The Other Railway Series: Season 2

Episode 14: Helping Out

June 28th 1944

It had been many months ago when Thesang was attacked, and the railway was almost back to normal.

Renel's line had become a popular attraction in Thesang island. For it's rocky hills, beautiful beaches and the part of the line that runs along the cliff.

Renel usually pulls the passenger trains, and when there's a goods train, he would pull it with his passenger trains.

But the coaches, businessmen and passengers grumbled dreatfully and complained to The Old Director.

"I will send to the matter at once!" he declared at a meeting.

He did.

***

One week later, a GWR 45xx tank engine came into the station, she looked very shy and nervous.

"Huh," scoffed Javeling as he went by, "perfectic."

"Ah," said The Old Director, "you must be my new engine, Arora Lake."

"Y-yes sir," she said smiling shyly.

"Now I need you to take a train to Telmouth," continued The Old Director, "is that alright?"

"Oh um... yes. Yes sir," replied the new tank engine.

A LNER D4 looked at Arora Lake with disgust.

"Honestly sir," he started, "why did you brought one of the worst engines to help your railway when you should have brought an LNER engine?"

The Old Director stopped, and glared at the visiter and carried on towards his office.

Renel was at Telmouth, currently waiting for a train to come into the yard so he could go.

"Come on, come on!" he whistled, "how long can they take?"

Then he saw Arora Lake. He just groaned.

"Why in the blazzes did The Old Director bring in a 14xx tank to HELP run MY line!? he yelled.

"Oh, I-I-I'm sorry," said the new engine.

"You should be," he said, "now my branch will be humilated by an engine that waddles when at slow pace!"

"Sorry but, what's your name?"

Renel glared at the new engine.

"Renel. Yours?"

"A-Arora Lake."

"You mean like that giant lake near Nithswell and Oxworth? Huh, alright."

Then the signal went and Renel stormed away.

"You shouldn't be rude to her. You shouldn't be rude to her," said the coaches. Renel just rolled his eyes.

The next few days, Renel was very pushy and bossy to Arora Lake, telling her what to do or how to do it.

"Do it our way," he said to her when she was shunting her train in Telmouth.

"Oh. Oh I'm s-sorry," she said timidly.

Some engines befriended her quickly. Anderson was please to know that another engine could help with the shunting work now.

With Renel usually being an auto engine, he could go backwards that made him not lose a tight timetable. So, he was put in charge of the passengers. Whilst Arora Lake was in charge of goods.

Arora Lake handled them nicely whilst Renel didn't care what they were and how to treat them.

A few days later after Arora Lake arrived. Renel was sizzling nicely at Central Camford. Then, the foreman showed up.

"Number Severn, Number Ten has been delayed at Telmouth signifigantly. So, I want you to take her next goods train to Forlon where she'll meet you and you two switch trains," said the foreman.

Renel was speechless.

"But ... but sir!" he cried.

"No excuses," said the foreman, "now of you go."

Renel puffed away in a fowl mood. He soon came across the train and bumped them hard.

"OH OH OH!!" sreamed the trucks.

"Don't fuse, come along. Don't fuse, come along," snapled Renel as he pulled out of the yard.

The trucks were cross and wanted to pay him out.

"We shouldn't be bumped around like this," whispered a van.

"And be talked like some kind of Nazi," added a waggon.

The trucks murmered in agreement.

"Hey," whispered another wagoon, "if he wants us to 'come along' we should. Shouldn't we?"

The trucks got what he was saying and giggled about and agreed. Renel, didn't hear them.

'Honestly,' he thought, 'that Arora Lake is a humiliation to my branch. Because of her, I have to do her work over mind, whilst she wobbles of thr rails."

Renel was far too much in thought to even notice the notice board.

"All trains must break before steep incline."

The trucks notice this and saw it as their chance.

"ON ON ON!!" they yelled knocking the driver and fireman of balance and land on the Renel's cab floor.

By the time Renel notice this, it was too late. He had already lost control of the train.

Renel picked up speed down the incline, faster and faster. The trucks laughed in their silly ways pushing harder and harder.

"I've got to stop, I need to stop! I've got to stop, I need to stop!" cried Renel.

They were almost at Forlon, Renel's driver finally picked himself and shutted off the steam and applied the brakes.

But it was too late for that.

Renel tipped over on a bend causing him and the trucks to slide accross the grass and coming to holt.

Renel's driver and fireman jumped clear before the crash, but Renel sat there dased and supprise.

Soon, The Old Director heard the news and sended Arora Lake with the cranes.

When Renel first saw he gulped and looked away in embarressment. But Arora Lake said nothing as she helped take the trucks away. Then, when Renel was put back on to the tracks. Arora Lake took him back with her, the cranes and the crew back to Central Camford.

When they both arrived there Arther Lang was there.

"Well done Arora Lake," he said, "you've done very well."

"Th-th-thank you sir," said Arora Lake.

Arthur then turned to Renel.

"I don't expect engines to be rude on my father's railway," he said, "you are all equal no matter what class you are. I expect better from you into the future."

"Yes sir. Sorry sir," said Renel, "and sorry to you too, Arora Lake."

"That's-that's ok," replied Arora Lake.

A few days later, Renel returned to work. He then treated Arora Lake with respect and help her learn their ways.

Arora Lake soon stopped being shy from the other engines and stopped stuttering. She is still shy, but she's that sort of engine and all of the tender engines knew, that she's one of the kindest tank engines their is. But don't tell Hymerk, Anderson, Christen and Renel because they'll get jealous.

Sorry it's late, bit busy for the past few days. Series still undergoin' proccess. Hope you'd injoy this episode!