The Other Railway Series: Season 2

Episode 1: Boys who were cleaners

There were some boys that live in Camford.

They loved to visit the engines in the early 30s they soon became 20 years old and started to work as cleaners. There names were, Stan, Jim and Thomas. They each had a favourite. Stan's was Ashfull, Jim's was Crystel and Thomas' was Anderson. They will come nearly every week. Coming early in the morning or late at night.

"One day," said Thomas to Anderson, "I'll be your engine driver."

"Really," smurked Anderson, "good luck on the trials."

"I'll promise that I will get good luck on those trials," laughed Thomas.

One day on September 3rd 1939, people, were crowded around the Busdin Station building listening to a radio.

"What is it," asked Hymerk to Crystel as he rolled in with his passenger train.

"The Prime Minster is speaking on the radios all around Britain," replied Crystel.

Neville Cambelain spoke for some seconds but, there was one line that really stood out.

"I'm sorry to tell you this now, but we're at war with Germany."

Hymerk's eyes widen with terror.  Everyone looked around with frightful faces. Even a man screamed a fell to the ground.

"Wow," said Crystel with a fearful face.

"I fought it will end," shuddered Hymerk, "World War I was the war to end all wars."

He looked at Crystel, "we going to be in for a horrible ride."

Meanwhile back at the yards, Stan and Jim were complaining.

"It's so boring here," complained Stan.

"No its not," said Thomas crossly.

"Oh come on Tom," moaned Jim, "we've been working here a while now and it's the samething everyday."

"Not entirely," retorted Thomas.

"Like what is different?" snarled Stan.

"The talks we have with the engines," said Thomas.

"They're alright," said Jim, "but sometimes nothing happens."

Before Thomas had a chance to reply, the yardmaster came walking up. He look very pale.

"Whats the matter with you sir?" asked Stan.

The yardmaster look up at them and turn more pale.

"I'm here to inform you now..." He pause, still looking pale, "we are at war on Germany."

Stan and Jim look at each other whilst Anderson look thunder struck. Thomas just look and the floor breathing heavily.

"There will be sign ups in two days," finish the yardmaster and walk away.

Stan then smile broadly. "There's an adventure," he said.

"No."

"Oh come now Tom," sighed Jim.

"I'm not going to risk my life for some idiotick Nazies and if I survive. What will become of me!"

"A man that came back being a hero!"

"I'll probably kill men who wanted peace on Germany!"

"There's no point Stan," said Jim.

"Fine," said Stan arrograntly, "if he wants to stay here and be an old grandad then be it! I'm going to war, where there be adventures and excitement! I'll come back home being a hero!"

And with that Stan stormed of follow by Jim, leaving a very worried engine and cleaner behind.

***

"They were not joking," said Anderson a week later shunting a troop train into Camford.

Many men were packed on the station waiting to be taking to England, some had exciting faces on them, two of them, were Stan and Jim.

"My goodness," said Anderson quietly to his driver, "some of them are only boys."

His driver said nothing but aplied Anderson's brakes on to gave him a smooth stop.

From that day on, everythink was going to change.