The Narrow Gauge saga

Special funnel

It was winter on the Island of Sodor. Peter Sam puffed nervously up the hill. His funnel had never been the same since his accident with those slate cars, now the biting wind was trying to blow it away. "My funnel feels wobbly," he complained, "I wish Mr. Percival would hurry up with my new one. He said it would be something special." "You and your special funnel," laughed the other engines. They were all fond of Peter Sam, but his special funnel had become quite a joke. The winter wind grew worse, breaking branches from trees. The rain came too, turning hillside streams into torrents that threatened to wash the line away. Mr Percival and the workmen patrolled the line every day with Rusty. They removed branches and leaves so water could flow away.  But one day, his driver had bad news. "There's been a washout near the tunnel. The track bed has been swept away. Mr. Percival had to stop all trains." The important work took longer than expected. As days went by, the weather changed. It became frosty and much colder. The workmen finished in time for market day. Peter Sam took the morning train carefully over the mended piece of track. Soon, they reached the tunnel. It was short and curved, so his driver couldn't see right through it. Peter Sam was headed for trouble. "There's sumfin hangin from the r00f!" shouted the driver as something went crack. When Peter Sam came out of the tunnel, he no longer had a funnel. The conductor found the funnel and a thick, long icicle. "That's what hit you, Peter Sam," he said, showing the icicle. They set off again, but without his funnel, the passenger windows got fogged. Then his driver saw an old drain pipe laying there. "We'll use that instead of a funnel. Least it'll help control the smoke." Peter Sam finished his journey with the pipe tied to him. The other engines laughed, and Sir Handel sang a song about it. "Peter Sam said again and again, his new funnel will put ours to shame. Went into the tunnel and lost his old funnel. Now his famous new funnel's a drain." The teasing continued until at last the day came when his new funnel arrived. "Oh dear," he said, "someone smooshed it." Sir Topham Hatt laughed. "Don't worry, Peter Sam. This is the most up-to-date funnel there is." Peter Sam's new funnel had special pipes which easily drew air in. It wasn't as big a joke as the drain, but it soon became no joke when they saw Peter Sam working. "I feel stronger than ever B4!" Peter Sam exclaimed. Even sir Handel was impressed. "I can't understand it. Peter Sam just strolls along the line.He makes work l00k so easy. New the other engines wish they had Peter Sam's funnel.