the station building. Mr Lang and Mr Anderson were talking about arangements.

"We definitely need it, it will show hiw different we are from the other railways," said Mr Anderson.

"Your right," replied Mr Lang, "but what colour should we have for the engines new coat of paint."