The Other Railway Series: Season 2

Episode 13: The Longest Day

September 14th 1943

3:57
3 hours after the attack

"Were allowed to head back to the station," said Crystel's driver, "just be ready."

Crystel wondered why he said that, but as she shunted her train into Oxworth, her eyes widen.

The town was a complete mess, the colleges were partly destroyed and some buildings were still being captured by the flames. Crystel could only shunt her train into the station. At least that building was still intact.

***

Anderson looked at the station. Godsmacked.

"Dear god," whispered Anderson.

"Anderson! ANDERSON!!"

Anderson looked to see Renel stopping next to the platform that both branchlines use.

"What are you doing? Standing there won't do any good for the civilians! Where's Harok?"

Anderson justed stared back at the station. Renel looked, then looked back.

"Sorry," he said as left, saying nothing else.

***

"Are you alright, Christen?"

"Do I look alrigh-AHHH."

"Nope. Not with that briuse all around your eye."

Christen justed groaned as the inspectors and engineers examined him.

Christen's left side of his engine was completely wreaked. His tank was ripped, dented and scatched everywhere. And a buise covered his left eye.

Some iron bar went flying after a plane bombed the Carrag bank. It hit Christen diangley. The made Christen, 'out of action'.

The fires were still going, and some weren't stopping anytime soon.

***

7:43am

6 hours and 46 minutes after the attack

Hymerk was slowly put back onto the railway with LNER cranes.

"Thank you," he said politely to the cranes and engine who brought them hear.

"Your welcome," said the engine.

"What are your names?" questioned Hymerk.

"I'm Jean," said one of the cranes.

"I'm Ralph," said the other.

"I'm Anna," said the engine.

"Nice to meet you, I'm Hymerk," said the old engine, "what your class Anna?"

"A Great Northern Railway, Sir Nigel Gresley C1 'Atlantic'," beamed Anna.

"Ah, I see," replied Hymerk.

"No.288, you are needed near Nithsdale, Number 8 has derailed near the tunnel and will need some help to be put on the rails again," said a foreman.

"Oh," replied Anna, "well, I best be of then. I'll see you soon Hymerk."

***

9:03am

"Thanks," groaned Javilling to Anna. He had recently woken up after his little ancident, and was in pain.

"Welcome," replied Anna sweetly, "you'll probably need to go to the works, you did take quite a hit."

Javilling just rolled his eyes. "Please," he said, "we'll probably need to make one first."

"The railway had no proper works, they usually get mended in Carrag, were the industrial estates give them parts for us engines."

"Oh."

"Yep."

***

The Old Director came up on the stand in front of the ruins of Central Camford station.

"Now," he started, "I know everythink on the railway is destroyed ... and are crane has now become ... out of action ... forever. But, two cranes have been rented from the LNER, for exchange for King Callum of Thesang, to stay longer in England."

"But sir," replied Anderson, "he's been gone for 21 years! He must of gotten repaired now."

"He has been overhauled," said The Old Director, a murmer from the crowd raise, and died down, "but, he is so powerful now, that  Winston Churchill wants him for the millitary effort around these parts of England. He'll return, when the war is over. But, that is not are main concern now, the LNER has kindly helped us with repairing the damage of the railway, towns, villages and city. I hope you all will accept this, and welcome the engines nicely. I'll also like you all to know, that I will not be fully helping with the restoration on the NER. But my son, the future controller of NER. Arthur Lang!"

A young man, around his early therties walked up next to his father. The crowd clapped and cheered. But then, Crystel rushed in, tender first.

"Sir! SIR," she whistled loudly.

"What is it Crystel?" said The Old Director.

"It's Ashfull."

***

11:23am

The Old Director looked at Ashfull's engine. The inspectors and engineers were examinge him all over to see if was still alive.

Aventually, one of the inspectors came up to The Old Director and Arthur Lang.

"He's still alive sirs," said the inspector, "but he's in a some sort of comer, where he'll wake up until he is fire'd up again. He'll need a new tender, cab and boiler."

Arthur Lang pondered. "We could send him to Edward Thompson," he said, "he could fix him up."

"You mean the CME for the LNER," said The Old Director, he looked at the ground then Ashfull, he turned back to his son, "I would prefer my old friend Nigel to do the restoration for me, but he's gone and the I won't like to bother the SR an d GWR for an LMS engine, and the LMS won't like to have an engine that declined them that wants to be repaired ethier. We'll just have to give to Thompson then."